article thumbnail

An Insider’s Account of the Yahoo-Alibaba Deal

Harvard Business Review

In November 2003, after due diligence, we announced our agreement to purchase 3721 for $120 million. By mid-2004, however, the operation was mired in conflict over control and differences in management style. In the media and internet industries, it turns out to be very important when operating in China.

article thumbnail

What Initial Coin Offerings Are, and Why VC Firms Care

Harvard Business Review

Rather than tying up vast amounts of funds in a unicorn startup and waiting for the long play — an IPO or an acquisition — investors can see gains more quickly, and can pull profits out more easily, via ICOs. The second reason VCs are becoming more interested in ICOs is because of the liquidity of cryptocurrencies.

article thumbnail

How Blockchain Is Changing Finance

Harvard Business Review

After all, most financial intermediaries themselves rely on a dizzying, complex, and costly array of intermediaries to run their own operations. This industry supports a number of intermediaries, such as investment bankers, exchange operators, auditors, lawyers, and crowd-funding platforms (such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo).