Yuvraj’s approach
Identify user needs and market trends.: Currently in the market there is a clear growing demand for sustainability, with a 20% increase in customer interest in sustainable practices. Both buyers and sellers on Etsy likely value eco friendly options, but sellers need them to be affordable and easy to use.
Evaluate build, buy, and partner options with pros and cons.: Build in house- Offers full control but requires significant time and capita to develop from scratch. Its like building something from scratch when you already have so many options available. Its risky and not worth it from both the perspectives- time and budget. Buy- Provides immediate capabilities but is likely unfeasible with a 2 million budget as acquisitions typically require much higher capital. Partner- Allows Etsy to leverage existing expertise and scale quickly with lower upfront cost which is within the budget and spend less amount of time also.
Consider budgetary and strategic constraints.: The 2 million budget is the primary constraint and the first two options- building and buying will exhaust them quickly without a guarenteed scalable solution in this fiscal year. Partnering will allow for a variable cost model where expenses can scale with adoption.
Select the best option with clear justification.: Partnering is the best choice because it allows Etsy to meet the immediate 20% increase in customer demand without exceeding the 2 million budget. It offers faster time to market compared to building and a much lower cost in comparison to buying/acquiring.