Publications

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31 Mar 2020
News

How To Recover Gracefully After Shutting Down Your Startup

January 2015 (Revised October 2016)
Case

onefinestay: Building a Luxury Experience in the Sharing Economy

By: Jill Avery, Anat Keinan and Liz Kind

onefinestay was a two-sided marketplace that offered high-end home rentals to travelers who sought a more authentic and local experience than a typical upscale hotel might provide. After five years of rapid growth, it was time to do a comprehensive analysis of the... View Details

November 2006 (Revised August 2008)
Case

Lincoln Electric

By: Jordan I. Siegel

The case describes Lincoln Electric's business strategy and incentive system, and it discusses the global strategy choices that the company faces going forward. Lincoln Electric is deciding whether a strong push into India should be the next step in the company's... View Details

Keywords: Global Strategy; Globalized Firms and Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Business Strategy; Expansion; India

Career Coach

Marc Herson

Plattner Ventures (Partner); Softbank Capital (Executive-in-Residence); SONY BMG Music (Senior Vice President, Strategy & Business Development); Bertelsmann AG (Investment Director); Thurloe Finance... View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Venture Capital; Venture Capital; Venture Capital; Venture Capital; Venture Capital; Venture Capital

November 1994
Background Note

Social Enterprise: Private Initiatives for the Common Good

Presents a model for understanding how private social-purpose ventures (nonprofit and for-profit) differ from traditional business firms in both their objectives and methods of operation. Identifies six dimensions that are useful for understanding the differences. Also... View Details

Keywords: Social Entrepreneurship

September 2019
Case

Funding Sources for Science & Technology Start-ups in India

By: Tarun Khanna, Arjun Swarup and Rachna Tahilyani

India's start-up ecosystem is amongst the largest globally, with a variety of funding options from angel investors, venture capital and corporate venture capital to debt. Classic consumer focused start-ups which look to leverage technology have been able to raise... View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Business Startups; Science; Information Technology; Financial Services Industry; Banking Industry; Technology Industry; India; South Asia

13 Dec 2022
Interview

Why Some Start-Ups Fail to Scale

By: Jeffrey Rayport and Curt Nickisch

Managing rapid growth is a huge challenge for young businesses. Even start-ups with glowing reviews and skyrocketing sales can fail. That’s because new ventures and corporate initiatives alike have to sustain profitability at scale, according to Harvard Business School... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Growth Management; Outcome or Result; Transition

Read Now

10 Jul 2015
Blog Post

Can Entrepreneurship Be Taught?

Professor Jeffrey Bussgang has played a critical role in expanding Harvard Business School’s entrepreneurial offerings over the last few years. A Senior Lecturer at HBS and a General Partner at Flybridge Capital Partners, he is an expert... View Details

04 Dec 2006
Research & Ideas

The Money Connection—Understanding VC Networks

Most of us have experienced the power of networks. There's the job found through a friend's sister's boyfriend, or the lifelong partner met through a neighbor's cousin. But how do networks play into business—particularly the relationship-rich industry of View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna; Financial Services

July 2004 (Revised September 2004)
Background Note

Note on Antidilution Provisions: Typology and a Numerical Example

Antidilution provisions are an important element of most financings offered to entrepreneurs by venture capitalists and business angels. Yet few entrepreneurs are familiar with the different types of antidilution provisions and their mechanics. Compares the three most... View Details

Keywords: Venture Capital; Entrepreneurship

21 Jan 2021
Video

José Alejandro Cortés

José Alejandro Cortés, President of the Colombia-based diversified business group Grupo Bolìvar, explains that he began the group’s international process by moving into countries that spoke the same language. He describes first venturing into Venezuela due to its... View Details

April 2000
Case

Financing of Project Achieve, The (A)

By: Mihir A. Desai

An entrepreneur is forced to analyze the tradeoffs between different equity providers through a detailed analysis of venture financing terms and cash flow forecasts. The founder of a Web-based IMS for schools must negotiate a term sheet, determine funding needs, value... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Forecasting and Prediction; Venture Capital; Cash Flow; Equity; Negotiation Deal; Valuation