Since its official commencement in the month of January 2000, Baidu.com, Inc. (Baidu) rapidly grew to become the top Internet search engine in China. Subsequently three rounds of private funding, Baidu registered to go public on the NASDAQ Stock Market (Ticker Symbol: BIDU) on the August 5th, 2005. This case can be exploited for at least three types of courses: business valuation, entrepreneurship in prospective markets, or doing business in China. When utilized for a business valuation or corporate finance course, the case emphasizes problems entailed in the valuation of early-stage firms in emerging growth industries and economies.
When used for an entrepreneurship course, the case emphasizes the opportunities and challenges of starting and growing enterprises in emerging markets; it also illustrates how a start-up company can take an existing entrepreneurial idea and proven business model from another nation and successfully accommodate it to the dwelling marketplace. Three steps in this triumphant adaptation are: (1) leveraging its local information and expertise, (2) creating an unique competitive advantage for the venture, and (3) creating an entry barrier for its opponents. In a course on doing business in China, the case emphasizes the role of culture, government, economy, legal and fiscal systems and the strategies for business success in China, and consumer market in shaping these strategies.
PUBLICATION DATE: February 05, 2009 PRODUCT #: A197-HCB-ENG
This is just an excerpt. This case is about INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP
