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Case Questions

The document contains questions for case discussions related to various entrepreneurial ventures and startups. The cases cover topics such as evaluating the feasibility of a new business idea, determining a fair valuation for an early-stage company, deciding whether to buy an existing business or start fresh, challenges of developing multiple value chains, and determining the best path forward for growing a successful new product. The document provides a framework for analyzing different entrepreneurial situations from various perspectives.

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Daniel Jeevan
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396 views

Case Questions

The document contains questions for case discussions related to various entrepreneurial ventures and startups. The cases cover topics such as evaluating the feasibility of a new business idea, determining a fair valuation for an early-stage company, deciding whether to buy an existing business or start fresh, challenges of developing multiple value chains, and determining the best path forward for growing a successful new product. The document provides a framework for analyzing different entrepreneurial situations from various perspectives.

Uploaded by

Daniel Jeevan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Entrepreneurship and New Ventures – ePGP Kochi September 2019

Questions for Case Discussion

1. Hebon: Transforming Indian Jackfruit from Weed to Wonder Food (W19027)

a. What is an entrepreneurial mindset? At Hebon, is the mindset intuitive or rational


in dealing with newness and uncertainty?
b. With Koroth, do we see a passion for entrepreneurship or a passion for developing
a new product? Did Koroth’s initial products fail because he was too passionate and
not realistic?
c. How can a start-up source capital? Connect your answer specifically to Hebon?
d. Should a start-up adopt a “me-too” strategy? Relate your argument specifically to
Hebon.
e. Draw a visual map of Hebon’s value chain.
f. Can you suggest a growth strategy for Hebon?

2. The Pre-Venture Feasibility Analysis: The Andrea Kaneb Case (NA0445)

a. Based on the feasibility analysis work Kaneb had completed as of December 2015,
was her new venture idea an attractive opportunity?
b. What evidence indicated that it was feasible for Kaneb to pursue this potential
opportunity, what evidence suggested the opposite?
c. What were the most critical issues that remained to be addressed as a pre-cursor to
developing a business plan that could be presented to sophisticated investors?
d. What alternative approaches could Kaneb have deployed for dealing with each of
the most critical issues?
e. If you had been in Kaneb’s position and you had decided to continue pursuing your
new venture, which of the alternative approaches for addressing each of the most
critical issues would you have implemented?
f. As you reflect on the dramatic career transition Kaneb was considering, what factors
might have inspired her to decide to launch Parlay, and what concerns might have
given her pause? How does Kaneb’s situation inform your own thinking about a
potential career transition post-MBA?

3. Shradhanjali.com – New Address for Memories of our Ancestors (A00143)

a. In your assessment, do you think that the idea of starting shradhanjali.com is a


sound one?
b. Use the business model canvas template (https://www.strategyzer.com/) shown
below to configure the business model of shradhanjali.com and explain its
characteristics. Please watch two videos through the links provided below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4MHqyf4Vw0

https://next.canvanizer.com/demo/wA-82vhUOBc

4. OutReach Networks: First Venture Round (UV6569)

a. What are the challenges of valuing an early-stage company?


b. In what ways is ORN a typical start-up company? In what ways is it atypical?
c. Can you try to determine the value of the firm by conducting some analysis? You
may use the spreadsheet file of the case exhibits provided in the Moodle site for
conducting your analysis.
d. Is Everest Partners justified in asking for a 30% equity stake?
e. What should Pete Perez do?

5. BelleFleur: Buying an Existing Business or Starting Fresh (W18098)

a. What are the advantages and disadvantages of Coquis buying Belle Fleur?
b. How many floral arrangements must Coquis sell to break even at (i) Belle Fleur and
(ii) Floral Filosophy?
c. Should Coquis continue to use Wireflora?
d. Is $ 145,000 a fair price for Belle Fleur? Why or why not?
e. Is there a third option that Coquis should consider?
6. Dr Narendran’s Dilemma (A00010)

a. What is the research and teaching mandate of IMC? How does Dr Narendran view
“research results”?
b. What does Dr Ramkumar want?
c. What is patenting and what are the benefits of intellectual property protection for
IMC?
d. Should IMC file a patent application for the herbo-mineral Siddha cardiovascular
product for coronary atherosclerosis developed by Dr Ramkumar?

7. Sanergy: Tackling Sanitation in Kenyan Slum (B5871)

a. How did Sanergy’s association with MIT, and access to blue-chip investors (Eleos,
Acumen) benefit the organization during its scaling up phase?
b. Why was access to both grant and equity funding important? How did that inform
Sanergy on how to structure its businesses?
c. In order to successfully launch its sanitation and fertilizer businesses, Sanergy had
to invest in developing its value chain. What are the opportunities and risks that
come with such an approach? Were there any adjacent companies that Sanergy
could have, or still can, partner with?
d. Given Sanergy’s need to invest in building out two separate value chains, what is
Sanergy’s path to financial sustainability and, ultimately, profitability? If
successful, how can Sanergy’s business model be replicated in other markets?

8. KickShot: GOOOOOOOOOAL! (NA0516)

a. Has Aziz Makhani been successful to date?


b. What was the role of advisors, mentors, and investors in KickShot’s success?
c. Should Aziz Makhani target “big-box” retailers like Wal-Mart?
d. Did Aziz Makhani make the right decision eliminating his partner on Amazon, The
Escape Place?
e. Prepare an estimated income statement for the entire year 2016 and for 2017-2020.
f. How would you classify Aziz Makhani using the Katz exit typology of growth,
habitual, harvest, and spiral/helical entrepreneurs? (You can access the article
explaining the Katz exit typology through this link:
https://www.inc.com/magazine/19951001/2430.html)
g. What should Aziz Makhani do next? Should he accept the offer from TKG or HB
or should he continue to market the game himself?

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