E320
Katherine Bose, R. Ellis
2008
The protagonist,David Dodson, is a second-time search fund entrepreneur who in mid-2004 purchased Mountain Auto, a leading auto parts retailer in the Rocky Mountain United States. The venture started off strong, and Dodson grew the organization along with…
E302
Sean Harrington, Dennis Rohan
2008
This note gives a broad overview of the energy sector, highlighting trends and market dynamics in 2008. It is intended to be used as a basic primer for entrepreneurs and investors interested in the energy sector, not an exhaustive or definitive textbook…
E300
Bethany Coates, Andrew Rachleff
2008
Carl Russo, CEO of optical equipment maker Cerent Corporation, leaned back in his desk chair and reflected on the recent developments at his company. Cerent had just filed its S-1 registration document with the SEC on July 22, 1999, and was now less than…
E284
Sean Harrington, Peter Reiss
2008
Pete Flint and Sami Inkinen, co-founders of RealWide.com, a real estate search web site, met for lunch at the Fish Market restaurant in San Mateo, Calif. to discuss the coming week. It was September 21, 2005, and they planned to have their web site go…
E286B
Katherine Bose, Robert Chess, Peter Reiss
2008
The protagonist (“Howard Glass”) is a recent GSB graduate (2007) heading up a biomedical device start-up focused on the gastric bypass market. The case tracks Glass and team from the team formation and idea generation phases through the company’s first 6…
E290
Sean Harrington, Garth Saloner
2008
It was December 2007 and Patrick Awuah, founder and president of Ashesi University, began updating his school’s business plan. He looked back on the university’s short history with pride—in only 10 years Awuah and his team had turned a lofty vision into…
E291
Sean Harrington, Garth Saloner
2008
By 2008, Databank had built a reputation as one of Ghana’s premiere companies, earning the #1 ranking in Ghana’s Most Respected Company and CEO annual awards. Founded in 1990 by Ken Ofori-Atta, Keli Gadzekpo, and James Akpo, Databank had grown from a…
E289
R. Ellis, Sean Harrington
2008
The case follows Josh Greenberg and John Fowler, two recent graduates from the Stanford GSB, as they complete the entire search fund process. It covers the formation of their search fund vehicle, Montebello Capital, their 16-month search phase, the…
E288
Bethany Coates, Garth Saloner
2008
By the end of 2007, Kiva, the first online person-to-person microfinance organization, had produced a number of compelling results. The site regularly “sold out” of loans. Every business listed on the site was funded within hours. New borrowers were…
E321
Dick Allen, Bethany Coates
2008
Kim D. Blickenstaff, President and CEO of Diagenx, a developer of a next generation technology for continuous insulin infusion therapy, headed into the office one morning in August 2008. As he drove through the San Diego streets, he thought about a…
IB91
William Barnett, Jae-Gu Kim, Mooweon Rhee
2008
At the turn of the 21st century, Korea’s Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) announced ambitious plans to become a global leader in the automotive industry. It established plants in Europe, India, and North America, and in 2002, turned its attention to China…
IB84
Wasim Azhar, Davina Drabkin
2008
In July, 1991, Irfan Mustafa, West Asia Area Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Pepsi Cola Pakistan Incorporated (PCI), faced several dilemmas. First, as part of the 7-Up acquisition, Mustafa had to convince the remaining Pakistani 7-Up…
E323
Jocelyn Hornblower, Dennis Rohan
2008
This note explores the idea identification stage of becoming an entrepreneur. It covers common sources of inspiration for ideas, such as career, education, hobbies and interests. It discusses the importance of team creation, execution and passion. It…
EM5
Victoria Chang, William Guttentag, Roderick Kramer
2008
Forty-one year old Andrea Wong, the president and CEO of Lifetime Entertainment Services, oversaw the Lifetime Networks which included the flagship women’s cable channel, Lifetime Television, as well as its sister networks, Lifetime Movie Network…
E324
Claire Magat, Evan Porteus, Dennis Rohan
2008
The purpose of the venture viability research process is to identify the key questions underlying the viability of a venture, to facilitate reframing of the venture to enhance its viability, and to provide evidence to support the founders’ answers to…
E294
Katherine Bose, Joel Peterson
2008
Rachael Hinkley and Stephanie Paulson establish a publishing venture and web portal aimed at mothers, but quickly run into challenges, including the strength of their partnership itself. Beyond that, Hinkley encounters problems with: licensees, non…
HR31
David Hoyt, Hayagreeva Rao
2008
Intuit’s “Spotlight” employee recognition system had rapidly become an integral part of the company’s culture after it was introduced in late 2004. The program enabled any employee to recognize outstanding performance by any other employee by sending an…
E285
Katherine Bose, Kathryn Shaw
2008
Looking at two companies, ISG and ArcelorMittal, the case examines the steel industry over several decades, but with an emphasis on the 2000-2004 timeframe, when heavy international consolidation affected dozens of mills and mini-mills. ISG’s take-over…
E298
R. Ellis, Garth Saloner, Amanda Silverman
2008
In the tenth year of their business, Circles’ co-founders, Janet Kraus and Kathy Sherbrooke, had completed a successful exit for their company. They had worked closely for years, building their early venture into a leading provider of concierge services…
E314
Katherine Bose, Garth Saloner
2008
The protagonist is Gina Bianchini, a 32-year-old GSB graduate recovering from having co-founded a well-funded, well-led, but failed tech company. When presented with the opportunity of starting a new company in the social networking space with her former…
E301A
William Barnett, Gary Mekikian
2008
In 1991, former engineering professor Dr. Irwin Jacobs and his team of top-notch scientists and engineers were preparing to take public Qualcomm, their budding wireless communications company. They had proven that their technological approach to wireless…
IB73
Victoria Chang, Lyn Denend, R. McKern, Katya Reuk
2008
The Russian Federation (Russia) was the largest of the 15 geopolitical entities that emerged in 1991 from the Soviet Union. Despite a series of reforms initiated in 1992 to help the country transition from its centrally planned economy, Russia plunged…
E327A
Jocelyn Hornblower, Garth Saloner
2008
The case follows Rose Hanna and her three business partners (Richard Hanna, Bob Francis and Faye Francis) as they launch and grow a scientific instrument company, MicroSample. It covers the idea discovery stage, their decision to work together as a team…
E313
Dick Allen, Bethany Coates
2008
In May 2008, Mary Jones, CEO of the Richardson County Community Association (RCCA), shut the door to her office in disbelief. She had just been informed by one of her direct reports that Rick Jamison, a member of her executive team, had recently made a…
