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Developing SuccessfulBusiness Ideas
Developing an
effectivebusiness
model
Recognizingopportunities
and generatingideas
Introduction toentrepreneurship
Feasibilityanalysis
Decision toBecome an
Entrepreneur
Industry andcompetitoranalysis
Writing abusiness plan
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 1
Developing Successful Business Ideas
The Entrepreneurial Process
Passion plusPassion plus
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Assessing anew ventures
financialstrength and
viability
Gettingfinancing or
funding
Managing andGrowing an
Entrepreneurial Firm
Uniquemarketing
issues
The importanceof intellectual
property
Preparing forand evaluatingthe challenges
of growth
Strategiesfor firmgrowth
Franchising
Building a new-venture team
Preparing theproper ethical
and legalfoundation
Moving from an Ideato an Entrepreneurial Firm
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
Where a great idea meets a great process
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EntrepreneurshipSuccessfully Launching New Ventures
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Boston Columbus Indianapolis New York San Francisco Upper Saddle RiverAmsterdam Cape Town Dubai London Madrid Milan Munich Paris Montreal Toronto
Delhi Mexico City Sao Paulo Sydney Hong Kong Seoul Singapore Taipei Tokyo
EntrepreneurshipSuccessfully Launching New Ventures
FOURTH EDITION
Bruce R. BarringerOklahoma State University
R. Duane IrelandTexas A&M University
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Barringer, Bruce R.Entrepreneurship : successfully launching new ventures / Bruce R. Barringer, R. Duane Ireland.4th ed.
p. cm.Includes bibliographical references and index.ISBN 978-0-13-255552-4
1. Entrepreneurship. 2. New business enterprises. I. Ireland, R. Duane. II. Title.
HB615.B374 2012658.1'1dc23
2011025010
ISBN 10: 0-13-255552-2ISBN 13: 978-0-13-255552-4
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Many of the designations by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimedas trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book, and the publisher was aware of atrademark claim, the designations have been printed in initial caps or all caps.
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DEDICATION
To my wife Jan. Thanks for your never-ending encouragement andsupport. Without you, this book would have never been possible. Also,thanks to all the student entrepreneurs who contributed to the chapteropening features in the book. Your stories are both insightful and inspiring.
Bruce R. Barringer
To my family: I am so proud of each of you and so blessed by yourperseverance and never-ending love and support. I know thatsometimes it seems as though we lose ourselves in work to do andbills to pay and that its a ride, ride, ride without much cover. But youare always in my heart, a gift for which I remain deeply grateful.
R. Duane Ireland
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Preface xvii
PART 1 Decision to Become an Entrepreneur 1CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3
PART 2 Developing Successful Business Ideas 39CHAPTER 2 Recognizing Opportunities and Generating
Ideas 41
CHAPTER 3 Feasibility Analysis 77
CHAPTER 4 Writing a Business Plan 111
CHAPTER 5 Industry and Competitor Analysis 147
CHAPTER 6 Developing an Effective Business Model 179
PART 3 Moving from an Idea to anEntrepreneurial Firm 211CHAPTER 7 Preparing the Proper Ethical and Legal
Foundation 213
CHAPTER 8 Assessing a New Ventures Financial Strengthand Viability 253
CHAPTER 9 Building a New-Venture Team 289
CHAPTER 10 Getting Financing or Funding 319
PART 4 Managing and Growing anEntrepreneurial Firm 355CHAPTER 11 Unique Marketing Issues 357
CHAPTER 12 The Importance of Intellectual Property 393
CHAPTER 13 Preparing for and Evaluating the Challenges ofGrowth 431
CHAPTER 14 Strategies for Firm Growth 461
CHAPTER 15 Franchising 495
Glossary 535
Name Index 547
Company Index 551
Subject Index 557
BRIEF CONTENTS
vii
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Preface xvii
PART 1 Decision to Become an Entrepreneur 1CHAPTER 1 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3
Opening ProfileGIFTZIP.COM: The Classic Entrepreneurial Story 3
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 4
What Is Entrepreneurship? 6
Why Become an Entrepreneur? 7
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs 9
WHAT WENT WRONG? How a Lack of Passion and Too Few CustomersCan Kill a Business 12
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Angry Birds and Zeo 14
Common Myths About Entrepreneurs 15
Types of Start-Up Firms 17
CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF ENTREPRENEURS 18
ENTREPRENEURSHIPS IMPORTANCE 21
Economic Impact of Entrepreneurial Firms 21
Entrepreneurial Firms Impact on Society 22
Entrepreneurial Firms Impact on Larger Firms 22
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Working Together: How Biotech Firms andLarge Drug Companies Bring Pharmaceutical Products to Market 23
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROCESS 23
Decision to Become an Entrepreneur (Chapter 1) 24
Developing Successful Business Ideas (Chapters 26) 24
Moving from an Idea to an Entrepreneurial Firm (Chapters 710) 25
Managing and Growing an Entrepreneurial Firm (Chapters 1115) 26
Chapter Summary 26 | Key Terms 27 | Review Questions 27Application Questions 28 | You Be the VC 1.1 29 | You Be the VC 1.2 30 | CASE 1.1 31 | CASE 1.2 33
ENDNOTES 36
PART 2 Developing Successful Business Ideas 39CHAPTER 2 Recognizing Opportunities and Generating Ideas 41
Opening ProfileBENCHPREP: Solving a Problem by Merging a CustomerPain with an Emerging Technology 41
IDENTIFYING AND RECOGNIZING OPPORTUNITIES 43
Observing Trends 44
Solving a Problem 50
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Xhale and Vestagen: Solving theSame Problem in Different Ways 52
FINDING GAPS IN THE MARKETPLACE 53
Personal Characteristics of the Entrepreneur 55
WHAT WENT WRONG? Clearly Canadian: What Happens When YouDont Deliver on Your Promises 56
TECHNIQUES FOR GENERATING IDEAS 59
Brainstorming 59
Focus Groups 60
CONTENTS
viii
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Library and Internet Research 61
Other Techniques 61
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Want Help Fine-Tuning a Business Idea?Find a Mentor 62
ENCOURAGING AND PROTECTING NEW IDEAS 62
Establishing a Focal Point for Ideas 63
Encouraging Creativity at the Firm Level 63
Protecting Ideas from Being Lost or Stolen 64
Chapter Summary 65 | Key Terms 65 | Review Questions 65Application Questions 66 | You Be the VC 2.1 67 | You Be the VC 2.2 68 | CASE 2.1 69 | CASE 2.2 71
ENDNOTES 73
CHAPTER 3 Feasibility Analysis 77Opening ProfileMORPHOLOGY: The Value of Validating a Business Idea 77
FEASIBILITY ANALYSIS 79
WHAT WENT WRONG? eBay Drop-Off Stores: How Feasible WereThey? 80
Product/Service Feasibility Analysis 81
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: How Learning from CustomersCaused a Successful Firm to Make a 180-Degree Turn on thePositioning of a Product 87
Industry/Target Market Feasibility Analysis 88
Organizational Feasibility Analysis 91
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Finding the Right Business Partner 92
Financial Feasibility Analysis 93
First Screen 95
Chapter Summary 96 | Key Terms 97 | Review Questions 97Application Questions 97 | You Be the VC 3.1 99 | You Be the VC3.2 99 | CASE 3.1 100 | CASE 3.2 102
ENDNOTES 105Appendix 3.1 106Appendix 3.2 108
CHAPTER 4 Writing a Business Plan 111Opening ProfileLINCOLN&LEXI: Proceeding on the Strength of a Winning Business Plan 111
THE BUSINESS PLAN 113
Reasons for Writing a Business Plan 113
Who Reads the Business PlanAnd What Are They Looking For? 115
Guidelines for Writing a Business Plan 116
OUTLINE OF THE BUSINESS PLAN 119
Exploring Each Section of the Plan 119
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Know When to Hold Them, KnowWhen to Fold Them 120
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Types of Partnerships That Are Common in Business Plans 125
WHAT WENT WRONG? What StyleHop Learned About the Valueof Planning the Hard Way 132
PRESENTING THE BUSINESS PLAN TO INVESTORS 133
The Oral Presentation of a Business Plan 133
Questions and Feedback to Expect from Investors 135
CONTENTS ix
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Chapter Summary 135 | Key Terms 136 | Review Questions 136Application Questions 137 | You Be the VC 4.1 138 | You Be the VC 4.2 139 | CASE 4.1 140 | CASE 4.2 142
ENDNOTES 145
CHAPTER 5 Industry and Competitor Analysis 147Opening ProfileELEMENT BARS: Occupying a Unique Position in a Difficult Industryand Thriving 147
INDUSTRY ANALYSIS 149
Studying Industry Trends 150
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Three Ts That Are Important for BecomingActive in an Industry: Trade Associations, Trade Shows, and TradeJournals 151
The Five Forces Model 152
The Value of the Five Forces Model 158
Industry Types and the Opportunities They Offer 160
WHAT WENT WRONG? Eclipse Aviation: Sometimes an Industry CantBe Revitalized 162
COMPETITOR ANALYSIS 163
Identifying Competitors 164
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Thriving in a Crowded Industry by Creating Meaningful Value and Differentiation from Competitors 165
Sources of Competitive Intelligence 166
Completing a Competitive Analysis Grid 167
Chapter Summary 168 | Key Terms 169 | Review Questions 169Application Questions 170 | You Be the VC 5.1 172 | You Be the VC 5.2 172 | CASE 5.1 173 | CASE 5.2 175
ENDNOTES 177
CHAPTER 6 Developing an Effective Business Model 179Opening ProfileSTROOME: Working to Find a Viable Business Model for an Exciting New Web-Based Service for Editing and Remixing Video 179
BUSINESS MODELS 181
The Importance and Diversity of Business Models 182
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Three Industries, Three BusinessModel Innovators 183
How Business Models Emerge 186
Potential Fatal Flaws of Business Models 187
COMPONENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE BUSINESS MODEL 189
Core Strategy 189
WHAT WENT WRONG? Joost: Why It's Important to Be Sensitive to AllAspects of Your Business Model 190
Strategic Resources 192
Partnership Network 194
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: 99designs: Making Partnering withFreelancers the Essence of Its Disruptive Business Model 196
Customer Interface 197
Chapter Summary 199 | Key Terms 200 | Review Questions 200Application Questions 200 | You Be the VC 6.1 202 | You Be the VC 6.2 202 | CASE 6.1 203 | CASE 6.2 206
ENDNOTES 208
x CONTENTS
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PART 3 Moving from an Idea to an Entrepreneurial Firm 211
CHAPTER 7 Preparing the Proper Ethical and Legal Foundation 213Opening ProfileXPLOSAFE: Proceeding on a Firm Legal Foundation 213
INITIAL ETHICAL AND LEGAL ISSUES FACING A NEW FIRM 215
Establishing a Strong Ethical Culture for a Firm 216
Choosing an Attorney for a Firm 220
Drafting a Founders Agreement 221
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Vesting Ownership in Company Stock:A Sound Strategy for Start-Ups 222
Avoiding Legal Disputes 223
WHAT WENT WRONG? How Legal and Management Snafus Can Kill aBusiness 224
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Patagonia and Build-A-Bear Workshop:Picking Trustworthy Partners 227
OBTAINING BUSINESS LICENSES AND PERMITS 228
Business Licenses 228
Business Permits 228
Choosing a Form of Business Organization 229
Sole Proprietorship 230
Partnerships 232
Corporations 233
Limited Liability Company 236
Chapter Summary 237 | Key Terms 238 | Review Questions 238Application Questions 239 | You Be the VC 7.1 241 | You Be the VC 7.2 242 | CASE 7.1 242 | CASE 7.2 244
ENDNOTES 247Appendix 7.1 249
CHAPTER 8 Assessing a New Ventures Financial Strengthand Viability 253Opening ProfileKLYMIT: The Critical Importance of Cash Flow 253
INTRODUCTION TO FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 255
Financial Objectives of a Firm 256
The Process of Financial Management 257
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Organizing Buying Groups to Cut Costsand Maintain Competitiveness 258
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FORECASTS 259
Historical Financial Statements 260
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM:Know the Facts Behind the Numbers 262
Forecasts 267
PRO FORMA FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 271
WHAT WENT WRONG? Be Careful What You Wish For: How GrowingToo Quickly Overwhelmed One Companys Cash Flow 272
Pro Forma Income Statement 273
Pro Forma Balance Sheet 273
Pro Forma Statement of Cash Flows 275
Ratio Analysis 277
CONTENTS xi
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Chapter Summary 278 | Key Terms 278 | Review Questions 279Application Questions 279 | You Be the VC 8.1 281 | You Be the VC 8.2 281 | CASE 8.1 282 | CASE 8.2 284
ENDNOTES 286
CHAPTER 9 Building a New-Venture Team 289Opening ProfileSCRIPPED: Hitting the Ground Running 289
CREATING A NEW-VENTURE TEAM 291
The Founder or Founders 292
WHAT WENT WRONG? Devver: How Miscues in Regard to the Composition and Management of a New-Venture Team Can Kill a Start-up 293
Recruiting and Selecting Key Employees 296
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Overcoming a Lack of BusinessExperience 297
The Roles of the Board of Directors 300
ROUNDING OUT THE TEAM: THE ROLE OF PROFESSIONALADVISERS 302
Board of Advisers 302
Lenders and Investors 303
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Need Help with Product Development? Consider Establishing a Customer Advisory Board 304
Other Professionals 306
Chapter Summary 307 | Key Terms 308 | Review Questions 308Application Questions 308 | You Be the VC 9.1 310 | You Be the VC 9.2 311 | CASE 9.1 311 | CASE 9.2 313
ENDNOTES 316
CHAPTER 10 Getting Financing or Funding 319Opening ProfileINDINERO: Raising Money Carefully and Deliberately 319
THE IMPORTANCE OF GETTING FINANCING OR FUNDING 321
Why Most New Ventures Need Funding 321
Sources of Personal Financing 322
Preparing to Raise Debt or Equity Financing 324
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: TechStars and Y Combinator: A NewBreed of Start-Up Incubators 328
SOURCES OF EQUITY FUNDING 329
Business Angels 329
Venture Capital 330
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Open Angel Forum and AngelList:New Options for Getting in Front of Angel Investors 332
WHAT WENT WRONG? How One Start-Up Caught the Attention of VCs,Raised Money, and Still Failed 334
Initial Public Offering 335
SOURCES OF DEBT FINANCING 336
Commercial Banks 337
SBA Guaranteed Loans 338
Other Sources of Debt Financing 338
CREATIVE SOURCES OF FINANCING AND FUNDING 339
Leasing 339
SBIR and STTR Grant Programs 340
xii CONTENTS
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Other Grant Programs 341
Strategic Partners 342
Chapter Summary 342 | Key Terms 343 | Review Questions 343Application Questions 344 | You Be the VC 10.1 345 | You Be the VC 10.2 346 | CASE 10.1 347 | CASE 10.2 349
ENDNOTES 352
PART 4 Managing and Growing an Entrepreneurial Firm 355
CHAPTER 11 Unique Marketing Issues 357Opening ProfileTRUE YOU COSMETICS: Creating a New Brand in the Cosmetics Industry 357
SELECTING A MARKET AND ESTABLISHING A POSITION 359
Segmenting the Market 359
Selecting a Target Market 360
Establishing a Unique Position 361
BRANDING 362
WHAT WENT WRONG? How Failing to Establish a Clear Position in theMarketplace Forced an Adorable Robotic Dinosaur to Fall Silent 363
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: How Airbnb Used Blogs as aStepping-Stone to Generate Substantial Buzz About Its Service 366
THE 4PS OF MARKETING FOR NEW VENTURES 367
Product 367
Price 368
Promotion 370
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: How Landing a Partnership with anInfluential Web Site and Soliciting Feedback from Customers CanAccelerate a Start-Ups Visibility and Growth 376
Place (or Distribution) 377
SALES PROCESS AND RELATED ISSUES 378Chapter Summary 381 | Key Terms 382 | Review Questions 382Application Questions 382 | You Be the VC 11.1 384 | You Be the VC 11.2 384 | CASE 11.1 385 | CASE 11.2 388
ENDNOTES 390
CHAPTER 12 The Importance of Intellectual Property 393Opening ProfileMETROLEAP MEDIA, INC.: The Key Role of IntellectualProperty in Its Early and Ongoing Success 393
THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 395
Determining What Intellectual Property to Legally Protect 396
WHAT WENT WRONG? Dippin Dots: Why the USPTO Invalidated ItsPatent and It Now Has Two New Competitors 398
The Four Key Forms of Intellectual Property 399
PATENTS 399
Types of Patents 401
Who Can Apply for a Patent? 402
The Process of Obtaining a Patent 403
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Knowing the Ins and Outs of Filing a Provisional Patent Application 405
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Individual Inventors and Large Firms:Partnering to Bring New Products to Market 407
Patent Infringement 407
CONTENTS xiii
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TRADEMARKS 408
The Four Types of Trademarks 408
What Is Protected Under Trademark Law? 409
Exclusions from Trademark Protection 410
The Process of Obtaining a Trademark 411
COPYRIGHTS 412
What Is Protected by a Copyright? 413
Exclusions from Copyright Protection 414
How to Obtain a Copyright 414
Copyright Infringement 414
Copyrights and the Internet 416
TRADE SECRETS 416
What Qualifies for Trade Secret Protection? 417
Trade Secret Disputes 417
Trade Secret Protection Methods 418
CONDUCTING AN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AUDIT 419
Why Conduct an Intellectual Property Audit? 419
The Process of Conducting an Intellectual Property Audit 420
Chapter Summary 421 | Key Terms 421 | Review Questions 422Application Questions 422 | You Be the VC 12.1 424 | You Be the VC 12.2 424 | CASE 12.1 425 | CASE 12.2 427
ENDNOTES 428
CHAPTER 13 Preparing for and Evaluating the Challenges ofGrowth 431
xiv CONTENTS
Opening ProfilePURBLU BEVERAGES, INC.: Growing in a Cautious, Yet Deliberate Manner 431
PREPARING FOR GROWTH 433
Appreciating the Nature of Business Growth 433
Staying Committed to a Core Strategy 435
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: How Threadless Averted Collapse by Bringing on a Partner with Back-End Operational Expertise 436
Planning for Growth 437
REASONS FOR GROWTH 438
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Dogfish Head Brewery: How a Simple Initiative Can Contribute to a Start-Ups Early Growth 439
MANAGING GROWTH 441
Knowing and Managing the Stages of Growth 442
CHALLENGES OF GROWTH 444
Managerial Capacity 445
Day-to-Day Challenges of Growing a Firm 446
WHAT WENT WRONG? How Trying to Build Out Its Own Capabilities in a Key Area Contributed to the Failure of a Promising Firm 447
Chapter Summary 449 | Key Terms 450 | Review Questions 450Application Questions 450 | You Be the VC 13.1 452 | You Be the VC 13.2 453 | CASE 13.1 453 | CASE 13.2 456
ENDNOTES 459
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CHAPTER 14 Strategies for Firm Growth 461Opening ProfilePHONE HALO: Pivoting to Pursue New Strategies for Growth 461
INTERNAL GROWTH STRATEGIES 463
New Product Development 464
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: SwitchFlops: How to Create Built-InAvenues for Future Growth 465
Other Product-Related Strategies 467
International Expansion 470
EXTERNAL GROWTH STRATEGIES 472
Mergers and Acquisitions 474
WHAT WENT WRONG? Be Careful What You Wish For: HowStumbleUpons Founder Sold His Company to eBay and Two YearsLater Bought It Back Again 476
Licensing 477
Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures 479
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Three Steps to Alliance Success 480Chapter Summary 482 | Key Terms 483 | Review Questions 483Application Questions 484 | You Be the VC 14.1 485 | You Be the VC 14.2 486 | CASE 14.1 487 | CASE 14.2 489
ENDNOTES 492
CHAPTER 15 Franchising 495Opening ProfileCOLLEGE NANNIES & TUTORS: Franchising as a Form of Business Ownership and Growth 495
WHAT IS FRANCHISING AND HOW DOES IT WORK? 497
What Is Franchising? 497
How Does Franchising Work? 498
ESTABLISHING A FRANCHISE SYSTEM 501
When to Franchise 501
SAVVY ENTREPRENEURIAL FIRM: Wahoos Fish Taco: A Moderate-Growth Yet Highly Successful Franchise Organization 502
Steps to Franchising a Business 503
Selecting and Developing Effective Franchisees 504
Advantages and Disadvantages of Establishing a Franchise System 505
BUYING A FRANCHISE 507
WHAT WENT WRONG? Trouble at Curves International 508
Is Franchising Right for You? 509
The Cost of a Franchise 509
PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS: Using Co-Branding to Reduce Costs and Boost Sales 512
Finding a Franchise 513
Advantages and Disadvantages of Buying a Franchise 513
Steps in Purchasing a Franchise 514
Watch Out! Common Misconceptions About Franchising 516
LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE FRANCHISE RELATIONSHIP 517
Federal Rules and Regulations 518
State Rules and Regulations 520
CONTENTS xv
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MORE ABOUT FRANCHISING 520
Franchise Ethics 520
International Franchising 521
The Future of Franchising 523
Chapter Summary 524 | Key Terms 525 | Review Questions 525Application Questions 526 | You Be the VC 15.1 527 | You Be the VC 15.2 528 | CASE 15.1 529 | CASE 15.2 531
ENDNOTES 533
Glossary 535
Name Index 547
Company Index 551
Subject Index 557
xvi CONTENTS
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INTRODUCTIONWe are truly excited about the fourth edition of our book and the promise it bringsto you. A key reason for this is that in many parts of the world, studying andpracticing entrepreneurship are very exciting and potentially highly rewardingactivities for entrepreneurs and the nations in which they launch their venturesand conduct their operations. In this sense then, across the world, even duringwhat are challenging economic conditions on a global basis, entrepreneurialventures are creating and bringing to market new products and services thatmake our lives easier, enhance our productivity at work, improve our health, andentertain us in new and fascinating ways. As you will see from reading this book,entrepreneurs are some of the most passionate and inspiring people youll evermeet. This is why successful firms have been launched in a variety of unexpectedplaces such as garages and an array of coffeehouses with wireless hot spots.Indeed, we never know the amount of success the person sitting next to usdrinking coffee might achieve after launching an entrepreneurial venture!
As you might anticipate, the passion an entrepreneur has about a businessidea, rather than fancy offices or other material things, is typically the numberone predictor of a new ventures success. Conversely, a lack of passion oftenleads to entrepreneurial failure.
The purpose of this book is to introduce you, our readers and students ofentrepreneurship, to the entrepreneurial process. We do this because evidencesuggests that the likelihood entrepreneurs will be successful increases whenthey thoroughly understand the parts of the entrepreneurial process as well ashow to effectively use those parts. The fact that in the United States aloneroughly one-third of new firms fail within the first two years while another20 percent fail within four years of their launching is the type of evidence wehave in mind. These failure rates show that while many people are motivatedto start new firms, motivation alone is not enough; indeed, motivation mustbe coupled with accurate and timely information, a solid business idea, an effec-tive business plan, and sound execution to maximize chances for success.In this book, we discuss many examples of entrepreneurial ventures and theactions separating successful firms from unsuccessful ones.
This book provides a thoughtful, practical guide to the process of successfullylaunching and growing an entrepreneurial venture. To do this, we provide youwith a thorough analysis of the entrepreneurial process. We model this processfor you in the first chapter and then use the models components to frame thebooks remaining parts. Because of its importance, we place a special emphasison the beginnings of the entrepreneurial processparticularly opportunity recog-nition and feasibility analysis. We do this because history shows that many entre-preneurial ventures struggle or fail not because the business owners werentcommitted or didnt work hard, but because the idea they were pushing to bringto the marketplace wasnt the foundation for a vibrant, successful business.
WHAT IS NEW TO THIS EDITION?We are committed to presenting you with the most up-to-date and applicabletreatment of the entrepreneurial process available in the marketplace. Whileserving your educational interests, we want to simultaneously increase thelikelihood that you will become excited by entrepreneurships promise as youread and study current experiences of entrepreneurs and their ventures as wellas the findings springing from academic research.
PREFACE
xvii
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To verify currency, thoroughness, and reader interest, we have made severalimportant changes, as presented next, while preparing this fourth edition of our book:
Opening Profile Each chapter opens with a profile of an entrepreneurialventure that was started by one or more students while completing theiruniversity-level educational experience. All 15 Opening Profiles (one for eachchapter) are new to this edition. These descriptions of real-life entrepreneursdemonstrate that many of us have the ability to be entrepreneurs even whileenrolled as a college student. Each profile is specific to a chapters topic. Wecompleted extensive interviews with each student entrepreneur(s) to obtainthe required materials. While reading each profile, imagine yourself in the roleof one or more of the entrepreneurs who launched a venture as a student.
Student Entrepreneurs Insights At the side of each Opening Profile,we present entrepreneurs answers to a series of questions. In providing answersto these questions, the entrepreneurs who launched their venture while enrolledin school express their perspectives about various issues. An important benefitassociated with thinking about these responses is that those reading this booktoday have opportunities to see that they, too, may indeed have the potential tolaunch an entrepreneurial venture quicker than originally thought.
Updated Features Almost every one of the What Went Wrong? SavvyEntrepreneurial Firm, Partnering for Success, and You Be the VC featuresare new to this edition. The very few features we did retain have beenthoroughly updated. These features present you with contemporary issuesfacing todays entrepreneurial ventures. The You Be the VC features, forexample, allow readers to decide if the potential of a proposed entrepreneurialventure is sufficient to warrant funding.
New and Updated Cases Virtually all of the pairs of end-of-chapter casesare new to this edition. Those retained have been completely updated.Comprehensive in nature, we wrote these cases with the purpose of presentingreaders with opportunities to use chapter-specific concepts to identify problemsand propose solutions to situations facing actual entrepreneurial ventures.Questions appearing at the end of each case can be used to stimulate classroomdiscussions.
Updated References The amount of academic research examiningentrepreneurship topics continues to grow. To provide you, our readers, withthe most recent insights from the academic literature, we draw from newlypublished articles in important journals such as Strategic EntrepreneurshipJournal, Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Journal of Business Venturing,and Academy of Management Journal. Similarly, we relied on the most currentarticles appearing in business publications such as The Wall Street Journaland Entrepreneur among others, to present you with examples of the actionsbeing taken by todays entrepreneurial ventures.
HOW IS THIS BOOK ORGANIZED?To explain the entrepreneurial process and the way it typically unfolds, wedivide our book into four parts and 15 chapters. The four parts of the entrepre-neurial process model are:
Part 1: Decision to Become an Entrepreneur
Part 2: Developing Successful Business Ideas
Part 3: Moving from an Idea to an Entrepreneurial Firm
Part 4: Managing and Growing an Entrepreneurial Firm
xviii PREFACE
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We believe that this sequence will make your journey toward understandingthe entrepreneurial process both enjoyable and productive. The model isshown above. The step in the model that corresponds to the chapter beingintroduced is highlighted to help you form a picture of where each chapter fitsin the entrepreneurial process.
WHAT ARE THE BOOKS BENEFICIAL FEATURES?To provide as thorough and meaningful an introduction to the entrepreneurialprocess as possible, we include several features, as follows, in each chapter ofthe book:
PREFACE xix
Developing SuccessfulBusiness Ideas
Developingan
effectivebusinessmodel
Recognizingopportunities
and generatingideas
Introduction toentrepreneurship
Feasibilityanalysis
Decision toBecome an
Entrepreneur
Industry andcompetitor
analysis
Writing abusiness plan
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 1
Developing Successful Business Ideas
Assessing anew ventures
financialstrength and
viability
Gettingfinancing or
funding
Managing andGrowing an
Entrepreneurial Firm
Uniquemarketing
issues
The importanceof intellectual
property
Preparing forand evaluatingthe challenges
of growth
Strategiesfor firmgrowth
Franchising
Building a new-venture team
Preparing theproper ethical
and legalfoundation
Moving from an Ideato an Entrepreneurial Firm
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
FEATURE INCLUDED INEACH CHAPTER BENEFIT
Learning objectives
`Help focus the readers attention on the major topics in the chapter
Chapter openingprofile
Introduces the chapters topic by focusing on acompany that was started while its founder orfounders were still in college, showing that you donot have to wait until you have years and years ofexperience to launch your entrepreneurial venture
Boldfaced key terms Draw the readers attention to key concepts
Examples andanecdotes
Liven up the text and provide descriptions of bothsuccessful and unsuccessful approaches to con-fronting the challenges discussed in each chapter
End-of-chaptersummary
Integrates the key topics and concepts included ineach chapter
20 review questions Allow readers to test their recall of chapter material
15 applicationquestions
Allow readers to apply what they learned from thechapter material
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WHAT ARE SOME OTHER UNIQUEFEATURES OF THIS BOOK?While looking through your book, we think youll find several unique features,as presented next, that will work to your benefit as a student of entrepreneur-ship and the entrepreneurial process.
xx PREFACE
4 case discussionquestions
Provide opportunities to use concepts examinedfollowing each case in each chapter to evaluatesituations faced by entrepreneurs
2 case applicationquestions
Provide opportunities to use a chapters materialsfollowing each case for situations readers mightface as entrepreneurs
UNIQUE FEATURE OF THE BOOK EXPLANATIONFocus on opportunity recognitionand feasibility analysis
We open your book with strong chapters on opportunityrecognition and feasibility analysis. This is important,because opportunity recognition and feasibility analysis arekey activities that must be completed early when investigating a new business idea.
What Went Wrong? boxed feature Each chapter contains a boxed feature titled What WentWrong? We use these features to explain the missteps ofseemingly promising entrepreneurial firms. The purposeof these features, as you have no doubt already guessed,is to highlight the reality that things can go wrong whenthe fundamental concepts in the chapters arent carefullyfollowed.
Partnering for Success boxedfeature
Each chapter contains a boxed feature titled Partnering forSuccess. The ability to partner effectively with other firmsis becoming an increasingly important attribute forsuccessful entrepreneurial ventures.
Savvy Entrepreneurial Firm boxed feature
Each chapter contains a boxed feature titled SavvyEntrepreneurial Firm. These features illustrate the typesof business practices that facilitate the success of entrepre-neurial ventures. As such, these are practices you shouldstrongly consider putting into play when you are using theentrepreneurial process.
You Be the VC end-of-chapterfeatures
Two features, titled You Be the VC, are provided at the endof each chapter. These features present a pitch for fundingfrom an emerging entrepreneurial venture. The features aredesigned to stimulate classroom discussion by sparkingdebate on whether a particular venture should or shouldntreceive funding. All the firms featured are real-life entrepre-neurial start-ups. Thus, youll be talking about realnothypothetical or fictitiousentrepreneurial ventures.
A total of 30 original end-of-chapter cases
Two medium-length cases, written by the authors of thebook, are featured at the end of each chapter. The cases aredesigned to stimulate classroom discussion between youand your professor and with your follow students for thepurpose of illustrating the issues discussed in the chapter.
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Student Resources
CourseSmart eTextbookCourseSmart eTextbooks were developed forstudents looking to save on required or recommended textbooks. Studentssimply select their eText by title or author and purchase immediate accessto the content for the duration of the course using any major credit card.With a CourseSmart eText, students can search for specific keywords orpage numbers, take notes online, print out reading assignments thatincorporate lecture notes, and bookmark important passages for laterreview. For more information or to purchase a CourseSmart eTextbook,visit www.coursesmart.com.
Companion Website: www.pearsonhighered.com/barringercontainsfree access to a student version of the PowerPoint package, chapterquizzes, and links to featured Web sites.
Business Feasibility Analysis ProThis wizard-based software is astep-by-step guide and an easy-to-use tool for completing a feasibilityanalysis of a business idea. The program allows instructors the flexibilityto assign each step in the feasibility analysis separately or to assign theentire feasibility analysis as a semester-long project. It can be packagedwith the textbook at a nominal cost.
FEEDBACKIf you have questions related to this book about entrepreneurship, pleasecontact our customer service department online at http://247.pearsoned.com.
PREFACE xxi
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We are pleased to express our sincere appreciation to four groups of people forhelping bring both editions of our book to life.
Prentice Hall Professionals A number of individuals at Prentice Hallhave worked with us conscientiously and have fully supported our efforts tocreate a book that will work for those both studying and teaching theentrepreneurial process. From Prentice Hall, we want to extend our sincereappreciation to our senior acquisitions editor, Kim Norbuta; our director ofmarketing, Patrice Lumumba Jones; and our editorial project manager,Claudia Fernandes. Each individual provided us invaluable guidance andsupport, and we are grateful for their contribution.
Student Entrepreneurs We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to thestudent entrepreneurs who contributed to the opening features in our book.Our conversations with these individuals were both informative and inspiring.We enjoyed getting to know these bright young entrepreneurs, and wish themnothing but total success as they continue to build their ventures.
Academic Reviewers We want to thank our colleagues who participatedin reviewing individual chapters of the book while they were being written. Wegained keen insight from these individuals (each of whom teaches courses inentrepreneurship) and incorporated many of the suggestions of our reviewersinto the final version of the book.
Thank you to these professors who participated in reviews:
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Dr. Richard Bartlett, Columbus StateCommunity College
Greg Berezewski, Robert Morris College
Jeff Brice, Jr., Texas Southern University
Ralph Jagodka, Mt. San Antonio College
Christina Roeder, James Madison University
Aron S. Spencer, New Jersey Institute ofTechnology
Vincent Weaver, Greenville TechnicalCollege
Lisa Zidek, Florida Gulf Coast University
Academic Colleagues. We thank this large group of professors whosethoughts about entrepreneurial education have helped shape our bookscontents and presentation structure:
David C. Adams, Manhattanville College
Sol Ahiarah, SUNYBuffalo State College
Frederic Aiello, University of SouthernMaine
James J. Alling Sr., Augusta TechnicalCollege
Jeffrey Alstete, Iona College
Jeffrey Alves, Wilkes University
Joe Aniello, Francis Marion University
Mary Avery, Ripon College
Jay Azriel, Illinois State University
Richard Barker, Upper Iowa University
Jim Bell, Texas State University
Robert J. Berger, SUNY Potsdam
James Bloodgood, Kansas StateUniversity
Jenell Bramlage, University ofNorthwestern Ohio
Michael Brizek, South Carolina StateUniversity
Barb Brown, Southwestern CommunityCollege
James Burke, Loyola UniversityChicago
Lowell Busenitz, University of Oklahoma
John Butler, University of TexasAustin
xxii
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xxiii
Jane Byrd, University of Mobile
Art Camburn, Buena Vista University
Carol Carter, Louisiana State University
Gaylen Chandler, Utah State University
James Chrisman, Mississippi StateUniversity
Delena Clark, Plattsburgh State University
Dee Cole, Middle Tennessee StateUniversity
Roy Cook, Fort Lewis College
Andrew Corbett, Babson College
Simone Cummings, Washington UniversitySchool of Medicine
Suzanne DAgnes, QueensboroughCommunity College
Douglas Dayhoff, Indiana University
Frank Demmler, Carnegie MellonUniversity
David Desplaces, University ofHartford/Barney
Vern Disney, University of SouthCarolinaSumter
Dale Eesley, University of Toledo
Alan Eisner, Pace University
Susan Everett, Clark State CommunityCollege
Henry Fernandez, North Carolina CentralUniversity
Charles Fishel, San Jose State University
Dana Fladhammer, Phoenix College
Brenda Flannery, Minnesota StateUniversity
John Friar, Northeastern University
Barbara Fuller, Winthrop University
Barry Gilmore, University of Memphis
Caroline Glackin, Delaware StateUniversity
Cheryl Gracie, Washtenaw CommunityCollege
Frederick Greene, Manhattan College
Lee Grubb, East Carolina University
Brad Handy, Springfield TechnicalCommunity College
Carnella Hardin, Glendale College
Ashley Harmon, Southeastern TechnicalCollege
Steve Harper, University of North Carolina at Wilmington
Alan Hauff, University of MissouriSt. Louis
Gordon Haym, Lyndon State College
Andrea Hershatter, Emory University
Richard Hilliard, Nichols College
Jo Hinton, Copiah Lincoln CommunityCollege
Dennis Hoagland, LDS Business College
Kathie Holland, University of Central Florida
Frank Hoy, University of Texas at El Paso
Jeffrey Jackson, Manhattanville College
Grant Jacobsen, Northern VirginiaCommunity CollegeWoodbridge
Susan Jensen, University of NebraskaKearney
Alec Johnson, University of St. Thomas
James M. Jones, University of theIncarnate Word, ERAU, Del Mar College
Jane Jones, Mountain Empire CommunityCollege
Joy Jones, Ohio Valley College
Tom Kaplan, Fairleigh DickinsonUniversityMadison
Elizabeth Kisenwether, Penn StateUniversity
James Klingler, Villanova University
Edward Kuljian, Saint Josephs University
James Lang, Virginia Tech University
Allon Lefever, Eastern MennoniteUniversity
Anita Leffel, University of TexasSanAntonio
Gary Levanti, Polytechnic UniversityLI Campus
Benyamin Lichtenstein, University ofMassachusetts, Boston
Bruce Lynskey, Vanderbilt University
Janice Mabry, Mississippi Gulf CoastCommunity College
Jeffrey Martin, University of Alabama
Greg McCann, Stetson University
Elizabeth McCrea, Pennsylvania StateGreat Valley
Brian McKenzie, California StateUniversityHayward
Chris McKinney, Vanderbilt University
Dale Meyer, University of Colorado
Steven C. Michael, University of IllinoisUrbanaChampaign
Angela Mitchell, Wilmington College
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Bryant Mitchell, University of MarylandEastern Shore
Rob Mitchell, University Western Ontario
Patrick Murphy, DePaul University
Charlie Nagelschmidt, Champlain College
William Naumes, University of New Hamp-shire
Connie Nichols, Odessa College
Gary Nothnagle, Nazareth College
Edward OBrien, Scottsdale CommunityCollege
David Orozco, Florida State University
Haesun Park, Louisiana State University
John Pfaff, University of the Pacific
Joseph Picken, University of Texas at Dallas
Emmeline de Pillis, University of HawaiiHilo
Carol Reeves, University of Arkansas
John Richards, Brigham Young University
Christo Roberts, University of MinnesotaTwin Cities
George Roorbach, Lyndon State College
Michael Rubach, University of CentralArkansas
Janice Rustia, University of NebraskaMedical Center
James Saya, The College of Santa Fe
William Scheela, Bemidji State University
Gerry Scheffelmaier, Middle TennesseeState University
Gerald Segal, Florida Gulf Coast University
Cynthia Sheridan, St. Edwards University
Donald Shifter, Fontbonne University
C. L. J. Spencer, Kapiolani CommunityCollege
Joseph Stasio, Merrimack College
Deborah Streeter, Cornell University
Dara Szyliowicz, University of Denver
Clint B. Tankersley, Syracuse University
Craig Tunwall, Empire State College
Barry Van Hook, Arizona State University
George Vozikis, University of Tulsa
David Wilemon, Syracuse University
Charlene Williams, Brewton Parker College
Doug Wilson, University of Oregon
Diana Wong, Eastern Michigan University
xxiv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Finally, we want to express our appreciation to our home institutions(Oklahoma State University and Texas A&M University) for creating environ-ments in which ideas are encouraged and supported.
We wish each of youour readersall the best in your study of theentrepreneurial process. And, of course, we hope that each of you will be highlysuccessful entrepreneurs as you pursue the ideas youll develop at differentpoints in your careers.
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xxv
Bruce R. Barringer Bruce R. Barringer holds the Johnny D. PopeEntrepreneurship Chair in the Department of Entrepreneurship at OklahomaState University. He earned his PhD from the University of Missouri and hisMBA from Iowa State University. His research interests include feasibilityanalysis, firm growth, corporate entrepreneurship, and the impact of interorga-nizational relationships on business organizations. Over the years, he hasworked with a number of technology-based incubators and student-ledentrepreneurship activities and clubs.
He serves on the editorial review board of Entrepreneurship Theory andPractice and Journal of Small Business Management. His work has beenpublished in Strategic Management Journal, Journal of Management, Journal ofBusiness Venturing, Journal of Small Business Management, Journal ofDevelopmental Entrepreneurship, and Quality Management Journal.
Bruces outside interests include running, trail biking, and swimming.
R. Duane Ireland R. Duane Ireland is a University DistinguishedProfessor and holds the Conn Chair in New Ventures Leadership in the MaysBusiness School, Texas A&M University. Previously, he served on the faculties atUniversity of Richmond, Baylor University, and Oklahoma State University. Hisresearch interests include strategic entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneur-ship, strategic alliances, and effectively managing organizational resources.
Duanes research has been published in journals such as Academy ofManagement Journal, Academy of Management Review, Academy of ManagementExecutive, Strategic Management Journal, Administrative Science Quarterly,Journal of Management, Journal of Business Venturing, Entrepreneurship Theoryand Practice, and Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal among others. He is aco-author of both scholarly books and textbooks, including best-selling strategicmanagement texts. Along with Dr. Mike Morris (Syracuse University), Duaneserves as a co-editor for the Prentice Hall Entrepreneurship Series. These booksoffer in-depth treatments of specific entrepreneurship topics, such as BusinessPlans for Entrepreneurs (authored by Bruce Barringer).
Duane has served or is serving on the editorial review boards for a numberof journals, including AMJ, AMR, AME, JOM, JBV, and ETP. He just completeda term as Editor for AMJ. He has completed terms as an associate editor forAME and as a consulting editor for ETP and has served as a guest co-editor forspecial issues of a number of journals including AMR, AME, and SMJ. He is aFellow of the Academy of Management and a Fellow of the StrategicManagement Society. He is the current Vice President and Program Chair forthe Academy of Management. He is the recipient of both teaching and researchawards.
Duanes outside interests include running, reading, listening to a variety ofmusic, and playing with his grandson.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
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PA R T 1
Decision to Become an Entrepreneur
CHAPTER 1Introduction to Entrepreneurship
1
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Founder:
SAM HOGGMBA, Michigan State University, 2008
Dialogue withSam Hogg
MY BIGGEST WORRY AS ANENTREPRENEURCash flow
WHAT I DO WHEN IM NOTWORKINGGet outside
MY FAVORITE SMARTPHONE APPYelp!
MY FIRST ENTREPENEURIALEXPERIENCESelling wholesale sporting goodson eBay
BEST PART OF BEING ASTUDENTYour classmates
FAVORITE PERSON I FOLLOWON TWITTERMy social media manager, Mallory.Shes hilarious and a great writer.
Getting Personal with GIFTZIP.COM
Trum
pie
Pho
togr
aphy
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OPENING PROFILE
GIFTZIP.COMThe Classic Entrepreneurial StoryWeb: www.giftzip.comTwitter: GiftZipFacebook: GiftZip
It all started in a sustainable supply chain management class at Michigan StateUniversity. Sam Hogg, an MBA student, started thinking about the waste plastic giftcards create. The class challenged Hogg and his classmates to think about the path
that a product travels from inception to disposal. Gift cards are made, sold, redeemed,and are then immediately discardeda wasteful supply chain. In fact, according toPlenty, a leading sustainable periodical, about 75 million pounds of them go into land-fills every year.1
Largely as result of his experience in this class, in November 2008, roughly eightmonths after he earned his MBA, Hogg launched GiftZip.com, anonline gift card aggregation site. The site allows people to buyelectronic gift cards from popular retailers like Amazon.com, Target,Bass Pro Shops, and Pottery Barn. All are delivered in ways thataddress Hoggs sustainability concerns. For example, if you logonto GiftZip.com and click on the Pottery Barn icon, youre sent toPottery Barns gift card site. There, you can buy a gift card forbetween $25 and $250, and its delivered via e-mail or Facebook.You can also select from Pottery Barns choices for the design ofthe card, or upload your own design. The card will be electronicallydelivered to the recipient within hours, with a message saying itcame from you. The recipient can then take the e-mail or Facebookvoucher and redeem it on Pottery Barns Web site or in a PotteryBarn store.
Hogg gives his MBA program at Michigan State credit forhelping him formulate his business model. In particular, a marketingprofessor influenced his thinking about how to display the cards on hissite. The professor suggested that consumers are more likely to buya product when given multiple choices, even if those choices sit nextto competing brands. GiftZip.com is strictly a pass-through site,meaning that it doesnt process transactions. Instead, when youclick on a retailers emblem, youre passed through to the retailersWeb site where you place your order. GiftZip.com receives an affili-ate fee for purchases that originate from its site. GiftZip.coms value
LEARNING OBJECTIVESAfter studying this chapter you should beready to:
1. Explain entrepreneurship and discuss itsimportance.
2. Describe corporate entrepreneurshipand its use in established firms.
3. Discuss three main reasons peopledecide to become entrepreneurs.
4. Identify four main characteristics ofsuccessful entrepreneurs.
5. Explain the five common mythsregarding entrepreneurship.
6. Explain how entrepreneurial firms differfrom salary-substitute and lifestyle firms.
7. Discuss the changing demographics ofentrepreneurs in the United States.
8. Discuss the impact of entrepreneurialfirms on economies and societies.
9. Identify ways in which large firms benefitfrom the presence of smallerentrepreneurial firms.
10. Explain the entrepreneurial process.
CHAPTER 1Introduction to Entrepreneurship
3
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4 PART 1 DECISION TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
added is that it provides a single place for people to search for gift cards. It also dividesgift cards into categories such as Apparel, Gourmet, Family, and Sporting Goods. Thisapproach allows searchers to see gift card choices that they might not have knownabout otherwise.
Signing up retailers was the biggest challenge Hogg confronted in makingGiftZip.com a success. He made cold calls and got hung up on repeatedly. A break-through in his thinking was that he didnt have to convince an entire company, likeAmazon.com, to participate on his site, just the person in the company that had the say soregarding gift cards. He found that once he got one company signed up in an industry, itwas much easier to get others. He almost gave up several times when the going wastough. He found that perseverance is a necessary quality for successful entrepreneurs.
Hogg feels he got a little lucky in that GiftZip.com had perfect timing. At the time helaunched, which was fall 2008, three things were happening in his favor: (1) the gift cardmarket was growing, (2) people were becoming increasingly comfortable buying online,and (3) it was becoming increasingly more affordable to launch an online business. All ofthese factors continue to evolve in GiftZip.coms favor.
Another thing Hogg feels has benefited his business is positive PR, which has beengenerated in part by the fact that he originated his business idea while in college.GiftZip.com has been recognized twice by Entrepreneur magazine, for example. It wasrecognized in March 2009 in an article titled The Gift Card Economy. The article high-lighted several companies in the gift card industry, and drew attention to the fact thatHogg came up with the idea for GiftZip.com while a student at Michigan StateUniversity. The other mention was in June 2009, when GiftZip.com was designated oneof Americans 10 Hot Startups to watch.
GiftZip.com appears to have substantial potential. The gift card industry is expectedto top $100 billion in 2012, and is continuing to gain momentum.2
In this first chapter of your book about the successful launching of an entrepre-neurial firm, we define entrepreneurship and discuss why some people decideto become entrepreneurs. We then look at successful entrepreneurs character-istics, the common myths surrounding entrepreneurship, the different types ofstart-up firms, and the changing demographics of entrepreneurs in the UnitedStates and in nations throughout the world. We then examine entrepreneur-ships importance, including the economic and social impact of new firms as wellas the importance of entrepreneurial firms to larger businesses. To close thischapter, we introduce you to the entrepreneurial process. This process, whichwe believe is the foundation for successfully launching a start-up firm, is theframework we use to present the books materials to you.
INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIPThere is tremendous interest in entrepreneurship around the world. Althoughthis statement may seem bold, there is evidence supporting it, some of which isprovided by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). GEM, which is a jointresearch effort by Babson College, London Business School, and Universidaddel Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile, tracks entrepreneurship in 59 countries, including the United States. Of particular interest to GEM is early stage entre-preneurial activity, which consists of businesses that are just being startedand businesses that have been in existence for less than three and one-halfyears. The 2010 survey shows, in the countries analyzed, some 110 million
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people between 18 and 64 years old just starting businesses, and another140 million running businesses they started less than three and one-half yearsago. Taken together, some 250 million people were involved in early entre-preneurial activity in the 59 countries included in the study. A sample of therate of early-stage entrepreneurial activity in countries included in the GEMstudy is shown in Table 1.1. While the highest rates of entrepreneurial start-upactivities occur in low-income countries, where good jobs are not plentiful, therates are also impressive in high-income countries like France (5.8 percent),United Kingdom (6.4 percent), and the United States (7.6 percent). What the7.6 percent means for the United States is that almost 1 out of every 13 Americanadults is actively engaged in starting a business or is the owner/manager of abusiness that is less than three and one-half years old.3
The GEM study also identifies whether its respondents are starting a newbusiness to take advantage of an attractive opportunity or because of necessityto earn an income. The majority of people in high-income countries are drawnto entrepreneurship to take advantage of attractive opportunities. The reverseis true of people in low-income countries, who tend to be drawn to entrepre-neurship primarily because of necessity (resulting from a lack of careerprospects).4
One criticism of entrepreneurship, which is often repeated in the press, isthat the majority of new businesses fail. It simply isnt true. The often usedstatistic that 9 out of 10 businesses fail in their first few years is an exaggera-tion. According to Brian Headd, an economist for the U.S. Small BusinessAdministration, after four years 50 percent of new businesses are still open,33 percent have failed, and 17 percent are closed but were considered to besuccessful by their owners.5 While overall these figures are heartening, the 33 percent of start-ups that fail show that a motivation to start and run a busi-ness isnt enough; it must be coupled with a solid business idea, good financialmanagement, and effective execution to maximize chances for success. In thisbook, well discuss many examples of entrepreneurial firms and the factorsseparating successful new ventures from unsuccessful ones.
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 5
TABLE 1.1 RATES OF EARLY-STAGE ENTREPRENEURIALACTIVITY (AGES 18 TO 64)
CountryPercent of Population Starting
a New Business
Argentina 14.2%
Brazil 17.5%
China 14.4%
France 5.8%
Germany 4.2%
Peru 27.2%
Russia 3.9%
Turkey 8.6%
United Kingdom 6.4%
United States 7.6%
Source: Based on D. Kelley, N. Bosma, and J. E. Amoros, GlobalEntrepreneurship Monitor 2010 Global Report (Babson College andUniversidad del Desarrollo, 2010).
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LEARNING OBJECTIVE
1. Explain entrepreneurshipand discuss itsimportance.
6 PART 1 DECISION TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
Many people see entrepreneurship as an attractive career path. Think aboutyour friends and others you know. In all probability, you are acquainted with atleast one or two people who want to become an entrepreneureither now or atsome point in the future. The number of books dealing with starting ones ownbusiness is another indication entrepreneurship is growing in popularity.Amazon.com, for example, currently lists over 35,600 books and other itemsdealing with entrepreneurship and over 62,700 books concerned with smallbusinesses.
What Is Entrepreneurship?
The word entrepreneur derives from the French words entre, meaning between,and prendre, meaning to take. The word was originally used to describe peoplewho take on the risk between buyers and sellers or who undertake a task suchas starting a new venture.6 Inventors and entrepreneurs differ from each other. Aninventor creates something new. An entrepreneur assembles and then integratesall the resources neededthe money, the people, the business model, the strategy,and the risk-bearing abilityto transform the invention into a viable business.7
Entrepreneurship is defined as the process by which individuals pursueopportunities without regard to resources they currently control.8 Others suchas venture capitalist Fred Wilson define it more simply, seeing entrepreneurshipas the art of turning an idea into a business. In essence, an entrepreneursbehavior finds him or her trying to identify opportunities and putting usefulideas into practice.9 The tasks called for by this behavior can be accomplishedby either an individual or a group and typically require creativity, drive, and awillingness to take risks. Sam Hogg, the cofounder of GiftZip.com, exemplifiesall these qualities. Hogg saw an opportunity to create a single place for people toshop for electronic gift cards, he risked his career by passing up alternatives towork on GiftZip.com full-time, and hes now working hard to put GiftZip.com ina position to deliver a creative and useful service to its customers.
In this book, we focus on entrepreneurship in the context of an entrepre-neur or team of entrepreneurs launching a new business. However, ongoingfirms can also behave entrepreneurially. Typically, established firms with anentrepreneurial emphasis are proactive, innovative, and risk-taking. Forexample, Apple Inc. is widely recognized as a firm in which entrepreneurialbehaviors are clearly evident. Steve Jobs is at the heart of Apples entrepre-neurial culture. With his ability to persuade and motivate others imaginations,Jobs continues to inspire Apples employees as they develop innovative productafter innovative product. To consider the penetration Apple has with some ofits innovations, think of how many of your friends own an iPhone, iPad, orMacintosh computer. Similarly, studying Facebook or Zyngas ability to growand succeed reveals a history of entrepreneurial behavior at multiple levelswithin the firms.10 In addition, many of the firms traded on the NASDAQ, suchas Intuit, Amazon.com, Google, and Research In Motion are commonly thoughtof as entrepreneurial firms. The NASDAQ is the largest U.S. electronic stockmarket, with over 2,850 companies listed on the exchange.
We want to note here that established firms with an orientation to actingentrepreneurially practice corporate entrepreneurship.11 All firms fall alonga conceptual continuum that ranges from highly conservative to highly entre-preneurial. The position of a firm on this continuum is referred to as itsentrepreneurial intensity.12 As we mentioned previously, entrepreneurialfirms are typically proactive innovators and are not averse to taking calculatedrisks. In contrast, conservative firms take a more wait and see posture, areless innovative, and are risk averse.
One of the most persuasive indications of entrepreneurships importance toan individual or to a firm is the degree of effort undertaken to behave in an
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
2. Describe corporateentrepreneurship and itsuse in established firms.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 7
entrepreneurial manner. Firms with higher entrepreneurial intensity regularlylook for ways to cut bureaucracy. For example, Virgin Group, the large Britishconglomerate, works hard to keep its units small and instill in them an entre-preneurial spirit. Virgin is one of the most recognized brands in Britain and isinvolved in businesses as diverse as airlines and music. In the following quote,Sir Richard Branson, the founder and CEO of Virgin, describes how his com-pany operates in an entrepreneurial manner:
Convention . . . dictates that big is beautiful, but every time one of our ventures getstoo big we divide it up into smaller units. I go to the deputy managing director, thedeputy sales director, and the deputy marketing director and say, Congratulations.Youre now MD [managing director], sales director and marketing directorof a newcompany. Each time weve done this, the people involved havent had much morework to do, but necessarily they have a greater incentive to perform and a greaterzeal for their work. The results for us have been terrific. By the time we sold VirginMusic, we had as many as 50 subsidiary record companies, and not one of them hadmore than 60 employees.13
Why Become an Entrepreneur?
The three primary reasons that people become entrepreneurs and start theirown firms are to be their own boss, pursue their own ideas, and realize finan-cial rewards.
Be Their Own Boss The first of these reasonsbeing ones own bossisgiven most commonly. This doesnt mean, however, that entrepreneurs are dif-ficult to work with or that they have trouble accepting authority. Instead, manyentrepreneurs want to be their own boss because either they have had a long-time ambition to own their own firm or because they have become frustratedworking in traditional jobs. The type of frustration that some entrepreneurs feelworking in conventional jobs is exemplified by Wendy DeFeudis, the founder ofVeryWendy, a company that makes customized social invitations. Commentingon how her experiences working for herself have been more satisfying thanworking for a large firm, DeFeudis remarked:
I always wanted to be my own boss. I felt confined by the corporate structure. I found it frustrating and a complete waste of timea waste to have to sell myideas to multiple people and attend all kinds of internal meetings before movingforward with a concept.14
Sometimes the desire to be their own boss results from a realization thatthe only way theyll achieve an important personal or professional goal is tostart their own business. Christopher Jones, David LaBat, and Mary McGrathstarted a business for this reason. The three, who are educational psycholo-gists, had secure jobs at a public school in the Santa Clarita Valley, north ofLos Angeles. Over time, they felt inhibited by the limited range of services theywere able to provide students in a school setting, so they left their jobs to startDynamic Interventions, a more full-service educational psychology and coun-seling center. Recalling why it was necessary for him and his colleagues toleave their jobs to become their own bosses Jones said:
The idea came from some general frustrations with not being able to practice thebreadth of service that [we wanted to]. And instead of going to work and beingangry about it for the next 30 years, we decided to do something about it. WithDynamic Interventions, our service doesnt stop at the end of the school day. Wecan go more in-depth and be more beneficial to the whole family.15
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
3. Discuss three mainreasons people decide tobecome entrepreneurs.
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8 PART 1 DECISION TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
Pursue Their Own Ideas The second reason people start their ownfirms is to pursue their own ideas.16 Some people are naturally alert, andwhen they recognize ideas for new products or services, they have a desire tosee those ideas realized. Corporate entrepreneurs who innovate within thecontext of an existing firm typically have a mechanism for their ideas tobecome known. Established firms, however, often resist innovation. Whenthis happens, employees are left with good ideas that go unfulfilled.17
Because of their passion and commitment, some employees choose to leavethe firm employing them in order to start their own business as the means todevelop their own ideas.
This chain of events can take place in noncorporate settings, too. For exam-ple, some people, through a hobby, leisure activity, or just everyday life, recog-nize the need for a product or service that is not available in the marketplace.If the idea is viable enough to support a business, they commit tremendoustime and energy to convert the idea into a part-time or full-time firm. InChapters 2 and 3, we focus on how entrepreneurs spot ideas and determine iftheir ideas represent viable business opportunities.
An example of a person who left a job to pursue an idea is Kevin Mann,the founder of Graphic.ly, a social digital distribution platform for comicbook publishers and fans. Mann became discouraged when he couldnt finda comic book in which he was interested. He even took a 100 mile train rideto search for it in a neighboring city. His frustration boiled over on the trainride home:
I kept thinking that there had to be a better way of buying comics; and then itdawned on me. That morning I had purchased a movie from iTunes, which I waswatching right there on the train. Why shouldnt buying comics be just as easy?Why did I have to travel over a 100 miles and waste the better part of day, all fornothing? I realized I had two options. I could quit buying comics or I could quit myjob and build the iTunes of comics.18
This revelation led to the launch of Graphic.ly in the fall of 2009. Today,Graphic.ly is both a robust platform for the sale of digital comics and a social
Steve Jobs is perhapsAmericas best-knownentrepreneur. Hecofounded Apple Inc. in1976, and has since builtthe company into apremier entrepreneurialfirm. Apples lastestinnovations include thewidely popular iPhone,iPad, iPod, and ApplesApp Store and its iTunesmusic store.
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 9
network for people who enjoy discussing the comics theyre reading. Followingup on the story about the train ride, Mann went on to say:
Thats how Graphic.ly started and my enthusiasm for comics has now transferredto a business I love being part of. Every single day I am excited to go to work. I getto create and innovate in a sector I love. Ultimately, Ill solve a problem that wasruining something very special to me.19
Pursue Financial Rewards Finally, people start their own firms to pur-sue financial rewards. This motivation, however, is typically secondary to thefirst two and often fails to live up to its hype. The average entrepreneur doesnot make more money than someone with a similar amount of responsibility ina traditional job. The financial lure of entrepreneurship is its upside potential.People such as Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, andLarry Page and Sergey Brin of Google made hundreds of millions of dollarsbuilding their firms. Money is also a unifier. Making a profit and increasing thevalue of a company is a solidifying goal that people can rally around. Butmoney is rarely the primary motivation behind the launch of an entrepreneur-ial firm. Some entrepreneurs even report that the financial rewards associatedwith entrepreneurship can be bittersweet if they are accompanied by losingcontrol of their firm. For example, Sir Richard Branson, after selling VirginRecords, wrote, I remember walking down the street [after the sale wascompleted]. I was crying. Tears . . . [were] streaming down my face. And thereI was holding a check for a billion dollars. . . . If youd have seen me, you wouldhave thought I was loony. A billion dollars.20 For Branson, it wasnt just themoneyit was the thrill of building the business and of seeing the success ofhis initial idea.
Characteristics of Successful Entrepreneurs
Although many behaviors have been ascribed to entrepreneurs, several arecommon to those who are successful. Those in new ventures and those who arealready part of an entrepreneurial firm share these qualities, which are shownin Figure 1.1 and described in the following section.
Passion for the Business The number one characteristic shared by suc-cessful entrepreneurs is a passion for their business, whether it is in thecontext of a new firm or an existing business. This passion typically stemsfrom the entrepreneurs belief that the business will positively influence peo-ples lives. This is the case with PatientsLikeMe, the subject of Case 1.2, whichis a company that allows people with life-changing diseases to converse withone another, share their experiences, and learn techniques from one anotherthat help them better cope with their diseases. Making a difference in peopleslives is also the primary motivator behind many social enterprises, which areoften started by people who set aside promising careers to pursue a socialgoal. This was the case with John Wood, who founded Room to Read, and isthe author of the book Leaving Microsoft to Change the World. Woods deeppassion to help children in the developing world caused him to start cashingin small amounts of Microsoft stock to buy books and build schools, evenbefore he left the company. In excerpts from a 2007 interview published byForbes magazine, Wood said:
During my travels, I met so many children in the poorest parts of the world, lackingaccess to school, books, and libraries, that I began cashing in small amounts ofstocks to help them. Two hundred shares of Microsoft stock was enough to build anentire school in rural Napal.21
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
4. Identify four maincharacteristics ofsuccessful entrepreneurs.
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Wood eventually left Microsoft to work on Room to Read full-time. As of May 2011,Room to Read had built over 1,440 schools and distributed over 9.4 million booksin developing parts of the world.
Passion is particularly important for both for-profit and not-for-profitentrepreneurial organizations because, although rewarding, the process ofstarting a firm or building a social enterprise is demanding. There are fiveprimary reasons passion is important, as reflected in Table 1.2. Each of thesereasons reflects a personal attribute that passion engenders. Removing justone of these qualities would make it much more difficult to launch and sustaina successful entrepreneurial organization.
10 PART 1 DECISION TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
Passion forthe business
Successful entrepreneur
Tenacity despitefailure
Execution intelligence
Product/customerfocus
FIGURE 1.1Four PrimaryCharacteristicsof SuccessfulEntrepreneurs
TABLE 1.2 FIVE PRIMARY REASONS PASSION IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LAUNCH OF A SUCCESSFULENTREPRENEURIAL ORGANIZATION
Reason Passion Is Important Explanation
1. The ability to learn and iterate Founders dont have all the answers. It takes passion and drive to solicit feedback,make necessary changes, and move forward. The changes wont always be obvious.Passion makes the search for the right answers invigorating and fun.
2. A willingness to work hard for an extended period of time
Commonly, entrepreneurs work longer hours than people with traditional jobs. Youcan only do that, on a sustained basis, if youre passionate about what youre doing.
3. Ability to overcome setbacks and nos
Its rare that an entrepreneur doesnt experience setbacks and hear many nos frompotential customers, investors, and others while building an entrepreneurial businessor social enterprise. The energy to continue comes from passion for an idea.
4. The ability to listen to feedback on the limitations of yourorganization and yourself
Youll meet plenty of people along the waysome with good intentions and somewithoutwho will tell you how to improve your organization and how to improveyourself. You have to be willing to listen to the people with good intentions and makechanges if it helps. You have to be able to brush aside feedback from people withbad intentions without letting them get you down.
5. Perseverance and persistence when the going gets tough
Perseverance and persistence come from passion. As an entrepreneur, youll havedown days. Building an entrepreneurial organization is fraught with challenges.Passion is what provides an entrepreneur the motivation to get through tough times.
Source: Adapted from A. Sack, Why Is Passion so Important to a Startup, A Sack of Seattle blog, http://asack.typepad.com/a_sack_of_seattle/2010/03/why-is-passion-so-important-to-a-startup.html (accessed May 22, 2011, originally posted on March 16, 2010).
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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 11
A note of caution is in order here: While entrepreneurs should havepassion, they should not wear rose-colored glasses. It would be a mistake tobelieve that all one needs is passion and anything is possible. It is important tobe enthusiastic about a business idea, but it is also important to understandits potential flaws and risks. In addition, entrepreneurs should understandthat the most effective business ideas take hold when their passion isconsistent with their skills and is in an area that represents a legitimatebusiness opportunity.
To illustrate the importance of passion, as well as other factors that arecritical in determining a firms success or failure, we include a boxed featuretitled What Went Wrong? in each chapter. The feature for this chapter showshow YouCastr, an online platform that people used to provide live commentaryfor sporting events, ultimately failed in part because its founders were not ableto remain passionate about their business idea.
Product/Customer Focus A second defining characteristic of successfulentrepreneurs is a product/customer focus. This quality is exemplified bySteven Jobs, the cofounder of Apple Inc., who wrote, The computer is the mostremarkable tool weve ever built . . . but the most important thing is to get themin the hands of as many people as possible.22 This sentiment underscores anunderstanding of the two most important elements in any businessproductsand customers. While its important to think about management, marketing,finance, and the like, none of those functions makes any difference if a firmdoes not have good products with the capability to satisfy customers.
Its also important to focus on the right things. For example, JibJab is adigital entertainment company, which was founded in 1999 by Evan and GreggSpiridellis. It gained attention during the 2004 presidential election when itsanimated video of George W. Bush and John Kerry singing This Land Is YourLand became a hit. (Its been viewed on YouTube over 2.1 million times.)The goal of the company, from the start, was to build a scalable platform forcreating and distributing digital entertainment products. A problem thefounders had was they were really good animated content creators, so wouldget offers to do side jobs while working on their core business. They learnedthey needed to be disciplined and quit doing this because it took time awayfrom their real passion:
You need to be disciplined. You need to turn down jobs. You need to say, I couldreally use that $50,000 gig, but if we do that, were going to be locked down forthree months and were not going to be able to do these other projects. So it doesrequire discipline and passing on opportunities. Knowing what to pass on is areally important skill we developed.23
A product/customer focus also involves the diligence to spot productopportunities and to see them through to completion. The idea for the AppleMacintosh, for example, originated in the early 1980s when Steven Jobs andseveral other Apple employees took a tour of a Xerox research facility. They wereastounded to see computers that displayed graphical icons and pull-downmenus. The computers also allowed users to navigate desktops using a small,wheeled device called a mouse. Jobs decided to use these innovations to createthe Macintosh, the first user-friendly computer. Throughout the two and one-halfyears the Macintosh team developed this new product, it maintained an intenseproduct/customer focus, creating a high-quality computer that is easy to learn, isfun to use, and meets the needs of a wide audience of potential users.24
Tenacity Despite Failure Because entrepreneurs are typically tryingsomething new, the failure rate associated with their efforts is naturally high.In addition, the process of developing a new business is somewhat similar to what
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12 PART 1 DECISION TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR
WHAT WENT WRONG?
How a Lack of Passion and Too Few Customers Can Kill a Business
The idea for YouCastr was hatched in mid-2006,during a road trip involving Ariel Diaz, Jay Peak, andJeff Dwyer. Throughout the ride, the friends bouncedbusiness ideas off each other. One idea stuck. Howabout creating a platform that people could use toprovide live commentary for sporting events? It would befun, the friends thought, for people to watch a sportingevent, like a high school football game, and stream theirown live commentary across the Web.
Diaz shared the idea with Jeff Hebert, a friend, andwithin a couple of months he, Hebert, Peak, and Dwyerstarted building an alpha version of the site. Initially, eachmember of the group kept his day job, working on theidea, which they dubbed YouCastr, on nights and week-ends. Eventually, each quit his job, and the four spent thenext three years raising money, opening an office, hiringpeople, getting YouCastr up and running and pivoting thebusiness. (A pivot is when a business changes course.)Often, start-ups iterate or pivot based on user feedback.YouCastr started as a virtual sports bar where peoplecould chime in audio commentary on televised sportingevents. That approach didnt stick. It then pivoted tofocusing on enabling people to provide commentary onsporting events that werent televised, like high schoolfootball games. Its final pivot was to expand beyondsports, mainly by de-emphasizing the sports branding onits Web site, by adding a few features geared moretoward video producers than ordinary sports enthusiasts.All this time, YouCastrs revenue model called for the firmto take a commission on the sales its site generated.Each person who used the site to provide live commen-tary of a sporting event would sign up listeners whowould pay a small fee to listen to the event.
Ultimately, YouCastr didnt work. In a blog post aboutYouCastrs failure, Diaz provided five reasons thatYouCastr failed, three of which involved either a lack ofpassion or an absence of customers.
First, the company ran out of money. Despite operatingin a very lean manner, toward the end there simply wasntenough money to continue operating. Second, the marketwas not there. The underlying assumption of YouCastrsbusiness model is that people would pay for audio andvideo commentary of sporting events that werent covered
on radio or TV. As it turned out, not enough people wantedit. YouCastr did find some narrow markets where peoplewould pay, such as high school sports, some boxingmatches, and some mixed martial arts events. But thesemarkets werent large enough to build a sustainablecompany. Third, the team was ready to move on. The fourcofounders started YouCastr because they wanted to dosomething entrepreneurialnot because they lovedbroadcasting or loved sports. They werent the core usersof their own product. This made it hard to sustain effortwhen things got tough. Fourth, they saw no light at theend of the tunnel. Theyd guessed wrong about peopleswillingness to pay to listen to live broadcasts of sportingevents, and didnt see any prospects that would change.Finally, three and a half years after that car ride, it wastime to call it quits. Although the founders consideredthemselves to be survivors, they made the tough decisionto shut things down and move on.
Questions for Critical Thinking1. Why do you think Ariel Diaz and his cofounders
didnt realize that they were starting a business thatthey werent really passionate about? Should thathave been a warning sign to them? Describe what youbelieve are the keys to ensuring that a person is trulypassionate about a business idea before movingforward with the idea.
2. Why is passion such a critical component ofentrepreneurial success? If people are willing to workhard and dedicate themselves, do you think they canbuild a successful business without being passionateabout their business idea?
3. How could YouCastrs cofounders have betteranticipated that people would be reluctant to pay tolisten to or watch sporting events that werent beingcovered on radio or TV?
4. Do you think YouCastr could have been saved? If so, how?
Source: A. Diaz, YouCastrA Post-Mortem, The Ambitious LifeBlog, http://theambitiouslife.com/youcastr-a-post-mortem, June 3,2010 (accessed February 28, 2011).
a scientist experiences in the laboratory. A chemist, for example, typically has totry multiple combinations of chemicals before finding an optimal combinationthat can accomplish a certain objective. In a similar fashion, developing a newbusiness idea may require a certain degree of experimentation before a success isattained. Setbacks and failures inevitably occur during this process. The litmustest for entrepreneurs is their ability to persevere through setbacks and failures.
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An example of the degree of tenacity it sometimes takes to launch a suc-cessful firm is provided by Kyle Smitley, the founder of barley & birch, a busi-ness that sells organic childrens clothing. Smitley launched barley & birch inJanuary 2009, at age 22, with the goal of giving parents and children the mostenvironmentally friendly clothing possible. Despite having flawless credit, shewas turned down at every bank she approached. She finally received a $10,000loan from ACCION, a microfinance organization. She next embarked on amajor marketing campaign, sending 500 hand-signed letters with literatureabout her products to environmentally friendly stores. That effort fell flat. Shefinally reached out to mom bloggers, who spread the word about her company,and motivated their readers to start asking about barley & birch products atchildrens clothing stores. By the end of 2009, Smitleys products were in 30stores. 25 Only sheer tenacity and will prevented Smitley from giving up beforeshe reached this critical milestone.
Two additional examples of tenacity are provided in the boxed feature titledSavvy Entrepreneurial Firm. In each chapter, this feature will provide anillustration of the exemplary behavior of one or more entrepreneurial firms orwill provide an example of a tool or technique that well-managed entrepreneurialfirms use to improve their performance.
Execution Intelligence The ability to fashion a solid idea into a viablebusiness is a key characteristic of successful entrepreneurs. Commonly, thisability is thought of as execution intelligence.26 In many cases, executionintelligence is the factor that determines whether a start-up is successful orfails. An ancient Chinese saying warns, To open a business is very easy; tokeep it open is very difficult.
The ability to effectively execute a business idea means developing a busi-ness model, putting together a new venture team, raising money, establishingpartnerships, managing finances, leading and motivating employees, and soon. It also demands the ability to translate thought, creativity, and imaginationinto action and measurable results. As Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.comonce said, Ideas are easy. Its execution thats hard.27 For many entrepre-neurs, the hardest time is shortly after they launch their firm. This reality wasexpressed by Jodi Gallaer, the founder of a lingerie company, who said, Themost challenging part of my job is doing everything for the first time.28
To illustrate solid execution, lets look at Starbucks. Although Starbucks isnot growing as fast and profitably as it once did, it is still a remarkablesuccess story. The business idea of Howard Schultz, the entrepreneur whopurchased Starbucks in 1987, was his recognition of the fact that mostAmericans didnt have a place to enjoy coffee in a comfortable, quiet setting.Seeing a great opportunity to satisfy customers needs, Schultz attacked themarketplace aggressively to make Starbucks the industry leader and toestablish a national brand. First, he hired a seasoned management team,constructed a world-class roasting facility to supply his outlets with premiumcoffee beans, and focused on building an effective organizational infrastruc-ture. Then Schultz recruited a management information systems expert fromMcDonalds to design a point-of-sale system capable of tracking consumerpurchases across 300 outlets. This decision was crucial to the firms ability tosustain rapid growth over the next several years. Starbucks succeededbecause Howard Schultz knew how to execute a busine