article thumbnail

How Do I Start Your Own Business?

Strategy Driven

Knowing the cost of a business is essential in determining whether a business is profitable. Determine your Potential Market. If any of these numbers are insignificant compared to the cost of running your business, you need to revisit or change your plan. Part 3 Creating a Marketing Plan. Identify Obstacles.

article thumbnail

The $300 House: Go, Go, Go!

Harvard Business Review

The Marketing Challenge. Editor's note: This post was written with Christian Sarkar , a marketing consultant who also works on environmental issues. Winners will be selected by the community and a panel of judges and will receive a scholarship to a June "prototyping workshop" led by COMMON , a social business incubator.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Why Older Entrepreneurs Have an Edge

Harvard Business Review

Charlton and Reid decided to launch TechTown, a nonprofit business incubator, which went on to spark a small renaissance in entrepreneurship in midtown Detroit. The National Journal reports that 9 of the nation's 15 million small-business owners were born before 1965.

article thumbnail

Where to Find Authentic Entrepreneurs

Harvard Business Review

But unlike most Japanese innovations, it did not come from a big established firm. Coming out of Peru, you’ll find Kola Real, formed during a coup d’état in 1988, not exactly an ideal environment for business incubation. Companies and venture capitalists chase hot markets. Noura Al Kaabi.

article thumbnail

The Economy of Punishment

Harvard Business Review

And relatedly, how do we recognize a black-market innovator who may have all the talent of a Richard Branson or a Jay-Z, but lacks the opportunities for a leg-up in the formal economy? Many gangsters are natural born innovators with restricted economic opportunities. As Gary joked, "You can't even see bad under the microscope.

article thumbnail

How the U.S. Can Rebuild Its Capacity to Innovate

Harvard Business Review

From automotive to semiconductors to pharma to clean energy , America’s innovation centers have shifted east, offering growing evidence that the U.S. has lost what Harvard Business School’s Willy Shih calls the “ industrial commons ”: indispensable production skills and capabilities.

article thumbnail

Getting Buy-In for Innovation that Doesn’t Fade at the End of the Quarter

Harvard Business Review

In fact, given the risk-averse culture of the organization and the tough market environment, you suspect they will likely re-evaluate within six months. Entrepreneurship Execution Innovation' Then you start worrying. Even though there is a three-year execution horizon, they expect results in the first year.