Business Models

MaRS Market Intelligence has compiled these links to extend your thinking about your startup’s business model.

Here at MaRS, our advisors use Alexander Osterwalder’s Business Model Canvas as a basis for discussions about business models. Clients who are new to MaRS are encouraged to check out the following links.

Business Model Alchemist: Business Model Alchemist is a blog maintained by Alexander Osterwalder, author of Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers and Challengers (Wiley, 2010). The blog features a free download of the Business Model Canvas, as well as case studies of the Canvas approach to generating a business model.

Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers and Challengers: This is the website for Alexander Osterwalder’s book. It contains links to the Business Model Canvas as well as other tools.

Business Model Innovation Hub: The Business Model Innovation Hub is an online community where over 5,000 members gather to discuss business models.

MaRS Entrepreneur’s Toolkit – Business Models: This resource is designed to help entrepreneurs learn about the basic principles of business models.

Here are some other useful resources for startups looking to develop or refine their business model:

“Seizing the Advantage: When and How to Innovate Your Business Model” (IBM): IBM analyzed 28 successful business model innovators to understand how and when business model innovation is most valuable. The report is available for download.

Internet Business Models: This website offers an extensive list of online business model resources, including case studies for online giants such as Amazon and Craigslist.

“Emerging Markets, Emerging Models” (Monitor Group, March 2009): This report from the consulting firm Monitor Group analyzes the actual behaviours, economics and business models of successful “market-based solutions” — financially sustainable enterprises that address the challenges of global poverty by engaging the poor as customers and suppliers.

“Business Model Analysis, Part 1 – Key Questions” (Platforms and Networks): This blog post is the first in a 10-part series authored by Tom Eisenmann, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies entrepreneurship and lean startups. It’s worth reading.