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  • November 2004 (Revised May 2010)
  • Case
  • HBS Case Collection

RightNow Technologies

By: William A. Sahlman and Dan Heath
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:26
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Abstract

The founder and CEO of a CRM software start-up must decide between an attractive acquisition offer and the opportunity to go public. Discusses the growth of the company--including a lengthy discussion of entrepreneurial bootstrapping--as well as an aborted IPO attempt in 2000. The central question is whether the company will create more value by staying independent or by joining a larger organization.

Keywords

Business Exit or Shutdown; Software; Going Public; Management Teams; Finance; Strategy; Value Creation; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Acquisition; Computer Industry

Citation

Sahlman, William A., and Dan Heath. "RightNow Technologies." Harvard Business School Case 805-032, November 2004. (Revised May 2010.)

About The Author

William A. Sahlman

Entrepreneurial Management
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