30A – Final Reflection

The most formative experience was failing quizzes in Calculus class. These instances of failure are ones I won't forget, because they inspired me to work harder than I ever believed one could. I also learned that I cannot control failure and can only try my best. Another lesson was to prioritize and not allow myself to focus on only one class over others. The most joyous experience was meeting my boyfriend on an app, which inspired me to work on building a networking app. I am most proud of myself for getting through my first year of college without going crazy from the stress! 

I think I have a long way to go before I see myself as an entrepreneur, but I think each day I am getting closer and closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset. I think that college is going to make me stronger and prepare me to be an entrepreneur, but only time will tell!

To any students going to take this course, I would suggest that they make a vision board to keep them motivated about their product/service. It is easy to forget what the goal is, but this can keep them on track. To perform best in this course, I would recommend getting an agenda and staying ahead of track. To foster the mindset for self-motivation, I would make a day of the week ENT3003 day and make that day devoted to working on the assignments for this class.

29A – Venture Concept No. 2

UNIMEET

The Opportunity:
College students across the nation are struggling to make friends in an increasingly digital age. Because of this, they are forced to join Greek Life with high costs or wait for new semesters and classes to meet people. This market exists in all college campuses and exists mainly among women, but men are included. Customers are loyal to Greek Life, if they are a part of it. This opportunity is big, as it hits millions of students. This window of opportunity will be open until someone creates a solution.

The Innovation:
Unimeet, my solution to this issue, is an online college student friendship app. It allows users to meet each other, dating app style, by swiping and chatting. Profit will be generating by using advertisements and by having local restaurant/business sponsored events. For example, an escape room can host a discount "unimeet-up" and have people meet there in person for the first time for safety purposes.

The Venture Concept:
My app will solve the opportunity I identified because it helps college students make friends. Advertisers will pay to promote on this app because they are able to target people based off of their location, which is incredibly valuable for advertisers. I believe customers will use this product because of the way dating apps have become normalized. The competitors are existing general friend apps, like Bumble's friend setting and TinderU. These apps, though, having a dating foundation, which make people skeptical of the users' intentions. The User Interface and marketing is most important for the business concept, as it will likely be the core of the business's success/failure. I would start this business with myself and two others, each being a developer and a market researcher.

My most important resource will be my background in social media marketing, as it can be useful for driving users to the app. While it can be copied by hiring a social media marketer, my extensive experience will make it hard to copy our exact methods.

The next opportunity would be to expand internationally and reach campuses across the globe.

In five years, I hope to have expanded to other markets. The main goal at this point would be to expand to people in a non-college setting. This would likely mean starting out in high schools and middle schools. The next step would be to sell this business to an existing social media app like Facebook and Twitter.

In five years I hope my venture has not failed and exists on all major college campuses across the nation. As an entrepreneur, I hope to be learning, growing, and creating in the next decade, which means I will make sure I do what it takes to make my venture unique and successful.

People recommended I look into where my app can earn money. They expressed concern regarding excessive advertisements and that this may turn off potential users from my app. While I understand, I do think advertisements are the route to go with social media and networking apps. I don't think users would be willing to pay a few to download this app and I can control the amount of ads to make it not overwhelming. Others suggested expanding globally and to high schools and middle schools. I incorporated this in my plan now. I changed my venture concept to make it hit larger audiences due to my feedback. 

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?

I don’t see myself passing my business down to my children. I see myself eventually IPO-ing or looking to sell the business for a return. My ideal would be to follow the path of Musical.ly, the app that was acquired by ByteDance for around 800 million and turned into TikTok. Obviously this is a big dream, but I see myself selling the business regardless. 

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I chose this exit strategy because I see myself as a serial entrepreneur. I love being creative and enjoy different fields. I don’t think it would be as fulfilling to stay in one business for me. I would want to get a large return to invest in my next venture and still support a family. 

3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

I think having this exit strategy has made me consider what potential buyers would be looking for. For example, some of my choices have focused on compatibility between platforms and incorporation of sharing. I don’t think it has influenced my growth intentions because regardless of whether or not my business is sold, I want it to be a global success.

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The general argument of the book is that failure is inevitable and success can still occur, regardless of failure, if proper skills and mindsets are learned. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book connected with what I am in learning in ENT3003 because it shared some tips on coming out resilient and successful from failure. This book discussed growth and continued learning. For example, one of the teachings of this book was to understand that some—and possibly most—people you interact with will lack common sense and rationality. There were many teachings in this book that expressed the need to remain focused and organized. 

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would make an exercise that requires students to review three of the teachings in the book and discuss personal experiences that align or don’t in their life. For example, for the section discussing feedback a student could discuss that they have withheld compliments in the past simply because it would be misplaced or awkward. A followup question for the assignment would be to explain if they think the teaching is valuable and if they plan on implementing it in their daily lives.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

I think the biggest surprise was when the topic of changing your perception was discussed. In todays society, people tend to shame those who change their opinions rather than applaud their growth and intellectual journeys. I found it to be quite surprising that this was taught as a positive in the book. I tend to agree, but in politics, in academics, etc., people seem to disapprove of this.

26A – Celebrating Failure

I continuously failed in my calculus class this semester. As much as I tried, I couldn't do well on my quizzes, even though I passed all the exams, luckily. Of the 9 quizzes so far, I got many Ds and Cs. I learned from this that I am not able to control everything. No matter how much I study— and trust me, I spent hours studying every week for this— I cannot control things outside of my range. From this I learned the importance of having faith in your abilities and not being disappointed in myself so often. Failure, in my opinion, is inevitable. You cannot, no matter how much you try, never fail. I have now learned to handle failure as a consequence of trying at all. If I didn't do anything, I could never fail, so I'm bringing it upon myself for wanting to do something in this world. This class helped me realize that I have to accept this to be the case. I do believe I am more likely to take a risk now than before taking this class, but only if it is a reasonable one with high chances of resulting positively.

25A – What’s Next?

"What should we be doing that we aren't planning to do?"
A: I would suggest looking into high schools and middle schools. They might benefit from this app, too.
A: I think letting people connect across college campuses could be a cool option.
A: I think trying to use sororities and fraternities as a benefit could be interesting. I know it sounds like you are trying to compete with them, but instead you can try and partner with them to get more users. 

All interviewed future users said they agreed with and supported my idea of expanding internationally, especially the second interviewee, who said he'd love to interact with students in other campuses when planning his studying abroad.

All of these suggestions are really valuable. I would likely start out with my idea, without any of the suggestions. However, I plan on implementing the first and second ideas eventually, because they are really good ones. I would first look into expanding internationally. This idea would be great for those looking to make friends in different schools. I would make this an option people can select if they desire. I also would add a "studying abroad" sticker so people can see who they can connect with.

While I do like the idea of reaching more students, I may wait to expand to high school and middle school. This is because I would want to build an app that has credibility and coolness among my target market. Students who are 18+ may feel hesitant to join an app they see their young siblings on. I still will look into doing this, though, but only once its reputation is solid among my initial target market.

I asked two people who were 27 and 32, respectively, of their thoughts. They each expressed that this app, while unlikely to reach them, may be a great tool for people who move to new cities. They shared their experiences with moving to a new city and trying to make friends.

It appears that this app has the potential to influence the lives of may, not just those on a college campus, meaning my expectations were wrong. Though this new market is not as attractive as my existing market, I still think it could be something to keep an eye on. I may want to expand my app in the future to include this market.

The only issue I see with all of this is that my app was creating to be secure and a safe spot for users to know they aren't meeting a catfish. The way I want to go about this is by forcing security measures that make students sign up with a school email/ID. I cannot do this, nor attempt to guarantee safety, when I look into expanding to people who cannot be checked. The only solution would be having background checks, but that seems like too big of a requirement and commitment for people and I assume it would deter users from the platform.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

UNIMEET

The Opportunity:
College students across the nation are struggling to make friends in an increasingly digital age. Because of this, they are forced to join Greek Life with high costs or wait for new semesters and classes to meet people. This market exists in all college campuses and exists mainly among women, but men are included. Customers are loyal to Greek Life, if they are a part of it. This opportunity is big, as it hits millions of students. This window of opportunity will be open until someone creates a solution.

The Innovation:
Unimeet, my solution to this issue, is an online college student friendship app. It allows users to meet each other, dating app style, by swiping and chatting. Profit will be generating by using advertisements and by having local restaurant/business sponsored events. For example, an escape room can host a discount "unimeet-up" and have people meet there in person for the first time for safety purposes.

The Venture Concept:
My app will solve the opportunity I identified because it helps college students make friends. Advertisers will pay to promote on this app because they are able to target people based off of their location, which is incredibly valuable for advertisers. I believe customers will use this product because of the way dating apps have become normalized. The competitors are existing general friend apps, like Bumble's friend setting and TinderU. These apps, though, having a dating foundation, which make people skeptical of the users' intentions. The User Interface and marketing is most important for the business concept, as it will likely be the core of the business's success/failure. I would start this business with myself and two others, each being a developer and a market researcher.

My most important resource will be my background in social media marketing, as it can be useful for driving users to the app. While it can be copied by hiring a social media marketer, my extensive experience will make it hard to copy our exact methods.

The next opportunity would be to expand internationally and reach campuses across the globe.

In five years, I hope to have expanded and then sell this business to an existing social media app like Facebook and Twitter.

In five years I hope my venture has not failed and exists on all major college campuses across the nation. As an entrepreneur, I hope to be learning, growing, and creating in the next decade, which means I will make sure I do what it takes to make my venture unique and successful.

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1. Social media background: It is valuable to have this background, as it means I understand things that relate to the struggles and desires of my target market. It is rare to have extensive knowledge in social media, while intermediate is expected. It isn't totally inimitable, but certainly is difficult to reach. I don't believe other resources can provide this benefit. 
2. Age: Living on a college campus means I have the valuable ability to locate target markets. It is not rare, as many people go to college. It is not inimitable nor non-substitutable.
3. Public Speaking class: It is valuable to have this, not completely rare, potentially imitable, and substitutable. 
4. Connection to lawyers: It it valuable to have lawyers willing to help out on projects, rare to find those with vested interest, inimitable and non-substitutable. Legal advice is needed for app development. 
5. Financial capital (personal investment): It is valuable to have starting capital, not necessarily rare, not inimitable, but non-substitutable. 
6. Business background: It is valuable as I am learning management techniques, entrepreneurship, etc. It isn't rare, nor inimitable, but I would say non-substitutable. 
7. Graphic designer: It is valuable to have a graphic designer, not rare or inimitable, but non-substitutable. 
8. Adobe Premiere Certification: It is valuable to have this for making videos for investors and social media. It is a bit rare, not inimitable, and substitutable. 
9. Determined: It is valuable, rare, imitable and non-substitutable to have this quality.
10. Connection to app investors: It is highly valuable to have investment connections, as investment can be key to the success of the company. It isn't necessarily rare, but hard to attain. Many people can imitate this and other resources may provide similar benefits. 

After conducting the VRIN, I have determined my top resource to be my social media background. This is more important than my other resources because it makes me able to understand my target market. It also helps me with the marketing aspect of my business and with getting the word out about my app across the globe. 

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

https://youtu.be/Jj4d8dRHwbE

For the third elevator pitch, I changed the device I was recording it on. The feedback I received on the most recent pitch was all positive, so I decided to focus on improving the sound quality, as the initial feedback was about the volume being too low. Obviously this wouldn't be an issue in the real world, as my microphone would not be a consideration while giving an in-person elevator pitch, but I figured increasing my speaking volume would make this pitch feel a bit more authentic to the online viewer. I also changed my tone of voice a bit to be more animated in certain places and less in others. I feel that this change makes me seem less cartoon-y, while still appearing passionate and motivated.

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

To make people want to buy your product or service and remain loyal to you and your company, it is vital to learn how to use social media to form meaningful connections with your audience. 

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book connected and enhanced what I am learning in this class because it explained social media marketing in terms of forming meaningful connections. It taught me how to attract my target audience by using social media as a tool and optimizing usage. These tips help make a vague, but working formula of using digital platforms to get attention on you or your product/service.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

I would have the exercise involve creating a social media account for anything and attempting to gain a following on it to practice using the tips in the book. This could be an Instagram for a pet or a fan account on Twitter. I would suggest having students try out a few of the guidelines and see what happens.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?

I felt the biggest surprise for me was that it was claimed that in order to use social media properly, you have to piss off a few people. To me, that seems wrong. I’m not an advocate of shock comedy or “clapbacks,” so I feel this is too strong a claim. This differs from my expectations because I always was a firm believer that online entertainment and attention can avoid bold, upsetting claims. I still do believe that this can be useful for some, but not for others.

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

1)
The first expert in my industry was a Harvard professor that is knowledgeable about technology and entertainment law. He is a professor and runs a clinic to help artists get solid record deals and proper legal representation. I would call him an expert in my industry because he knows a lot about the legal feasibility of making my product. I found him through a family member and contacted him via email. We exchanged information and discussed my goals with my app and how they can actually happen and I gave feedback on his program. Having him in my network can help me tackle legal barriers to entry in this market.

2)
The second expert on my market is the founder of an app that targets a similar base. This app owner was the former manager of Rick Ross and other well known celebrities. We met at an event through a mutual friend and exchanged information. I helped him with giving advice on marketing, as I don't believe he was taking full advantage of the opportunities he had, and he helped me with understanding the process for obtaining funding. Having him in my network will be useful as questions arise about investors and for potentially connecting me with investors.

3)
The final person I met was the hardest one to find, but I got in contact with a woman from South America who worked with the App Store in Apple. Though she no longer works there, my father helped connect us so I can gain insight and advice from her. She insisted that I provide nothing in return and she is happy to help as her and my father are good friends. Having her in my network can help me once I finish developing my app and want it released.

This experience certainly made me more confident when connecting with people who don't know me or will not benefit from helping me. This experience has not totally differed from my past networking experiences, but the first and third individuals listed where ones I contacted virtually, while I typically network face-to-face.

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

I am a college student studying business and economics. I love to write music and organize things. I’m a good leader and am very creative. I aspire to be a creator, whether in entertainment content, contracts as a lawyer, or an entrepreneur. 

I see UNIMEET as a way for college students to connect with people, customizing what they are looking for. UNIMEET can be professional, or social. The app can serve as a university-style LinkedIn, helping students get connections or get involved in clubs or opportunities around campus. It also can help freshman, transfer students, or people seeking new friendships to meet people outside their typical circle. 

My customers are likely more female than male. They are on the lonelier side and have the common goal of making a connection with someone (pun intended). This app matters to them because it can make them find friends and feel less alone in a large college campus. You can’t put a price tag on friendship. 

What sets me apart from others is my experience with social media and dating apps. I’ve worked as a social media manger, so I understand the human patterns that develop from instant gratification and the desire that stems from dating apps to be seen as initially as a game or pastime. I met my boyfriend from a dating app that I swore I would only use to swipe on when bored, so I truly have faith in applications for connection. 

The elements that make up who I am and what I can do, as well as what this app is, what it can do and who it can do it for, together form what I believe is a potentially successful business concept. My background and personal experience as a dating app user and college student makes me aware of what the customer would want and have the desire to learn more and continue developing to make this app a success for those seeking a friend. 

Though I expected a lot more negative feedback, the four comments on my Idea Napkin original post were are positive. I still do feel like this app has serious potential and I anticipate on formally developing it while completing the MSE combined degree here at UF. The main points I took away from my feedback are that this is indeed something that should be targeted mainly to women in college and that this app can and should use Facebook as an example for its starting point. 

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

https://youtu.be/rqXIWDRL6CE

I changed my elevator pitch based off of the feedback. I did not receive any feedback that I believed was wrong or silly, other than the volume being a bit low, which obviously would not be a problem if I were to do this pitch in person because, ideally, it would be in person and not require a microphone. I added an extra two sentences to my pitch because according to the feedback I received, it was important to express the ease of using my app. To do this, I highlighted that it is free and also solves a problem by using a device that the target market already spends a lot of time on. I tried to make my pitch a bit louder, as it was harder to hear my last one because my microphone is a bit messed up.

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

My typical customer is 17-20. Intellectually, they are well above their years, but socially they fall short. They like to stay indoors, and can probably be found playing video games, writing, binging YouTubers and Netflix series, or reading. The likely watch Friends and Big Bang Theory. Their favorite actress is Drew Barrymore. Their favorite book series is Harry Potter. They like Bernie Sanders for his boldness, but admire Michelle Obama and wish she had been president. They love music and listen mainly to rappers and hard rock.

I share many things in common with my customer, such as watching YouTubers, staying indoors, and loving Harry Potter. The similarities exist because I created the solution to this problem that I was facing, realizing there are others like myself who likely have this problem. 

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

1) Describe five ways in which you think you have human capital that is truly unique. What is it about you, exactly, that makes you different? Write this up in a detailed list. 

I think my human capital that is unique would include my ability to fully empathize with people, my ability to step up to leadership roles when needed, my desire to solve problems, my creative nature (entrepreneurial spirit), and my color-coding skills. 

2) Interview the five people who know you the best. Ask them what they think makes you different -- remember, focus on your knowledge, skills, abilities, emotions -- in other words, your human capital. Try to stay away from discussing your other types of capital (such as who you know). Record each interview. In your post, please post each interview, as well as a two-three sentence summary of each interview, explaining what your key takeaways are. There is no time limit on these recordings. As long as you cover the information asked for above, that's all you need to do. (Audio recordings are fine. You'll need to use a platform like Soundcloud to host your files.)

https://soundcloud.com/user-554456547/new-recording-89/s-U2VUC

My organization and leadership were both highlighted in this audio recording. My character was also mentioned, noting that I am a kind person.

https://soundcloud.com/user-554456547/new-recording-88/s-qIZiG 

My concept building and organization skills were mentioned. Also, my desire to help people was brought up.

https://soundcloud.com/user-554456547/new-recording-86-2/s-fEQu3 

Leadership was mentioned, talking about my work in group projects. Also, she talked about my ability to learn things by research, regardless of the field or subject.

https://soundcloud.com/user-554456547/home-1/s-18bsI 

Organization was mentioned, handling deadlines, and scheduling organization. My emotional intelligence was discussed, as well as my motivation. 

https://soundcloud.com/user-554456547/zach-1/s-nJ7uB 

My dedication and passion was mentioned, focusing on my hard-work. Emotional support capabilities were also discussed.

3) Reflect on the differences. How do you see yourself, and how do others see you? Are there differences in how you assess yourself compared to others? What do you think causes these differences? Do you think your interviewees are correct about you? Finally, going back to your list from part 1, would you make any corrections to the list? How? 

Though I did not highlight my organization as much as others did, I guess the interviewees are right. I would likely add that to the list, making color-coding a sub-skill within that ability. Most of the things I mentioned aligned with what was said by the people I interviewed, so I don’t think I would make other changes to my initial list. 

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Since the product that I’m developing is one that solves an issue that isn’t tangible, it is harder to put a price on it. When seeking alternatives for meeting people in college settings before school starts, people select based off of where they find the greatest amount of people/options. For example, in my interviews, Facebook groups for incoming classes where mentioned for trying to meet people; however, meeting this alternative was the only one that was identified by interviewees as PRE-college interactions. The others mentioned they wait until the semester starts to try and join clubs and go to classes. Price seemed not to matter much, as people joined Greek life, with costs upward of $1500 per year and clubs having dues/fees. Audience size mattered most, it seems. For the alternatives that required money, people tended to buy in person (Greek Life) and use a check or credit card to finance the purchase. There isn’t much post-purchase evaluation, as it appears most of my interviewees did not spend money to try and make friends more than club dues and going to events. Interacting with people on Facebook, though, had mixed reactions, some good, some bad. 

My interviews mainly involved gauging ways people made friends in their school prior to attending. Most people were unable to meet this need and tried to find people in their neighborhood, or meet people through Facebook pages. This did not always work. 

I would describe this segment as hopeless (platonic) romantics. Their needs seem not to be met and mimics those of hopeless romantics, however are platonic. 

14A – Halfway Reflection

To keep up with this course, I have made sure to use an agenda to stay organized and plan ahead. Organization and focus have been keep behaviors I have used. I felt like giving up when I got a 67% on a quiz that I studied for 7 hours for in calculus. I pulled through by talking to family and friends and developing new study habits. I do think I’ve become more tenacious in the past two months because of the people I am surrounding myself with and the content I am consuming from entrepreneurs and successful individuals. 

I would suggest noticing and grabbing opportunities that can help them feel more involved and a part of the community, like visiting the UF Innovate Hub or Collaboratory for Women. Another recommendation is to watch videos or read books of successful entrepreneurs that have a tenacious mindset, like Gary Vaynerchuk. Finally, I would encourage making a promise to continue studying and working, even after doing poorly on some assignments.

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

I was mainly surprised at the way Gordy came across in his book. Most of the books I’ve read by entertainment industry moguls have a more serious tone. I admired his tenacity and resilience as an entrepreneur. I least admired his reasoning for entering the music scene- for fame and girls. Gordy did encounter lots of adversity; however, he kept forward, working with other artists. 

His main competency was in elocution and social skills. 

I was a bit confused with Gordy’s explanation of his decision to sell his company, which he then decided against.

I would ask Berry how he discovered such incredible talent and how to encourage his employees and artists to keep going in a tough industry because as someone who aspires to own a record label one day, these questions are ones I feel would benefit my entrepreneurial endeavors. 

I think hard work for Gordy was just second nature, something that came from his core and was necessary. I feel the same way.

12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

From my research and interviews, I learned their need happens mainly when they see the social media lives of people they follow. It also can happen when in class, at an event/party where they don’t know anyone, etc. Nighttimes have been a common time where the need arises, as they get lonely when they have time to think after working/studying all day and are in bed watching Netflix or have nothing to do. Shockingly, the immediate response to feeling sad after looking at social media is to continue looking. This is quite self-deprecating, but its what they claimed happens. To meet people, they often wait for “fate” or a new semester, hoping they make a friend the first week of class. One person even opened up to me claiming they’ve researched “how to make friends” on Google. 

From this, I learned that my target market needs to feel comfortable on the app. To do this, it is important to find a way to ease “the first move” on the app to be less awkward and more of a fun icebreaker. 

I selected the segment of “unpopular,” which initially sounds quite rude, however, as someone who has fallen under this segment my whole life, I see it less offensive and more as factual. Identifying the typical “unpopular” person relied on heavy stereotyping, which I hate to do in the real world. For the sake of this assignment, I will keep interviewee’s names anonymous for this reason.

11A – Idea Napkin No. 1

I am a college student studying business and economics. I love to write music and organize things. I’m a good leader and am very creative. I aspire to be a creator, whether in entertainment content, contracts as a lawyer, or an entrepreneur. 

I see UNIMEET as a way for college students to connect with people, customizing what they are looking for. UNIMEET can be professional, or social. The app can serve as a university-style LinkedIn, helping students get connections or get involved in clubs or opportunities around campus. It also can help freshman, transfer students, or people seeking new friendships to meet people outside their typical circle. 

My customers are likely more female than male. They are on the lonelier side and have the common goal of making a connection with someone (pun intended). This app matters to them because it can make them find friends and feel less alone in a large college campus. You can’t put a price tag on friendship. 

What sets me apart from others is my experience with social media and dating apps. I’ve worked as a social media manger, so I understand the human patterns that develop from instant gratification and the desire that stems from dating apps to be seen as initially as a game or pastime. I met my boyfriend from a dating app that I swore I would only use to swipe on when bored, so I truly have faith in applications for connection. 

The elements that make up who I am and what I can do, as well as what this app is, what it can do and who it can do it for, together form what I believe is a potentially successful business concept. My background and personal experience as a dating app user and college student makes me aware of what the customer would want and have the desire to learn more and continue developing to make this app a success for those seeking a friend. 

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

9A – Testing the Hypothesis, Part 2

Though most freshman and transfer students tend to have a common goal of making friends, not all use the same methods to do so, which became apparent in my recent interviews. Of the three that I interviewed that are a part of greek life, all three seemed uninterested in my app idea. Their need for friendship is is satisfied in a different way because they seek more traditional ways of meeting people. It appears that friendships are preferred to be made by some people, particularly those in big clubs or greek life, in real life because it is what they are used to and feel comfortable with. What seemed most off-putting to them was meeting strangers as friends, however the idea of dating apps did not have the same reaction. Knowing this helps me, as it means that, similarly to when dating apps where introduced, norms for social interaction can change, especially if the app is developed with sensitivity to this issue. 

Who is in: Freshman and Transfer Students not in Greek Life or big organizations	Who is not: Freshman and Transfer Students in Greek Life or big organizations
What the Need Is: To make friends (through an app)	What the Need Is Not: To step outside of their comfort zone and meet "strangers"
Why the Need Exists: Current methods of making friends are insufficient	Alternative explanations: The desire to make friends, while strong, involves standards and requires genuine connection and interaction

8A – Solving The Problem

Opportunity- Students in college are struggling to develop friendships early in their academic year because there is not a third party bridge that facilitates meeting platonic friends. Based off of my experience, interviews, and knowledge, this opportunity mainly exists among incoming freshman and transfer students.

Solution: Application, similar to a dating app, that focuses on linking interests, hobbies, majors, clubs, etc. 

Product- To fix this problem, a friendship app similar to that of a dating app, can help incoming freshman and transfer students feel more comfortable going into a new environment. Meeting new friends before even setting foot on campus can make a scary large campus, smaller. This can also help with returning students that are not meeting friends in class or clubs. Other students may be a part of the target audience, however, just like those that recently end a relationship, students leaving their home to go to a new school will be the most eager for instant gratification. 

7A- Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Students in college are struggling to develop friendships early in their academic year because there is not a third party bridge that facilitates meeting platonic friends. 

Of the five interviews I conducted, 4/5 subjects expressed that they had difficulty making friends with college at the start. All five of them mentioned that there have been times in the span of their college career that they have been lonely, wishing they had a new friend. One person in particular highlighted that they hoped that friend was someone not in their current immediate circle or social life. All the five subjects also said that their solution was to join a new club. One subject noted that for immediate social interaction, they turned to the existing dating apps Tinder and Bumble. Three subjects expressed that they like to make friendships with similar and different interests, while two subjects preferred friends with similar interests. Three also expressed that they often meet people with their same interests, while two said not often. In response to where people meet peers with the same major, four mentioned in class, three mentioned in clubs, and one mentioned in the dorms. When asked if they feel satisfied with their current way of meeting people with the same interests/major, two responded "I guess" and three responded that they are not. All subjects had similar means of meeting friends: class, clubs, friends from high school, and "luck." 

From these interviews, I learned that this opportunity exists. However, it is crucial to present the product in a very sensitive way. The tone of interviewees was uneasy, as lack of human connection tends to be associated with being lame or uncool. I did learn that these people tend to turn to clubs and dating apps to fill this void. I learned from these interviews that subjects were looking for friends not only with the same major, but also those who have similar interests. 

6A- Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

https://www.epi.org/blog/over-5-million-workers-will-have-higher-pay-on-january-1-thanks-to-state-minimum-wage-increases/

Many factors have led to an increase in minimum wage among 19 states. When the minimum wage increases, there are many economic implications, such as a decrease in labor demand. This, in turn, increases unemployment. Homelessness has the potential to increase during this time, leading to an opportunity for social entrepreneurship. This issue has various prospective opportunities, but the largest one I see is in the real-estate market. This opportunity involves employing homeless people to house-flip, allowing them to live in the homes as they are flipped and as they earn money. Depending on execution, this opportunity is likely moderately easy to exploit. I was able to identify this opportunity as a consequence and combination of my economics background and my work with the non-profit Food Recovery Network, that benefits the homeless.

https://nypost.com/2018/06/04/baby-boomers-are-refusing-to-leave-the-workforce/ 

Since interest rates have been quite low for a while, and individuals fear not being able to sustain themselves if another recession hits, the baby boomers are not leaving the workforce. As this is the case, those seeking to replace baby boomers can find opportunity in entrepreneurship. Rather than working at an already established company, millennials will have the chance to build a business and make their own workforce. The customers of this opportunity will be dependent on what is made. This opportunity is relatively hard, as it requires creating an entire business at a young age with little-to-no experience working for an employer at an already successful company. I think that this opportunity was clear to me because I enjoy entrepreneurship and likely will make my own company one day. 

https://riskandinsurance.com/wc-regulatory-trends-changing-the-industry/

As artificial intelligence is introduced into the workplace, productivity surges and human labor demand decreases. AI’s introduction into businesses has been making the execution of manual jobs more efficient. This creates an opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to develop something that requires manual labor, without the fear of workers comp. This can extend to car parts, kitchenware, etc. This opportunity is relatively easy but has costs associated. As someone who has been curious as to the implications of AI, this opportunity was not difficult for me to find. 

https://www.foodprocessing.com/articles/2018/food-safety-regulatory-issues-for-2018/ 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/austin-jack-peter-decoster-executives-salmonella-case-must-report-to-prison/

In the food industry, management is being held responsible for food borne illness outbreaks, despite a lack of evidence linking intention or knowledge of harm. This regulatory trend, seen in the case of the DeCosters, is one that leads way for opportunity. Development of a device that can detect food borne illnesses has the potential to save lives and futures. The customers of this would be food companies that have perishable foods or foods that can be infected with contaminants. This opportunity requires a heavy chemical and technological background, so it is not relatively easy. I was able to identify this opportunity because the recent romaine lettuce recall made me consider what can be done to prevent issues of this sort. 

5A- Identifying Local Opportunities

“Walking? You’re risking your life in Florida, the deadliest state for pedestrians”

Link

The amount of pedestrians being killed in Florida is higher than all other states. The death rates are disproportionately high for the three main groups: the elderly, minorities, and people walking in poor communities. This problem is one that has the potential to be rectified in many different ways, including increased driver’s ed, restructured crosswalks, etc. 

“Report: UF students accused of cheating” 

Link

A UF Pharmacy professor called for disciplinary action after accusing 57 students of cheating. These students, who make up around 20% of the class, allegedly used an online document to cheat. The professor has the main problem, in this case. Her need for proper proctoring has not yet been met, apparently.

"Florida governor warns Airbnb to reverse its West Bank policy or face state sanctions"

Link

Following Airbnb's decision to not allow certain property to be listed by Jewish homeowners, Governor Ron DeSantis warned that Airbnb is facing sanctions, as Florida is a pro-Israel state. He claimed state laws prohibit business being done with an anti-Israel company. While the legality of this is not sound, this paves the way for opportunities by Airbnb's competitors. 

"Man says emotional support alligator helps his depression"

Link

Joie Henney is a man who convinced his doctor that he does not need anti-depressants if he has his emotional support alligator. This man's alligator is just like a dog, he claims, and was rescued at a young age. People with depression and animals needing shelter have the opportunity to help each other. Wildlife rescues might want to consider providing unconventional emotional support animals. 

"Brink: St. Petersburg’s controversial 50-story condo tower? ‘That’s what downtowns are for.’"

Link

A proposed new condo tower has been striking up controversy, but it appears to still be gaining enough support that it might actually be built. If built, the tax base and city tax revenues will increase. Individuals seeking a higher-end investment opportunity can look into real estate in the area or into buying one of the condos. 

4A- Forming An Opportunity Belief

It is my belief that there is an unmet need in regards to making friends with common interests in the college setting. The current way most college students make friends is through dorms, class, greek life, and clubs. However, many students struggle to make initiating moves to converse during the start of college term. Also, when starting college, most students are forced to take Gen Eds, which include a mix of different majors. This makes it so that people with similar interests, majors, and hobbies have a harder time connecting until they are upperclassmen. There currently lacks an application that helps facilitate this and serves as the bridge to connecting people who have common interests, in a noncommittal way. As a college student, I am 75% sure this opportunity exists. 

#1: 

Q: Upon coming to college, did you find it difficult to make friends at the start?

A: yes

Q: Have you ever felt lonely in college, feeling that you wish you had a new friend?

A: yes

Q: If yes to #2, what, if anything, did you do to solve this?

A: Nothing really tried to be friendly to people but it’s awkward talking to people in lecture halls

Q: Do you prefer to make friends with similar interests, or those with different interests?

A: Both! I think there should be some degree of similarity but I also like to have friends who would introduce me to new things 

Q:  How often do you feel that you meet people with your same interests/major?

A: I think generally I have a lot of political science and law friends just because those are the groups I interact with the most 

Q: Where do you mainly meet those with your same interests/major? Are you satisfied with your current way of meeting people with your same interests/major?

A: Probably just from clubs but I feel like I don’t meet a very diverse Group of people that way

Q: How do you typically meet friends in college?

A: In class or in similar activities 

Q: What apps do you mainly use?

A: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, & Pinterest

#2: 

Q: Upon coming to college, did you find it difficult to make friends at the start?

A: yeah, it was a nightmare

Q: Have you ever felt lonely in college, feeling that you wish you had a new friend?

A: not quite

Q: Do you prefer to make friends with similar interests, or those with different interests?

A: Different interests mean more things to talk about!

Q:  How often do you feel that you meet people with your same interests/major?

A: Not that often, but then again again my interests are messed up

Q: Where do you mainly meet those with your same interests/major? Are you satisfied with your current way of meeting people with your same interests/major?

A: Not really

Q: How do you typically meet friends in college?

A: Clubs and classes

Q: What apps do you mainly use?

A: Instagram and Snapchat

#3: 

Q: Upon coming to college, did you find it difficult to make friends at the start?

A: Not really, I joined an organization right away, and it was pretty tight-knit

Q: Have you ever felt lonely in college, feeling that you wish you had a new friend?

A: Of course, everyone has

Q: If yes to #2, what, if anything, did you do to solve this?

A: Nothing really. I was just kind of down on myself. Got some sleep, spent some time alone, felt better.

Q: Do you prefer to make friends with similar interests, or those with different interests?

A: No preference!

Q:  How often do you feel that you meet people with your same interests/major?

A: Meet people? All the time because we share classes.

Q: Where do you mainly meet those with your same interests/major? Are you satisfied with your current way of meeting people with your same interests/major?

A: Student orgs and classes; no

Q: How do you typically meet friends in college?

A: Student orgs or mutual friends

Q: What apps do you mainly use?

A: Twitter, Facebook, & Snapchat

#4:

1. Upon coming to college, did you find it difficult to make friends at the start?

Yes

2. Have you ever felt lonely in college, feeling that you wish you had a new friend?

Yes

3. If yes to #2, what, if anything, did you do to solve this?

Get more involved with clubs

4. Do you prefer to make friends with similar interests, or those with different interests?

Some of both 

5. How often do you feel that you meet people with your same interests/major?

Pretty often 

5. Where do you mainly meet those with your same interests/major? Are you satisfied with your current way of meeting people with your same interests/major?

In class

6. How do you typically meet friends in college?

Clubs

7. What apps do you mainly use?

Instagram, Facebook & Snapchat

#5:

1. Upon coming to college, did you find it difficult to make friends at the start?

Yes

2. Have you ever felt lonely in college, feeling that you wish you had a new friend?

Yes

3. If yes to #2, what, if anything, did you do to solve this?

Made friends in classes but always felt still felt lonely.

4. Do you prefer to make friends with similar interests, or those with different interests?

Similar

5. How often do you feel that you meet people with your same interests/major?

Not often

5. Where do you mainly meet those with your same interests/major? Are you satisfied with your current way of meeting people with your same interests/major?

Class and work

6. How do you typically meet friends in college?

Class

7. What apps do you mainly use?

Instagram & Snapchat

I felt that to get a better understanding, it was important to interview as many people as I could. Overall, I feel that there remains an unmet need for alternative forms of socialization. Loneliness is a severe issue college students face. According to CBC news, more than 66% of university students surveyed reported feeling “very lonely” in the past year (Beaudette 2016). This was reflected in my interviews. I do, however, know now that friendships aren’t always sought after based on major, so it’s important to note that mutual interest should be considered, but not highlighted. There certainly is a trade-off between adapting and staying firm, but adaptation to market is crucial to appealing to the audience. 

2A- Bug List

• Glasses falling off your face
• Nose pads are not designed to be adhesive, nor shaped for the individual wearing them
• Starbucks coffee cups do not retain heat for long enough
• Cheap product is used 
• Temperature of a drink being too hot or cold
• Containers do not show temperature
• Nail salons are unable to get the proper shape and size
• They are forced to guess and ask clients, who often make assumptions and end up unhappy
• Fabric losing its color after a first wash
• Dye lacks potency and preservation 
• Brita containers running out of filtered water too quickly
• Too small
• Doors not being able to lock from the outside, unless they have a specific knob 
• Doors are typically designed to lock solely from the inside, but on occasion, there is a need for this, too
• Signs in Walmart are hard to identify
• This is done like this to force you to walk around the store and buy more things 
• Uber drivers play bad music 
• No feature on Uber exists to select ride preferences, such as music selection 
• iPhone is designed for right-handed 
• There are less left-handed people in the world, so things are made for the majority
• Movie theaters are too loud
• They make the audio loud enough for all to hear, while not considering those with sensitive hearing
• Rings slip off or are difficult to get off those with arthritis
• They are built to fit regular fingers, not for arthritis fingers
• Advising lines take forever
• There is no express lane for those with a single question
• Chargers break easily
• They aren’t made strong enough
• Slow traffic lights when there is no one waiting on the other end
• Traffic lights mainly work on a timer and not sensors
• When soda is flat
• Containers are not made to retain the bubbles
• Volume of waiting music on phones
• No leveling of audio
• Women’s bathrooms with no purse hook
• They aren't put in to save money or because it isn't considered important
• When food doesn’t microwave equally
• Heating works in a way that doesn't defrost equally.
• Wet socks
• Socks soak up water when exposed to it

This was slightly challenging to think up on the spot, however, once I started to pay more attention to my environment, I got into a groove and it was not as difficult. 

3A- Your Entrepreneurship Story

The first time I was exposed to entrepreneurship was sixth grade. My Earth Science teacher posed all her students with an interesting task: come up with an invention that will help improve lives. This task was one I felt unequipped to complete, however I did my best work and ended up creating what I called The Super Binder. Since many of my peers were forgetful, I decided to make a binder that contained all the school supplies a student would need for a day as a twelve year old, such as scissors, pens, and tape. I still remember presenting this idea in class, my palms sweating and heart racing. Though I had a big fear of speaking publicly, I was so excited to share my creation. My peers came up with highly creative inventions. In fact, I distinctly remember a friend of mine inventing peripheral shields for those who often get carsick. From this project on, I realized the amount of potential there is to innovate using creativity. I decided to enroll in this class because my desire to create has never died. I hope to learn what I should be considering when developing an app and how to think like an entrepreneur.

ENT test

Hoping this works! It seems like it is.