Course description
Why is Airbnb more valuable than most hotel chains, even though it is only a few years old and does not own any real estate? Despite its size and growth, why did Uber fail in China? In this course, we explore new ways of creating and capturing value using cutting-edge technologies. These business models can connect people, helping them share goods and services. They can collect massive amounts of information to improve customer value at different points in the sales cycle. They can generate revenue from nontraditional sources. And they can fail. In the course, we discuss a wide range of theories and tools within contemporary internet economics, strategy, and entrepreneurship. Students form teams to develop an idea for a new venture that leverages these theories. Together, we analyze and build the next generation of world-changing business models.