9A- Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

Who - Individuals who fall out of my prototypical customer are people who do not go to the gym and also individuals who have gyms in their communities. I would also like to add individuals who go to the gym either really early or really late, they tend to experience quite a drop in busyness and don’t come across this problem

Interviewee 1 - This person is someone who does not work at all and finds it hard to believe that people have to wait for machines to open up to get a work out in. Therefore they do not find a need for this app at all

Interviewee 2 - This person is fortunate enough to have a gym in their community and therefore that gym is not busy as one compared to a local public gym. The person understands that sometimes this problem can occur they don’t find it necessary to develop an app for it.

Interviewee 3 - This person goes to a public gym but does so very early in the morning before they go to work, this allows them to get a good workout in with ease. At this time not many people are up and this person does not experience this problem too often, it only usually occurs once his workout is finishing up since around this time more and more people are starting to come in.

Interviewee 4 - Thus person like interviewee 3 goes to a public gym but they go very late at night, they go after 10 pm and find this problem to occur earlier in their workout for a bit as their workout progresses the gym becomes less occupied

Interviewees 5 - This person goes to the gym but only does cardio, this means that that the surplus of treadmills never allows them to encounter thus problem

What - This idea differs from other products because at the time of this post there is really nothing like this, it would be a completely new “market” if you will. But some people just do not have a need for it, rather it is a select few that would want it

Why - There is a difference in the insiders versus the outsiders because the insiders go to busy gyms during their peak times, the outsiders either completely avoid the gym or do not go during their peak times.

Inside the boundary	Outside the boundary
Who is In - People who go to the gym in their peak times	Who is Not - Anyone who goes to the gym outside of peak times
What the Need Is - A time saving app	What the Need Is Not - To save time at the gym
Why the Need Exists -Too much people and not enough machines	Alternative Explanations - Maybe if they started going to the gym they would require it and even then they could find a small gym or avoid peak periods

7A -Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

Gym Time App

Opportunity: I find myself going to the gym and having to wait consistently for a machine to open up and do my workout. I go at various times during the day and I seem to encounter this problem nonetheless.

• Who: People who go the gym and don't want to expedite their time there
• What: The machines seem to always seem to be occupied
• Why: Wrong timing and too many people at the same time

Testing the Who: I believe that I am not the only one experiencing this problem, as when I am on a machine I frequently have people come up to me asking me how many more sets I have left so they can use it next. 

Testing the What: This problem seems to occur because there is not enough machines for the amount of people that want to go to the gym. 

Testing the Why: I do believe that this problem can be understood by most people whether you go to the gym or not waiting around for something is not something anyone wants to do, even less when you want to work and then head home

Interview 1: I interviewed one of the front desk employees from the gym I go to. She said that she used to work at a smaller no name gym and they didn't experience that problem. She believes that this problem occurs because its too many people and not enough equipment.

Interview 2: I interviewed a friend who goes to the gym for cardio purposes, he said that he doesn't really experience this problem when he goes in because there are like 50 treadmills and cardio equipment. He also added that not a lot of people like going to the gym for cardio.

Interview 3 and 4: I interview a couple who work out together. They shared their understanding and felt like the app was a good idea but it should be something a little different. They have a black card which means they are premium members at the gym so they would like it to be exclusive to premium gym members so they can get in and out quicker. They did also add that it depends on what they are working out and what time of day.

Interview 5: Lastly I interview a friend who doesn't go to the gym too often and when he does go it's usually later in the night. He informed me that around 11 pm there is hardly anyone at the gym and the equipment is basically all his for the taking. So he didn't really seem to interested and understand why he would have to reserve the machine if its wide open for use.

Given your interviews, what do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before?
I knew that the problem occurred during certain times of the day but I guess I never really thought about how the type of workouts you are doing also play a part in how long you wait. Not all machines are being used at all time as some are more popular than other. I got some positive feedback but I really like the idea that the couple gave me, making it an incentive for the premium members that way they are even more satisfied.

8A – Solving The Problem

There are various solutions to this gym epidemic but the solution I have come across to be the best is an app that allows you to reserve certain machines at certain time. This will be done through some sort of logistics and algorithm that allows members of a gym to reserve that machine with a short window to get to the machine in order to use it. This will facilitate and expedite the time someone spends at the gym and having people see what machines are available will keep the gym busy throughout the entire day rather than just a certain time frame in the late afternoon/ evening. Time is money and people value their time and don't want to wait half an hour for a machine to open up. The app would be sold to a gym and then licensed like they do for keeping track of employee hours worked and systems like retail stores use for their cash registers.

6A – Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Climate Change Is Causing More Natural Disasters

• I found this trend after searching "current economic trends" and reading a few articles. I came across this website: https://www.thebalance.com/top-usa-future-economic-trends-3305666
• I believe there is more than an opportunity with this trend, if climate change continues to rise at this rate this will only increase the costs incurred by governments and businesses. So in taking a utilitarian approach to this ever growing trend businesses could decrease their incurred cost and potentially make a profit out of it. Having more start ups like 4Ocean or branches of companies dedicated to fight climate change.  
• In my opinion the prototypical customer is everyone, I don't think there is a set market base to be looking for. 
• I know for a fact that this is not an easy opportunity and will take a lot of efforts to exploit 
• I don't think this opportunity is a secret and I am not the only one can see it

Around 40 Countries Will See Their Work Forces Shrink

• I found this article after heavy research and reading more articles: https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/issues/economy/global-economy-watch/predictions-2019.html
• Globally there will be a decrease in the work force creating a negative opportunity for companies and the economy. Since people are living older they will have to be given pensions for longer periods of time and the productivity of workers will have to increase in order to keep output flat.
• In my eyes the prototypical customer is young inexperienced individual to step up to the plate.
• I think this opportunity could go either way
• I am also not the only person to see this, talks of decreasing work force number have been around for quite some time now

10 Key Issues That Will Shape the Business Environment in 2019

• I found this article at : https://www.pwc.pl/en/articles/2019/10-changes-in-the-law-that-will-affect-business-in-2019.html
• As the internet and its users expand and become more connected, I think there is an opportunity for cyber security and I think this is the prime year. 
• The prototypical customer is anyone who has access to internet connection
• I am not the only one to see this but I know a lot of people aren't thinking about how their data is secured as long as it is
• Cyber security will be a hard and continuous process

Tyson Recalls Almost 12 Million Pound of Frozen Chicken Strips

• This article was found at: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-recalls/tyson-recalls-frozen-chicken-strips/
• I believe that 12 million pounds is a huge number for an company, let alone a company who provides food for customers. Other chicken companies can exploit this and take advantage of it
• The prototypical customer is people who eat tyson chicken 
• I am again not the only one to see this as this is huge news and can't be kept a secret
• This will be easy to exploit for other companies

5A- Identifying Local Opportunities

83 dogs rescued from a flooded shelter arrive in Sebastian

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2019/09/12/83-dogs-rescued-flooded-bahamas-shelter-arrive-united-states/2285775001/
• After hurricane Dorian destroyed parts of the Bahamas it was time to rescue as many animals as possible. Many of the dogs perished but they this shelter was able to rescue 83 of them and bring them to Florida
• The problem is that they need more resources in order to be able to rescue more animals and bring them back to save their lives. 
• The shelter seems to be having this problem

Hurricane Dorian damaged some boat ramps, docks, and piers across the Treasure Coast

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/st-lucie-county/2019/09/12/storm-missed-florida-but-damage-done-boat-ramps-stuart-fort-pierce/2298418001/
• Even though hurricane Dorian did not make landfall in Florida it still had an effect on the boat ramps in our area. Some ramps are shut down until further notice, which could mean months until they are fixed.
• The problem is people now have to go to another dock, pier, or ramp in order to take their boat out
• The ones affected are boat owners who now have to find another way to get their boats in the water

Greasy pizza boxes, plastic bags hurting Treasure Coast recycling efforts, officials say

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/shaping-our-future/2019/09/11/putting-wrong-materials-recycling-carts-can-costly/1724525001/
• Treasure Coast is experiencing some problems with people trying to recycle the wrong things and are placing un-recyclable things into the bins. This creates a problem for the waste management companies
• The problem is that instead of helping the environment we are hurting it even more. 
• Everyone will eventually be affected by not recycling correctly like we should be doing

After fentanyl-related deaths, Fellsmere PD chief leads discussion on opioid epidemic

• https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local/indian-river-county/2019/09/11/after-indian-river-county-had-13-fentanyl-related-deaths-2018-fellsmere-pd-chief-leads-discussion-op/2277314001/
• There is an opioid epidemic and police are trying to get to the source of the problem and stop having people they know die from it 
• The problem is that people are dying
• Anyone could potentially be affected as it is very widespread

Dirty Dining: Port St. Lucie, Sebastian restaurants temporarily closed

• https://www.wptv.com/news/region-st-lucie-county/port-st-lucie/dirty-dining-port-st-lucie-sebastian-restaurants-temporarily-closed
• In the last month 2 restaurants have been temporarily closed down because of unsanitary conditions found inside of the kitchens
• The problem is that restaurants are not keeping their spaces clean for the customers 
• The ones affected are the customers who are going to these restaurants to get a meal 

4A - Forming an Opportunity Belief

1. I love going to the gym and it’s a part of my daily routine but if I get there at the wrong time I can spend so much time just waiting for a machine or equipment to be available. If there were a way to reserve or see if a certain machine is available I believe that would have much benefit.
2. The unmet need is an app that allows you to see availability of equipment at the gym. This is a need that everyone who goes to the gym during the day and finds themselves spending meaningless time waiting for their machine to workout. What people are doing now for this unmet need is that they are just waiting around for the equipment or just skip it and go to something else. This unmet need is not something new but rather it has been around since for a long time, this problem seems to become larger around the new year because people have it as their New Years resolution. I believe that there is an 85 percent sure that there is a need for some kinda of app like this.
3. The prototypical would be a person who goes to the gym. I always see people waiting around for a machine to open up and I experience it myself on a quite frequent basis.
4. After speaking to 3 individual who workout different and at different time I came to the conclusion that this problem exists more than I thought. I interviewed a mid 20s male who works out early in the morning, a mid 20s female who works out mid evening and lastly I interviewed a early 30s woman who works out late at night. They all without hesitation agreed that waiting around for a machine to open up was something they experienced at least one or twice a week. The mid 20s male spoke on this topic with a lot of frustration since he works at 8 in the morning so he gets to the gym at 6 in the morning and his workout is completely based on the availability of the equipment at the time. Sometimes he is able to get a good workout in but there’s also days when he can’t because he has to go to work and can’t wait around. The mid 20s female is the one of the 3 that experiences it the most. She said that every single day she’s waiting on at least 1 machine. This turns what should be her one hour workout into almost two hours. Both of these interviewees agree that an app that allows you to check the availability of the equipment and possibly even reserve the machine for a workout would be tremendously beneficial for everyone at the gym. The last person I interviewed was the early 30s, she said that this problem doesn’t really exist when she works out really late at night but on occasion she will experience it. She agreed that there needs to be a system or app that allows you to see availability or equipment but she wasn’t fully convinced that everyone will use it and make it worthwhile.
5. Talking to the different interviewees its clear that they experience this problem as well. It only makes me question how many more people experience it as well. This problem isn’t just at this gym but I believe it is a problem across all gyms.
6. Overall talking to different kinds of people who workout throughout the day I came to the conclusion that some type of app can be developed to allow individuals to check availability of equipment. The unmet customer needs is 100 percent there it’s now a question of who’s willing to do something about it to meet it.

3A - Entrepreneurship Story

My first exposure to the concept of entrepreneurship was when I was in the 6th grade. I went to the Sam's Club with my parents and I remember seeing a big box of chocolate that was on sale for about 30 dollars. I quickly examined the box and read that inside the box came 52 full size chocolate bars. I thought to myself that at any regular store each chocolate would sell for a dollar each or possibly even more, then and only then I knew I could make a profit if I could sell the chocolate. The next day I went to school with the box of chocolate and started asking people if they wanted to buy a chocolate bar for a dollar, and as expected they did. Before the end of the day I had sold the entire box of chocolate and I just stared at the 52 dollars with disbelief that there was this much demand for chocolate. Fast forward to about a month later I was the 'go to guy' for people who wanted to buy snacks in school. I had it all: chocolate, chips, gum, fruit snacks, etc. Unfortunately I did not grow my "company" any bigger than that because a kid went to the school administration and told them I was selling things to other kids. I was called in and told it was illegal to sell anything inside of school, my snacks were confiscated but luckily I was given a warning. I stopped selling snacks for about a month but the entrepreneur in me couldn't stay away, I came back on a smaller scale until I realized it wasn't worth my time nor the risk. 

I enrolled in ENT3003 because I wanted more exposure to how the world of business operates and how entrepreneurs think and make decisions. I know that luck has a part in being a successful entrepreneur but I believe if you are prepared and ready to take an opportunity and risk you can benefit and make the most of it.