Opportunity Belief

I have a belief that the opportunity exists to create a product to counter the struggle of forgetting to charge your phone at night. There is an unmet need for a device to automatically charge your phone without plugging it in specifically when you forget to do so. Many people have this need as a majority of people in the United Sates have a cellular device now a days, and sometimes we forget to plug the phone into the charger. Whether we fall asleep with our phone, leave it else where in the house, or even if a charger is not accessible. Although this need is somewhat new, with the growing population of phone users the need is becoming greater. There are many different types of charges on the market today, such as wired, wireless, and even cases that charge your phone. I am fairly certain that this opportunity exists, although my idea involves implementing old technology with new ideas. That is having a phone case that charges via solar power, but automatically when the battery is low, the light conditions are dim, and the phone is not plugged in. The case would be charged via solar power throughout the day and the battery would only be used in these conditions, or unless otherwise turned on by the user. The prototypical customer is every phone user who has come across this problem, but I believe it is largely a problem for college students, those who have either stayed up late studying and pass out, or those who party hard and just forget to plug their phone in due to their circumstances.

Interviews:

Late-night studying student: The nature of the need for those who stay up late studying often include needing to charge their phone, but forgetting and not having enough time to charge it before class. They become aware of the need only after it has occurred multiple times, but it does not occur often. They have not thought about the need too much because they are fairly consistent in charging their phone, so they do not necessarily have the need. They first became aware of it when they feel asleep doing math homework while listening to music on their phone. They are not currently addressing the need, as the need arises only after they have found the problem that their phone is about to die or is already dead. They believe that the solution is a decent idea although the problem does not occur enough for them to consider the solution given.

Party student: The nature of the need for those who stay up late partying included wanting to have a charged phone for the day, but not having it charged when leaving the house. They become aware of the need when they wake up slightly inebriated, and their phone isn't charged. They have thought about it a few times the morning after, and the problem irritates them, but not enough for it to be a serious problem. They first became aware of it when they pass out after a long night and grab their phone in the morning to check the time.They do not address the need they just, "deal with it." They think the solution is a cool idea, but wonder how costly and effective it would be.

Average student: The nature of the need for those who are the average student is that sometimes the are watching YouTube or Netflix and fall asleep. They become aware of the need after it has happened a few times, but it only happens sometimes. They have not thought about the need because it is not a priority. They first became aware of it when they fell asleep with their phone. They do not address the need because it is difficult to predict the event. They believe that the solution would work, but it is not overly useful.

I would say that little of my original opportunity is still their because the need is not always apparent and the idea is only somewhat useful. Yes, I believe my new opportunity is more accurate than my original. I think entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback, because the opportunity for a product or business in only there if the customer has the need and thinks the product is worth buying.

My Entrepreneurship Story

My Story: My entrepreneurship story starts off in middle school, with my friends group. One of my good friends started making survival bracelets made out of para-cord and selling them to our other friends. I though this was a very good idea and thought I could make money off of the bracelets too if my friend taught me how to make them. So I asked my friend to teach me how to make the bracelets and ordered the materials online to start making them. My mom told me of a art show which people were selling numerous kinds of art, so with my new inventory of bracelets and money I had saved, I bought a booth to sell my survival bracelets. I offered custom color combinations, where I would make the bracelet for the customer at the booth and also sold the inventory I had already accumulated. I continued attending the event, buying materials with profits and making money. It was a great learning experience for middle school and built my understanding of business and sales. This was my first venture as an entrepreneur and in the end I had made a decent profit and learned how to start a small business.

Why I Enrolled: I enrolled in ENT 3003, because I want to learn the skills needed to start or run a business, I feel that it is important to know how businesses create products, find a customer basis, and how they efficiently sell the product, to produce steady revenue. 

Bug List

1. Forgetting to charge your phone before going to bed, then not having battery for the day.
1. This happens because I fall asleep while on my phone.
2. The amount of time it takes to get a machine at the gym.
1. This happens because I go to Southwest Rec which is typically congested, and I go at bad times.
3. The amount of time wasted waiting for public transit.
1. This happens because the bus driver are required to stop at each stop, and other people need picked up.
4. When a computer slows down due to build up of downloads.
1. This occurs because overtime, the build up of software on the computer slows the rates of applications starting.
5. Having to carry lots of groceries, but only wanting to make one trip.
1. This exists solely because I don't want to have to make multiple long trips to the car.
6. Needing to wash your laundry, but not wanting to use the gross laundry machines in dorms.
1. This occurs because many people use the laundry machines, and water sits in them over time.
7. Having to call customer service then being on the phone for 2 hours.
1. This exists because there are to many customer calls for all the employees to answer.
8. People being antisocial on their phone.
1. This exists because people are becoming addicted to their phones.
9. People who are on the phone when driving, and can not multitask.
1.  This occurs because people answer phone calls while driving and do not have hands free calling.
10. When a show goes to commercial right before a main part of the plot.
1. This occurs to hook the people watching to continue watching TV, including the commercials.
11. When people stop in the middle of a walking path and you are trying to get around them.
1. This is typically because people are looking at their phone and not paying any attention to their surroundings.
12. Driving slow in the fast lane on the highway, and not moving out of the way.
1. This typically occurs with out of state drivers or the elderly.
13. Getting to the dorm and having a full parking lot when there were spots when you left, only minutes before.
1. This happens because students are always out, but then there are not enough parking spots when I get back.
14. When internet connection is free, but when you connect the internet does not load.
1. This exists because you typically have to sign in over the internet after you connect to the "free" wifi.
15. When I text someone and it takes them a week to reply. 
1. This happens because people are busy and forget to text back until they look at their messages and realize they forgot to text back.
16. When people try to talk about a hobby you know a lot about, but they don't actually know what they are talking about.
1. This happens because they are trying to relate and impress you. 
17. Being really hungry, but can't find any food at the house to eat.
1. This happens when you forget to buy groceries.
18. Forgetting that you have an assignment due, and then realizing right before its due.
1. This exists because I get really busy and forget to look at assignment due dates.
19. People who can not park properly or do not correct their parking.
1. This typically occurs because people are too lazy to correct their parking so others can fit into spots.
20. Wanting to get food at chick-fil-a, but then seeing that their is a huge line.
1. This occurs because may students on campus have just gotten out of class and go to chick-fil-a at the hub to eat lunch.

Refection: I found this assignment somewhat difficult as it was hard to think of 20 things that "bugged" me and could be explained. To do this assignment I just thought of things that happen almost every day that sometimes irritate me. 

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