Publications

29 Nov 2022
Research & Ideas

Is There a Method to Musk’s Madness on Twitter?

users to reconsider whether they will continue using the platform. Critics say all these radical moves are akin to lighting Twitter investors’ money on fire. But is there a method to Musk’s madness? Andy Wu is an assistant professor of View Details

Keywords: by Christina Pazzanese, Harvard Gazette; Technology

April 1999
Case

Trexel

Describes an interesting plastics technology and an entrepreneur's attempts to build a business around it. Highlights issues around managing technical and market risk. Teaching purpose: Highlights difficult decisions around building a business off of an unproven... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Business Startups; Risk Management; Risk and Uncertainty; Information Technology; Corporate Entrepreneurship

September 2001 (Revised May 2006)
Case

Webvan

Examines Webvan's operations and the processes by which it delivers groceries that were ordered from the Internet to customers' homes. Recounts Webvan's history from founding through early 2001 and concentrates on the unique approaches to warehousing, delivery,... View Details

Keywords: Business Model; Failure; Business Startups; Consumer Products Industry; Service Industry

March 2025
Case

Harvey: AI for Lawyers

By: Suraj Srinivasan, Charles Krumholz and Radhika Kak

In early 2025, Winston Weinberg and Gabe Pereyra, co-founders of Harvey AI, reflected on the company’s meteoric rise as a pioneer in AI-powered legal technology. Since its founding in 2022, Harvey had transformed how lawyers approached research, drafting, and document... View Details

Keywords: Innovation Strategy; Business Startups; AI and Machine Learning; Technological Innovation; Growth and Development Strategy; Product Positioning; Legal Services Industry; Technology Industry; New York (city, NY); San Francisco; London

01 Dec 2023
News

Wide Horizon

There were three critical events that led John Rodakis (MBA 1997) to form the nonprofit N of One in 2014 and ultimately dedicate his life to surfacing breakthrough autism research. The first occurred on Thanksgiving of 2012. He had driven about four hours with his wife... View Details

Keywords: Dan Morrell; Photos by Sarah Wilson

August 2019 (Revised April 2020)
Case

BlueVine Capital: Growth Factors

By: Marco Di Maggio and Nathaniel Schwalb

The start-up, BlueVine Capital Inc. (BlueVine), used data and technology to help finance small businesses via factoring and lines of credit. The case explains the small business financing market in mid-2010s, how CEO Eyal Lifshitz identified the opportunity for... View Details

Keywords: Fintech; Business Startups; Small Business; Financing and Loans; Innovation Leadership; Strategy; Financial Services Industry; Technology Industry

Web

Student Journey - Entrepreneurship

founder-related programs, resources, and guidance. Joiner Students interested in joining a startup (internship or full-time role) and are seeking opportunities to build relevant skills and understand the View Details

01 Dec 2023
News

Endless Possibilities

Faye Iosotaluno (MBA 2008) met her husband through friends when she was only 19 years old. It was 1999, and the mobile-first app Tinder—which launched in 2012 and where Iosotaluno is currently COO—was not even a distant glimmer on the dating horizon. While the app... View Details

Keywords: Julia Hanna

07 Nov 2022
News

Victoria’s Secret Buys Alumni-Founded Adore Me

Morgan Hermand Waiche Morgan Hermand Waiche The Wall Street Journal reported last week that startup lingerie retailer Adore Me was bought by Victoria’s Secret for $400 million. Launched soon after Hermand Waiche graduated, Adore Me aimed... View Details

Keywords: Clothing and Clothing Accessories Stores; Retail Trade

Web

2023 Reunion Presentations - Alumni

Reunions 2023 Reunion Presentations At Reunions, HBS faculty and other thought leaders address a range of issues facing business and society. Program recordings and materials (slide deck, handouts, etc.) are made available only when... View Details

01 Jun 2023
News

Bridging the ESG Data Gap

Megan Murday The idea for a digital platform to help venture capitalists calculate, benchmark, and improve portfolio ESG performance crystallized while Megan Murday (MBA 2021) was studying at HBS. Now the CEO of the software startup... View Details

Keywords: Deborah Blagg

16 May 2023
In Practice

After Silicon Valley Bank's Flameout, What's Next for Entrepreneurs?

investments and triggered a run on deposits, gave pause to startup investors and also holds lessons for founders going forward. Harvard Business School faculty suggest some key takeaways for the View Details

Keywords: by Avery Forman; Technology; Financial Services

December 2008 (Revised February 2011)
Case

Evan Williams: From Blogger to Odeo (A)

By: Noam T. Wasserman and Louis-Philippe Maurice

For several months, founder-CEO Evan Williams has felt trapped, unable to control Odeo and its strategic direction. He longs for the "simple" days of Blogger, the previous venture he had co-founded. Although his Blogger experiences had included a major blow-up with his... View Details

Keywords: Mergers and Acquisitions; Business Startups; Decision Choices and Conditions; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Information Technology Industry