Publications

February 2019
Case

Canibal—Play It Green!

By: Frank V. Cespedes, Joseph B. Fuller, Tonia Labruyere and Elena Corsi

In 2011, Canibal launched a machine that could sort and compress aluminum cans, plastic bottles, and cups. Users could play a jackpot-style game on the machine’s digital display, while disposing of their beverage containers and earning coupons or other rewards. The... View Details

Keywords: Sales Growth; Recycling; Start-up; Scaling; Market Selection; Sales; Marketing; Business Startups; Growth and Development Strategy; Segmentation; Product Positioning; Technology Industry; France

December 2008 (Revised April 2010)
Case

Proteus Biomedical: Making Pigs Fly

By: Richard G. Hamermesh, Lauren Barley and Ginger Graham

Proteus is a healthcare start-up that has developed technology to embed electronics for computing and sensing in existing medical devices and drugs. The technology could potentially change the basis of competition in the pharmaceutical industry. The company is... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; Technological Innovation; Rights; Negotiation Deal; Business Strategy; Health Industry; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry

September 2003 (Revised March 2007)
Case

Direvo Biotech AG

Describes the financing and growth decisions facing Direvo, a young German biotech firm with a customer/partner that wants to become an investor. Also discusses the business model for Direvo's directed evolution technology, with applications in both industrial enzymes... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Decisions; Business Exit or Shutdown; Value; Business Startups; Biotechnology Industry; Germany

April 1998 (Revised November 1999)
Case

CitySoft, Inc.

By: Myra M. Hart, Marco Iansiti, Andrea H. Chermayeff and Diana S. Gardner

Two entrepreneurs are discussing how to scale-up their new company. They face a variety of issues, ranging from hiring and training to strategy and focus. View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Business Strategy; Business Growth and Maturation; Selection and Staffing; Internet; Web Services Industry

Find at Harvard

April 1998
Teaching Note

Materials Technology Corporation TN

By: Clayton M. Christensen

Teaching Note for (9-694-075). View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Market Entry and Exit; Technology; Research; Markets; Marketing Strategy; Product Development

01 Jun 2011
News

Faculty Research Online

Are We Thinking Too Little, or Too Much? In the course of making a decision, managers often err in one of two directions: either overanalyzing a situation or forgoing all the relevant information and simply going with their gut. Associate Professor Michael Norton... View Details

Keywords: Miscellaneous Manufacturing; Manufacturing

01 Jun 2012
News

Attention, HBS Entrepreneurs!

Venture capitalists Patrick Chung (MBA 2004) and Harry Weller (MBA 1998) are prime movers behind the Experiment Fund, launched to support innovators or current students who are leading Cambridge, Massachusetts tech start-ups in health care, energy, or information. In... View Details

Keywords: Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

08 Mar 2016
News

More Work to Do

(photo by Erin Patrice O'Brien) (photo by Erin Patrice O'Brien) Raised by his grandparents and sister in Dallas’s South Oak Cliff neighborhood, Casey Gerald (MBA 2014) went on to play football for Yale before coming to HBS, where he cofounded MBAs Across America, a... View Details

01 Dec 2014
News

Innovation: Frozen Assets

(Sora/Corbis) Earlier this year, when former Lululemon CEO Christine Day (AMP 163, 2002) started her new role as CEO of Luvo, a frozen-food upstart with nearly $50 million in backing, she had to get acquainted with a few things. One of them was Yankees All-Star Derek... View Details

Keywords: Janelle Nanos

01 Sep 2005
News

Taking Flight

IN HIS ELEMENT: Peter Thayer has spotted nearly 3,500 species of birds...and counting. Peter Thayer (MBA ’73) didn’t recognize the little bird hopping about in his backyard outside Cincinnati. His parents had given him a field guide for his 11th birthday, but he hadn’t... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna; Finance; Publishing Industries (except Internet); Information; Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, and Book Stores; Retail Trade

08 Jun 2011
News

Alumni News: Latin Flair

/bulletin/alumni-news/story-vostu.html View Details

Keywords: Margie Kelley; Computer Systems Design and Related Services; Professional Services

February 2023
Case

Kapor Capital

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang, Lindsay N. Hyde and Julia Kelley

Kapor Capital, a leading impact investment venture capital (VC) firm, is on the cusp of a generational transition. The two rising managing directors are about to take over the firm from the VC’s eponymous founders. How should they think about strategy, brand, and... View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Operations; Business Startups; Financial Services Industry; United States

February 2015
Supplement

MuMaté Tool: Evaluating Financing Alternatives

By: Joseph B. Fuller

"MuMaté Tool: Evaluating Financing Alternatives" walks students through the considerations in allocating equity amongst the members of a startup's founding team. This exercise is designed to be used in conjunction with: Shikhar Ghosh, Joseph B. Fuller, Thomas E.... View Details

Keywords: Partners and Partnerships; Business Startups; Equity

04 Feb 2015
News

HourlyNerd Raises $7.8M for Its Consulting Gig Marketplace

Keywords: Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services; Professional Services

01 Jun 2002
News

Steven Murch: Philanthropist-in-Training

Murch: from high-tech success to hands-on development (photo courtesy of Steven Murch) Murch: from high-tech success to hands-on development (photo courtesy of Steven Murch) Another in a series of occasional articles on HBS graduates who have taken a leave from their... View Details

Keywords: Margie Kelley; Construction of Buildings; Construction; Health, Social Assistance

Profile

Cynthia Samanian

there were a variety of attractive career options presented during the recruiting season. Throughout my two years at HBS, participation in student clubs and programs has helped me stay true to my career desires. During my first year, I was an active member of the View Details

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Technology

05 Jun 2014
Blog Post

Learning to fail at HBS

and shutdown two startups - a culinary curation service (you can see the remnants of it at www.zesters.co) and a date idea recommendation engine (the origins of this are as nebulous as its fate). I think I knew this somewhere in the back... View Details

Keywords: Consulting; Consumer Products / Retail

October 2022
Supplement

Framebridge (B): A New Approach

By: Rembrand Koning and Alicia Dadlani

In 2022, after revamping operations and expanding retail stores, Framebridge founder and CEO Susan Tynan is optimistic for the future but realizes changing market dynamics. New competitors are entering the market, and margin pressures remained. This case is part two of... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Business Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Operations; Market Entry and Exit; Consumer Products Industry; United States; District of Columbia; Kentucky