In 2021, Rajadamnern Stadium underwent a bold transformation. Under the leadership of Thainchai Pisitwuttinan, it modernized facilities, launched new event formats, and expanded digital outreach to elevate Muay Thai from a national treasure into a globally recognized sport. These moves attracted a new international audience and positioned Rajadamnern Stadium as a global stage for Muay Thai. However, these shifts also led to a marked change in the .....more

Conscious Mitthaiwalla’s founder was a young Indian entrepreneur who had reimagined his diabetes diagnosis into a purpose-driven venture in India’s sweets market. The Mumbai-based start-up had innovatively combined ingredient experimentation with the founder’s personal brand to deliver diabetes-friendly Indian sweets. As a result, it had witnessed strong early growth, even securing a breakthrough retail partnership. However, in April 2024, as the .....more

Schneider Electric (SE) acquired Larsen and Toubro (L&T) Limited’s electrical and automation business in 2020, with rights to use the L&T Switchgear brand for five years. As this period closed, SE began transitioning the portfolio to Lauritz Knudsen Electrical and Automation (LK), launching the new brand in May 2024. The change was about more than just legal or marketing; it was a shift in identity in one of SE’s most critical markets. Employees .....more

In August 2024, Richard Kung, the newly appointed director of Asian business at Akira Spring Co. Ltd. (Akira Spring), faced a critical negotiation. Akira Spring, a Japanese automotive springs manufacturer, was competing to provide components for a power back door system to Kern, a leading German automotive parts supplier. The deal was valued at €27 million and had potential for continued collaboration worldwide. What began as product specification .....more

This case examines the strategic dilemma faced by the founder of Iceberg Organic Ice Creams (Iceberg) in September 2024 following an unsuccessful attempt to raise equity through Shark Tank India. Since its founding in 2013, Iceberg had experimented with scaling models, including company-owned, company-operated (COCO) growth and rapid franchise-owned, franchise-operated (FOFO) growth. While franchising enabled rapid expansion, it also exposed deep .....more

On January 6, 2025, Muhammad Afzal, the founder of A.H. Homes, a Lahore-based real estate and construction company with a two-decade track record in luxury housing projects, was considering how to reinvest the Rs 100 million (about US$358,946) he had received from the highly profitable project he had just closed. Afzal was faced with three possible reinvestment avenues: reinvest in the local Lahore real estate market he knew best, enter the Dubai .....more

Happy Lamb International Catering Chain (Happy Lamb) was an international hot pot restaurant chain, founded in Boston in 2016 and since steadily expanding to 40 stores outside China. From inception, Happy Lamb remained committed to its core concept of Mongolian hot pot, adopting a strategy focused on Western markets. The company actively pursued localization throughout its globalization process—from building product competitiveness and supply chain .....more

Cascadia Seaweed Corp. (Cascadia) was a vertically integrated regenerative aquaculture company based in British Columbia. Cascadia cultivated kelp on First Nation–owned ocean tenures and processed it into seaweed-based biostimulants and animal feed additives for the agricultural sector. In July 2025, cofounder and chief executive officer Michael Williamson faced a pivotal scaling decision. Following a CA$4 million Series A financing, the company was .....more

Cartech Technology Development Co. Ltd. (CARtech) was a fast-growing used car platform based in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China, that connected consumers, car dealerships, and financing partners through a data-driven marketplace. In spring 2023, Chief Financial Officer Mei Lin was navigating the complex post-merger integration of numerous independent “mom-and-pop” dealerships into the company’s corporate structure. Lin had introduced a finance-first .....more

Groom Canine was a pet grooming venture launched in Gurugram, India, by Richa Maheshwari and Vikalp Srivastava. The startup earned a reputation for its pet-first approach, customized services, and growing market presence. As they were looking to scale the business, the founders sought financial backing. As a first step, Richa turned to her accountant to help prepare structured financial statements that could be presented to potential investors. The .....more