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'It Just Works' (Spanish version)
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Pao, Michael; Barley, LaurenCase HBS-812S02EntrepreneurshipDropbox is a venture-backed Silicon Valley startup, founded in 2006, that provides online storage and backup services to millions of customers using a "freemium" (free + premium offers) business model. The case recounts Dropbox's history from conception through mid-2010, when founder/CEO Drew Houston must make strategic decisions about new product features, how to target enterprise customers, and whether to pursue distribution deals with smartpho...Starting at €8.20
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Hypothesis-Driven Entrepreneurship: The Lean Startup
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Ries, Eric; Dillard, SarahCase HBS-812095-EEntrepreneurshipFirms that follow a hypothesis-driven approach to evaluating entrepreneurial opportunity are called "lean startups." Entrepreneurs in these startups translate their vision into falsifiable business model hypotheses, then test the hypotheses using a series of "minimum viable products," each of which represents the smallest set of features/activities needed to rigorously validate a concept. Based on test feedback, entrepreneurs must then decide whe...Starting at €8.20
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Project AgriNova (Spanish version)
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Bijlani, TanyaCase HBS-816S10EntrepreneurshipIn late 2008, a team from Intuit's office in Bangalore, India is evaluating an opportunity to launch a new venture that would use SMS to deliver crop price information to farmers in India.The case describes the structure of Indian agriculture and the problems experienced by farmers, who were often exploited by middlemen who entered into obtuse private arrangements with wholesale buyers. After five weeks of research, the team concludes that the op...Starting at €8.20
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The Politics and Economics of Accounting for Goodwill at Cisco Systems (B)
Ramanna, KarthikCase HBS-109003-EFinanceStudies the role of Cisco in setting current US accounting standards for acquisitions and goodwill. Students are asked to analyze an acquisition in the context of an ongoing political debate on mergers accounting.Starting at €5.74
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Business and Government: Campaign Contributions and Lobbying in the United States
Ramanna, Karthik; Sucher, Sandra J.; Cornell, Ian McKownCase HBS-113037-EEconomicsThis note on business-government relations introduces students to the state of campaign contributions and lobbying by corporations in the United States. The note develops two hypotheses as to the impact of corporate political engagement: (i) a vehicle to facilitate good government; and (ii) an instrument of special-interest capture. The note can be used to generate a discussion on the following issues: (1) In a democratic capitalist society, what...Starting at €8.20
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Tapestry Networks
Ramanna, Karthik; Shaffer, MatthewCase HBS-114051-EAccounting and ControlTapestry Networks assembled industry leaders and their regulators in small, private meetings to build new frameworks for pressing regulatory challenges. Tapestry's motivating principle was to reimagine solutions to complex problems (e.g., drug-approval standards) in ways that created a win-win for firms and society. Tapestry meetings on bank-governance standards-initiated after the 2008-2009 Financial Crisis-had experienced some success in rebuil...Starting at €8.20
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Dylan Pierce at Peninsula Industries, Teaching Note
Ramanna, KarthikTeaching Note HBS-115053-ETeaching note for case 115024.Starting at €0.00
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Staging Two-sided Platforms
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Hagiu, AndreiCase HBS-808004-EStrategyFirms that aspire to develop two-sided platforms face a formidable challenge. Prospective users on each side will not invest in the platform until they are confident there will be enough users on the other side. Traditional strategies for dealing with this dilemma--subsidizing users or securing their exclusive affiliation--are costly and risky. Describes less costly staged strategies for building two-sided platforms. With the "vendor to two-sided...Starting at €8.20
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Steven Carpenter at Cake Financial
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Wagonfeld, Alison BerkleyCase HBS-811041-EEntrepreneurshipAfter investing $9 million of venture capital, Cake Financial had failed to reach critical mass. In early 2010 Cake's assets were sold and the company was dissolved. Founded in 2006, the San Francisco-based Internet company allowed users to monitor their investments and communicate with each other about their portfolio strategies. The case recounts key decisions made by founder and CEO Steve Carpenter, including several "pivots" -- shifts in busi...Starting at €8.20
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Keurig: Confidential Information for Negotiation with Green Mountain Coffee Roasters
Eisenmann, Thomas R.; Ghosh, Shikhar; Sebenius, James K.Case HBS-812102-EEntrepreneurshipCase provides confidential information for students assuming the role of senior executives of Keurig, a startup that has developed an innovative "portion pack" coffee brewing solution, in a negotiation to license technology to Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR). The negotiation will determine the royalty to be paid to Keurig by GMCR, who will bear capital expenditures, and determine whether GMCR secures exclusive distribution rights to Keurig'...Starting at €8.20