Entrepreneurship The Practice and Mindset 3e Heidi M. Neck (Author), Christopher P.
Neck (Author), Emma L. Murray (Author)
Case Notes
Chapter 1: Practicing Entrepreneurship
Case Study: Siete Family Foods, the Garza Family
Case Summary
Siete Family Foods, founded in 2014 by the Garza family, is an Austin-based company
specializing in grain-free, gluten-free, and dairy-free Mexican American foods inspired by
their heritage. The Garzas transitioned from making tortillas in their home kitchen to a
successful business with over 60 products sold in 16,000 retailers, including major chains
like Walmart and Whole Foods. By 2018, Siete had expanded significantly, achieving $250
million in annual sales and employing over 100 people. Their mission includes supporting
other Latino-owned brands through initiatives like the Juntos Fund, furthering their goal of
becoming a leading global food brand.
Analysis
The story of Siete Family Foods exemplifies an entrepreneurial spirit rooted in innovation
and cultural identity, showcasing how personal experiences can drive business development.
Founded by the Garza family, the company arose from Veronica‘s health struggles and a
collective desire to create gluten-free alternatives to traditional Mexican foods. This personal
motivation, combined with their commitment to family heritage, illustrates how
entrepreneurs can leverage their backgrounds and experiences to identify market gaps. By
transforming their kitchen experiments into viable products, the Garzas validated their
business idea through community engagement and grassroots marketing, laying a foundation
for their eventual growth. Their early strategies, like producing tortillas in a rented kitchen
and gathering feedback from friends, underscore the importance of iterative development and
market testing in entrepreneurship.
Siete‘s journey further highlights critical aspects of scaling a business, such as securing
investment and navigating distribution challenges. The family‘s ability to pivot from small-
scale production to partnering with larger retailers like Whole Foods showcases how strategic
partnerships are essential for growth. Participation in the SKU accelerator program provided
crucial mentorship and connected the Garzas to valuable resources, enabling them to
automate production and meet rising demand. Additionally, their commitment to supporting
other Latino-owned brands through initiatives like the Juntos Fund illustrates a socially
responsible business model that resonates with consumers‘ values today. Siete‘s rise
underscores how culturally driven entrepreneurship can tap into larger market trends,
,appealing to a demographic that values authenticity and heritage, creating a sustainable and
impactful business.
Discussion Questions and Suggested Answers
1. Which of the six features of modern entrepreneurship can you identify in the Garzas‘
story?
a. Sample Answer: The Siete Family Foods case illustrates several features of modern
entrepreneurship. The founders of the company thought differently and were effectual
entrepreneurs. They were able to start small and use what they had to get their
business off the ground and running. They exemplified the feature of acting more
than planning, validating their ideas through market testing, and being flexible
enough to adopt changes when needed. Finally, they weren‘t driven by profit, but
rather by the need to fill a gap they saw in the market. Their personal health journey
heavily influenced their desire to create gluten-free foods that aligned with their
personal heritage.
2. The Entrepreneurship Method is about taking action under conditions of uncertainty. Do
you see evidence of the Method during the creation of Siete Family Foods?
a. Sample Answer: Yes, Siete Family Foods used uncertain or tenuous situations to
continue to progress forward and continue to build their brand and business. This is
evidenced by their continued growth despite setbacks such as destroyed products. The
Garza Family used this uncertain time period to professionalize their operations
through automation and outsourcing to meet both growing demand and a need for
more efficient production capabilities. They used resources at their disposal and the
support of others in the industry to evaluate the needs of the product line and meet
changing market conditions.
3. As you think about doing something entrepreneurial, today or someday, what is your
motivation for doing so?
a. Sample Answer: A motivation for moving into the entrepreneurial field can be to
create positive change in the marketplace through innovation. In offering products or
services that meet customer needs in a new way, entrepreneurs can be a positive force
for good in the industry.
b. Student answers related to personal motivation for being an entrepreneur will vary.
Note:
In this guide, some suggested answers are provided. Most of these questions are there to
make students think and interrelate concepts from the current and previous chapters and,
hopefully, to generate a more integrated understanding of the topic. However, some
responses will be a matter of opinion or are used to assess critical and creative thinking and
one‘s ability to justify one‘s decision. Thus, the answers for the case questions are not the
only right answer, and so at times we don‘t provide an in-depth sample answer.
,Cases Notes
CHAPTER 2: ACTIVATING AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Multiple Choice
1. Mindset has been traditionally described as ______.
a. a person‘s inherent traits
b. a type of personality
c. a person‘s emotional intelligence
d. an established set of attitudes held by someone
Ans: D
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Easy
AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
2. The text describes two different types of mindsets. They are ______.
a. growth mindset and stunted mindset
b. fixed mindset and flexible mindset
c. growth mindset and fixed mindset
d. positive mindset and negative mindset
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Easy
AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
3. People with a fixed mindset ______.
a. perceive their talents and abilities as set traits
b. are fixated on perfection and precision
c. tend to attribute others‘ success to greater effort
d. take constructive criticism well
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Knowledge
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Easy
, AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
4. Which of the following statements best reflect a growth mindset?
a. When I‘m frustrated, I give up.
b. My natural abilities determine my success.
c. I can learn anything I want to.
d. I don‘t like to be challenged.
Ans: C
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Medium
AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
5. When Karen is frustrated, she perseveres until she resolves the issue that is causing her
frustration. This shows that Karen has a ______.
a. growth mindset
b. fixed mindset
c. fearful mindset
d. right-brained mindset
Ans: A
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Application
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Medium
AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
6. Which of the following statements reflects a fixed mindset?
a. When I‘m frustrated, I persevere.
b. I‘m either good at something or I‘m not.
c. I like to be told that I try hard.
d. I‘m inspired by others‘ successes.
Ans: B
Learning Objective: 2.2: Define ―entrepreneurial mindset‖ and explain its importance to
entrepreneurs.
Cognitive Domain: Comprehension
Answer Location: What Is Mindset?
Difficulty Level: Medium
AACSB Standard: Group and individual behaviors
7. Research has shown that overly praising someone simply for their intelligence can ______.
a. create a growth mindset
b. create a fixed mindset
c. inspire people to try harder