KHORT: AN ORIGINAL IDEA

Abstract

According the patent application, the product Khort is described as a sachet opener, which consists of a body comprising a substantially flat plate with at least a single slit, through which will pass a sachet, and a blade built into the terminal of said slit, which will cut the sachet. From a very original idea which was developed in an innovative product, the case describes the actions of the inventor to found a company in order to exploit competitively the manufacturing, marketing and sales of Khort. In addition to the promising results already obtained with the company, the Khort was exposed in the Invention & New Product Exposition (INPEX) held in the U.S., and received the award for the best invention of the Americas in 2010. However the company president is faced with several dilemmas. How to develop the strengths of your business in order to keep it competitive? At what pace and direction the company should grow? Is there on the horizon any competitor or competitor that represents a major threat? Is there any marketing or technological trend that may affect his business? Where and how he must commit the resources of the company? The case allows thoughts on entrepreneurship, innovation, industry analysis and strategy selection.