Article at a glance:

Thinking out of the boXX

Can big companies create new businesses without smothering their offspring? So far, the giant Asian conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa seems to be holding its own with its Hong Kong–based business-to-business (B2B) office supplies venture: BigboXX.com. The new company, opened in mid-2000, has yet to show a profit, but as long as it makes progress the parent company's deep pockets will give it the breathing space that many independent dot-coms have lacked. Hutchison's foray into e-commerce is described in a Q&A with BigboXX's chief operating officer, Stephen Winterhalder.

The take-away

It sounds obvious, but a little breathing space is a prerequisite for new businesses to succeed in big companies. And remember that the big boys bring impressive assets—talent, brands, buying power—that a corporate start-up can exploit but a small attacker can only dream about.