I
have identified an opportunity that hinders people who enjoy studying or
hanging-out at coffee shops and libraries. I have encountered this problem when
I want to meet up with a friend at a local coffee shop and discover it is busy
with no open tables. Most of the coffee shops in Gainesville are small and do
not have much seating. I have experienced this issue in the library when I have
tried to study with a friend. We had to walk around each floor trying to find
two open seats next to each other. The issue of not knowing how busy a place is
without finding out for yourself effects anyone who wants to study, do homework
or hangout at a coffee shop, study center, library or restaurant and anyone who
wants to get coffee. This opportunity is an issue most when exams are
happening. More students seek places to study when they have exams. There are
certain weeks in the semester where there are more exams such as midterms and
finals week. This opportunity does not exist in the summer when most of the UF
student population leaves. This opportunity is not very important. If students
cannot find someone to study in public, they can just go back to where they
live. I think this opportunity will benefit both students, young adults and the
business owners. It will help bring in costumers when it isn’t typically busy.
Solving this problem will help students not waste time searching for a seat. I
will be focusing on students at the UF and Santa Fe and young adults who live
in the Gainesville area. The locations I will be partnering with, will be
places in Gainesville that the majority of student enjoy visiting.
To
solve this problem, I will be creating an application that people can download
onto their phones. I will first make the application for apple devices. The
application will be free to download. To use the application here is an
example. Mary is at Starbucks on 13th street. If she has her
notifications and location services turned on, the app will promote Mary to input
how busy Starbucks is in that moment. Mary could input how many empty tables
there are and how long the line is to get coffee. Using her data and others who
are at the same place, the app will display real time information to other
people who aren’t at that location but desire to travel there. They are then
able to know if its worth packing up all their books and laptop and driving
there. I will discuss with the business owners promotions to offer to app users
to incentivize inputting data. I will make money by selling advertisements to
local coffee shops and study places.
My
application will be easy for students to download. I will advertise my app by
handing out flyers on campus. I will post flyers in the locations my app will
display information about. I can table about my app in Turlington. I currently
do not have any competitors. The only thing that will hinder my app is people
not downloading it. I could incentivize sending it to friends. I would need a
hand full of employees to start my business. I would need help creating the
application as I have no experience with that. I would need a few people to
help me promote my app once it is created.
My
secret sauce is my connection to the business owners of local coffee shops and
my ability to identify this opportunity. My next opportunity is to keep updating
the app and adding things to it. I don’t see this becoming a big part of my
life. I think it would be a good experience to have but I don’t not see it
still being a part of my life in five years.
Hey Megan, I really liked reading your idea of what your venture concept has been growing into since you identified what you wanted to pursue. I like how you restated the effectiveness and ease of what your idea can be for people who are always looking for a spot to study or get coffee. I also liked how you included that your business connections could help you out along the way. Like I have said before this is probably my favorite idea out of everyone. Great Job and keep it up!
ReplyDeleteHey Megan,
ReplyDeleteI am curious about what your connection with the business owners. I think that this app relies on the cooperation of business owners because if they cooperate with your vision and implement the app into their business plan they could thrive, however, it could be shot down by business owners not wanting change. For example, I know the Swamp restaurant has no intention of innovating or expanding even though the restaurant is successful.
Good work!
Hi Meg, I really liked your post this week. I dove deeper into your concept and gave much more detail about what your product could do and the benefits it has for customer. I liked the idea about how Mary could have her notifications and locations services it would tell her how many people are at the Starbucks stores around you.
ReplyDelete