Saturday, May 28, 2016

Looking for Opportunity,

Hello everyone, 

Today I will be writing about some more opportunities that I see potential in. These opportunities will deal with both economic and regulatory trends. 

So for the first opportunity it will be dealing with economic trends. This opportunity deals with digital disruption. The source where I found this opportunity is available at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/3-trends-transforming-the-energy-sector/.  In today's society, technology has definitely risen rapidly. The introduction of smarter grids and interconnected assets is allowing for more innovation and efficiency. Look at a smartphone nowadays. It has the ability to talk, text, browse the internet, GPS, services that utilizes your credit cards (Apple Pay), ebooks, music, and millions of other applications that span to a wide array of possibilities. All these assets are being interconnected to a device the size of your hand. I would say that there are two types of  prototypical customers. One is the developer and the other the consumer. The developers and or distributors will seek higher demand of interconnected assets and better grids that provide better efficiency and innovation. The other side is the consumer who ill be more attracted to technology that will provide better assets and services for their money. But, unfortunately this unification of assets and grids will allow the rise of more cyber attacks. Since technology is more connected, hackers or cyberterrorist will be ale to exploit systems and get more data form these attacks. Also lack of experience or being able to manage/handles such attacks can also be a vulnerability for these technologies. 

Another economic opportunity deals with the transition toward or renewable energy and diversified supplies. It has been apparent in recent times that there has been more of a shift to renewable resources rater than the use of fossils fuels. The source where I found this opportunity is available at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2016/03/3-trends-transforming-the-energy-sector/. From this article I got that in recent times renewable energy has gotten more interest, this would explain "rapidly gaining market share", as the article tells. Most of the developed world and many world leaders are realizing the destructive consequences of solely depending on fossil fuel. Renewable energy such as solar, turbine, water, electric, and many other are slowly replacing the dependency on fossil fuels for energy. Well like I stated in the previous article, I feel like the prototypical customers are both the developer/distributors and the consumers. The developer/distributors will want to create new technologies that involve renewable energy, while the consumers will be mire inclined to use renewable resources as more will be readily available and cheaper due to market interest and investment. This new shift to renewable should will not be easily exploited, but new challenges will arise. Issues dealing with the electric utility business and regulatory policies have to ensure that we have a reliable supply of renewable energy. This shift to renewable energy will not happen overnight, but rather a progressive shift.

The next two opportunities will be about regulatory trends. So this opportunity is a very important one as it will prevent future disasters. So most of us remember the economic depression of 2007. This depression was caused by mainly the poor framework of banks and the over inflation of prices on homes, making homeowner ineligible to pay their rents. Since such high prices we set by the banks, and many banks gave out loans to houses without foresight of a possible economic crash, a domino effect happened and the United States faced a severe economic crash. So I found my opportunity at https://regpulseblog.com/2016/02/15/top-regulatory-trends-for-2016-in-banking/. The reason why I believe there exist an opportunity to improve the banking format, is because in the past we have seen the issues that unregulated banking and and poor structure/risk-prevention can cause. Having more regulations and better measure in the case if a crisis is important. Having independent risk management and auditors. Also the integration of the private banking with the government is crucial. Banks cant just have unregulated power to do as they wish. In my opinion, the prototypical customer for this opportunity will be the banking industry and anyone who relies on the big banks. These banking officials will need to learn to better cooperate with the government and have better risk prevention methods. The people who rely on the banks will also benefit as these new regulations on banks will ensure to the the consumer that such events like the 2007 depression will not occur. The opportunity will be slightly difficult to implement. Big banks spend so much on lobbying and influence in the government, that having regulations done on them will be halted by those basically bought by these entities. Its sad that we live in a society where the 1% try to silence the 99%. Money equals power and influence.

The last opportunity that I will write about today deals with drones. In the past year or so, the introduction of consumer drones has attracted many of people. These drones (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) will some regulations on it by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). I found this opportunity at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2491507,00.asp. The article and my thoughts as an aspiring engineer, have led me to know that drones have so much potential. These unmanned drones will allow people to explore greater height and capture many aspects that once were not viable. Although the FAA has implemented some regulations on these drones, they are for the protection of the general public. Like I won't be able to fly a drone near UF since it a public place that might endanger people. But on the outskirts of Gainesville with its beautiful natural setting I could explore and capture sights that normally would not be possibly due to possible danger from animals or the environment. The prototypical customer for drones is endless. It can be the average consumer who uses the drones for entertainment purposes or the defensive services who use drones for operations. The opportunity will be tricky. As the rise of cyberterrorism, some problems may rise as more drones will be easily manipulated. Aside from that and some regulations/ restrictions, I feel like drones is an amazing opportunity and definitely a milestone in this technological age we live in  



So now for each opportunity I will describe will I saw potential. The first opportunity deals with interconnected assets and better grids. So the reason I saw potential is mainly to my field of interest. I am majoring in Computer Science Engineering so things relating to technology and smarter, more innovative, and more efficient systems will always be something I aspire to make into reality. Maybe some didn’t realize this potential as they are unaware of it implementation currently happening. Many people now have smartphones, which I described as a clear example of an interconnected assets.

For the second opportunity deals with the transition to renewable resources. The reason why I saw an opportunity for this was because I began to realize that science does not lie. Fossil fuels for one are not renewable and are killing this planet through its over exploitation and emissions. In recent times it seems as mostly everyone is in favor or renewable energy as more solar panels, wind turbines, electric cars, hydroelectric dams, and things of that nature are used more.

The third opportunity deals with regulatory change for the banking industry. Well the reason why I saw an opportunity was because as intelligent species, us humans must learn from our mistakes in order to prevent future mistakes. Most people know that a disaster like the one that happened in 2007 cannot happen again for the well being of both this country and its inhabitants. People need to realize the primary reason was the banking industries fault as they had no measures in case of disaster, and still to this day say they were not at fault. The banking industry is privately owned thus; they are less governed by the government. This free will cannot be allowed as event such as the one in 2007 will happen again if measures aren’t appropriately taken.


The final opportunity deals with drones. I saw opportunity in drones because these Unmanned Aircraft Systems allow man to travel to new height, regions, and experience many new things otherwise not possible die to risk or danger. But also drones are not just fro entertainment purposes as the armed services has been using this technology for years now as a means of better war tactics. Drones have so much potential and as an aspiring engineer I see this product having a big impact on society.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Forming An Opportunity Belief


1) Your beginning point


          I do believe that there is an opportunity when it comes to living conditions.


2) Describe your belief


         I believe that there is an unmet need to feel comfortable where you are living. I live in this apartment complex where there exist many problems that make me feel uncomfortable to live, but can’t do anything because of the lengthily 12-month lease contracts. The target audience would be college students here in Gainesville who are from out of town and rent/ room in apartments here in Gainesville. This need has always existed. Since moving away to college brings you out of your hometown and even comfort zone, some thing will arise in new living conditions that will make people feel uncomfortable where they are living now. There are several things that make other feel uncomfortable about heir living conditions. The one that mostly all students do is tell their apartment or leasing company that there exist things that make them feel uncomfortable and hope that the company resolves this problem. Most of the time it is resolved, but some times things still remain. I am 100% sure that an opportunity exists to try to resolve these unmet needs of people. By talking to people I will be able to get information as to what makes them feel uncomfortable and possibly try to solve this issue.

3) Identifying the Prototypical Customer and Interviewing

            https://soundcloud.com/user289503948/alan-interview
            https://soundcloud.com/user289503948/anthony-interview
            https://soundcloud.com/user289503948/james-interview

4)  Reflect

            What I learned from this assignment was that many people do not feel comfortable in their homes. Even though they are not living there for the longest time, they should feel comfortable and safe where they live. What I found to be the most surprising was Alan’s interview where he said that because of the living conditions, he got injured. He even had to be hospitalized and get medications.   
    
5) Summarize
How much of your original opportunity is still there?

            The opportunity to make people feel more comfortable where they live is still there. Unfortunately, some things are out of my control and sadly out of the control of the student.

Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?
             
 I believe that my original opportunity is still pretty viable and can be still done. The thing is that the students are only bale to do so much.  
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?)

I believe that entrepreneurs should have the ability to adapt but with certain limitations. Obviously entrepreneurs should try to please the customer but staying firm and believing in intuitions and your gut feeling is also important.