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Show Results For
- All HBS Web
(1,177)
- News (134)
- Research (487)
- Events (10)
- Multimedia (90)
- Faculty Publications (401)
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- July 2020
- Case
Amanda and Kristen: Mented Cosmetics
By: Steven Rogers, Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Alterrell Mills
The co-founders (Black HBS alumnae) of an e-commerce beauty startup explore the unmet needs within the beauty industry. This case study examines the entrepreneurial opportunities that come from identifying an underserved market, specifically within the Black community... View Details
Keywords: Brands and Branding; Competition; Customers; Disruption; Disruptive Innovation; Distribution Channels; Entrepreneurship; Finance; Macroeconomics; Marketing; Marketing Channels; Marketing Communications; Marketing Strategy; Mission and Purpose; Organizational Culture; Product Design; Product Development; Product Positioning; Sales; Social Issues; Social Marketing; Business Startups; Strategic Planning; Strategy; Supply Chain Management; Venture Capital; Beauty and Cosmetics Industry; Advertising Industry; Public Relations Industry; Chemical Industry; Manufacturing Industry; Retail Industry; North and Central America; United States; New York (city, NY); New York (state, US)
Rogers, Steven, Jeffrey J. Bussgang, and Alterrell Mills. "Amanda and Kristen: Mented Cosmetics." Harvard Business School Case 321-002, July 2020.
- January 2021 (Revised March 2021)
- Supplement
Juno (C): Leveraging Student Power
By: Joshua Schwartzstein, Kathleen L. McGinn and Amy Klopfenstein
In May 2020, Juno co-founders Chris Abkarians and Nikhil Agarwal decided to hold the annual auction for their student loan assistance startup. Five lenders submitted bids, and the co-founders ultimately opted to select Eager Bank as their partner for the 2020-2021... View Details
Keywords: Decision Making; Decision Choices and Conditions; Decisions; Cost vs Benefits; Judgments; Education; Higher Education; Finance; Borrowing and Debt; Strategy; Adaptation; Alignment; Negotiation; Agreements and Arrangements; Negotiation Deal; Negotiation Offer; Negotiation Participants; Negotiation Process; Negotiation Tactics; Negotiation Types; Financial Services Industry; Education Industry; North and Central America; United States; Massachusetts; Boston
Schwartzstein, Joshua, Kathleen L. McGinn, and Amy Klopfenstein. "Juno (C): Leveraging Student Power." Harvard Business School Supplement 921-034, January 2021. (Revised March 2021.)
- September 2022 (Revised February 2023)
- Case
EnergyNow: Powering a New Market
By: Alexander MacKay and James Barnett
In August 2022, EnergyNow co-founder and CEO Stuart MacWilliam (MBA 2015) considers the company strategy for building solar panels to provide power in South Africa’s recently deregulated energy market. View Details
Keywords: Business Ventures; Development Economics; Energy; Alternative Energy; Energy Generation; Energy Sources; Renewable Energy; Entrepreneurship; Environmental Management; Ethics; Geography; Government and Politics; Energy Policy; Law; Management; Markets; Market Timing; Operations; Energy Industry; Utilities Industry; Africa; South Africa
MacKay, Alexander, and James Barnett. "EnergyNow: Powering a New Market." Harvard Business School Case 723-361, September 2022. (Revised February 2023.)
- February 2021
- Case
Yellow Digital Retailers: Providing Solar Electricity to Transform Rural Africa
By: Lynda M. Applegate, Frank V. Cespedes and Michael Norris
In 2020, Mike Heyink and Maya Stewart, co-founders of the Pay-as-you-Go Solar company Yellow were considering how to grow their startup. They had achieved some success in their first market, Malawi, and had recently entered Uganda, where business was slower. What did... View Details
Keywords: Solar Energy; Business Model; Business Startups; Developing Countries and Economies; Alternative Energy; Renewable Energy; Social Entrepreneurship; Green Technology; Salesforce Management; Diversification; Expansion; Energy Industry; Africa; South Africa; Malawi; Uganda
Applegate, Lynda M., Frank V. Cespedes, and Michael Norris. "Yellow Digital Retailers: Providing Solar Electricity to Transform Rural Africa." Harvard Business School Case 821-041, February 2021.
- March 2025
- Case
Taylor Guitars: Making Employee Ownership Work the Taylor Way
By: Dennis Campbell, Petros Kusmu and Stacy Straaberg
In 2013, guitar manufacturer Taylor Guitars’ co-founders Bob Taylor and Kurt Listug were considering several exit options including selling to a competitor or to a private equity firm. The co-founders decided, instead, to embark on a seven-year process to transfer 100%... View Details
Keywords: Business Exit or Shutdown; Communication Strategy; Announcements; Decisions; Music Entertainment; Values and Beliefs; Borrowing and Debt; Geographic Location; Global Range; Governance; Employee Stock Ownership Plan; Management Style; Organizational Culture; Organizational Structure; Private Ownership; Business Strategy; Management Succession; Transition; Employee Ownership; Performance; Manufacturing Industry; Entertainment and Recreation Industry; United States; California; San Diego; Mexico; Netherlands
Campbell, Dennis, Petros Kusmu, and Stacy Straaberg. "Taylor Guitars: Making Employee Ownership Work the Taylor Way." Harvard Business School Case 125-054, March 2025.
- 28 Jun 2022
- Cold Call Podcast
Scaling a Fintech Startup for the Greater Good
Keywords: Financial Services
- 22 Feb 2022
- Cold Call Podcast
How to Scale a Startup Marketplace for Used Furniture
- February 2022
- Teaching Note
AptDeco: Circular Economy Furniture Marketplace
By: Ayelet Israeli
Teaching Note for HBS Case No. 521-069. AptDeco, a used furniture marketplace, was growing rapidly in the tri-state area. The co-founders were confident that the business model, financial position, and unit economics positioned AptDeco for scaling in the massive $120... View Details
Keywords: E-Commerce Strategy; Mobile; Word-of-Mouth; Word Of Mouth; Word-of-mouth Marketing; Internet Marketing; Growth Strategy; Platform; Platforms; Two Sided Markets; Two-sided Market; Two-sided Marketplace; Two-Sided Markets; Two-sided Network; Black Entrepreneurs; Black Leadership; African Americans; African-American Protagonist; Circular; Peer-to-peer Markets; Furniture Industry; Growth Hacking; Monetization Strategy; Growth Management; Marketing Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Digital Platforms; Marketing Channels; Digital Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Acquisition; Retention; Growth and Development Strategy; Customer Focus and Relationships; Expansion; Brands and Branding; E-commerce; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Technology Industry; Web Services Industry; United States; North America; New York (city, NY); New York (state, US)
- February 2021 (Revised March 2021)
- Case
AptDeco: Circular Economy Furniture Marketplace
By: Ayelet Israeli and Jamie Merkrebs
AptDeco, a used furniture marketplace, was growing rapidly in the tri-state area. The co-founders were confident that the business model, financial position, and unit economics positioned AptDeco for scaling in the massive $120 billion furniture market, despite its... View Details
Keywords: E-Commerce Strategy; Mobile; Word-of-Mouth; Word-of-mouth Marketing; Word Of Mouth; Internet Marketing; Growth Strategy; Platform; Platforms; Two Sided Markets; Two-sided Market; Two-sided Marketplace; Two-Sided Markets; Two-sided Network; Black Entrepreneurs; Black Leadership; African Americans; Circular; Peer-to-peer Markets; Furniture Industry; Furniture; Growth Hacking; Monetization Strategy; African-American Protagonist; Growth Management; Marketing Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Digital Platforms; Marketing Channels; Digital Marketing; Consumer Behavior; Acquisition; Growth and Development Strategy; Customer Focus and Relationships; E-commerce; Retail Industry; Consumer Products Industry; Technology Industry; Web Services Industry; United States; North America; New York (city, NY); New York (state, US)
Israeli, Ayelet, and Jamie Merkrebs. "AptDeco: Circular Economy Furniture Marketplace." Harvard Business School Case 521-069, February 2021. (Revised March 2021.)
- February 2009 (Revised February 2011)
- Case
"Lather, Rinse, Repeat": FeedBurner's Serial Founding Team
By: Noam T. Wasserman and Eric Olson
"Is this the right time or is it still too early?" Dick Costolo wondered as he reflected on the latest acquisition offer. He had been building FeedBurner with his three co-founders for almost four years and was staring at the details of an acquisition offer from... View Details
Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Exit or Shutdown; Decision Choices and Conditions; Entrepreneurship; Negotiation Offer; Groups and Teams
Wasserman, Noam T., and Eric Olson. "Lather, Rinse, Repeat": FeedBurner's Serial Founding Team. Harvard Business School Case 809-089, February 2009. (Revised February 2011.)
- November 2010
- Case
Gilt Groupe
By: Michael J. Roberts, William A. Sahlman and Tamara Obradov
The case explores decisions faced by Gilt Groupe co-founders in 2009 regarding how rapidly to grow, which growth strategies to pursue and how much capital to raise. View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Finance; Growth Management; Growth and Development Strategy; Decision Making
Roberts, Michael J., William A. Sahlman, and Tamara Obradov. "Gilt Groupe." Harvard Business School Case 811-049, November 2010.
- July 2023
- Supplement
Honeycomb (B): Jumping on The Generative AI Bandwagon?
By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Kumba Sennaar
Honeycomb, an audio app enabling users to record stories and save family memories, considers pivoting to embrace generative AI. What should the co-founders business model look like if they pursued this new direction? View Details
- March 2022
- Case
Tensions at SearchLight Cures
By: Laura Huang and Sarah Mehta
This general experience case tells the story of SearchLight Cures, a fictional biotechnology startup. Having discovered a new therapy for a rare disease, the company’s co-founders find themselves at an impasse over a pricing disagreement. View Details
Keywords: Business Ventures; Business Growth and Maturation; Business Startups; Communication; Interpersonal Communication; Values and Beliefs; Management; Negotiation; Relationships; Partners and Partnerships; Science; Biotechnology Industry; United States; California; San Francisco
Huang, Laura, and Sarah Mehta. "Tensions at SearchLight Cures." Harvard Business School Case 422-059, March 2022.
- March 2022 (Revised February 2024)
- Case
Emeritus: Achieving Impact, Providing Access (A)
By: Ashish Nanda and Zack Kurtovich
In June 2019, Emeritus cofounders Ashwin Damera (HBS MBA 2005) and Chaitanya Kalipatnapu were thrilled with the rapid growth of Emeritus. Damera and Kalipatnapu believed that Emeritus, established in July 2015 to offer online executive education, was only in the early... View Details
Keywords: Education Technology; Professional Service Firm; Startup; Digital Strategy; Global Business; Global Firm; Platform Business; Business Startups; Growth and Development; Growth and Development Strategy; Entrepreneurship; Executive Education; Strategy; Education Industry; India
Nanda, Ashish, and Zack Kurtovich. "Emeritus: Achieving Impact, Providing Access (A)." Harvard Business School Case 722-429, March 2022. (Revised February 2024.)
- October 2021 (Revised September 2022)
- Case
SmartOne: Building an AI Data Business
By: Karim R. Lakhani, Pippa Armerding, Gamze Yucaoglu and Fares Khrais
The case opens in August 2021, as Habib and Shahysta Hassim, husband and wife co-founders of the data labeling company SmartOne, contemplate the strategy of the high growth company. Between 2016 and 2021, SmartOne had kept doubling its size every two years and now,... View Details
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence; Data Labeling; Entrepreneurship; Strategy; Operations; Business Model; Growth Management; Growth and Development Strategy; AI and Machine Learning; Africa; Madagascar; Europe; France; United States
Lakhani, Karim R., Pippa Armerding, Gamze Yucaoglu, and Fares Khrais. "SmartOne: Building an AI Data Business." Harvard Business School Case 622-059, October 2021. (Revised September 2022.)
- January 2021 (Revised March 2021)
- Case
Jumia's Path to Profitability
By: Ramon Casadesus-Masanell, Pippa Tubman Armerding and Gamze Yucaoglu
The case opens in September 2019 as Sacha Poignonnec and Jeremy Hodara, co-founders and co-CEOs of Jumia, the leading Pan-African e-commerce platform, are contemplating the company’s path to profitability in the aftermath of a fragile investor sentiment, as the company... View Details
Keywords: Retail; Business Models; Business Model; Business Startups; Emerging Markets; For-Profit Firms; Strategy; Digital Platforms; Information Technology; Technology Adoption; Value Creation; Globalization; Entrepreneurship; Competition; Expansion; Logistics; Profit; Resource Allocation; Diversification; Corporate Strategy; Retail Industry; Technology Industry; Africa
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon, Pippa Tubman Armerding, and Gamze Yucaoglu. "Jumia's Path to Profitability." Harvard Business School Case 721-355, January 2021. (Revised March 2021.)
- May 2017 (Revised February 2024)
- Case
Battle for the Soul of Capitalism: Unilever and the Kraft Heinz Takeover Bid (A)
By: William W. George and Amram Migdal
This case describes Kraft Heinz Company’s (KHC) February 2017 unsolicited $143 billion takeover offer to acquire Unilever. The offer was made to Unilever CEO Paul Polman by KHC chairman Alexandre Behring, who was also co-founder and CEO of Brazilian-based 3G Capital... View Details
George, William W., and Amram Migdal. "Battle for the Soul of Capitalism: Unilever and the Kraft Heinz Takeover Bid (A)." Harvard Business School Case 317-127, May 2017. (Revised February 2024.)
- October 2011
- Case
CSN Stores
By: William A. Sahlman and Neil Tolaney
In March 2011, CSN Stores is a collection of nearly 200 Internet retail websites, including Cookware.com, Strollers.com, and Luggage.com. Co-founders Niraj Shah and Steve Conine were considering making a major investment to build brand equity at the corporate level. View Details
Keywords: Internet and the Web; Distribution Channels; Investment; Brands and Branding; Equity; Corporate Entrepreneurship; Information Technology Industry; Retail Industry
Sahlman, William A., and Neil Tolaney. "CSN Stores." Harvard Business School Case 812-044, October 2011.
- October 2008
- Case
TripIt: The Traveler's Agent
By: Lynda M. Applegate, Gabriele Piccoli and Kathryn Brohman
In July 2008, the co-founders of TripIt, a free online travel organizer that aggregated travelers' bookings from many top travel websites, had recently secured $5.1 million in new financing. While the co-founders believed that their company offered travelers a unique... View Details
Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Investment; Profit; Revenue; Growth and Development Strategy; Competition; Internet; Travel Industry
Applegate, Lynda M., Gabriele Piccoli, and Kathryn Brohman. "TripIt: The Traveler's Agent." Harvard Business School Case 809-059, October 2008.
- January 2014 (Revised June 2014)
- Supplement
23andMe: Genetic Testing for Consumers (B)
By: John A. Quelch and Margaret L. Rodriguez
Following the FDA's letter in November 2013, which ordered 23andMe to cease sales of its DNA test kits, observers wondered how co-founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki, would guide the company in the presence of uncertainty. View Details
Keywords: Risk and Uncertainty; Genetics; Crisis Management; Health Care and Treatment; Product Development; Business and Government Relations; Biotechnology Industry; Consumer Products Industry; United States
Quelch, John A., and Margaret L. Rodriguez. "23andMe: Genetic Testing for Consumers (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 514-095, January 2014. (Revised June 2014.)