17 Case Studies found for subject: Entrepreneurship

Kabam’s story is pretty well known. In a Cinderella story twist, the social network-turned-sports-turned-gaming company weathered three major pivots in 10 years to ultimately sell for $800 million. This is pretty much unheard of. But there’s a big chunk of this unlikely tale that hasn’t been told — how they managed to pull it off. In this exclusive interview, Co-founder and CEO Kevin Chou shares … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Author: Kevin Chou | Source: First Round Review | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Company: Kabam

In 2007 Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia were broke and looking to raise money to make their rent in San Francisco. They decided to rent out air mattresses in their apartment to attendees of a conference because all the hotels were booked. They called their service “Air Bed and Breakfast.” In a few years, this small experiment would create the hotel industry disruptor Airbnb. The … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Author: Leigh Gallagher | Source: Knowledge@Wharton | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Industry Specific | Industry: Travel/Leisure | Company: Airbnb

With almost $1 billion in funding and ambitions to replace petroleum-based cars with a network of cheap electrics, Shai Agassi’s Better Place was remarkable even by the standards of world-changing startups. So was its epic failure. A 21st-century cautionary tale.

Content: Case Study | Author: Max Chafkin | Source: Fast Company | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Industry: Automotive | Company: Better Place

After 10 years, eight South by Southwests, two startups, and zero dollars in profit, will Foursquare CEO Dennis Crowley ever find his way?

Content: Case Study | Author: Austin Carr | Source: Fast Company | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Company: Foursquare

As Skype turns ten, a look back at how six Europeans changed the world.

Content: Case Study | Author: Toivo Tänavsuu | Source: Ars Technica | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Company: Skype

Roger Ehrenberg, the co-founder of Monitor110 offers up an analysis of the failure of that company, including what he calls the “seven deadly sins”:
1. The lack of a single, “the buck stops here” leader until too late in the game
2. No separation between the technology organization and the product organization
3. Too much PR, too early
4. Too much money
5. Not close enough to the customer
6. Slow … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Author: Roger Ehrenberg | Source: Information Arbitrage | Subject: Entrepreneurship

Its signature orange logo has made the “easy” brand one of the most recognizable in Europe – a stunning feat given that easy made its debut as recently as 1995. What began with easyJet has expanded to include easyCar and easyInternet. Now the company’s New Ventures Team must decide whether the no-frills, low-cost concept can be successfully applied to movie theatres, explains Professor … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Anita Balchandani, Yves Doz | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Marketing / Sales | Industry: Entertainment / Media | Company: easyGroup

His goal: To single-handedly save the world’s women from obesity. With Curves, he seems to be pulling it off. And he’s built a billion-dollar business along the way.

Content: Case Study | Author: Alison Stein Wellner | Source: Inc. Magazine | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Industry: Other | Company: Curves

Though more known for his legendary publicity stunts, Richard Branson has led Virgin Group to success with a singular, flamboyant style. Learn the secret of how he tackles the big bad wolves of many industries.

Content: Case Study | Author: Glenn Rifkin | Source: strategy+business | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Marketing / Sales | Company: Virgin

Ruben Vardanian, CEO of Troika, is a “Golden Boy of Russian capitalism”. Unlike his fellow members of the Russian oligarchs’ club, Vardanian started from scratch and climbed upwards. This case, Ruben Vardanian at the Helm of Troika Dialog by Stanislav Shekshnia, Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at INSEAD with Manfred Kets de Vries, Raoul de Vitry d’Avaucourt Professor of Human Resource Management at INSEAD scrutinizes Vardanian’s … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Manfred Kets de Vries, Stanislav Shekshnia | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, International | Industry: Investment Banking | Company: Troika Dialog

To overcome sales growth problems in the US, California-based, venture capital-backed start-up Whistle Communications looks at developing a number of strategic partnerships in Asia. While the product (the first Internet appliance for small-to-medium size businesses) attracts interest from numerous high-profile companies, Whistle must weigh the short-term gains against its long-term goals. Professor Ha Hoang and Michel Darnaud explain more in this new Case Study … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Ha Hoang, Michel Darnaud | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, International | Industry: Telecommunications

Sex, death and dominance. One may say that these are the major themes of Oracle founder Larry Ellison’s life. But the headline-grabbing bad-boy image often overshadows a stark reality: the man is a brilliant entrepreneur, who created the world’s second-largest software company. Professor Manfred Kets de Vries and Elizabeth Florent-Treacy pick up the story in this new case.

Content: Case Study | Authors: Elizabeth Florent-Treacy, Manfred Kets de Vries | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, People

Nearly every entrepreneur faces this dilemma at one point or another: continue borrowing to keep the company afloat or face reality, pay out creditors, and call it a day. For Singaporean serial entrepreneur, Marianna Tan, the day of reckoning came in February 2001. As Professor Michael Pich and Mei Qi explain in this recent case, Tan’s company, CargoExchange.Net Pte Ltd, had just enough … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Mei Qi, Michael Pich | Source: INSEAD | Subject: Entrepreneurship | Company: CargoExchange.Net Pte Ltd

In 1995, Lernout & Hauspie Speech Products (L&H) was poised for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ, home to industry heavyweights like Microsoft and Intel. If the IPO were to be successful, L&H would be the first Belgian company ever to list on the venerable stock exchange. For L&H, the IPO was a key milestone in its remarkable history. Since … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Benoit Leleux, Danny Lein, Herwig Langohr | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Finance | Company: Lernout & Hauspie

In this case study, Professors Pierre Hillion and Theo Vermaelen use Log On America’s decision to issue a floating-price convertible preferred stock to discuss optimal capital structure. You are asked to compare this financial innovation with alternatives such as equity financing, debt financing and convertibles with a fixed conversion price. Then you’re asked to support (or undermine) the legal case of LOA against the banks … [ Read more ]

Content: Case Study | Authors: Pierre Hillion, Theo Vermaelen | Source: INSEAD Knowledge | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Finance | Industry: Investment Banking | Company: Log On America

Anyone can make music, but when the orchestral baton rests in the hands of someone like Richard Branson (entrepreneur of the Virgin Group), the resulting sound is more than musical – it’s magical. INSEAD Professor Manfred Kets de Vries examines the inner-workings of this successful entrepreneur and the evolution of Virgin – from one leader to more “systematic” management.

Content: Case Study | Author: Manfred Kets de Vries | Source: INSEAD | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Strategy | Company: Virgin

How does a fledgling company become an industry powerhouse? By managing itself professionally and betting on the right products. The case of Biogen shows how it can be done.

Content: Case Study | Author: Lawrence M. Fisher | Source: strategy+business | Subjects: Entrepreneurship, Organizational Behavior | Industry: Pharmaceutical | Company: Biogen