Publications

November 2011 (Revised August 2012)
Background Note

Customer Visits for Entrepreneurs

By: Frank V. Cespedes

Provides practical guidelines for conducting customer visits to explore and validate demand for an entrepreneurial offering. Reviews conditions under which visits will yield superior insights, compared to other research methods. Describes criteria for selecting visit... View Details

Keywords: Customers; Entrepreneurship

Web

Becoming an Entrepreneur - Alumni

Careers Becoming an Entrepreneur Careers Becoming an Entrepreneur Considering starting your own venture or thinking about joining a start-up? Explore our resources to determine if a career in... View Details

15 Aug 2018
Book

Why Entrepreneurs Must Focus on Building Trust

Keywords: by Dina Gerdeman

04 Feb 2020
Cold Call Podcast

Why Backstage Capital Invests in ‘Underestimated’ Entrepreneurs

Keywords: Financial Services

17 Feb 2020
News

How Entrepreneurs Can Find the Right Problem to Solve

02 Dec 2010
News

Ten Rules for Entrepreneurs

entrepreneurs from the late 1990s and winnowed the lot down to three: Marla Malcolm Beck, Chris Michel, and Marc Cenedella. From their stories, he derived key lessons learned, often the hard way, as they built successful businesses,... View Details

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

20 Jul 2018
News

How Entrepreneurs Can Thrive in Developing Economies

February 2012 (Revised May 2012)
Case

The China Entrepreneurs Forum

By: William C. Kirby, G.A. Donovan and Tracy Yuen Manty

Keywords: Entrepreneurship; China

13 Jul 2015
News

Empowering entrepreneurs in Africa

Maimouna Diakhaby (MBA 2016), who came to HBS because of its leadership focus, plans to return to Africa to help empower deprived communities through entrepreneurship. (Published July 2015) View Details

December 2004 (Revised April 2014)
Case

Stan Lapidus: Profile of a Medical Entrepreneur

By: Robert F. Higgins and Sophie LaMontagne

Describes the career path and insights of Stanley Lapidus, a successful serial entrepreneur in the medical and life sciences industry. Lapidus is the founder of Cytyc Corp. (NASDAQ: CYTC) and EXACT Sciences (NASDAQ: EXAS) and is currently the CEO of his third start-up,... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Experience and Expertise; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Managerial Roles; Health Industry

04 Feb 2020
News

Why Backstage Capital Invests in “Underestimated” Entrepreneurs

22 May 2016
News

An Evangelist for Entrepreneurs

As former chief secretary to the British Treasury under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, MP and former entrepreneur Liam Byrne (MBA 2010) has had plenty of opportunity for success, failure, and reflection. Asked what his one change would be... View Details

01 Dec 2019
News

Why Entrepreneurs Don’t Learn From Their Mistakes

21 Jun 2017
News

Meet the Oddball Entrepreneurs Who Invented Green Businesses

16 Oct 2006
Research & Ideas

Report from China: The New Entrepreneurs

companies, I don't think we were very surprised. Impressed, yes, but not surprised. Q: What's a "sea turtle" and why is it important in discussing the development of entrepreneurism in China? There are many paths to successful... View Details

Keywords: by Sean Silverthorne

February 2011 (Revised September 2013)
Case

Sound Group China: Urban Waste Entrepreneurs

By: John D. Macomber, Chad M. Carr and Fan Zhao

Private sector entrepreneur in China with advanced solid waste management capability competes with state owned enterprises and also government policies supporting a rival technology. Wen Yibo has used engineering expertise and political savvy to build a major privately... View Details

Keywords: Private Sector; Public Sector; Service Delivery; Business and Government Relations; Environmental Sustainability; Wastes and Waste Processing; Urban Development; Utilities Industry; China