7A: Testing the Hypothesis Part 1

1. The opportunity I’d like to pursue is getting a wide range of face masks available for all individuals to use that are both breathable, safe and non-conspicuous so that even the most resistant people would be able to wear them. 

2.  Individuals in the United States are unwilling to wear face masks during the pandemic due to a variety of reasons, thus putting high-risk patients, autoimmune compromised people and themselves at risk for contracting COVID-19.

The who: individuals who are at risk for contracting the coronavirus.

The what: they are exposed more highly to the virus without facial masks covering the faces of those around them in public places.

The why: people refuse to wear masks either because of discomfort or the absence of alarm towards COVID-19.

3. Testing the who: “Are there others who have this need?” It seems that upon completing the interviews, everyone expressed that no one is completely immune from the coronavirus, suggesting that everyone is currently in need of protection.

Testing the what: “Is everyone put at higher risk if their neighbors don’t cover their faces or just certain people?” While specific groups of people are more at risk to contract the virus, such as the elderly, diabetics, autoimmune compromised, etc., every human is still at risk unless they have antibodies, but scientists are still unsure as to whether recovered individuals can contract the disease again. “Are just masks applicable or can it be any type of facial covering?” Although masks differ in levels of protection, like N95s being the most protective and medical masks filtering 60-80% of particles, experts say that any mask is better than nothing--including homemade ones. “Does the scenario have to be in public places or anywhere--including private homes?” Crowded areas are more dangerous for contracting the illness but the CDC states that those with symptoms should wear face coverings even at home, where people under the same roof can be exposed as well.

Testing the why: The “why” I have identified does not hold for everyone because I found out after my interviews that other “whys” exist: the inability to get ahold of masks. 

4. During my interviews, in which I interviewed a mix of people both willing and unwilling to wear facial coverings, I found that the majority of people (3) are willing to cover their faces while 2 people declined. I stood a safe distance from my next-door neighbor’s home and asked her a few questions and quickly learned that the reason she didn’t wear masks was because she had 3 children to take care of and simply not enough time to hassle over facial protection. She told me that she rarely even left her house because she was so preoccupied at home. The other interviewee who didn’t prefer to wear masks was my friend who just moved back with her parents in South Florida. She told me that the news shows it’s basically impossible to get N95s and doctors and nurses are suffering from the lack, so it wouldn’t be fair for her to use them and she also didn’t know where to search. I asked her if she knew that even homemade face coverings, including a simple bandana, are better than nothing, and she didn’t seem to realize that. The rest of the majority restated the importance of prevention and the desire for others to comply with regulation. After these interviews, I found out that there's one additional portion of my opportunity that makes it more important: the inability to acquire masks is a huge impediment to wearing them. Discovering a way to get masks in everyone's hands would be a major opportunity.

6A: Identifying Opportunities In Economic and Regulatory Trends

1. Falling Oil and Gas Prices

1. Because my dad works in the oil and gas industry, I was talking with him about the industry’s current economic situation and looked deeper into the logistics. 

2. The unmet need here is on behalf of traders seeking buyers of oil barrels. Another unmet need is the requirement of physical space to hold these barrels of oil that keep piling up.

3. The customers with the opportunity are oil traders seeking consumers and oil-producing countries that are trying to lower their output. 

4. Currently, this opportunity is highly difficult to exploit because buyers seeking oil are so few because the demand is consistently decreasing. 

5. I personally saw this as an opportunity due to my personal connections with a worker in the oil and gas industry. My dad’s job relies on the wellbeing of this industry, so I empathized with the oil traders who have a strong unmet need. 

2. Diminishing job opportunities and rising unemployment

1. It’s no secret that unemployment is growing due to the pandemic, so I decided to read about what the economic outlook looks like for jobs currently. 

2. This opportunity exists because millions of Americans have the unmet need of a steady income--and that number continues to climb up.

3. The prototypical customer could be a recent 2020 college graduate who just spent years studying to prepare for a job after graduation who’s now stripped of this opportunity. Further, The Balance predicts that 3 occupational groups will lose jobs heavily: production, administrative support and sales while computer and math occupations are projected to grow heavily. Members of these groups are also prototypical customers. 

4. I believe this opportunity is rather difficult to exploit due to the sheer amount of people with the unmet need. For everyone to have their need fulfilled would be an impossible job that complicates the situation. 

5. I formed the belief that this opportunity exists because my brother is a recent 2020 graduate who’s also on the job hunt. Keeping other individuals like him in mind, I came across this opportunity that’s higher for people in the technology and math sectors. 

3. Airmail ban from Hong Kong and Japan to the U.S.

1. I discovered this regulatory change upon purchasing something from Tokyo on Ebay and having the seller message me that airmail to the United States has been banned, thus asking for a $70 shipping fee to mail the item out via FedEx. 

2. This leads me to believe that an opportunity exists because Japan’s exports have plunged exponentially due to the coronavirus outbreak, and they need to resume exporting and importing to recover their economy. 

3. The prototypical customer would be an immigrant, long-distance family member or simply just a shopper seeking to send or receive something from abroad. 

4. This opportunity would be difficult to exploit due to the severity of the pandemic right now. Choosing between banning airmail and blocking potential infections while sacrificing economic advancements versus prioritizing trade while risking citizens’ health is an immensely difficult political choice. 

5. The existence of this opportunity was specifically high for me because I’m always researching merchandise from Hong Kong Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Resort and am now unable to acquire them. Also, I have many contacts who do pick-ups from those resorts who keep telling me about the airmail situation.

4. New regulation for at-home bakers in Lincoln, NE

1. I came across this opportunity in the Lincoln Journal Star after researching new domestic regulations and was instantly intrigued as a home baker myself. After reading further, I discovered that this regulation applies to bakers who sell their goods to customers, but was nonetheless interested in its proceedings. https://journalstar.com/business/local/lincoln-woman-seeks-to-overturn-citys-new-regulations-for-home-bakers/article_7ed6cef2-fe62-530b-832f-eb2da1acfe56.html

2. It seems like an opportunity exists for many more Lincoln residents to support local bakers because this new regulation requires home bakers to acquire permits and comply with kitchen inspections. With the high emphasis on cleanliness and sanitation going on right now, this would leave consumers feeling safer and more willing to purchase food from local businesses. 

3. The prototypical customer would be a baked-goods consumer in the Lincoln area that is aware of the infectious virus and seeks to buy food that’s been properly handled. 

4. Ultimately, I feel like this would be a relatively easy opportunity to exploit if bakers would comply with the new regulation. The article elaborates on a specific woman in Lincoln who fought to overturn this rule, but it goes on to suggest that the city is trying to ensure that all food being sold is in good hygiene. 

5. I formed the belief that this opportunity exists because of my passion for baking at home. Although I don’t sell it to others, I still like to deliver some to my neighbors and this regulation hit near to home.

5A: Identifying Local Opportunities

I chose the Houston Chronicle to read as my local newspaper. Of all the article titles I searched through, an overwhelming amount related to shootings and deaths, bringing me to my first problem--gun violence.

In the article titled “Employee in critical condition after shooting at Spring Pizza Hut,” the incident of a Pizza Hut in Spring, TX being robbed and a worker being shot 3 times is described. This article poses many issues, including robbery and assault, but the biggest issue here seems to be the critical condition an innocent employee was in because of the illegal use of weapons. 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Employee-in-critical-condition-after-shooting-at-15276409.php

The article “Houstonians are more positive than ever, Rice survey shows” talks about the results from the 2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey from February and March. While this survey was conducted right before the coronavirus pandemic hit, founding director Stephen Klineberg stated that this year’s results were one of the most notable in 38 years as it displayed the positive hopefulness of locals. This didn’t prevent political and economic issues to arise, and respondents claimed traffic to be an ongoing issue in Houston--making it the biggest problem for residents. Almost 30% of the 1,000 Harris County residents face this problem of congested traffic and holdups. 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/education/campus-chronicles/article/Houstonians-more-positive-Rice-survey-shows-15278088.php

In another article, “Arts and crafts and social distancing — Houston summer camps adjust for coronavirus,” the YMCA in Meyerland faces the new problem of only allowing 9 students and 1 adult in each of their classrooms. This severely undercuts staffing and revenue, but one staffer named Terrie Eley stated that the hardest part is maintaining social distancing when she said “‘That’s the hardest part all day, keeping them 6 feet apart, 6 feet apart, 6 feet apart.’” YMCA workers, parents who are struggling to get their children into day programs and children who face possible infection all hold a problem here.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/education/article/arts-crafts-social-distance-houston-summer-camps-15272551.php

“Vegan activists protest Spring meat processing center amid COVID-19 pandemic” discusses protesters in Spring, Texas fighting against the issue of Fisher Ham and Meat Co. staying open despite the pandemic. Protesters see the problem as slaughterhouses providing the perfect setting for new strains of viruses to develop, while members of the meat processing facility see the problem economically and weigh in the complications of unemployment and layoffs. There were about a dozen protesters standing outside the facility, and one of the organizers claimed that the virus could spread among animals to humans even quicker if factory farms keep running under these circumstances.  

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/spring/news/article/Vegan-activists-protest-Spring-meat-processing-15273855.php

“Freeport under boil water notice” explains a water system leak in the city of Freeport that released potentially hazardous bacteria. This introduces the problem of unhealthy drinking water, and the whole city is under an emergency notice meaning that every resident in Freeport has the problem of unclean water. 

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/Freeport-under-boil-water-notice-15276077.php

4A: Forming An Opportunity Belief

1. My beginning point lies in my belief that an opportunity exists in creating a way for pet owners to be sure that their pets are safe while they’re away on vacation through adaptive technology. If I could help formulate a type of harness/collar that’s connected to the owner’s phone to notify whether it's been properly fed, walked, or even in danger, I believe many pet owners’ stress would be relieved. Similar to many webcams that allow individuals to video chat their pets at home, this harness would be physically on the pet at all times so that it doesn’t have to walk up to the webcam in order to be seen. Further, the animal’s health would be depicted through colors that show up on the owner’s phone--green marking it being adequately fed, blue marking adequate water intake and red marking distress or physical harm. This wouldn’t replace an actual person interacting with and taking care of the pet, but it would allow owners to detect whether that person was doing a sufficient job.

2. The unmet need is the uncertainty felt by all pet owners that their loved ones are completely cared for while they’re away. My family and I have personally had negative experiences with dog hotels, paid pet sitting services and even close friends looking after our dog during our trips, and I’m sure that many other owners share similar concerns. This need hasn’t always existed for me but began the first vacation I took after getting my puppy. To meet this need, people are currently choosing from a limited set of options: pet hotels, hired pet care or asking a friend/family member to pet sit. At this point, I’m about 60% sure this opportunity exists.

3. Because of social distancing and quarantining, my first prototypical customer interview took place via FaceTime with a close family friend. With him being a lawyer and his wife being an event planner, both of them are rarely in their own homes. Hours are extremely long and flights are all too common, but their pug Bailey is still a part of their family. They need a way for Bailey to be taken care of inside their own homes, because sometimes their schedules become too unexpected for them to schedule a drop off and pick up. 

4. Steve and his wife experience this need quite frequently, and first became aware of it 2 years ago when they bought their new puppy. As of right now, any time they’re away they call in a pet sitter who also has a dog of her own, but anxiety still lies in the fact that the possibility of the two dogs fighting exists. The pet sitter’s dog is much bigger than their own, so they’re worried that in a flash of aggression the two could attack each other. Upon introducing my idea to them, they were supportive and enthusiastic, but skeptical as to how long this invention would take to be properly produced. They argued that by the time it was ready for the public, Bailey would be gone. 

5. My next interview took place with a close friend and long-time cat owner, Juliette. She has two cats, Gracie and Spot, but is also a study abroad student.

6. When I asked her how she felt about leaving her two cats behind for months, she said she was lucky her mom took up the job of looking after them, but nothing quite replaces the bond that the owner shares with their pet. There are intangible things that can’t be written down in instructions, such as how a pet’s mood can be identified through the slightest of motions. Juliette was excited about the idea of an innovative harness that allows her to access all of her pet’s needs, but didn’t know how welcoming Gracie and Spot would be towards wearing something and also expressed concerns about the cost. By the sounds of it, this would be an expensive invention that might not fit all budget types.

7. Finally, I talked to my mom, who I’ve witnessed express the most concern for our dog, Mickey, when trying to find a good place for him to stay. She scoured the internet for hours looking for dog hotels and inspecting their ratings, pictures and video walkthroughs. They had just moved to Texas and didn’t have close friends to leave Mickey with, so they opted for paid sitters.

8. After coming home from a reputable pet hotel that was picky with accepting dogs and required several forms of paperwork and vaccine documents, Mickey got sick and had bloody stool. After coming back from a family friend’s house for a week during our vacation, Mickey wasn’t acting like himself and showed some physical signs of distress. The food that we packed for him came back nearly untouched as well. All of this led my mom to be extremely picky and worried with where we left our dog, and I showed her my idea. She liked the idea of having a harness, that my dog wears anyways, detect any signs of distress from him and display his eating habits. Since walking up to a webcam and video chatting us is impossible for Mickey (he’s not the most trained and intelligent dog), this harness would be a great alternative for seeing what’s going on with him.

9. I learned from this activity that although my opportunity may be attractive and desirable, it lacks in plausibility. While everyone seemed interested in the idea of the product, the actual execution is a whole different conversation. I was most surprised to learn how every pet owner shares a common thread of anxiety when leaving their pets with someone else--no matter how close the relationship. It seems like no one truly rests when they’re away from their pets. This just solidifies the need for an innovative way to keep in touch while physically apart.

10. Much of my original opportunity has been diminished because of the intangibility of the product at the moment. If the product were actually developed and prototyped, the situation may look different. Since most of the hesitance with the idea came from the fact that it wasn’t yet produced, a new tangent I went on was to possibly attach a webcam to a harness. That way, dogs that are untrained can still be accessible by their owners at any time. Judging from this experience, it’s critical that entrepreneurs adapt to their customer’s needs and wants. While it’s impossible to put into practice every piece of feedback received, if the main motive of the entrepreneur is to satisfy a need, then the voice of the customer must be heard in order to fully satisfy them.

My Entrepreneurship Story

My own entrepreneurship exposure is pretty limited, and the extent of my experience goes to selling things on Mercari and selling my homemade merchandise online. My great uncle is the founder of the Yoosung Eco Energy System plant in South Korea, which recovers waste in an environmentally friendly way. Through this technological innovation, he and his company are able to control air pollution recovery equipment, earning themselves presidential awards. 

Additionally, I’m becoming increasingly interested in small shops, especially after I came across one creator on Instagram who sells homemade Disney phone cases that have become so popular that they sell out in minutes and are available once every few months. The turnaround time is pretty long and communication is almost impossible, yet the products are so desirable that I found myself, along with many others, purchasing from the creator who was even featured on BuzzFeed. I began to wonder how much more her business would improve with an organized system for demand/supply and communication, and contacted her to become a brand rep. After that instance, I began to notice more and more homemade items from small businesses that outshine even what mega retailers offer. I’m intrigued by people’s talents and abilities, and would like to partake in a similar endeavor. 

I enrolled in this class because I have an outside concentration in Marketing, and I thought Principles of Entrepreneurship would be a valuable way to discover how to combine ideas and tactics to advance a business. My ultimate goal is to work for the Walt Disney Company, and I believe entrepreneurship in marketing plays an essential role in promoting their brand and building innovative concepts. I would love to come up with movie ideas and write scripts, utilizing my journalism major, and use my marketing outside concentration to promote the merchandise associated with it. Upon finishing this class, I hope to learn more about how to build a product that consumers seek out and connect that product to a specific brand and image.

Bug List

Bug List

1. People not wearing masks in public gathering spaces like the grocery store or post office.

1. This bug exists because people are misinformed about the logistics of COVID-19, don’t have access to masks or are uncomfortable with the physical restriction.

2. Price gouging for necessities like toilet paper and hand sanitizer or even non-necessities like puzzles that are sold out everywhere.

1. This bug exists because of the opportunity to take advantage of high demand and low supply.

3. My morning cup of coffee being scalding hot and not cooling down in time for me to leave my house at the exact time.

1. This bug exists because of my Keurig producing a cup of coffee at 192 degrees Fahrenheit--what the company deemed the optimal temperature for brewing coffee.

4. Companies offering paper straws, which ruin the taste of drinks, while continuing to offer plastic cups, utensils and individual condiment packets.

1. This bug exists because companies want to uphold a “green” image and please customers while failing to research other environmentally hazardous supplies.

5. Online sellers offering cheap product prices with triple the shipping cost.

1. This bug exists because many buyers have excitedly purchased a “cheap” item but didn’t notice the small font that declares a skyrocketed shipping cost. 

6. Shopping carts that are left on the curb (or worse--a parking spot) instead of being returned to their designated areas.

1. This bug exists because shoppers don’t feel like walking to a return area and want to get home quickly.

7. The WalMart live chatting feature that has a 2+ hour waiting time that I tried to participate in for a week before receiving a refund.

1. This bug exists because of the high website traffic and the limited staffing. 

8. Movie-goers who use their bright phones inside the theater.

1. This bug exists because of lack of etiquette or an emergency phone notification.

9. The upscale cake pan that I splurged and invested in which leaks the batter all over the place.

1. This bug exists because of false advertising or production slip ups. 

10. My puzzle mat that was claimed to securely wrap up a puzzle in progress and unravel it at its exact state but always leaves a few pieces jumbled and flipped.

1. This bug exists because of human error or not following the directions fully.

11. When I ask the pet groomers for a trim on my dog and he comes back looking like a shaved cat.

1. This bug exists because of human error and communication issues.

12. Leaving the grocery store with one thing from my shopping list inevitably missing.

1. This bug exists because of my temporary forgetfulness at the store. 

13. Restaurant waiters who leave the check at the table while you’re eating your meal.

1. This bug exists because of speedy working and the urge to move quickly.

14. People who blast their music in the cars to the point where I can’t hear myself think inside of my own car.

1. This bug exists because of pride in one’s own music choice and possible hard-of-hearing drivers.

15. Flour that spills and floats everywhere despite meticulous caution when opening the bag and using the product.

1. This bug exists because of the product packaging design that allows for difficult pouring and the extremely lightweight nature of flour.

16. Paying for a manual car wash to find that the inside has barely been cleaned.

1. This bug exists because of lack of precision and concern for the outcome.

17. Talking about a specific topic, idea or product (sometimes even thinking it) and having ads for it pop up all over my social media.

1. This bug exists because of data mining.

18. Boba tea from my local shop that tastes slightly different each time I go.

1. This bug exists because of the rotation in workers and the lack of a written recipe that the workers go back to each time they make the drink. Workers go off by memorization and feel.

19. Buying a used book and seeing that some pages have been folded over at the corners.

1. This bug exists because of some readers’ lack of bookmarks or personal preference to keep track of pages through folding.

20. When my neighbors park their vehicles halfway on my driveway.

1. This bug exists because people feel comfortable enough with their neighbors to share their space, have run out of room on their own driveways or have parked incorrectly. 

I found this exercise substantially difficult because it seems as though I lived each day succumbing to these flaws and not noticeably pinpointing them in my daily routine. I’ve become so accustomed to these bugs that I underwent a sort of helplessness to them as I gave up on solving the problem or looking for a solution. It was hard to figure out what bothered me in my life because I often ignored them as nuances and overlooked them for something else that caught my attention. Realizing them now, it seems as though there’s a lot more where they came from and I’m curious about potential problem solving.

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