Publications

November 2006
Case

Brontes Technologies -- 2005

By: William A. Sahlman and Caroline Perkins

Describes a set of decisions confronting the founders of a company developing a new device for taking three-dimensional pictures of teeth in order to improve dental outcomes. The company needs more money and must choose between raising new equity capital from a venture... View Details

Keywords: Borrowing and Debt; Business Startups; Medical Devices and Supplies Industry

May 2006 (Revised July 2007)
Case

Tropos Networks

By: Joseph B. Lassiter III and Elizabeth Kind

As Ron Sege, president and CEO of Tropos Networks, walked through the halls of the firm's offices, he realized that the space they had moved into only about a year ago was already becoming too small. The company, based in Sunnyvale, California, was founded in late 2000... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Entrepreneurship; Growth Management; Wireless Technology; Sunnyvale

January 2006 (Revised February 2007)
Case

SuperCat Powerboats (A)

By: James L. Heskett

Ryan and David Kratz have formed a new company, under very favorable terms, with a fiberglass boat builder. But at the signing of the agreement for the new company's information, the builder's spouse suggests that the Kratz's share of ownership be reduced from 67% to... View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Negotiation; Ownership Stake; Consumer Products Industry

01 Apr 2002
News

The Simplest Taste

cachet to mail-order shopping. Although he mixed easily with the wealthy and famous, and came to be considered an arbiter of correctness, Marcus never forgot his business roots, declaring that "no man is too big to go out and make a... View Details

Keywords: Apparel Manufacturing; Manufacturing

June 1988 (Revised August 1988)
Case

Alpha and Omega

Students will read the case and prepare an action plan for class. In class the students will discuss their action plan for the formation of a new company. View Details

Keywords: Business Startups; Planning

01 Dec 2014
News

Ask the Expert: A Fair Share

learn how to support these sorts of shared business models? If you were the CEO of an insurance company, how would you address the conflicts between this model (splitting ownership and usage) and the traditional, well understood, and... View Details

02 Mar 2016
News

The New Space Race

07 Aug 2018
News

DreamBox Learning Breaks New Ground

and Richard Branson. The article notes that the new funding will support expansion into new, international markets. The funding also puts the company—and Woolley-Wilson—in rare company. With Rise’s $130 million check, DreamBox becomes one of the best-funded View Details

October 1993
Background Note

Note on Developing Start-Up Strategies

Provides students with a workable framework for analyzing new ventures. Stresses the importance of matching analytical tasks to the type of venture contemplated. View Details

Keywords: Analysis; Business Startups

29 Jun 2015
News

Entrepreneurs on a "Surprise Ride"

19 Jun 2015
News

Outside the Box: Jodi Goldstein of Harvard Innovation Lab

25 May 2014
News

"Unmentionable" Innovation

Keywords: Textile Mills; Manufacturing; Retail Trade

October 1995
Case

Johnson-Grace: March 1994

Johnson-Grace is a cash-strapped start-up company negotiating a licensing agreement with America OnLine (AOL), a leading provider of on-line services in the United States. The Johnson-Grace technology would enable AOL to transmit visual images to its customers more... View Details

Keywords: Business or Company Management; Online Technology; Negotiation; Business Startups

14 May 2015
News

Cracking the Nut on Exporting Shea Butter

October 1975 (Revised August 1986)
Case

Limited Editions, Inc.

Describes a new venture: production of figurines in limited quantities as works of art and investments. Company guarantees to repurchase at original price. View Details

Keywords: Revenue Recognition; Business Startups; Consumer Products Industry

April 2015 (Revised May 2018)
Case

NXTP Labs: An Innovative Accelerator Model

By: Josh Lerner, Maria Fernanda Miguel and Laura Urdapilleta

This case follows a unique accelerator fund in Latin America, facing challenges on how to keep growing, including development of venture capital fund and leveraging of entrepreneur ecosystem. View Details

Keywords: Latin America; Accelerator; Ecosystem; Entrepreneurship; Venture Capital; Business Startups; Financial Services Industry; Latin America