article thumbnail

Case Study: Should an Emerging-Market Incubator Help U.S. Businesses?

Harvard Business Review

Successful UEs would be expected to become the next generation of local angel investors and venture capitalists. Although she was based in Manhattan, she traveled constantly and was a frequent keynote speaker. Put simply, Unamano aimed to build entrepreneurial ecosystems where none had existed before.

article thumbnail

The Missing Market for Failure

Harvard Business Review

Paul Graham, one of the founders of the startup incubator Y Combinator , wrote about Airnb , a business whose entrepreneurial goal was to create a platform to match beds with people in New York city. The idea was that many homes had space and a mattress, while many travelers were looking for cheap lodging.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

What Makes Some Silicon Valley Companies So Successful

Harvard Business Review

Executives and entrepreneurs from all over the world have traveled to Silicon Valley to learn the secrets of its success. We met with leaders at private equity funds, venture capitalists, and incubators, including Andreessen Horowitz and Playground. vincent tsui FOR HBR. Know that money only gets you so far.

article thumbnail

Where to Find Authentic Entrepreneurs

Harvard Business Review

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. Or, in Kamchatka, you’ll find ecotourism ventures by Wild Salmon River Expeditions , initiated by an alliance between a former American military officer and his Russian associates. Noura Al Kaabi.

article thumbnail

Why Are Immigrants More Entrepreneurial?

Harvard Business Review

When Dietrich Mateschitz traveled to Thailand in the 1980s, he observed the popularity of a cheap energizing drink called Krating Daeng among truck drivers and construction workers. The business opportunities they came up with were rated by four venture capitalists and industry experts blind to the source.

article thumbnail

The Right Way to Plan an Innovation Tour

Harvard Business Review

These well-intentioned professionals travel the world in pursuit of the secret sauce of innovation. Don’t just make a beeline to the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists; get a broad multi-disciplinary cross section. Talk to venture capitalists and they, too, will tell you how essential they are in leading the charge.