Publications

June 2024
Case

VC Journey Vignette (A): Board Formation and Onboarding

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Jackie Grant

September 2022
Case

AllSpice: GitHub for Hardware Engineers

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Mel Martin

AllSpice, a software-as-a-service company that built a GitHub-like revision control tool for hardware engineers, was in the midst of preparing for rapid scale when the 2022 market downturn left them with big decisions to make. Cofounder and CEO Valentina Ratner had to... View Details

Keywords: Scaling; SaaS; Strategy; Marketing; Growth and Development Strategy; Resource Allocation; Customer Focus and Relationships; Technology Industry; Electronics Industry; United States

February 2021
Teaching Plan

Soofa: Displaying the Right Path?

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Amy Klopfenstein

This teaching plan serves as a supplement to the case “Soofa: Displaying the Right Path?” HBS 820-098. The case explores the tension between two different financing and expansion plans for a startup, and explores issues related to business model pivots and industry... View Details

December 2018
Case

Choosy

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Julia Kelley

Founded in 2017, Choosy is a data-driven fashion startup that uses algorithms to identify styles trending on social media. After manufacturing similar items using a China-based supply chain, Choosy sells them to consumers through its website and social media pages.... View Details

January 2018 (Revised January 2019)
Case

ZappRx

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Olivia Hull

In October 2015, ZappRx founder Zoe Barry is deciding between two business models for her health technology start-up. Her product, a software application that aims to expedite the prescription fulfillment process for patients with rare diseases, has attracted interest... View Details

Keywords: Speciality Drugs; Hub Services; Pivot; Speciality Prescriptions; Health Care and Treatment; Customization and Personalization; Internet and the Web; Business Model; Decision Choices and Conditions; Pharmaceutical Industry; Massachusetts

March 2016
Teaching Plan

Jibo: A Social Robot for the Home

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Christine Snively

August 2023
Teaching Plan

Kapor Capital

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Kumba Sennaar

Teaching Plan for HBS Case No. 823-023. View Details

March 2022 (Revised October 2022)
Teaching Note

On the Bubble: Startup Bootstrapping

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Tom Quinn

This teaching note accompanies the case “On the Bubble: Startup Bootstrapping.” (HBS No. 822-033) View Details

June 2021
Teaching Plan

COVID-19 Testing at Everlywell

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Olivia Hull

Teaching Plan for HBS Case No. 821-001. View Details

January 21, 2020
Article

When Community Becomes Your Competitive Advantage

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Jono Bacon

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March 2020
Teaching Plan

Giving Birth to Ovia Health

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Julia Kelley

July 2018
Teaching Plan

ZappRx

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Olivia Hull

Teaching Note for HBS No. 818-001. View Details

April 2017 (Revised May 2023)
Teaching Plan

Delivering the Goods at Shippo

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Olivia Hull

Teaching Plan for HBS No. 817-065. View Details

December 2015 (Revised May 2016)
Case

Jibo: A Social Robot for the Home

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Christine Snively

In January 2015, Jibo Inc. had completed a raise of $25.3 million in Series A financing after a successful 2014 crowdfunding campaign for preorders of Jibo, the first social robot for the home. Over 4,800 Jibo units were preordered, generating $2.6 million in sales. On... View Details

Keywords: Business Development; Entrepreneurship; Applications and Software; Information Infrastructure; Business Startups; Technology Industry

November 2014 (Revised January 2015)
Teaching Plan

Yahoo: Both Sides of the Stamped Deal

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Lisa Mazzanti

January 2014 (Revised May 2015)
Case

Open English

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Lisa Mazzanti

Open English, a Miami-based startup offering online English language learning services, had more than 30,000 active students across Latin America in 2012. The company had just closed a $43 million financing round in order to rapidly scale its service to the next level.... View Details

Keywords: Technology Strategy; Product Management; Startup; Online Learning; Digital Platforms; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Technology Industry; Miami; Venezuela

28 Aug 2012
First Look

First Look: August 28

attributable to comparability. Together, the findings are consistent with mandatory IFRS adoption improving comparability and thus leading to capital market benefits by reducing insiders' ability to exploit private information. Epistemic... View Details

Keywords: Sean Silverthorne

April 2024
Teaching Plan

Fixie and Conversational AI Sidekicks

By: Jeffrey J. Bussgang and Tom Quinn

Teaching Plan for HBS Case No. 824-037, “Fixie and Conversational AI Sidekicks.” View Details

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

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Operations; Business Startups; Business Model; AI and Machine Learning; Technology Industry; United States