7A- Testing the hypothesis

Opportunity: Making different sized/customizable face masks

The Who/Why/What: Making different sized/customizable face masks for people of all ages who prefer to have a mask that is unique and also helps them stay safe from the corona virus (germs in the air).

·       The who: People of all ages who prefer to have a mask that is unique

·       The what: Face masks to protect mouth and nose

·       The why: Helps them stay safe from the corona virus, while feeling more comfortable

Hypothesis:

·       Testing the who: I have included people of all ages, due to the pandemic that can affect everyone.

·       Testing the what: The materials and what is best to stop the germs from the air to getting to your mouth/nose through the mask (i.e cloth or with an air filter)

·       Testing the why: Most people are abiding by the boundaries set in place to avoid getting the virus. The masks reduce the risk by a large quantity which is why it is sold and used. This is an opportunity for all the people who have respiratory problems, and/or just want to be extra careful. This has also become a requirement in many public places.

Interviews:

1. I interviewed a 55-year-old man with no respiratory problems, and he said he would buy a customizable mask depending on the price. He also added that cloth is not the best option because of the germs being able to get through.

2. I interviewed a mother or two children (aged 5 and 8), and she said she would definitely invest in these customizable masks for her kids. She said its hard for them to wear masks sometimes and thinks this would help. She also added that it would be smart to have a small air filter instead of cloth masks, but maybe something that was washable as well.

3. I interviewed a peer, 18 years old, and she said that it would depend on the cost and the materials. If it was comfortable and easy to use, she would buy it and wear it more often due to it being customizable.

4. I interviewed a child, 6 years old, she said she would really like if her mask was pink and had stars on it. She also told me that her mask at home was white and boring and she didn’t really lie wearing it because she can’t breathe as much.

5. I interviewed my parents and their input was also valuable, they also steered me away from cloth like materials because they are not the safest and that and air filter would be best. They said that depending on the material bought, the price would need to be adjusted so that I need to think about a good target price for it to attainable for others.

Summary: After my interviews, it is clear that I would have to do more research on a better-quality material than cloth for these masks. I would also have to see how many designs I can pick from to have a price that is fair for customers. This has changed my outlook on making the masks. It is still an attainable opportunity, but I have to be aware of the other variables that are seen when making them.

6A- Identifying opportunities in trends

Economic trends

1. Investing in stock of essential companies: I found this information when watching the news, as it showed that some stock trends were positive and going up in value. This information provides an opportunity because of the pandemic that is going on right now. Now most stocks depreciated in value, and as society begins to go back to the norm, the stock value and investment from them will rise. Anyone who has money that they are willing to invest and can aggressively invest it would be able to benefit. The opportunity is relatively easy, depending on whether the person wants to take the risk.

I formed this belief because my father had invested in stock for his company and had shown me how the value has appreciated and how this has earned him money on it. Many people are not willing to invest but for people who are, this is a great way to have your money working, instead of sitting in your bank account.

2. Hand sanitizer for restaurants and public places: This idea is starting due to the pandemic and should be implemented in bathrooms in addition to just soap. This idea came from seeing how hand sanitizer helps kill germs on your hands easily. This opportunity exists because now that this pandemic is happening, people are trying to be extra safe with washing their hands and sanitizing them. Anyone who is eating at a restaurant or is in a public restroom would be a consumer of this. I think this is a relatively easy opportunity for restaurants and other places, to implement the hand sanitizer. They can market this and show that they are a clean and safe environment, while would attract consumers.

This idea came from usually panicking now whenever I leave the house without hand sanitizer. Maybe if hand sanitizer is out of stock, rubbing alcohol would do, but this would help businesses by showing customers that they are safe. Many places do not have some available and it is quite bothersome, due to the lack of a clean environment in places, during times like these.

Regulatory changes

3. Making different sized/customizable masks: This idea is starting to be used by many due to the pandemic, masks are required and are hard to find, as they are out of stock in many places. I think this is an opportunity because, for example, for some kids, they might not have the correct size masks and the children might not want to wear a boring mask. Anyone who must leave their homes are prototypical customers, but this could be catered to children so that they can have fun while having to wear a mask as well. The opportunity is relatively easy to exploit but the materials would need to be collected.

I formed this belief due to the pandemic and the masks that are required almost everywhere now. This is something that can be taken advantage of and help the community as well. Many children are visually easy to please and might only wear a mas if it is of their favorite character, and this way they will WANT to put it on and be safe.

4. Selling air filtration systems to companies: This idea has emerged due to the pandemic and its effect on the workplace. This opportunity exists because many companies were forced to have their employees work from home due to the pandemic. These air filtration systems can help companies get back to having a percentage of people back at the workplace safely. This could be marketed to businesses that have a strong need for people to be in the workplace. This would be more difficult to exploit, because there would need to be a certain number of filtration systems in the business (depending on its size) for this to actually be safe enough.

I formed this idea due to the pandemic and the need of many businesses to have people working at the business site. There are many businesses that need manual labor and can not have it due to the unsafe environment. This is something that would cost the business money, but in turn would get a business running again, and get a return on that investment. 

Assignment 5 (Local Opportunities)

1.    Robbery suspect leads police on chase in Boynton Beach

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/palm-beach/boynton-beach/fl-ne-boynton-beach-armed-robbery-suspect-20200525-vkj2dw3sqreytbipf3jpumaycy-story.html

Edgardo Zamora Torres crashed his car after a robbery. He was charged with armed robber and fleeing, saying he has been unemployed and needs to feed his family.

The problem is unemployment and a need for money to help his family, and Torres and many other people who are unemployed are dealing with this problem.

2.       Cities, county must team up to solve our garbage problem

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-op-com-landfill-garbage-20190325-story.html

There are concerns regarding the goals of recycling and the increasing landfill of garbage. There was a contractual relationship between 26 municipalities to dispose of garbage, but this has expired. The solution as of now is to burn garbage for electricity.

The problem is the overproduction of garbage and not having a plan on what to do with it. All the municipals and its residents are suffering from this problem, as well as the earth and nature.

3.       Office depot cutting 13100 jobs in three year plan 

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-bz-office-depot-cutting-13100-jobs-in-three-year-plan-20200515-cggb6rusk5ckrpmzyops6y3jzy-story.html

Office Depot is looking to focus on is business customers and intends to cut 13,100 jobs while shutting down a number of stores. By the end of 2023 these jobs will no longer be available due to facility closures.

The problem is that Office Depot only wants to focus on its business customers. All of the workers will no longer have a job when these stores shut down, and society will have one less store to buy office supplies from.

4.    Coronavirus Florida: Palm Beach County bars, clubs and entertainment venues wait for their turn to reopen 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200525/coronavirus-florida-palm-beach-county-bars-clubs-and-entertainment-venues-wait-for-their-turn-to-reopen

Due to the pandemic, and the enforcements set by the government, many entertainment businesses do not know when they will be able to open again. They are still having to pay rent and other expenses, while they do not know when they will be able to open. Many believe that they will be the last venues to open due to the pandemic.

The problem is the pandemic and the enforcements put in for safety. Many entertainment businesses such as clubs and bars are suffering greatly from this virus.

5.    Graduations go virtual: Send us your senior photos, we’ll run them https://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/20200522/graduations-go-virtual-send-us-your-senior-photos-wersquoll-run-them

The coronavirus has postponed and even cancelled graduations for high schools and most students. The palm beach post was inviting students to send their pictures of celebrations of graduation to be featured on the website.

The problem is the cancellation of graduations, and all students are suffering from not being able to have a graduation ceremony.

Beliefs and opportunities- Assignment 4

1)  Your beginning point.  I believe that orientation can be more personalized and suitable to incoming freshman’s needs.  

2)  Describe your belief. I feel that orientation could be improved in many aspects. Many incoming freshmen do not get a personalized experience of their university that connects to their major. This need has always existed but has become more used in today's society as students can apply to many universities that they do not live by or have seen. There is already orientation for students, but it is not personalized, so for example students with a business degree do not necessarily have a tour of the business department of the school. I am 80% sure that this opportunity exists and can be implemented.

3) The prototypical customer: consists of any incoming freshman, high school or graduate students that are interested in going to any universities.

4) Iteration and reflection: I interviewed a graduate student, and two incoming freshmen about how they viewed orientation and if they were satisfied with it as it is. The two incoming freshmen had a similar response as they both were satisfied but did believe that they could have made it more detailed to their specific needs and majors. The graduate student also agreed that the orientation was fulfilling but that personalized items could be attainted on their own, while visiting the department of their major by themselves. I learned that this should be more catered toward the incoming freshman and high school students so that they are guided on a tour that is specialized to their needs. This is because as students get older, they can take on the challenge of going and finding the departments on their own. As an incoming freshman, you’re in a new place where you don’t know where or what to do and it is more of a challenge to explore a big and potentially confusing campus. I didn’t think of the different age groups and how they would each be impacted in a different way by this orientation being more personalized. For my belief, there could be sessions where students who are interested in a more personalized tour, can sign up for it and those who are not do not have to attend.

5) Summarize.

How much of your original opportunity is still there?

The whole original opportunity Is still present. It is a decision up to each school If they believe it is needed to have a more immersive orientation program for each major. This could also be implemented in the school’s favor and be present for the most used majors in the universities or the most successful.

Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?

Yes, I have more insight on how this opportunity can prosper and grow at a real university. There should be different ways to be able to sign up for your specific major and it would be a more personalized way of getting to know the university.

How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback? (In other words, is there a trade-off between adapting and staying firm?)

Entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback because the feedback will help the problem and will give more alternatives on how to adequately use it. The more point of views that are seen and accepted, the more ways to see the same issues, and this in turn will help the entrepreneur see other points of views that could further help their opportunities.

My Entrepreneurship Experience- Assignment 3

In high school I was involved in a Business organization named DECA. This organization helped me create my own ideas, while improving some business qualities that were in progress. I personally created a 30-page proposition for a business, with different innovative ideas and ways to improve employee satisfaction. I really enjoyed this whole process; I was able to learn how important employee satisfaction is for a business to flourish. These ideas would be implemented in the businesses if it was one of the top ideas after the national competition.  This competition also allowed for me to be able to meet other students who had different approaches. There were presentations that had to be given and had the students explain in detail their plan and why it was the best. The picture is of me at the national competition in Atlanta, Georgia a couple of years ago!

I enrolled in ENT 3003 because in business, entrepreneurship is everything. I want to eventually have my own company, and to be able to get to that point, I am going to have to think like an entrepreneur. Thinking outside the box is particularly important, especially to be able to succeed in today society. I hope to learn other ways to come up with ideas while exploring how others think as well.

Bug List- Assignment 2

1.     Bed sheets moving around everywhere when sleeping

·       Due to movement when I am sleeping, the bed sheets move around from under me, getting wrinkled and in the way.

2.     Back of the shoe hitting the back of your ankle

·       The back of the shoe being too high up and rubbing the back of your ankle because of walking.

3.     Shoelaces always falling out of place (not staying in a bow or inside the shoes)

·       Due to the movement of walking or not tying your shoelaces tight enough, shoelaces can come undone or move out of place.

4.     Not having where to stand my backpack when working

·       The floor can sometimes be dirty and is not an adequate place for my new backpack. There is no hooks or extra chairs for my backpack to be put on.

5.     Having nowhere to put my air pods when I don’t have pockets and need both my hands

·       Many pants don’t have a need for pockets, which eliminates storage for any personal items.

6.     Getting multiple notifications at the same time on my phone (emails and text)

·       Many people may need to reach out at the same time, or emails may blow up due to a problem that needs to be addressed.

7.     Not having organized sock drawer in my closet

·       I organize my drawers and then whenever I am in a hurry, I don’t put things back where they need to be in an organized matter.

8.     Having my tea bag fall in the cup completely

·       The tea bag is heavy due to its absorption of water and pulls the light string all into the water with it.

9.     The garage door slamming early in the morning

·       My parents must leave the house early in the morning, and always leave in a hurry, causing the door to slam.

10.  The shower curtain not staying closed in the shower

·       The shower curtain moves around due to the water hitting it and moving it, or because of an air vent moving it around.

11.  Not having a stable place to write when being in a car (notebook or book as surface)

·       Due to the movement of the car, there is no way to write on a surface without it moving with the cars force.

12.  The floor mat moving around on the floor in the bathroom

·       The mat does not have any grasp for the floor and slides everywhere.

13.  Not being able to open up pistachio pieces

·       Some pistachio pieces are very hard to open, and you cannot open them with your hands.

14.  When I am talking to someone and they start having another conversation with someone else

·       This happens because the person may not be totally interested in what your conversation is about and wants to talk to someone else over you.

15.  Forgetting to fill up my water bottle at night

·       I am already in bed and comfortable and did not remember to fill it.

16.  Not charging my headphones or thinking they are completely charged but then they die

·       I assume that my headphones are charged and when I go to use them, they are dead or almost dead.

17.  When someone tries to have a conversation with me when I have my headphones in

·       People do not see my headphones sometimes or think I am not listening to music and assume I can have a conversation and am not busy.

18.  Leaving something at my house when I am already almost at my destination

·       I forget to bring what I thought I would remember, and now it is left home.

19.  When the trash is not taken out on Tuesdays and Fridays

·       My family, or myself forgets to throw out the trash and now it is taking up space.

20.  Stepping on gum accidently

·       Not seeing where your stepping and people throwing their used gum on the ground, causes for gross moments like these.

Reflection: At first, coming up with a few bugs was frustrating due to the lack of not being able to remember all the small things that "bug" me day to day. As I got farther along into the assignment, it became easier to acknowledge little things and I would write them down as soon as I thought of them to not forget. After I started writing things down, the process became much easier.

Testing

This is Sophia, just making sure that everything is working well.