<iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-PHTV9K7" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">
Loading
Skip to Main Content
Product cover image for Minespider: Building Responsible Battery Supply Chains with Blockchain

Minespider: Building Responsible Battery Supply Chains with Blockchain

Michael Carrillo, Joel Davis

Product #:W36086
Supplier:Ivey
Discipline:Marketing, Sustainability
Setting:Germany, United States, 2023
Details:Case (PDF) • 13 pages • 2024-03-06

Subjects:

Sales and marketingLeadership and managing peopleMarketingManagement

Industries:

Energy and natural resources sector

Geography:

EuropeNorth AmericaGermanyUnited States
Your Price:$9.71

Purchase this material with a free Educator Account and enjoy more benefits:

  • Free Educator Copy
  • Free Teaching Notes
  • Build your coursepack
  • Discounted academic price

This case addresses managing critical mineral supply chains by focusing on cobalt used in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and the impact of mining operations in Central Africa, particularly in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Minespider, a Berlin-based start-up, tackled these issues with a blockchain platform. Following blockchain’s evolution since Bitcoin in 2009 and Ethereum in 2015, Minespider developed the digital battery passport (DBP). Minespider’s broad industry application highlighted its potential for tracking materials, ethical sourcing, and supply chain transparency. In 2017, Minespider focused on understanding the market, identifying ideal customers for their unique blockchain solution and partnerships, optimizing supply chain management, and showcasing blockchain’s value in this sector in order to make the most impact.

Learning Objectives

This case is appropriate for graduate-level courses in entrepreneurship, supply chain management, information management, new product management, and business-to-business marketing. Additionally, the case can provide insights to technology entrepreneurs, general managers, supply chain managers, operations managers, marketers, sales, and channel and alliance managers. After working through the case and assignment questions, students will be able to do the following:
  • Develop a basic understanding of the complexities and challenges of the battery supply chain.
  • Understand the value of blockchain technology.
  • Understand the value proposition and challenges a technology company encounters when positioning and introducing a blockchain application to the market.
  • Examine different considerations for attempting to penetrate different tiers of a supply chain with a technology-based product offering.
Loading
Case Study: Minespider: Building Responsible Battery Supply Chains with Blockchain (English version) | Ivey Publishing