Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Venture Concept No. 1

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.



5 comments:

  1. 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.


    Check out my first venture concept: http://rachelsentrepreneurship.blogspot.com/2016/03/venture-concept-no-1.html

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  2. 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

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  3. Dear Rachel,

    I 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

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  5. Hey Rachel!
    I 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!

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