Business Models in Smart Cities Course
Online course of 300 hours in smart city business models: 6 modules covering smart city economics, business model design, urban revenue models, selling to public administration and viability and scaling, with an assigned technical tutor.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the economics and value chain of the smart city market.
Design business models with the canvas and the value proposition.
Compare revenue models applicable to urban services.
Plan sales strategies through public procurement of innovation.
Assess financial viability and scaling metrics.
Manage regulatory and data ownership risks.
Build a complete business model for a smart city solution.
Who it's for
- Urban technology entrepreneurs.
- Business development managers.
- Smart city strategy consultants.
- Product managers for the public sector.
- Urban technology investment analysts.
- Municipal innovation officers.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into urban technology.
What you'll work with
- Ley 9/2017 (LCSP) (Spanish Public Sector Contracts Law)
- Directive 2014/24/EU (public procurement)
- Directive 2014/23/EU (award of concession contracts)
- Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 (Data Act) (fair access to and use of data)
- Directive (EU) 2019/1024 (open data and re-use of public sector information)
- ISO 56002 (innovation management system guidance)
- ISO 37106 (guidance on smart city operating models)
- Ley 28/2022 (startups) (Spanish law promoting the startup ecosystem)
- Strategyzer
- Microsoft Excel
- Miro
- Crunchbase
- Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform
6 modules
1.1The smart city market value chain1.2Market size and segments1.3Players: manufacturers, integrators, operators, startups1.4Public goods and externalities1.5Market failures in urban services1.6Platform economics and network effects1.7Public value versus private value1.8Barriers to entry and technology lock-in1.9Investment trends in urban technology1.10Case study: value chain of regulated parking
2.1The business model canvas2.2Value proposition for public administrations and citizens2.3B2G, B2B and B2C customer segments2.4Channels and customer relationships2.5Cost structure2.6Revenue streams2.7The value proposition canvas2.8Validating hypotheses with customers2.9Impact business models2.10Workshop: business model canvas for an urban service
3.1Software as a service for city councils3.2Pay-per-use and subscription3.3Payment by results and shared savings3.4Data monetisation and its limits3.5Advertising and sponsorship on street furniture3.6Multi-sided mobility platforms3.7Concession and fee models3.8Open-source licences and services3.9Pricing in the public sector3.10Practical exercise: comparing revenue models in urban sharing
4.1The public procurement cycle4.2Preliminary market consultations4.3Pre-commercial and innovation procurement4.4Tender documents and award criteria4.5Scaling across municipalities4.6Pilots that do not scale and how to avoid them4.7References and success stories4.8Partnerships with large integrators4.9Urban acceleration programmes4.10Case study: commercial strategy of a waste management startup
5.1Financial model of a smart city company5.2Metrics: CAC, LTV and churn5.3Funding: venture capital, ENISA and CDTI5.4Internationalisation into urban markets5.5Managing regulatory risk5.6Intellectual property and data5.7Sustainability and ESG criteria5.8Exits: acquisition and growth5.9Lessons from benchmark companies5.10Lab: five-year financial model
6.1Identifying the opportunity6.2Market and competitor analysis6.3Value proposition6.4Business model canvas6.5Sales and public procurement strategy6.6Revenue and pricing model6.7Five-year financial projections6.8Scaling plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The course is taught 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable materials, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. You work with Strategyzer, Microsoft Excel, Miro, Crunchbase and the Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: designing the business model of an urban service, a sales strategy for public administration and financial projections for a smart city startup. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: Ley 9/2017 (LCSP), Directive 2014/24/EU, Directive 2014/23/EU, Regulation (EU) 2023/2854 (Data Act), Directive (EU) 2019/1024, ISO 56002, ISO 37106, Ley 28/2022 (startups).
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with Strategyzer, Microsoft Excel, Miro, Crunchbase and Spanish Public Sector Procurement Platform, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
No prior qualification is required; you need a computer with an internet connection and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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