HBR On Strategy

24 Steps to Launch a Start-Up

Sep 4, 2024

Bill Aulet, a seasoned entrepreneurship professor at MIT's Sloan School of Management and author of 'Disciplined Entrepreneurship,' shares his insights on launching a startup. He emphasizes strategic planning and the rising role of technology in lowering barriers to entry. Aulet discusses how entrepreneurship is evolving into a respected career path, highlights the challenges of commercializing tech innovations from research labs, and advocates for mission-driven initiatives that align with societal needs. His practical 24-step guide offers a roadmap for aspiring entrepreneurs.

28:46

Episode guests

Bill Aulet

AI Summary

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

The evolution of entrepreneurship emphasizes a shift towards strategic market entry rather than just product creation, driven by technological advancements.

Successful entrepreneurs increasingly focus on ethical practices and social impact, aligning their businesses with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Deep dives

The Shifting Landscape of Entrepreneurship

The current perception of entrepreneurship has evolved significantly, as it is now recognized as a serious career path across various demographics. This acceptance fosters a growing interest among graduates, with over 20% of college students expressing a desire to pursue entrepreneurial ventures. Moreover, technological advancements have lowered barriers to entry, enabling aspiring entrepreneurs to launch e-commerce sites in a fraction of the time it once took, exemplified by the capabilities of platforms like Shopify. This shift emphasizes that the priority has moved from merely producing products to effectively strategizing how to bring these products to market.

Intro

2min

The Evolving Landscape of Entrepreneurship

3min

Bridging the Gap: From Research Lab to Market

3min

Redefining Entrepreneurship: Beyond Profit

11min

Navigating the Startup Landscape

10min

Many people aspire to entrepreneurship. But Bill Aulet, who has advised founders for decades, warns that it remains a high-risk endeavor.

In this episode, he outlines concrete steps anyone can take to get a new venture off the ground — including intrapreneurs within large organizations. He also breaks down some of the important trends he’s seeing in entrepreneurship, like the increasing commoditization of products and lower barriers to entry, due to technology.

Aulet is a professor of entrepreneurship at the Sloan School of Management at MIT. He’s also the author of the book Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup.

Key episode topics include: strategy, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurs and founders, entrepreneurial business strategy, innovation, start-ups.

HBR On Strategy curates the best case studies and conversations with the world’s top business and management experts, to help you unlock new ways of doing business. New episodes every week.

· Listen to the full HBR IdeaCast episode: A Roadmap for Today’s Entrepreneurs (2024)

· Find more episodes of HBR IdeaCast

· Discover 100 years of Harvard Business Review articles, case studies, podcasts, and more at HBR.org