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Tiny Prints (A)
Child, M; Rosenthal, SCase SGSB-E426A-ELeadership and People ManagementThe Tiny Prints case describes the founding of the online stationery company in 2004, through its growth and evolution to 2007. The three cofounders bootstrapped the company from the beginning, primarily so that they could retain control over the decision-making and strategic direction of the company. While that decision allowed the cofounders flexibility and independence, it also led to capital constraints and a “good enough” culture that had ...Starting at €8.20
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KiOR: The Quest for Cellulosic Biofuels
Reichelstein, S; Rosenthal, S; Sahoo, ACase SGSB-E427-EEntrepreneurshipIn 2012, KiOR was in the process of starting biofuels production at its first plant in Columbus, Mississippi. This initial plant was to provide a commercial scale proof-of-concept of KiOR’s production technology, and the company expected to build another set of plants in Natchez, MS using “copy exact” principles. These latter plants would be three times the size of the Columbus plants, and KiOR anticipated a number of improvements in its produc...Starting at €8.20
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KiOR: The Quest for Cellulosic Biofuels - Teaching Note
Reichelstein, S; Rosenthal, S; Sahoo, ATeaching Note SGSB-E427TN-EEntrepreneurshipIn 2012, KiOR was in the process of starting biofuels production at its first plant in Columbus, Mississippi. This initial plant was to provide a commercial scale proof-of-concept of KiOR’s production technology, and the company expected to build another set of plants in Natchez, MS using “copy exact” principles. These latter plants would be three times the size of the Columbus plants, and KiOR anticipated a number of improvements in its produc...Starting at €0.00
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Search Funds - 2013: Selected Observations
Dodson, D; Kelly, P; Grousbeck, I; Rosenthal, S; Luther, JCase SGSB-E521-EEntrepreneurshipSince 1996, the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES) at the Stanford Graduate School of Business has conducted a series of studies on the performance of search funds. This study, as well as its predecessors, has endeavored to gather data and gain insight into all known search funds. Each of these studies portrays the aggregate characteristics of search funds, presents their principals’ backgrounds, and evaluates the investment returns gener...Starting at €8.20
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Imprimis (B)
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon; Elterman, Karen; Appel, MarcCase HBS-717496-EEntrepreneurshipThis case is a supplement to Imprimis (Case A). It describes the company's decision to enter into the pharmaceutical compounding business in 2013-14. Imprimis purchased a compounded ophthalmological medication called Dropless Therapy, which was injected into patients' eyes post-cataract surgery, with the aim of replacing a complex regimen of prescription eye drops. After a successful launch of the compounded medication, Imprimis ran into complica...Starting at €5.74
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The Rise and Rise (?) of Walmart (A): Battling Kmart
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon; Van Den Steen, Eric; Elterman, KarenCase HBS-718431-EStrategyThis case, set in 1990, describes the history of Walmart and asks what competitive strategies Kmart might adopt in response to Walmart's success. It discusses the strategy and organization of both companies in terms of HR practices, store location, distribution, information technology, procurement, pricing, and company culture. This (A) case is the first in a multi-part series that goes on to describe the results of Kmart's competition with Walma...Starting at €8.20
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Walmart Ecommerce (A): Picking up the Pace
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon; Elterman, KarenCase HBS-720425-EStrategyThis case is an abridged version (part 1 of 2) of "Walmart's Omnichannel Strategy: Revolution or Miscalculation?" HBS Case 720-370. The (A) case discusses Walmart's early forays into online retail, as well as improvements made under Doug McMillon beginning in 2014. The case describes Walmart's physical stores, delivery options, grocery business, online marketplace, and distribution system. It also discusses the ecommerce startup Jet.com, which Wa...Starting at €8.20
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Walmart Ecommerce (B): Omnichannel Pursuits
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon; Elterman, KarenCase HBS-720426-EStrategyThis case is an abridged version (part 2 of 2) of "Walmart's Omnichannel Strategy: Revolution or Miscalculation?", HBS Case 720-370. The (B) case describes Walmart's omnichannel strategy in 2018 as it battled Amazon for online retail market share. Walmart aimed to integrate its enormous brick and mortar footprint with its growing ecommerce business, e.g., through merchandise and grocery delivery and order online, pickup in store options. It a...Starting at €5.74
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Steemit: A New Social Media
Casadesus-Masanell, Ramon; White, Alexander; Elterman, KarenCase HBS-720428-EStrategyThis case discusses the alternative social media site Steemit, including the principles it was founded on in 2016 and the challenges it faced in 2019. Steemit was a blockchain-based platform that aimed to differentiate itself from other social media companies by returning power to its users, rather than centralizing control among company executives. Steemit rewarded its users with cryptocurrency for posting, commenting on, and upvoting content on...Starting at €8.20
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Care Message
Siegelman, R; Rosenthal, SCase SGSB-E557-EEntrepreneurshipThe CareMessage case describes the evolution of the nonprofit organization from its founding in 2012 through the end of 2014. CareMessage was launched by Vineet Singal, a young biological sciences graduate from Stanford University. Having dealt with his own personal health issues, Singal was passionate about helping patients get the right information, support, and motivation to make better health decisions. Singal was especially determined to ...Starting at €8.20