My journey to the Net

In 2004, Babson College expressed interest in doing a case study about my background as an African American and how it effected the decisions I’ve made as an entrepreneur; specifically, the decisions I made while guiding ImageCafe.com from launch to liquidity. Of course I jumped at the opportunity, Babson College is, and always has been, the #1 ranked business school for entrepreneurship.

Today, in addition to at Babson, the ImageCafe case study is taught at several other business schools. As a result, I have had the pleasure of sharing my background and experiences with MBA students from around the country.

The case study is the property of Babson College; therefore I am not able to share it here. However, to provide a feel for what the case is all about, below please find: 1) a chapter overview; 2) case preparation questions; and 3) video footage from one of my visits to Babson. For a copy of the actual case, contact:

Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship
Babson Park, MA 02457-0310
Phone: 781-239-4420
Fax: 781-239-4178
URL: www.babson.edu/entrep

 

Chapter Overview

Chapter 1: Staying Afloat
Chapter 2: Growing Up
Chapter 3: An Underworld Introduction to Entrepreneurship
Chapter 4: College Years: From architecture to computer graphics
Chapter 5: Startup #1: Envision Design
Chapter 6: Failure and Re-start: Lessons Learned
Chapter 7: Startup #2: Metamorphosis Studios
Chapter 8: Shifting Gears
Chapter 9: Back To School, Again
Chapter 10: Launching ImageCafe
Chapter 11: The Search for Capital
Chapter 12: The Relentless Pursuit of Capital
Chapter 13: Still Going
Chapter 14: Product On Track, But Out of Cash (OOC!)

Case Preparation Questions:
  1. Evaluate Clarence Wooten’s strengths and weaknesses.
  2. What do you think of Clarence’s product versus services conclusion?
  3. What are the strengths and weaknesses of his argument?
  4. Analyze and assess the ImageCafe opportunity.
  5. What do you think of Clarence’s fund raising strategy?
  6. Should he have taken Dwayne Walker’s offer?
  7. Does he need to raise $3 million?
  8. How would you respond to Network Solutions’ offer?
  9. How would you go about valuing ImageCafe?
  10. What are the personal implications for Clarence Wooten if he sells or not?