Opportunity
I
saw an opportunity to help students who need to make money while also
maintaining high grades by paying them to study. This is when I came up with
idea “Study Money”. My opportunity is targeted toward students who also need to
work. What has created this environment includes the increasing
competition to get into graduate schools and also the rising cost to apply and
attend those programs. The geography for this market is mainly universities. The
demographics will mostly be made up of students who need money as well as
anyone who is qualified to be a part of our staff. Customers are currently
struggling to keep their grades up and making money by sacrificing time to one
or the other. Whichever is more of a priority to the individual will receive
more attention while the other option suffers. Currently, there are no
resources that I know of in which students can get around this so they are very
loyal to this way of living. As of now, students have to sacrifice time to
focus it all on school and working with little down time so they are dedicated
to this system. I think this opportunity is definitely a game changer. I
believe that at least 70% of the student population would try my program and
100% will benefit. Some students I have spoken to believe that studying is not
something students should get paid for because is it a part of what we need to
do for our education. However, I think if this business were available to them,
it would do no harm and only help them. Ultimately, this opportunity will be
open until a business such as mine is created. Until then, this opportunity
will always be available.
Innovation
“Study Money” will
be a service that provides students the opportunity to get paid for studying.
Students will sign in to my facility and just begin studying. They will be paid
$5 for every hour spent studying and an extra $10 for every A they earn on the
exam or project they were studying for or working on. If students need to use
computers, they will either use computers that we provide so that we can
monitor the sites they go on or be on wifi with restrictions. Only sites
related to school application will be allowed to ensure students aren’t taking
advantage of our program. Only sites related to school application will be
allowed. Not only are the students able to make money, but staff will be paid
as well. Even one of our suppliers has offered to employ some of our most
promising students or staff members in his workplace. This particular employer
works at a bank and can provide future opportunities to students and staff in
different areas of his business. This truly is a win-win situation for all
parties involved.
Venture
Concept
My innovation will
solve the issue that students face to keep high grades and make money at the
same time. Customers will be interested in this innovation because there are
currently no other programs that offer both of these features. Customers won’t
even need to switch to this program because it will be the first of its kind.
Students will have no trouble using this program. There are no competitors at
the moment, however we are prepared to face some in the future and have plans
on how to succeed continuously with or without competitors. Competitors will
have lack of originality and it will be hard to keep up with this business
because we will constantly be improving our system and methods. The most
defining feature of my business is the means for funding. Everything else will
neatly come together. The funding will be supported by scholarships, grants,
and investors. In order to organize this business to exceed expectations, we
will focus on marketing, seeking investors, and allowing learning opportunities
for employees. The venture will consist of the role of the student, staff, and
funders. We are confident we can combine these elements to create an effective
business.
Resources,
Future for the Venture, Future for Me
My most important
resource will be the demand of students who need high grades as well as money.
This program meets two of the most important needs that students have.
Competitors will have a hard time replicating my business because we will be
the most original and are open to customer concerns and suggestions. We will get
first hand feedback and be able to make any modifications necessary to ensure
we are meeting the needs of students. To make this program more advanced, we
would like to offer scholarship opportunities. I believe this will give
students even more incentive and motivation. In five years, I think this
program would drastically decrease the amount of local competition amongst
students and allow easier access to the things they’re truly interested in. I
see myself a much more insightful business owner and better prepared to face my
other aspirations. I think this adventure would make me more knowledgeable in
running my own veterinary practice one day. In a decade, this business will provide me
credibility that I am capable of running my own business and be innovative. I
think this will help me be more objective and be better able to criticism and
suggestions as well. It will be easier to recognize what makes a business more
or less successful.
Rachel, obviously as a broke college student, like pretty much every other college student, this idea seems almost like a dream come true to me! Getting paid to do what I have to do everyday? Sign me up! I just don't really understand how you are going to get this money to pay the students? Or how you'd make a profit from it? Maybe you can have sponsors, or the school to possibly provide the funds that will encourage students to study with an incentive.
ReplyDeleteCheck out my first venture concept: http://rachelsentrepreneurship.blogspot.com/2016/03/venture-concept-no-1.html
Rachel, how is this venture going to make money? I know a way to make this work, but doing this using your current system would probably just loose money, and tons of it. Can I make a recommendation? Have a school like UF pay the students their financial aid with their grades and by studying/ Example, a student may receive a Pell Grant for 2,000 dollars. If they get all As they get 2,000 over the course of the semester, rewarded after tests and quizzes. Now that is an idea! COme check out my blog at http://stephenclegg.blogspot.com/2016/03/venture-concept-no-1.html
ReplyDeleteDear Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI commend you for thinking of a way of helping struggling students but the problem you are trying to solve is what makes the cream rise to the tope. The challenge of college is to study hard by overcoming all types of obstacles. This is what builds character and resolve. Financial aid is a major problem but isn't it more important for students to work hard pursuing what they love versus giving them money, which may dilute their passion. I also agree with other comments in that it is not clear how you are going to pay for this. What is in it for the investor or donor? Take a look at my venture concept post at http://taleemreflections.blogspot.com/2016/03/venture-concept-no-1.html. Thanks.
Farrukh
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Rachel!
ReplyDeleteI find your idea really interesting and really like how thorough you were with your whole venture concept. I think it's great that you want to focus on students through your service. I also am working with helping students and making sure their lives are facilitated day by day. I think you did a wonderful job!