8 · Capstone, Part 1: build your AI-assisted finance plan (offline)
This is the heart of the capstone — and the real work happens OFFLINE. For YOUR own business idea, actually build the three finance pieces below (in a spreadsheet, a doc, or on paper). You may use AI to DRAFT the structure, but you must put in your own real numbers and VERIFY every total and formula yourself (let a spreadsheet do the arithmetic, never a chatbot). Each item names one piece to build, then asks you to type the ONE BOLD KEYWORD shown to confirm you've actually built and checked it. The graded answer is just the keyword; the explanation shows what a strong, verified version looks like.
1. PIECE 1 — Build a one-month BUDGET for your idea: list money IN (expected revenue, guessed low) and money OUT (every cost), then subtract to get your net, and re-add both columns yourself. Built and verified it? Type the keyword: budget
2. PIECE 2 — Compute your UNIT economics: your unit margin (price − cost per unit), and a rough CAC and LTV for one customer. Verify each calculation yourself. Done and checked? Type the keyword: margin
3. PIECE 3 — Set a PRICE and calculate your BREAK-EVEN in units (fixed costs ÷ unit margin), then re-do that division by hand or in the spreadsheet to confirm it. Done? Type the keyword: breakeven