Thursday, April 19, 2018

Final Reflection

Final Reflection

       Watching the videos has been one of the most memorable segments of this course, our professor has great energy and charisma. The second part I learned the most was doing the elevator pitches, they make the idea come alive and even in my living room it feels great afterwards. Especially when you produce nice content and can get the message across.  Another great part of the class has was the interviews and hashing out more and more detail about our opportunity belief, I’m going to keep this blog for many years. 

     


Venture Concept No.2

Opportunity 
I think there’s an opportunity to promote extra knowledge to shy folks or deterrence by uninterested people. What I’m referring to is dealing with rejection before being rejected and at the same time keeping others away without having to say no or be in an uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile you can still use this tool to gather intel for you and set yourself up for success.
  This opportunity is a dating app, a dating app that displays the profiles of those also on it within 50 yards from you, within eye contact distance. A dating app that will increase the odds of David that would rather not talk to Ashley because he assumes she has a boyfriend and will reject him.
  Current dating apps are outdated and don’t work within eye contact distances, some females are using tinder only as swiping entertainment to see how many matches they can get without following through, and even meeting up is difficult because you have never seen this person before and it can be awkward.  Also, current dating apps have you write paragraphs about yourself like it’s some type of interview; it’s not effective.
  In my high school days, you either talked to somebody face to face or were introduced to somebody by a friend or relative then liked each other, all in person-- real spark. This app promotes that. Here is how it would work and the problems it would solve: so, Fred is afraid of rejection and is too shy to speak to Kate, what he doesn’t know is that Kate thinks he’s cute and is single too; Fred doesn’t commit, a lose lose situation for both. In my opportunity belief app, both parties will be able to see each other’s pictures after glazing at one another in person first. However, Fred will have access to fragments of information disclosed by Kate already, increasing his odds of success. For example, single, not interested in anything, or only into carrots.
  This opportunity can also solve the problem of certain people who rather not have others approach them for xyz reason, Kate sees Josh has “Married and in love” under his picture, so she stays away from him and keeps looking around. Knowledge is power, and this app gives folks more knowledge about this alluring person seating across from them without throwing away their shot.
  What are the forces or changes in the environment creating this opportunity? People are shy. These days they are socially distant and even awkward in person. Yet, folks still feel attraction for others and want to date, but don’t have the willingness to talk to a total stranger and get to know them because of fear of rejection.
How is this market defined geographically and demographically? Anybody that is over 18 and in the United States is in the market, this app can be downloaded everywhere the user has access to the internet, also used anywhere where your phone has signal and users decide to activate it.
  How are customers currently satisfying this need? They are either brave or using other dating applications, or both. How loyal are they to whatever they use now? Their loyalty depends on how their experience with the app went, or if it even worked once for them. Also, if they go out and potential partners keep turning them down, people might lose faith on themselves and stop trying.
  How big is this opportunity? This opportunity is unique, and I think due to how everybody is glued to their phone screens these days it will help increase the usage of it. How long will the “window of opportunity” be open? I believe it will stay open until another individual with the same entrepreneurial abilities and experiences as mine realizes this need and comes up with the same idea.

Innovation 
This dating app brings added values to going out and meeting a new potential partner, creates a friendlier more effective approach to what current mobile dating applications provide. This dating app business will charge Standard users $1 a month and Alpha users $3 dollars for their advanced premium experience, including more tools and services. The charges will start after a free month of use.

Changes and adaptations
The changes and adaptations I will employ moving forward will be, (1) a good lawyer, (2) Have my staff sign a non-compete and (3) have a power of attorney ready and established in case something happens to me.



My Exit Strategy

Exit Strategy 
My exit strategy. I do not intend to sell the dating app in the next five years. For now, I intend to grow it, watch it crawl, walk and sprint. Folks in charge of managing it will still report to me and the strategies will still be over watched by me for the foreseeable 10-year future.
After getting started I will continue to find more problems and make more businesses, maybe later the right call is to sell it, maybe I choose to keep it, it depends on how well it gets established. I believe I chose this exit strategy because I came up with the app, it’s purpose and it’s intended use, I don’t think I would like to let it go and watch others drift from my original idea. For each business that I own my exit strategy can vary. I might open a shooting range / gun store and pass it down to my kids if they want it.



Friday, April 13, 2018

Celebrating Failure

“Failure”
         I have experienced failures in multiple ways. Some ways I have failed have totally been my fault, which happen to hurt the most. Keeping me humble or living in the past with regret at times. Failure hurts me, however with it I gain experience and factual data on what to and not do regarding the certain failure.
Depending on what the failure is, it varies how much of it I can take before giving up or also depending on the failure it depends how much it hurts each time it happens. Failure is a teacher, a painful one. With failure I have also felt the other side. The euphoric side where I feel alive, unstoppable, when the risk I took paid off or I challenged my self and followed through with it, regardless of the outcome. 
This semester I failed at my new job, twice, doing different things. The first failure was my inability of realizing a customer wrote his name wrong on a form and then trusting the system to correct it without double checking, in other words, the grammatical mistake stayed wrong. My supervisor found out and told me “it happens, everybody in this room has been written up before for that,” I felt bad but not very stressed, it was a common issue in my line of work. 
My second failure, I took home with me for a few days and it hurt. I failed to ask what “events” meant next to my name in the schedule, it led to me not knowing I had to work that day, so I didn’t show up. The following week multiple managers asked me “why didn’t I show up to work?” I had to apologize to four different managers for my dumb, new guy mistake. 
The third failure wasn’t my fault. At the beginning of spring break, I drove down to Tampa to visit my parents, thirty minuets into my visit, they had a total economic, behavioral and marriage collapse, right in front of me. My mother’s failure to keep her composure led to her quitting her job, loosing her car and jeopardizing her marriage. This failure followed me for a few weeks, made me responsible for her actions and inactions, having a ripple effect in all my other day to day activities.
I think failure can potentially make you stronger, experienced and wise. However, too much, and too harsh of failures can chip away parts of you that you later can’t get back. The effect depends on how the individual responds to it.  

           

Friday, April 6, 2018

What’s Next?

Existing Market
What is next is making the app, making it public and ready to be downloaded and used. Following that is an advertising campaign if possible, we have different strategies for that with different costs.  Then as time goes on, users continue to download it more and more, we’ll spend more on higher cost advertisement. At the same time, we will have to maintain control on debugging and updating the application properly, making sure folks are happy with it and are having a user-friendly experience, that will help increase growth some more.
We hit the streets again. Finding Gainesville’s finest candidates for my dating app in Midtown, Downtown and on campus. The first interview, she told us we need to also plan for a strategy to attract equal levels of genders, she mentioned that if the ratio it too uneven it can cause a ripple effect and make it fail. Our second interview led us to the argument of having a very restricted and segmented market, he told us that this dating app, if used properly will only be used while going out and being around people, how he would like some type of feature to be able to look back at who was around him, like a “surroundings history”, he described. That was an interesting point of view he had. Interview number three, told us to make sure the app does what it’s supposed too without much complexity, in other words “to keep it simple, stupid” that if we start to get complicated with too many settings and preferences, it would deter people more than it will help our growth strategy in the long run.
Performance, the dating app must work smoothly, be fast and to the point. I need to keep in mind that it’s intent is for it to complement somebody sparking up a conversation with somebody else. If we home in the functionality, advertisement, updates and positive popularity, it will sell like hot cakes.
New Market 
The different market is the Business Advertisement / Services Wanted end of the same platform. Here we’re targeting a totally different use for the same application. Value creation in this venture is accomplished by providing users with a craigslist style post it yourself method also available within eye contact distances, for quick business. I interviewed the same people, they also fit this different market venture. Their recommendations on this part of the interview were helpful. In this aspect I would highly consider the history of who was around the user, as well as more complexity in the settings and postings, for a more in-depth description of either what the user is offering or what the user is requesting.
In conclusion, the new market venture is just as good if not better than the original opportunity belief. This new market appears very attractive, it would be a different application under the same platform. For the same or different users.   

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity 
I think there’s an opportunity to promote extra knowledge to shy folks or deterrence by uninterested people. What I’m referring to is dealing with rejection before being rejected and at the same time keeping others away without having to say no or be in an uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile you can still use this tool to gather intel for you and set yourself up for success.
 This opportunity is a dating app, a dating app that displays the profiles of those also on it within 50 yards from you, within eye contact distance. A dating app that will increase the odds of David that would rather not talk to Ashley because he assumes she has a boyfriend and will reject him.
Current dating apps are outdated and don’t work within eye contact distances, some females are using tinder only as swiping entertainment to see how many matches they can get without following through, and even meeting up is difficult because you have never seen this person before and it can be awkward.  Also, current dating apps have you write paragraphs about yourself like it’s some type of interview; it’s not effective.
  In my high school days, you either talked to somebody face to face or were introduced to somebody by a friend or relative then liked each other, all in person-- real spark. This app promotes that. Here is how it would work and the problems it would solve: so, Fred is afraid of rejection and is too shy to speak to Kate, what he doesn’t know is that Kate thinks he’s cute and is single too; Fred doesn’t commit, a lose lose situation for both. In my opportunity belief app, both parties will be able to see each other’s pictures after glazing at one another in person first. However, Fred will have access to fragments of information disclosed by Kate already, increasing his odds of success. For example, single, not interested in anything, or only into carrots.
  This opportunity can also solve the problem of certain people who rather not have others approach them for xyz reason, Kate sees Josh has “Married and in love” under his picture, so she stays away from him and keeps looking around. Knowledge is power, and this app gives folks more knowledge about this alluring person seating across from them without throwing away their shot.
What are the forces or changes in the environment creating this opportunity? People are shy. These days they are socially distant and even awkward in person. Yet, folks still feel attraction for others and want to date, but don’t have the willingness to talk to a total stranger and get to know them because of fear of rejection.
How is this market defined geographically and demographically? Anybody that is over 18 and in the United States is in the market, this app can be downloaded everywhere the user has access to the internet, also used anywhere where your phone has signal and users decide to activate it. 
How are customers currently satisfying this need? They are either brave or using other dating applications, or both. How loyal are they to whatever they use now? Their loyalty depends on how their experience with the app went, or if it even worked once for them. Also, if they go out and potential partners keep turning them down, people might lose faith on themselves and stop trying. 
How big is this opportunity? This opportunity is unique, and I think due to how everybody is glued to their phone screens these days it will help increase the usage of it.
How long will the “window of opportunity” be open? I believe it will stay open until another individual with the same entrepreneurial abilities and experiences as mine realizes this need and comes up with the same idea.

Innovation 
This dating app brings added values to going out and meeting a new potential partner, creates a friendlier more effective approach to what current mobile dating applications provide. This dating app business will charge Standard users $1 a month and Alpha users $3 dollars for their advanced premium experience, including more tools and services. The charges will start after a free month of use.      


Venture Concept

What are the reasons to think customers would switch to this new product? Well, reason number one would be that it would provide extra help and support dating, at any given public place people see each other. How hard will it be to get them to switch? They don’t need to switch; the user can keep their other ways of dating and use this one as complementary to their system. 
Who are the competitors?  What are their possible weaknesses or vulnerabilities? The competitors are other established mobile dating applications, however, none of them have my way of doing things, or use provide a service like mine does, my app is unique. 
What role does packaging, your price points, distribution, customer support, the customer experience or the business location play (if any) in defining your business concept? No packaging, the costumer experience is all in the app, we will develop the most attractive, user friendly platform we can. Distribution will be through the google, apple store and there will be multiple price points, for standard and premium users to select from.     
How would you organize a “business” to support the ongoing production of your new product, service, or process? How many employees? What roles are in the venture? Including myself we would start with a team of four or five people, doing this in our spare time while continuing or regular jobs until this app makes more than our day jobs do and or it requires more time than what we can devote to it.

Friday, March 30, 2018

Elevator Pitch No. 3


So I used the feedback from my last elevator pitch and added the name of the app to it, as well as a little more depth to its use. From the first elevator pitch to this one I definitely feel more comfortable in front of the camera 

Venture’s Unfair Advantage

Resources in my venture:
1. Human capital: We went over the team I put together in a previous assignment, from coding to promoting, at least at the beginning stages.
V: These folks aren’t sharks and aren’t there with a plan B to steal from us. They genuinely want to help and take part in this, they mean the most to me as the frontline creators of my vision.
R: Their skills aren’t rare but their allocation and closeness to me is. We have a trusting foundation which in it of itself is rare.
I: Many other businesses have had great teams, formulated the same way as mine, anybody else can get have a good team too.
N: Well, we must keep in mind that nobody is perfect, and we can hope for the best but better be prepared for the worst. Yes, they are substitutable, every single one of them. The only none substitutable one is me, at least for now.

2. Financial capital/my savings: I have the funds, the liquid assets, above the average that a realistic entrepreneur starts with. I also have what’s considered “excellent” credit and multiple sources of income, nothing big but enough to self-sustain and the ability to borrow more when necessary.
V: It helps to have these kind of assets, it gives you some power and less debt.
R: I don’t think it is rare, in fact many other folks have 100 times more.
I: Anybody with the right mindset, circumstance and discipline can put some money away. Even better, some can even get a “small loan of a million dollars.”
N: I can substitute it, with different assets like the collateral of a house, or selling it a fancy car. What is non-substitutable is the ability of doing more with less and using what I have vs. what I wish I had.

3. My experience with these types of apps and its environment: I have used dating apps before, and I have gone out and “met new people” at bars or social environments. My perspective of what the consumer would want as a consumer myself helps me as a creator, in a way I would be fixing my own problem.
V: I know from experience.
R: My idea doesn’t exist yet, but others have the same experience as me.
I: With a little entrepreneurial ability and more power, my innovation can be developed into something bigger and better, depending on the impact it has in the industry. So far nobody can imitate it, but it can be.
N: You can’t substitute it, my vison isn’t out there and when it is, we’ll be prepared to compete.

4. Our school UF: This University offers a incredible amount of resources, more than I can count.
V: As a Gator, our campus and college literally opens doors for you.
R: In my experience, my last community college didn’t offer any of these events, which are so helpful.
I: The interpersonal connections and experiences would be very difficult to imitate.
N: Anybody can take advantage of our resources, if they want too.

5. Our professor: This experience and watching his videos, going to class. I feel like I can approach him and get lots of positive or negative either way productive feedback on anything related to entrepreneurship.
V: I wouldn’t have put this vison down on paper if it wasn’t for our class, this is one of the most valuable reasons I have.
R: There’s only one of him, but there’s 600+ students taking advantage of him and could possibly be my direct competitors.
I: No way.
N: No.

6. This Blog: I had never used a blog before, at first it was kind of freighting, now I enjoy it and is a tool/ layout I will use for any business idea going forward.
V: this blog and the feedback form my classmates have been great and will help me tremendously going forward.
R: In relationship to me yes, very rare, but not as a class, all of us have a blog. Only a few my use it after this semester though.
I: Absolutely, but you can’t recreate the experience and feedback.
N: I don’t think so.

7. My Vison: All this content I’ve been writing down.
V: Absolutely, I need to know exactly what I want and how I want it.
R: I believe so.
I: No, not yet.
N: I certainly don’t want it to be, but of course it is. There’s always an alternative to my opportunity belief, even if the substitution is not using anything.

8. The Internet: These days you can google just about everything and get solid pointers on anything, and free of cost.
V: Tremendous value if you know what to listen too.
R: Yes, but only for folks in countries like Cuba, North Korea and under developed nations without internet.
I: Yes.
N: No, if I don’t have access to the internet I can still walk to the library.

9. My Interviews: Solid current data from the people of today, here and now, in this reality.
V: Extremely valuable to my dating app.
R: No, I could have interviewed more.
I: No, you can’t duplicate the circumstances or these times.
N: I don’t think so, there’s many of college town and cities with potential interviewees.

10. The great United States of America: I think, though not perfect we have the best economy in the world and ability to grow whatever we set out minds too, with freedom ability and capabilities.
V: It’s a privilege, and a blessing to be able to make this happen do to our nation’s individual freedom.
R: Maybe I can do this in China? Or Canada? Definitely won’t be able too in Afghanistan.
I: You can’t replace Uncle Sam.
N: Putin is trying, but we the people are non-substitutable.

I think my vision is the best resource, I need to see what I want and how I want it, adjust and make it how it can work. I need to use properly utilize and allocate all the resources listed above. Whether it’s for this venture or the next, having the ability of finding a problem and a solutions is the most important in my opinion.

Friday, March 23, 2018

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

1) Expert in your industry. Edwin, he is a retired Army officer and he took some coding classes, he is willing to help me code this and dive in to this adventure with me. He lives in Miami, he’s one of my sisters’ stepdad.

2) Expert on your market. Eltong, my old roommate back in Miami, I’ve mentioned him before, but haven’t had him participate yet. He’s an accountant and likes the business ad perspective of the app. He wants to jump right in with me.     

3) Supplier to industry. Well, his girlfriend, Jessica. She’s “Instagram famous” and has many thousands of followers and friends who use dating apps, after we get it together she can get her friends and followers to try it and get going.

Reflection

      This is all brand new to me and right now my tool box is very young and inexperienced, however we do have a team, and if we must meet the right people later we will. 

 

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

     Me, with my background and drive, I can utilize “beg borrow or steal” the resources necessary to make this opportunity belief happen. What I’m offering is new, unique and hasn’t been exploited yet. It’s a mobile application that allows users to disclose information to one another within eye contact distances. This app can further be tailored for restrictive means, like a dating app or for advertisement, or help wanted even. It formulates a way to rake up more costumers for the small dog baby sitter lady who only has a sticker on her car, it will make the pretty girl more approachable when guys see she is single and it will help the guy who needs a tutor or help get some.   
     I’m offering it to anybody really, yet it has to be for them, I understand and I’m comfortable knowing that not everybody is going to use this or like it, but it wasn’t for them. They care because it will help, who doesn’t mind a little extra help, especially for cheap, while it’s a baby it will likely be free then with growth a buck a month should take care of it. I can dig in and roll with success or failures without totally loosing my bearing or committing a drastic unthought decision. I can also set a goal and get to it utilizing different analytical perspectives.
     I believe these elements are attributes that if utilized towards this opportunity belief can make this a success. Having self-control and being a able to pursue a goal are the main points from my feedback. These are also critical to this opportunity belief or any business overall. 

Thursday, March 15, 2018

16A Secret Sauce

     So here is the situation, my five people that know me best are in Tampa, and I can’t go visit them due to my work schedule. I had to interview them on Skype. All of them speak Spanish so I summarized what they said.

         Mother: “My son does everything he decided to do whether I agree or not, he is an exemplary young man with a kind honest heart.”

         Stepdad: “This kid is my best friend, he’s so responsible he should write me down as one of his dependents. He’s also tough as nails, gets hit by a car and goes to school on crutches maintaining straight A’s.”

         Sister: “My brother is the best brother, he always buys me Pokémon’s”

         Girlfriend: “Luis is lazy, but when he decides to get something done he goes for it and gets it done, no matter what.”

         Friend: “This guy is nuts, but he’s a good friend, he’s always there for me, I trust him.”

     I feel Like I’m under performing a lot of the time, I think the interviews are correct but also by folks who like me and want to make me feel good about myself. I need to be less lazy and improve my time management skills.           

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

17A Elevator Pitch No.2


From the feedback I tried a broader approach on the platform. I'm presenting a bigger picture on the vision overall, therefore decreasing the restrictions of the app from my previous elevator pitch.   

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

18A Customer Avatar

"Suh Dude"
Troy Daniels, 20 years old.

Troy is a architecture major, he rides a scooter to class wearing flip flops. For spare cash he works at the local Dick's Sporting Goods. He's single, has a few good friends he hangs with Saturday nights, they like playing pool and volleyball together. Troy enjoys reading and listening to the Hamilton musical, he also tries to exercise when possible. 
-The only things me and Troy have in common is that we both work for a living and have a few good friends. Troy could of been a woman, older, shorter, taller doesn't matter. My opportunity belief can be exploited by all types and shapes of people.              

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Halfway Reflection

What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course?
Well, this course has made me have to come up with an opportunity belief and develop on it in a fun manner, yet, uncomfortable at times in a positive way. 

Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?
The elevator pitch, that one was tough. Standing in front of the camera and having to memorize it, looking at index cards or having a chart to refer too would have made it much easier. I had to tough it up and get it done, in the end it was very fun.

What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?
Don’t be shy, go to class, the professor has great charisma and energy (puts you on the spot). Come up with a opportunity belief in advance and reply to your group members! Work hard! Watch every video. Roll with the pouches!


Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Evaluating How Your Customers Evaluate Stuff 

      Back at it again, out to town we go in the name of science. Regarding dating and the dating apps experience, we came up with a few related topics and questions for our subjects. Most of the people I asked used Tinder in the past and currently don’t use anything as far as a dating app. Now they just live their lives and hope they come across somebody, or! They are in a relationship, or! They have regulars in rotation, when the hot line bling itch happens. Some others have “a friend” they “hangout with.” 
      From those folks using Tinder it was hit or miss depending on their gender. The male I asked said he had all types of fun with college girls on Tinder, however, the female I spoke with says she swipes and swipes, even replies but doesn’t ever really consider meeting up. So, the male had a positive experience and keeps hoping it happens again, the girl misuses the app for when she’s bored.  Her behavior is causing negatives experiences for the bros in the other side.  
      The app is for usage nationwide, yet this small sample of the Gainesville 18-25 year-old population has showed me that it boils down to the individual and his or hers experience in the past regarding weather they would even consider trying out my services. We’re pushing forward, this is unique, folks will enjoy it, their feedback will be crucial for my R&D as we go along.  

Friday, February 23, 2018

Reading Reflection No. 1

1) You read about an entrepreneur: Elon Musk

What surprised you the most? Elon is a risk taker, and had a rough childhood growing up, then, this man almost went broke trying to save his companies.


What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? Elon’s drive to the impossible and making it possible. His persistence with human kind becoming an interplanetary species, which I don’t think we deserve.

What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? I least admired how he put the car in space rather than giving that money to buy food for the hungry. But that is how innovation works, and it’s not my money.

Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it? Elon encountered many failures and after he recovered and kept going, persistence is key.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? He has a skill for science, and is very disciplined, also knows how to allocate his resources.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you? How he was dismissed from his pay pal CEO position.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why? Elon! Why aren’t you making electric motorcycles? I would ask because I ride motorcycles and a Tesla bike would probably be nice, though not affordable.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion? Hard work, ok, I think he would say to pick a path, follow it, and do whatever possible to achieve it, while enjoying your way there.

Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

        Buyer Behavior No.1 
        The segment of my market we are going after today are young adults who are single from the ages 18-25 here in Gainesville, that’s most of our student body including grad students and locals.
Here we go, back out to Mid-town and Downtown to find Gainesville’s finest.  In order to arrange this properly, without looking corny out there, we brought out everyone and approached these interviews as casual as possible, like the questions just came up in the conversation, but really it was all a set up. It was my girlfriend, my neighbors who are a local couple none-UF students, their 8-month baby in a baby basket and myself. 
The first subject was a girl sitting by herself at the bar waiting for her drinks before going back to her friends. She told us that usually for her the need presented itself if she saw a guy she liked, then she would wonder if he was alone and if he would like her back. Depending on the circumstance, she would either walk up to him casually or hope that they made eye contact long enough for him to get it and him walk up to her, her major deterrence would be if he was with another female.
The second subject was our waiter at Harry’s, he happened to be into guys and told us his need awareness would be if he found a guy cute but wasn’t sure if that guy also liked guys, body language was rough for him. Our waiter said maybe if the guy carried himself in a specific way those could give him clues, or flirt with him first.
Finally, my third interviewee was a random local sitting next to us while we played pool. This young man told us his need would arise after reading the room, he would look around him and if he was interested he would go and test the waters in a casual way, then with the flow of interacting he would decide what to do next.   
In conclusion my market segment is restricted as far as the where and who, but not too restricted. Everywhere humans mingle in a none awkward situation and have the ability and capabilities of socializing, there lies a potential customer. From the bus stop, bus ride, auditorium class, Starbucks line, you name it. Folks are going to be looking down at their phone anyways, I want them looking for their next favorite person, then going to speak to them. 
  

Friday, February 16, 2018

Idea Napkin No. 1

1) You.  Well, I feel I’m practical and good at allocating my resources for anything that I want to accomplish. I can be analytical and conceptual about opportunities and situations. I usually base my decision making with the least amount of bias and emotion in mind. My skills and experiences, I was in the military for a while, did my time and then soon after started school. From the USMC I gained some people skills that aid me at public speaking and diving into uncomfortable situations. Being a business major has broadened my thoughts on the world around me always looking at what’s behind the scenes at restaurants and different businesses, or why things are how they are and what from my eyes can be done to make it better. The application I had in mind wouldn’t necessarily play a role in my life, but in my single friend’s life. I would get it, start it, control it and keep moving along with other ideas. I have used dating apps before and experienced the good, bad, and ugly from a couple popular ones.       

2) What are you offering to customers? I would be offering a mobile platform, one which could be used as a dating app, the other as a local jobs and services advertisement or wanted aspect. However, the vision started with just the dating app. What the vision is, it enables users to post a picture and a small paragraph or bullets of information they want to disclose for the other user who’s checking them out. The other person, let’s say a boy who likes a girl at a bar or club or even the library, looks for her in the app and see her photo, where she says (to keep dudes away) that she isn’t interested in boys. Then the boy looks for another girl nearby and doesn’t waste his shot with this one. This opportunity would solve the unwanted rejection 9 out of 10 women are going to give guys for whichever reason, before he gets to the one who is single and is interested. The original intent is to see the person first, then look them up in the app, learn more, then walk up to them, this is all in the heat of the moment, inside eye contact distances, which is unique. You’re not going to be looking at 300 profiles from your mom’s couch hoping one swipes left too, or getting cat fished by a photo-shopped image which you knew was too good to be true; you’re going to see the individual first, then decide whether you want to know more or not.     

3) Who are you offering it to? Men and women ages 18-35 who go out to public places and seek having a good time and possibly meeting somebody new, for whatever their intent is, and people who don’t want to be approached, in this case gals and guys too same ages. 

4) Why do they care?  Here is why, guys get tired after a certain amount of rejections and need time to recuperate from their failures to keep going, liquid courage only does so much. Girls, sometimes they think a dude is cute, yet he doesn’t understand her signals, and it is rare for the chick to make a move first. Then there is the girl that is out with her friends and has a man at home and doesn’t want to be approached at all. Guys will pay because it will aid them tremendously on their hit-or-miss ratio. For example; I wouldn’t have even bought a drink if I knew the bartender had a boyfriend, even less tipped her 10 bucks... Girls will pay because it will help them the same way, also promote them making the first move (which they rarely do) if the dude is single and not gay. They also care because we have all had that one time where we decided not to do anything afraid of rejection and will always wonder “what if”, now we can diminish those “what if’s”.   

5) What are your core competencies? Well, I think I can be persistent and driven, and I can use those traits to my advantage in many beneficiary ways. What sets me apart from everybody else is how I can embrace a stressful situation and laugh it out, or, find ways to self-diagnose and deescalate it.


These five elements are great. I need more knowledge in coding and the financial aspect of the current opportunity belief to be better prepared, and getting it going.  Some things out of joint can be how sometimes I become my worst enemy, like being lazy and procrastinating.

Elevator Pitch No. 1

Elevator Pitch No. 1


Friday, February 9, 2018

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Testing the Hypothesis Part.2

Who: So, after interviewing five others about my dating app that I thought had the unmet need, yet for some reason they didn’t, I was able to draw the boundaries of this opportunity belief.
This first gentleman, college student, thought there was no way that a chick would use this, he immediately shut it down as having no use for it.
Interviewed a lady, bartender, she mentioned that the idea sounds interesting but that she has no hope in dating apps, she also stated that nothing good would come out of it anyways from her prior experiences.
This third interview was at the gym, another female, she said that her boyfriend wouldn’t think it is a good idea to have an app like that while dating even if it’s for deterrence of others.
I interviewed the manager of Arby’s; He said that something like that would be considered a joke, at his age (40’s) if he even considered it, he feels he’d be looked at as a joke.
Athlete-looking male at the gym, he said it sounds cool, however, he enjoys the moment when walking up to females even if it leads to nothing, he stated he could care less if she has a boyfriend, that she might still be “down” so the app information doesn’t mean anything.
     
What: I believe my opportunity belief dating app is different from anything out there available right now. Yet these folks feel otherwise and have every right to do so, it wasn’t built for them.

Why: These people are outside my boundary right now, that’s not permanent, in the future with growth and popularity, they will be back.



Inside the boundary
Outside the boundary
People who like, use, or have
used dating apps in the past
or enjoy the idea.
Folks with negative experiences
derived from dating applications,
people who feel like their age is
correlated with the methods they
utilize for dating.
The need is more information for
those who are interested in someone
nearby them who don’t have the guts
to go up to them without a little more intel.
They find it creepy, are shy about
using it and/or uncomfortable with
the situation.
It exists because it’s rare, unique,
and humans for the most part let
go opportunities because of fear of
rejection, this would help diminish that.
Being old school? Doing things
their way, stubbornness?
A natural rejection to new things.
Plain ole disinterest.



The demographic is restricted, however there’s still a market for it, we should go forward with this opportunity.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Solving the Problem

Solving the Problem

I believe there’s an opportunity in the market for an app that gives you added information disclosed by the other app user as well as yourself within eye contact distances. A few assignments ago I used the same vision related towards dating, hence creating a market disrupting dating app. For this one, we’re going to utilize the same system but formatted for business. Think of a digital business card that you don’t have to pay to print or handout, just activate and those around you would see it.
  
Product description

This app platform will allow the users to display their related job or service posting. For example, we’re at the library and I happen to be a tutor for statistics, I make sure to put that on my profile and display it. Joel is doing horrible in stats and is looking for a tutor, he uses the app, goes down the list and finds the tutor who’s is nearby clicks on him and this notifies me, the advertiser, of a potential costumer. The rest of the interaction we can do face to face since we’re already within eye contact distance. This app would not necessarily be a main source of consumers; however, it would rake up more costumers, and allow for a set and forget system to work for you all the time. Another use consists of “wanted services:” I would post on my profile how I’m looking for a dog sitter and make sure to activate it while I’m out in public places, then let it work for me.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

There’s no food trucks in the University of Florida


  • The who: The unavailability of local small business food trucks on campus.  
  • The what: The school seems to have contracts with the big businesses and this forces the students to spend only on the options the campus gives them.
  • The why: Big businesses want to make maximum profit and have a monopoly on who gets to sell on campus. This benefits the campus but leaves students with the option of double deep-fried chicken nuggets and $4 cups of coffee. 

I’m from Miami, right in the middle we have FIU (Florida International University)
There’s a few main stream restaurants on campus and a few food trucks, we have options, and everybody would go line up at the food truck, which was ran by students, and was a local small business.

Interviews
  • First subject- 
    • How do you feel about our food availability on campus? I really enjoy the diversity of restaurants. 
    • When was the last time you had chick-fill-a? Mmmmmm, a month ago? I don’t like fried food. 
    • What food options if any would you add to the campus? More pizzaaaa! I love pizza. 
    • Anything else? I don’t know, I’m not very hungry right now. 
  • Second subject-
    • How do you feel about our food availability on campus? I wish there was more, everything is so boring and tasteless, all fat. 
    • When was the last time you had food on campus? I don’t remember, I usually prep my own meals at home.
    • What food options if any would you add to the campus? More handmade stuff, I don't know, a healthier yet affordable local option, with more flavor and less corporate taste behind every bite. 
  • Third subject- 
    • How do you feel about our food availability on campus? I like it, where I come from there is no food on campus except for a bakery, so this is a huge upgrade. 
    • When was the last time you had food on campus? Earlier, had Dunkin Donuts.
    • What food options if any would you add to the campus? Mmmmm, kebabs? Or a type of coffee other than Starbucks and Dunkin.
  • Fourth subject-
    • How do you feel about our food availability on campus? There’s definitely a variety but the lines are crazy and it’s too expensive.
    • When was the last time you had food on campus? So far, I have not eaten on campus, I prefer to starve.. and I probably never will hehehe, the lines are ridiculous.
    • What food options if any would you add to the campus? Colombian fast food, I was going to say a pizza truck but nah, also, Quiznos doesn’t get enough recognition but that’s never going to happen.
  • Fifth subject-  
    • How do you feel about our food availability on campus? Its okay.
    • When was the last time you had food on campus? I had a tea at Starbucks a few days ago. 
    • What food options if any would you add to the campus? Any place with coupons and a Panera Bread.  
Summarizing 
There’s room on campus for food trucks, I understand college kids don’t have money but the line at Starbucks is never short. Their money is going somewhere, and the desire is there, if we had them and the food was good, there’s money to be made. 

Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends


  • Globalism
    • Looking through Google, I found an article about globalism and its effects on businesses worldwide. The opportunity I saw here relates to firearm purchases and globalism. If my young sister can buy a Lego figurine from France and have it a much competitive price than her local Walmart, I can only imagine how much better access to foreign small arms we can have if the rules of importation were lifted, and the elimination of importers occurred regarding guns. The costumers would be folks who like Russian AK’s and old military surplus small arms. The ability of getting them directly from the folks over there and having them shipped to a FFL dealer here in one step for a much competitive price would create a lot of sales.    
  • Entertainment
    • YouTube, the trend of funny alluring advertisements. Those funny ad’s are capturing the viewers’ attention and getting them to watch the whole ad, making the content creator increased ad revenue. The opportunity here would lay of those thinking of becoming YouTube content creators and planning on obtaining ad revenue, because as the ads adjust to catch our attention it makes them more money.    
  • Fidel’s Castro’s son commits suicide 
    • They Castro dynasty is fading away, the old man died without justice and his son committed suicide February 1st. Raul is on his last leg and will not be in charge for much longer. The power vacuum is coming, bringing change and Cuba has a vacancy of all types of businesses. The opportunity here would be to franchise restaurants and other business there once things change, the costumers would be the Cuban people.  
  • Incomplete background check? 
    • Reading through the Miami Herald I came across   this story, according to a senator for our rights not to be infringed there shouldn’t be a delay on ccw permit renewals, during our conceal carry license renewal a administrative delay of the process can be preserved as infringing the rights of the ccw holder. The opportunity here lays on the benefit to gun stores in Florida, mom and pop businesses, when somebody comes in with a ccw permit to purchase a firearm they can take it home right away, unlike the folks who don’t have one, They need to wait 5 business days. That very obstacle can deter them from buying it at a business, and instead can lead them to doing so at through a private sale like from the website armslist, which is like a craigslist for firearms.


Friday, January 26, 2018

Identifying Local Opportunities

Identifying Local Opportunities

1)      “20-year-old dies after New Year's Day crash into canal off Florida's Turnpike”
Summary: Young lady died in a car accident were for whatever reason she lost control of her car and ran off the road crashing into a canal.
Problem presented: Human error at high speeds are a liability to anybody surrounding that vehicle, also though not specified, mechanical errors in cars at high speeds are just as dangerous.
Who has the problem: Motorists, and anybody who decides to step into a car lacking innovative technology designed to keep you safe from human or mechanical errors.

2)      “Nine hospitalized after car rear ends Miami-Dade bus”
Summary: Car rear ends public transportation bus for unspecified reason.
Problem presented: Yet another preventable incident where due to human error or mechanical failure folks were injured in a car accident.
Who has the problem: Once again, motorists, technology is getting there but we’re not anywhere near where we need to be. Human error and mechanical failure are still hurting people.

3)      “One killed, two police officers injured in Hialeah crash”
Summary: Once again, circumstances are not specified but these officers and one gentleman got into a car accident, it cost the man his life.
Problem presented: These last three stories happened within 2-3 days of each other during January 2018, for me this is a problem and a big safety hazard. I lived in Miami most of my life.
Who has the problem: Motorists and anybody near the streets where cars are passing.

4)      “Do you think Florida drivers are bad? This video proves it”
Summary: Florida has a problem with drivers running red lights and causing deaths, the state is ranked third on red light runners nationwide.
Problem presented: Unskilled drivers? Pissed drivers? Social disconnect were drivers don’t care about others? Traffic induced aggression?
Who has the problem: People near or inside vehicles.



5)      “Florida Keys - Restaurant reopens just two days after truck barreled through”
Summary: Truck rams through restaurant section 20 minutes after families where eating there.
Problem presented: Lack of protection outside of the restaurant to prevent such incidents, distracted management failed to predict such occurrence and were not prepared.
Who has the problem: Everybody that dines there without a barrier for stopping vehicles.    

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Opportunity Belief

Opportunity Belief

During these times of staring at your phone, back up for a breath, then back down at your phone again, I think there’s an opportunity to promote extra knowledge to shy folks or deterrence by uninterested people. What I’m referring to is dealing with rejection before being rejected and at the same time keeping others away without having to say no or be in an uncomfortable situation. Meanwhile you can still use this tool to gather intel for you and set yourself up for success.
This opportunity is a dating app, a dating app that displays the profiles of those also on it within 50 yards from you, within eye contact distance. A dating app that will increase the odds of David that would rather not talk to Ashley because he assumes she has a boyfriend and will reject him. The guy or girl too shy to spark up a conversation and eliminate his or her chances all together.
Current dating apps are outdated and don’t work within eye contact distances, some females are using tinder only as swiping entertainment to see how many matches they can get without following through, and even meeting up is difficult because you have never seen this person before and it can be awkward.  Also, current dating apps have you write paragraphs about yourself like it’s some type of interview; it’s not effective.
In my high school days, you either talked to somebody face to face or were introduced to somebody by a friend or relative then liked each other, all in person-- real spark. This app promotes that. Here is how it would work and the problems it would solve: so, Fred is afraid of rejection and is too shy to speak to Kate, what he doesn’t know is that Kate thinks he’s cute and is single too; Fred doesn’t commit, a lose lose situation for both. In my opportunity belief app, both parties will be able to see each other’s pictures after glazing at one another in person first. However, Fred will have access to fragments of information disclosed by Kate already, increasing his odds of success. For example, single, not interested in anything, or only into carrots.
This opportunity can also solve the problem of certain people who rather not have others approach them for xyz reason, Kate sees Josh has “Married and in love” under his picture, so she stays away from him and keeps looking around. Knowledge is power and this app gives folks more knowledge about this alluring person seating across from them without throwing away their shot.

Iteration 

1(Female)

1) Have you ever used a dating app? Nope. I think it’s creepy.

2) Have you ever avoided speaking to somebody you liked, assuming they are already in a relationship? No, I never go after anyone and that would never cross my mind.  What percentage of the time? 100% of the time

3) Do you experience this with everybody you find attractive, what would get you to come forward and spark up a conversation? Yes, if they look available in the moment, and look alone, or, if I’m introduced to them. I don’t really walk up to people. 

4) Would knowing if they’re single, and of the same sexual orientation ahead of time, help you be more likely to approach them? I guess, but…. I still won’t.

5) If you were single how would you go about dating, and what would deter you from talking to somebody you find attractive? I would date somebody I already know, what would deter me is if they’re with people or uninterested, the situation must be right. “People” have to talk to me first, they have to make the first move.

6) If there was a dating app that showed you disclosed information by that person you liked sitting across from you would you be interested? No, but it sounds like a really good idea. Would you be more likely to go talk to them? No.   What percentage of the time? 100%

2(Female)

1) Have you ever used a dating app? No.

2) Have you ever avoided speaking to somebody you liked, assuming they are already in a relationship? Yes. What percentage of the time? 60%

3) Do you experience this with everybody you find attractive, what would get you to come forward and spark up a conversation? No, something that I see them doing.

4) Would knowing if they’re single, and of the same sexual orientation ahead of time, help you be more likely to approach them? No. I’m very shy.

5) If you were single how would you go about dating, and what would deter you from talking to somebody you find attractive? Oh God, honestly, I don’t know.

6) If there was a dating app that showed you disclosed information by that person you liked sitting across from you would you be interested? Yes. Would you be more likely to go talk to them? Yes.  What percentage of the time? 55%.

3(Male)

1) Have you ever used a dating app? Yes. A couple one night stands off of those things.

2) Have you ever avoided speaking to somebody you liked, assuming they are already in a relationship? No, I don’t assume until they tell me. What percentage of the time? 100% 

3) Do you experience this with everybody you find attractive, what would get you to come forward and spark up a conversation? Idk, hard question, curiosity.

4) Would knowing if they’re single, and of the same sexual orientation ahead of time, help you be more likely to approach them? Yes.

5) If you were single how would you go about dating, and what would deter you from talking to somebody you find attractive? Go to a club a bar or something. A nasty attitude would deter me.

6) If there was a dating app that showed you disclosed information by that person you liked sitting across from you would you be interested? Yes. Would you be more likely to go talk to them? Yes. What percentage of the time? 100%.

Reflection 

It was awkward to interview females about their sexuality and attractions towards others. Both interviewees felt dating apps and approaching others was a little creepy, however, this is a small sample and being interviewed doesn’t necessarily mean you will disclose everything. I feel females are going to be more shy than males when it comes to this opportunity belief but they will both benefit from it in the long run. After the interviews and further explanation of the app, they all agreed it would be something helpful and would be interested if it existed.

Summarizing

My opportunity belief is intact, I do however feel like the app would require some adjusting to make it reflect a little of what my small sample of costumers would prefer. However, the trade-off in staying firm and adapting in this case is that this opportunity belief is unique, it need to stay that way to be relevant and maintain my original vision of the app itself and how it’s intended to work.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

My Entrepreneurship Story


Entrepreneurship Story
My roommate and I bought aluminum window shutters to prepare for Irma’s impact, yes, at the time the hurricane was supposed to go right through and across Miami. We were those people who decided to stay, with a couple million others, and ride it out- full impact. I had spent all week trying my best to install all the shutters and looking out for extra water; we could feel the sense of urgency in the streets, people were starting to panic due to the lack of gas, water, and home protection materials.
The day before the storm it was as sunny and beautiful as it gets. A few miles from where we lived was a Home Depot, where we had made our last runs for protection materials and everything was going to close that day at 4pm. We were about to be on our own. Everyone was scrambling to buy anything they could tape to their windows for an added layer of protection, however there was nothing left.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t install all our shutters, Home Depot had already closed, so had every other store around town. At that moment, sitting in our living room, it hit me, we were in the perfect circumstance to go make maximum profit for our extra shutters and get most of our money back while helping people protect themselves last minute. The window of opportunity was until sundown. I had to allocate our resources to make this happen. My roommate’s Camaro had some gas left, enough to take us back to the Home Depot parking lot where desperate people would swing by. We had 8 shutters left, we payed $20 per unit. When we arrived at the parking lot, somebody had beaten us to it and was selling older shutters for $10 dollars each. We wanted people to pay a premium for our new and desired shutters: $40 dollars each.
My roommate was ready to call it quits, our competitor had us beat with his lower prices, I motivated my roommate and we stayed a while longer. Our competitor left before the sun went down, he gave up, we stayed, we had total market control. 15 minutes later a lady comes by with cash and asks how much, we told her, “$40 each.”
She said, “You’re crazy the other guy was charging $10.”
  I told her, “The other guy is gone, and our shutters are newer, you’re crazy for not protecting yourself.” She bought every single one, we helped her load her Corolla and she went home, so did we, Irma didn’t hit us. That was my small-time entrepreneurship story, I think, though it’s very small it hits all the principles and mindset to make a good foundation for what entrepreneurship is.







Enrollment to ENT3003
Well, I’m a business major, I better take this class. Plus, it sounds cool and important, and it is important. If I want to succeed I must utilize these principals, mindset and knowledge to my benefit. I’ve enjoyed the lectures and our professor’s style, it makes the class very interesting.   


Friday, January 12, 2018

Bug List

ENT3003

Assignment 2A-Bug List

1. Neighbor leaving pieces of trash outside by our walkway.
WHY it exists: He’s busy with work on his way out, always on the phone, or with both hands holding something, like a cigarette or a beer. On his way home from work, it’s usually night time and our neighborhood is very dark so he doesn’t see the trash or notice it.

2. Shooting ranges not allowing steel core ammunition, which happens to be the most affordable practice ammo.
WHY it exists: Indoor shooting ranges trap (back-wall that stops the bullets) can sometimes be of steel themselves or at a angle where when the steel core is likely to ricochet and hit the shooter, creating a hazard. To diminish this risk, the owners decide to ban this type of ammo.

3. Girlfriend leaving items on our bed.
WHY it exists: Her nightstand is full of things already corner to corner and so is her dresser. The only extra room is on top of our mattress.

4. YouTube content creators begging viewers for money donations.
WHY it exists: Somewhere along the line some of my favorite channels went from uploading videos as a hobby to doing it as their full-time job, then YouTube demonetized most of their videos from ad revenue.

5. When I can’t fall asleep before 1am and I need to wake up early the next day.
WHY it exists: The decision to have coffee past noon or when I dare to have coffee past 5pm, the caffeine keeps me up and my sleep pays the price.

6. Celebrity hating, gossip magazines with terrible cover photos sitting there while I wait to pay for groceries.
WHY it exists: They wouldn’t sell otherwise, those magazines are put in locations where people are forced to acknowledge their presence in order to remain relevant.

7. Gridlock style traffic between 5-8pm west/south bound in Miami.
WHY it exists: Everybody is going home from work, over the years Miami has continued to grow, more and more people by the day.

8. Hearing folks do their number two in public restrooms, and smelling it..
WHY it exists: Costs? Installing speakers in restrooms and maybe some odor repellant devices in the toilets might cost the owner more than he is concerned about the experience of the costumers, yet elevator music is very common.

9. Gas doors on cars that read “FUEL.”
WHY it exists: Challengers of yesteryear had that same style logo, so it’s supposed to be an old school spirit thing, not an actual instruction intended
for those who wouldn’t otherwise know what to put there..

10. When indentation lines fall out of order and mess up your document.
WHY it exists: Failure to retain knowledge of various Microsoft word classes can cause this issue to become greater than it is.

11. Bus stops without shelter.
WHY it exists: Budget, the school can’t afford to shelter up every bus stop, or chooses not too, to fund other things, like perhaps more buses!

12. Cracks in the middle of the night in my town home.
 WHY it exists: Old properties crack sometimes, especially if the floors are wooden.

13. Highways signs, with different, easy to miss exits and paths to other highways.
WHY it exists: To facilitate travel, reduces traffic and make driving distances shorter we widen our infrastructure and build more ramps and highways.

14. Motorcycle not shifting smoothly.
WHY it exists: Being manual, and a Japanese sport bike, throttle control is   very critical for this machine. Releasing the clutch while simultaneously opening the gas just a hair, requires recurring hand placement and movement to shift perfectly, all while looking out for drivers who don’t see you.

15. Finger prints on gun metal.
 WHY it exists: After the proper maintenance and oil application to the surface of a firearm, the surface is wet. Most finishes except bluing are corrosion resistant, but finger prints are going to stick either way if touched without proper gloves.

16. Drivers who speed up to red lights.
 WHY it exists: Not everybody is operating a vehicle relaxed or with the same level of experience as others, or they lack a personal concern for fuel economy and common sense.

17. That truck driver doing 85mph on a 70mph speed limit zone.
 WHY it exists: The operator is running late for a drop and is willing to risk   getting a ticket and tailgating slower people than manage his time properly, also the owner of the truck isn’t governing the speedometer.

18. Shopping cart traffic inside Walmart aisles.
 WHY it exists: Cart sizes, the distance between aisles, plus staggered people who don’t know which product of the 10 offerings to choose from cause this.

19. Automated answering machines that hang up on the caller.
 WHY it exists: Lack of operators and the failed attempt of flowing call traffic to the right department.

20. Procrastination stress.
 WHY it exists: Lack of self-control. Because of delaying school work or a task due to feeling stressed, while knowing I feel stressed from delaying the school work or task.

Reflection:
 This exercise was very interesting, however, after the first five bugs I surprisingly ran out of thoughts and had to give myself time to the let other bugs come up. Then one by one or a few at a time I came up with the rest. I have many more I can think of but it takes time for them to surface. Thinking this way is very effective, it lays the groundworks of what it needs to be fixed once you establish why the bug exists.