ChatChat (Co-Founders Version)
This is a role-play case, intended for use in a leadership development course for MBA students. The case has four roles: two for students playing the co-founders of a startup and two for students/coaches playing the venture capitalists deciding whether or not to provide seed funding. There are two versions of the case, one for students playing the co-founders (L-25CF), and one for those playing the venture capitalists (L-25VC). Â While both versions of the case contain identical background information for the role-play, L-25CF includes additional information that is available only to the co-founders and L-25VC contains additional information that is available only to the venture capitalists.
The role-play objectives stated in the case can be accomplished if the students playing the co-founders successfully identify and address the questions and concerns of those playing the venture capitalists.Â
The co-founders must solicit and grasp the underlining concerns of the venture capitalists, decide how to react and address those concerns, and reassure the venture capitalists that a seed investment is worthwhile. All students have the opportunity to demonstrate active listening, inquiry, and feedback regarding the concerns and proposals to address them. Â All four individuals in the role play have varying objectives and interests and need to manage the expectations and perceptions of the others in a manner that may be assertive, collaborative, or both.