ENT3003 BLOG!

I decided to read Walter Isaacson's authorized biography,  Steve Jobs,  because I interested in the world's fascination with apple products, and want to see how its founder rose to the top.  I learned of several new facts about both Apple and Steve Jobs that shocked me. First, was that Jobs didn't go to an ivy league school, and insisted to his adoptive parents that he wanted to go to Reed College (a private, liberal-arts college). Also shocking was Jobs's addiction to LSD. As a successful, powerful man, he had always been painted to me as straight-edge and entirely dedicated to his craft. Seeing this adherence to the 60s/70s counterculture makes him more human, and the enormous success he had feels more attainable. Jobs understood the value of failure. For a while, his computer product was considered a failure, and drastically worse than other market alternatives. When he encountered this failure, he did not let it discourage him and moved forward despite the appa...

Moving forward in this course, I have gained new skills and traits I didn't utilize previously that make my journey as an entrepreneur more clear. To keep up with the requirements of this course, I have developed awareness and consciousness of my surroundings that keep me looking for things and phrases that will help my plan. Keeping this awareness and always mulling over ideas helps me think like an entrepreneur, so I am better able to complete my assignments. There were some moments during this course where it seemed I had lost all motivation to get things done. During a particularly busy week, I pushed all work to Friday because I knew it was due Friday. However, because I was not practicing my 'awareness' i forgot it was due at noon instead of midnight. Upon being jolted from my sleep when I realized all my assignments were due in three hours, I wanted to give up. there was so much to do, yet so little time. I quickly came to my senses, calmed down, and realized that I...

For this market segment, I believe it is more geographically based. counties near water or in banned counties are banned from using plastic straws. Also, in places where people are more educated on the impact on the environment, they are likely to want eco-friendly alternatives. I interviewed three people in Alachua county (banned county) to understand customers need awareness as well as how they conduct information searches. All three people I interviewed faced issues with paper straws, which is the root of the issue that resulted in our modified lid product. I asked each of the three persons when their need becomes most apparent. The first and third detailed on the need for straws whenever they visited local eateries. The second is from California, where plastic straws are heavily restricted, so she faces the need almost constantly (at restaurants, fast-food, beverage shops, etc...). Although they are all aware of this need, only the second (California resident) has taken steps to r...

My name is Kelly Shields. My talents include swimming, networking, problem-solving. I aim to be in the financial sector working to help people wisely spend and invest their money. I see this business idea as a way to progress my interests in preserving our local environment, especially in ecosystems proximal to water. I'm offering a product to local businesses that is a lid compatible with paper straws. Paper straws disintegrate quickly with plastic-style lids because the prongs puncture the paper. With this modified lid, paper straws would be more effective while still performing their eco-friendly function. This is targeted to eco-conscious businesses and businesses in recently banned counties (such as Alachua County). They care because they need to accommodate the law and/or because they have concerns about the environment. We are set apart because the product we offer works in tandem with another environmentally savvy product. We have a concert for the environment and the bus...

In this exercise, we are exploring beyond the "who", "what", and "why" into the specifics of my opportunity. As an opportunity, there is an unmet market need in Gainesville and other banned counties for a product that is conducive for use with a paper straw. The current solution, using plastic straw lids, is inefficient and needs modification. This product would just be the lid, not beyond into paper straw territory, as that is an entirely different commodity. I interviewed five people with an unmet need in a paper straw county, but have not realized it yet. Product: Commercial plastic drink lids that are compatible with paper straws, so that the straw is not rendered ineffective by the sharp prongs of typical lids. Interview #1 Alivia: Alivia is an environmental sustainability major. She keeps a plastic, reusable water bottle with her wherever she goes. Because of this, she doesn't encounter the issue of needing a lid. The only commercial place s...

Paper Straw Friendly Lid This is a product in response to the recent plastic straw ban that is taking place in several counties across the United States. The current solution, paper straws, degrade on contact with pronged lids. These lids were intended for plastic straw use, as the straw was durable enough to withstand the pressure from the pronged lid, while also keeping it in place. This product would be a plastic lid without pronged plastic pieces in the middle so that the plastic straw alternative won't degrade. Because the circular lid would not interact negatively with the straw alternative, this would solve the degrading issue for the straw.

The opportunity I am going to pursue is biodegradable straws in post-ban counties. Businesses in certain counties are required to use non-plastic, ecosystem compatible straw straws in response to a plastic straw ban. The who: Businesses in plastic straw banned counties The what: They need non-plastic straws for drinks The why: Recent legislation change requires them to find an alternative to plastic straws There may be others who would use the potential product, including other ethically conscious individuals. There are other options for these consumers but the solutions are either very expensive or ineffective. The boundaries of the need include all businesses that are under the restrictions of these bands. The why holds for all businesses as they are all under the implications of the ban, even commercial businesses in the county. The only other "why" for this need stems from the desire to be a more eco-friendly business without the presence of a ban. I interviewed fiv...

4 Opportunities: #1 Vape Quitting Service for Eighteen to Twenty-year-olds after Tobacco21 Ban I found this information in the news and from word of mouth. I formed a belief from what I have seen in my peers and what I have researched in relation to the topic. This is in response to a regulatory change that has taken place nationwide.  I think this opportunity exists because of the rise of disposable vape products. The prototypical customer would be any person who is addicted to these products under the age of twentyone. I think this is a relatively easy opportunity to exploit through the use of social media and web services. I saw this opportunity because the prototypical customer fits within the age range of my peers at college. I see the struggles that my peers face without any aid and this presents an opportunity. This impact and experience is the reason why I think it is prudent to pursue an effort for helping those addicted to nicotine cope with their newfound loss. #2 A...