Publications

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2025
Working Paper

How to Choose Among Technologies with Learning Curves: Making Better Investment Decisions

By: Christian Kaps and Arielle Anderer

Learning curves, the fact that technologies improve as a function of cumulative experience or investment, are desirable-think inexpensive solar panels or higher performing semiconductors. But, for firms that need to pick one technology among several candidates, such as... View Details

Keywords: Learning Curve; Technology; Innovation; Batteries; Energy Storage; Sequential Decision Making; TELCO; Exploration; Exploitation; Problems and Challenges; Cost vs Benefits; Technology Adoption; Battery Industry

SSRN

February 2017
Case

Eve Hall: The African American Investment Fund in Milwaukee

By: Steven Rogers and Alterrell Mills

The case highlights the role of minority chambers of commerce and the background of Eve Hall, a well-regarded multi-sector leader asked to revive Wisconsin's African-American chamber. This case study examines the lending options that a minority chamber of commerce... View Details

October 2007 (Revised July 2013)
Case

Vertex Pharmaceuticals and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation: Venture Philanthropy Funding for Biotech

By: Robert F. Higgins, Sophie LaMontagne and Brent Kazan

In 2001, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated acquired the San Diego-based biotech company, Aurora Biosciences. The combination of Vertex's and Aurora's technologies would improve the flow of novel drug candidates into development. However, several questions related to... View Details

Keywords: Philanthropy; Philanthropy Funding; Innovation; Funding Model; Venture Capital; Partners and Partnerships; Financing and Loans; Investment Funds; Acquisition; Philanthropy and Charitable Giving; Biotechnology Industry; Pharmaceutical Industry; San Diego

11 Dec 2018
Blog Post

Recap of the 4th Annual Women in Investing Summit

Accountancy from the University of Illinois. Roughly 200 attendees joined the Fourth Annual Women in Investing Summit on November 29th. It was powerful to be surrounded by a diverse group of women and men who were so passionate about... View Details

24 Apr 2014
News

Investing in new technologies to accelerate change

Girish Nadkami (MBA 1988), a venture capitalist in Switzerland, talks about the impact of investing in new technologies for communications, robotics, and environmental start-ups. (Published April 2014) View Details

17 Apr 2014
News

York Street Partners and Busbud Take Top Honors in Harvard Business School Alumni New Venture Competition

21 Apr 2011
Research & Ideas

Searching for Better Practices in Social Investing

Investing: Emerging Trends in a Changing Landscape," a recent panel discussion hosted by Harvard Business School's Social Enterprise Initiative. They also touched on growing trends including venture philanthropy and social impact... View Details

Keywords: by Carmen Nobel; Financial Services

January 2002 (Revised December 2002)
Background Note

A Note on the Value of Information in an Entrepreneurial Venture

By: Paul W. Marshall

Uses a decision analysis framework to analyze the value of gaming information before making a full investment in an entrepreneurial venture. View Details

Keywords: Decisions; Entrepreneurship; Investment; Framework; Business or Company Management

24 Apr 2014
News

An investment of time to advance education

Renowned as a venture capitalist and a social entrepreneur, James Breyer (MBA 1987) is now furthering his commitment to education—including, since 2013, helping to guide Harvard as a Fellow of the University's Corporation. “I have a very... View Details

Web

Venture Capital and Private Equity - Course Catalog

HBS Course Catalog Venture Capital and Private Equity Course Number 1428 Senior Lecturer Jo Tango Senior Lecturer Archie L. Jones Fall; Q1Q2; 3.0 credits 28 Sessions Overview Note: this course is not for students with prior full-time VCPE... View Details

25 Feb 2002
Research & Ideas

MNCs in Asia: Investing in the Future

at Harvard Business School. Nicholas Howson, a partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, focused his comments on developments in China. Corporate investment in China used to be long-term and brand-focused, he said, with an... View Details

Keywords: by Julia Hanna

24 Apr 2014
News

A lifetime investment in the entrepreneurial spirit

The name William K. Bowes Jr. (MBA 1952) is synonymous with the development of venture capital in America and the rise of Silicon Valley. As a founder of U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) in 1981, the late HBS... View Details

June 2025
Teaching Plan

SWEN Blue Ocean: Impact Investing Goes to Sea

By: Vikram S Gandhi and David Allen

Teaching Plan for HBS Case No. 325-013 View Details

Keywords: Communication Technology; Green Technology; Finance; Venture Capital; Private Equity; Investment; Investment Funds; Science-Based Business; Financial Services Industry; France; Paris; Italy

04 Feb 2020
Cold Call Podcast

Why Backstage Capital Invests in ‘Underestimated’ Entrepreneurs

Keywords: Financial Services

May 2011
Background Note

Scale Effects, Network Effects, and Investment Strategy

By: Willy Shih

This technical note discusses scale economies, and direct and indirect network effects in the context of building better business models. Some of the great business disasters of the dot.com bubble were companies that scaled their infrastructure without working through... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Investment; Price; Crisis Management; Network Effects; Multi-Sided Platforms; Strategy