Publications
Publications
- April 2017
- HBS Case Collection
CIC: Catalyzing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (B)
By: William R. Kerr, Sari Kerr and Alexis Brownell
Abstract
CIC engages in "guerrilla warfare," offering free or highly discounted rates in order to get its empty offices filled before the opening day of its St. Louis branch. Opening day is a huge success, and CIC St. Louis grows rapidly, even opening a second building. In the following years, it ramps up its expansion efforts and opens new branches or begins the expansion process in multiple cities around the country and the world, as well as expanding its Boston/Cambridge offerings. CIC is now considering how to improve its expansion operations, while also trying to figure out how fast it should be moving.
Keywords
Start-ups; Boston; Cambridge; St. Louis; CIC; Cambridge Innovation Center; Co-working Space; Entrepreneurial Ecosystems; Innovation Ecosystems; Entrepreneurship; Business Startups; Expansion; Growth and Development Strategy; Boston; Cambridge; St. Louis
Citation
Kerr, William R., Sari Kerr, and Alexis Brownell. "CIC: Catalyzing Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (B)." Harvard Business School Supplement 817-127, April 2017.