Zandinger! *

Abstract

Most cases in entrepreneurship address strategic or operating difficulties of recently formed organizations. The case study presented here addresses an organization in its earliest stage of the life cycle: pre start–up. The case is about an entrepreneur who is planning to create a new venture based on a board game invented by his uncle. Accordingly, the case requires students to prioritize the tasks to create a venture from ground zero. The entrepreneur in this case already owns another successful business, has good marketing skills, and has received accolades from an expert in the toy industry. He seems to have a potentially successful product but is uncertain about what to do next. The case presents information for assessing industry structure and competitiveness, manufacturing options, and target marketing.