Course

Market-Based Valuation Course

Unlock the secrets to valuing your startup, attracting investors, and making smarter strategic decisions.

Market-based comparisons are difficult, but necessary

Tech startups are highly heterogeneous and approrpriate market data is scarce and complex. As a result, valuations based on comparable companies or deals often reflect sentiment rather than fundamentals.

But market-based comparisons are essential because they anchor valuation expectations, reflect real buying behaviour, strengthen positioning, and help startups negotiate on equal footing.

Valuing startups and growth-stage companies using market-based approaches

Done well, market-based analysis transforms a subjective valuation argument into a defensible, evidence-backed case�“something every tech-based venture needs when engaging investors or corporate partners.

By the end of this course, you will:

  • Understand the fundamentals of enterprise and transaction valuation using market-based approaches.
  • Be able to apply comparable company analysis and precedent transaction analysis to assess a startup’s worth.
  • Gain the skills to adjust valuations for market conditions, strategic context, and company-specific factors.
  • Learn to communicate enterprise value confidently to investors, partners, and potential acquirers.

Features and Benefits

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Efficient Learning

Video tutorials and editable templates, featuring real-world examples, guide you through every detail.
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Industry Expert Led

Developed and taught by investors, startup advisors, and founders.
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Instant Access

Get started today. Enrol now for instant access.

Course Details

Course Curriculum

This course equips founders and investors with practical tools and frameworks to determine a defensible enterprise valuation, enabling better strategic decision-making and successful negotiation in investment or exit scenarios.

What You’ll Learn:

  1. Comparable Company Analysis (Comps): Learn how to benchmark your startup against publicly traded companies in the same sector, stage, and geography.
  • Understand key multiples used in comps, such as EV/Revenue, EV/EBITDA, and Price/Earnings, and how to adjust them for growth, profitability, and market conditions.
  • Explore methods for identifying appropriate peer companies and weighting their metrics to derive a realistic valuation range.
  • Develop the ability to interpret market signals and understand how investor sentiment, industry trends, and company size impact valuation multiples.
  1. Precedent Transaction Analysis: Learn how to value a startup by examining prices paid for similar companies in historical M&A transactions.
  • Understand how deal structure, strategic rationale, and transaction context influence the valuation outcome.
  • Explore adjustments for differences in size, growth potential, market positioning, and deal timing to produce a fair comparison.
  • Gain insight into how premiums paid for control, synergies, and competitive positioning affect enterprise value.
  1. Combining Market-Based Approaches: Understand how to triangulate between comparable companies and precedent transactions to build a more robust valuation range. Learn how to reconcile differences between public market multiples and private transaction multiples.
Format

Format: Self-paced online course

Duration: ~1.5 - 2 hours

Course Materials:

  • Video tutorials with step-by-step valuation walkthroughs
  • Templates for each valuation method (downloadable and editable Excel templates), including an example company valuation and a blank model.
  • Study notes
Instructor

Dr. Sophie Laurenson, PhD / Executive MBA

CEO and Founder, MedDev Central

With 20 years of experience in the medical device industry�“as a startup founder, corporate scientist, and investor, I’ve led and advised on valuations across the full product lifecycle, from early-stage concepts to due diligence and exit. My work spans financial modelling, IP strategy, corporate partnering and designing development and commercialisation plans specifically structured to maximise asset valuation.

I’ve had the privilege of working with startups, corporates, and investors to navigate the complex dynamics of the MedTech landscape, aligning innovation with market needs and long-term value creation. I’m especially passionate about building pathways for medical devices that are not only clinically and commercially viable but also socially and environmentally sustainable.

LinkedIn Profile

Who is it for?
  • Startup founders and co-founders
  • CFOs, COOs, and startup operators
  • Advisors, accelerators, and incubators
  • Technology transfer offices (TTOs)
  • Corporate intrapreneurship and open innovation/investment functions
  • Early-stage investors evaluating opportunities

No legal or finance degree required�“just a desire to understand the real value of your business.

Pricing
Course
Price199
Includes:
  • 12 months of access to course materials.
  • Downloadable templates and financial models.
  • Certificate of completion.

Need a custom package?

We offer tailored solutions for large teams, academic institutions, and accelerators.

Contact us to discuss enterprise licensing or co-branded delivery.

Financial support is available for female founders and those from select low and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Ready to start?

Don’t leave your startup’s value to guesswork.

Sign up today and learn how to confidently determine valuations that attract investors and set your early-stage venture up for success.

Interested in learning more?

Watch our free Masterclass on enterprise and asset valuation:

Think your tech venture might need more advanced valuation methods?

Check out our other courses on business and asset valuation.

Enterprise Valuation: (for later-stage or revenue-generating businesses)

Intellectual Property Valuation:

Comparables / Market-based Valuation:

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