Venture Concept No. 1

My venture concept is a quite simple one, although I believe that it can serve a huge purpose in the sports industry, and business industry right away. To start, the opportunity for this concept pertains to those who need this project, and why they need it. Right now, the schedules for all four major North American sports are set up in a way that does not benefit the players. My problem with this is that there can be a change, an easy one at that. The reason these sports will need this program for their schedules is to tend to the players’ needs. There is no reason that it shouldn’t be set up more efficiently to help with player fatigue.

The reason that this opportunity exists is because no one else has really thought about it, at least that I know of. I know, of course, that these leagues have been set up for years, and no one has specifically complained about inefficiency of the schedules, but why not change now for the better. It will only benefit everyone in the end. Demographically, the market is defined just by the front offices of each of these sports, and in the future, the front offices of big companies. As for the geographic market would be defined wherever it is needed. Currently, these “customers” are satisfying their need by living without it, and having nothing specific to compare it to. If there was an implication of this program in their everyday lives, or just as an example of what it could do, I really think it would make a huge difference. I would say that this opportunity is a great one because of the fact that no one else has really thought about it. It is a great way to benefit everyone all around, and make things a lot easier for these sports, and big businesses alike. I believe that this opportunity window will be open so long as no one else really gives it much thought. If I came out with a finished product now, compared to a year from now, I don’t know if much would have changed barring any interruptions to this market.

Now, the innovation. This program would be considered as a service that will address the need for a more efficient schedule for the four major North American sports. This “innovation” is not necessarily the most creative, or applicable one, but I really do think that it could make a big difference for a lot of people very quickly. As for a detailed description, is something that will start out as a scheduling application for the four major North American sports, including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. I do not have a specific price point because I’m not quite sure how that would work out, but I assume it wouldn’t be cheap.

As a venture concept, the reason that this solves a problem is because ever since the creation of every single one of these four leagues, there hasn't been an algorithm that can create the schedule for years and years in advance with taking into account the season rules for each sport, while also maximizing the efficiency of the travel schedules along with off-days for travel. I have seen too many times, a team go from the east coast to the west coast over night for an afternoon game the next day, and I think I can do something about this. I think that users would switch to this product because it would bring about change for the players, and give them a better schedule, taking into account travel and fatigue from an athlete’s perspective. Right now, there aren’t any competitors per say, but I do think that this is something that I should act on as soon as possible.

The three minor elements: My “unfair advantage” in this case would be my passion for sports, and perspective. I have been through tough scheduling myself, and I understand how hard it can be to recover, play hard, then do the same thing over again the next day, and sometimes that same day. What comes next for this venture is the opportunity to expand into local, or big businesses to help provide an easy solution for clients and employees. In five years, I would like to have an established product for the aforementioned “next step” for the venture. 

Amazon Whisperer

      1.       Describe the revenue drivers you currently include in your business concept for this class. Revenue drivers are the different ways you make money.

a.       The main revenue drivers for my business concept include contracts with the four major sports in North America. As things progress, I believe that I would start making money from other big businesses that need my services.

      2.       Describe what kind of product offering you believe should be next. What’s the next thing your customers want?

a.       The very next thing that I would want to work on is a calendar system for big businesses and regular people just like you and me for their busy, everyday lives.

      3.       Describe how this "next" thing will enhance your existing product/service offering. Does it improve the user experience, does it increase customer switching costs, does it foster customer loyalty, etc.?

a.       I believe that this addition would add to our overall business model. We wouldn’t be offering only to specific people or businesses, instead opening up to everyone, therefore expanding our horizons for shaping to the market.

      4.       Go to Amazon and try to find a product that is similar to the one you want to offer next. Describe the product. Include a picture of the product.

a.       Since I can’t find a product that is closely related to my service, I have chosen to look into the new Huawei MateBook tablet. It is a 2-in-1 laptop and tablet that allows you to take it anywhere, and use it in any situation imaginable.

      5.       What are the customer reviews for the product? What, exactly, do customers not like about the product? What do they like about it?

a.       The reviews for this product are quite positive, but the one thing I see being complained about is that it doesn’t come with a keyboard that works for it, so it basically is just a tablet, not really a 2-in-1.

      6.       Describe what design/usability changes you'd make to the product.

a.       If I were in charge of design, I would give it a small removable keyboard that can be easily attached and detached, making for greater ease of use. Overall, this product seems like a great tablet, not necessarily a PC and tablet in one.

      7.       Describe why you think this product would make a good addition to your current product/service offering.

a.       Since this product doesn’t relate to my business at all, it is hard to say how it would make an addition to my service, but at the same time, I really do think having something like this would help productivity in every situation.

My Unfair Advantage

Here is a list of my 10 resources:

      1.       I am quite adamant about making things easier for other people, and for myself for that matter. I will do pretty much anything to make other’s lives easier, and I really think this product will help me do so.

a.       VRIN: Fairly valuable (I feel that there are times where this can help me), fairly rare (there are probably some others that feel the same way), somewhat inimitable, non-substitutable.

      2.       I give just about 110% in everything that I do.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable (effort is important), somewhat rare (not everyone gives a lot of effort), kind of inimitable (not found in everyone, but I’m sure everyone has the potential to give effort), non-substitutable.

      3.       I am very enthusiastic when it comes to making things easier for others.

a.       VRIN: Valuable (who would buy from someone not enthusiastic about their work?), somewhat rare (not everyone is enthusiastic), inimitable (everyone express enthusiasm in different ways), non-substitutable.

      4.       I know how and where to get the materials I need for this program, at almost the click of a button.

a.       VRIN: Valuable, rare, inimitable, non-substitutable.

      5.       This class has helped me come up with this idea, and has given me a lot of insight on business creation.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable, very rare (it is unique to the university, and frankly, to the state of Florida), very inimitable, somewhat non-substitutable (there are probably other schools that offer this course, but I’m sure it isn’t structured how this class is).

      6.       I have shaped a pretty good network of people that I could consult if I ever need help.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable (it's not what you know, it's who you know), rare in that everyone knows different people, inimitable for the same reason it is rare, non-substitutable because it's very difficult to go on business ventures alone.

      7.       I have a lot of knowledge on how these sports work, and how to create this program with my own hands, from scratch.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable, not very rare (a lot of other people possess the same kind of knowledge), somewhat inimitable (I have a different perspective than everyone else, but others can still see what I see to a certain point), non-substitutable.

      8.       My product can help a lot of people and athletes, whether or not they notice.

a.       VRIN: Valuable (making things easier and more efficient is important), not very rare (a lot of things can help be more efficient), inimitable, definitely non-substitutable.

      9.       My program has a wide range of potential uses.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable, somewhat rare (not many products can be used for a bunch of different things), not really inimitable, non-substitutable.

      10.   I have a lot of experience coding, and a lot of perspective with my love of sports and connection to baseball specifically.

a.       VRIN: Very valuable (it gives me a specific insight to how it works, and how it would feel to have a change), very rare (not a lot of programmers look at the consumer part of things, and how much of an effect their product has on them), inimitable, non-substitutable.

I believe that my top resource is my insight into the world of sports connected with insight into the world of coding. I would not be able to, nor would I want to if I didn’t have this specific combination. 

Growing My Social Capital

• Domain Expert: My domain expert is a Hall of Fame baseball player by the name of Wade Boggs. The reason I consider him a domain expert is because he has been in the industry of professional sports for the last 40 years of his life. While he may not have the experience of selling something to a professional sports organization, he has many connections within the world of baseball. I've known Wade Boggs for the last 5 years. I first met him at my high school in Tampa when I first tried out for the baseball team, and after being on the team for all four years, I really enjoyed learning from him and gathering as much as I could from his many experiences. I think that having Coach Boggs in my network would put me ahead of everyone else trying to get into the professional sports business because he knows it like the back of his hand, which really puts me at an advantage. 

• Market Expert: My market expert is a good friend, Cooper Borden. He works for Under Armour, and they specialize in providing all sorts of things for these professional teams. I met Cooper about 10 years ago playing baseball, and we have motivated each other through everything since then. The reason he would be a good fit for the market expert job is because he has a good idea on how the market works. We may not be selling the same kinds of things, but with his connections I could learn a thing or two on how to get into the professional sports business. 

• Supplier: My supplier is one of friend's dad, Mike Garam. He is a retail specialist that sells sports equipment to local teams and organizations. I find him as a great fit for this because he has the expertise with selling to organizations in the same realm, and I think I could really learn a lot from his knowledge of the retail business. 

• Reflection: After completing this assignment, I learned what valuable connections I have already, and how easy it is to find someone who has connections that can get you to where you need to be. I know that sometimes social networking can be hard, but when you really sit down and think about who you know, and how they could possibly help you, the sky is really the limit on where you can go with it. For my future networking events, I would have to use the same mindset I did here, and try to think about the connections I already have, and which ones could be easily created, either through someone else, or going out of my way to find someone. As for my past experiences, I have never really been in a situation where I had to network, so I really don't have anything for comparison sake. 

Idea Napkin No. 2

I unfortunately wasn't able to complete the first idea napkin, so that puts me behind because I don't have any feedback as of yet.

1)You. I am Alex Broderick. I am a first year Computer Science major at the University of Florida and Innovation Academy. My talents and skills include coding, leadership, and a huge passion for sports. My aspirations are to become a successful programmer, and make a difference in the world in any way that I possibly can. For my business concept, I see this business playing the biggest role in my life. This is a concept that I will have to constantly monitor forever, and that will keep me focused on one thing, making my customers happy.

2)What are you offering to customers? My product, or program if you prefer, is something that will start out as a scheduling application for the four major North American sports, including baseball, basketball, football, and hockey. The reason that this solves a problem is because ever since the creation of every single one of these four leagues, there hasn't been an algorithm that can create the schedule for years and years in advance with taking into account the season rules for each sport, while also maximizing the efficiency of the travel schedules along with off-days for travel. I have seen too many times, a team go from the east coast to the west coast over night for an afternoon game the next day, and I think I can do something about this.

3)Who are you offering it to? This program will be exclusively offered to just the front offices of the four major sports, and after that gets off the ground, I plan to expand the program for other professional and non-professional schedules. Along with this, I plan to open the application to bigger businesses to plan out travel for their employees and clients travel schedules.

4)Why do they care? My demographic cares because it will make things insanely easier, and all those effected by these huge businesses, for example, a player on one of the MLB teams, will appreciate the travel schedule so it isn't as rigorous for the rest of their careers in comparison to what it's like now.

5)What are your core competencies? What sets me apart from everyone else is that I am trying to put everyone else before the money. I know that the business world is built on money, but I think that the consumer comes before that, and the foundation for a great product is great consumer satisfaction. Every player in every league deserves a change to their schedules to make things less painstaking. What I have that no one else haves is this program. No one else has put the athletes first, because these sports have been about their money, and will keep things the same as long as they're making a profit.

I really do believe in this program, and what it can do. I think it could benefit everyone in these demographics, but in due time, it can help everyone just like you and me. I do, of course, think that there is always space for improvement and the ability to adjust plans based on reality. On the other hand, I know what I want, and I have a good idea for going about it, so I will do everything in my power to accomplish that.

Reading Reflection No. 2

I read Makers: The New Industrial Revolution for this second reading reflection.

• What was the general theme or argument of the book?
• From just reading the title, I was instantly interested. From what I gather, the book was mainly about the future, and the realization that we are always going through a revolution, whether or not you notice. We have gone through a sort of circular pattern with manufacturing, and right now, it's at a fairly low level, and what this book predicts, and in my opinion predicts correctly, is that manufacturing is coming back. What that means to me is that we are all going to be our own factories, this doesn't mean that we are going to be building cars in our homes, but in fact building our futures with new software and technology. 

• How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?
• From my perspective, this book did a great job of bringing things together and showing me that entrepreneurship is the way of the future in any and every society. If we want to move forward, we have to be willing to be creative and chase our dreams and aspirations. At the same time, we have to be willing to adapt to new technologies and ways for going about things. We cannot be one-dimensional and ignore the fact that the world is constantly changing, and our job is to change with it. This connects to the course specifically because we are learning what it is like to have an idea, and try to capitalize on it no matter what it takes. Whether or not we are all businessmen/businesswomen, we have be willing to make an entrepreneurial step to moving our world forward, and being the innovators for the things our world will be built off of in the future. 

• If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?
• If I had to design an exercise for this class, I would have to go with an exercise to do some research and find out the three biggest ways the student thinks the world has changed because of entrepreneurship. This will give the student the ability to reflect on what has changed around them, and what kind of revolutions we have gone through besides the most clear and common ones. 

• What was your biggest surprise or "aha" moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations?
• My biggest surprise from this book would have to be the idea that we are all now designers, and what that means is that we are going to soon be responsible for our own products, whether it comes from 3D printing or some other kind of software or technology. This was most surprising to me because this is something that I never would have thought about if I had not read this book, and reflecting on it now gives me the chance to really understand the meaning and message of this book. We have to be the ones to take things into our own hands, and make something great out of it. 

My Secret Sauce

I really like the idea of human capital, and reflecting on yourself, in a good way. At times it can be really hard to see yourself as an accomplished, or motivated person, and reflecting on it and hearing other people talk about it really helps you see that. For my own human capital, I think that what makes me different is:

1. The fact that I am a people please-er. I have been this way my whole life, and in everything I am doing, I am usually doing it for someone else. 
2. The fact that I am good with people, and I can handle situations easily when it comes to confrontation. Although I am not very outgoing, I do understand when it is my time to step up and say something. 
3. The fact that I am very observant, and I listen a lot. As an introverted person, I am always tuned into the details, and I can sniff out a bad situation from a mile away. 
4. The fact that I am a problem solver. I've always liked things like math and puzzles, and I am always looking for solutions to problems right away, no matter the magnitude of the situation.
5. The fact that I really see myself to be super organized. I like to have everything set up well, and keeping everything organized just makes my life a whole lot easier.  

My first interview was with my very good friend Symone. One of the biggest takeaways I had from her interview was her looking up to me emotionally. I have always tried to be a positive and giving person around everyone, and it was good hearing from her that she noticed that.

https://soundcloud.com/user-715711442/secret-sauce-symone

My second interview was with my little sister Abbie. My biggest takeaway from her was the fact that I am a nice guy in her eyes. As a 12 year old girl, it was interesting to hear that perspective because of her experiences.

https://soundcloud.com/user-715711442/secret-sauce-abbie

My third interview was with my father Mark. The biggest takeaway from this interview was his workplace perspective. He told me that he works with a lot of younger people who frustrate him because of some of these traits, and it was interesting to hear that I'd be a better candidate because of my work ethic and drive.

https://soundcloud.com/user-715711442/secret-sauce-dad

My fourth interview was with my sister Alyssa. The biggest takeaway from her interview was her older sister perspective. Watching me grow up as an older sibling has really given her the best view of what I am dealing with and how well, or how badly I deal with certain situations.

https://soundcloud.com/user-715711442/secret-sauce-alyssa

My fifth and final interview was with my mother Daphne. I would say that she knows me the best, and from her experience with me, knowing that she recognized loyalty and passion within my personal traits was awesome to hear.

https://soundcloud.com/user-715711442/mom-interview

After all of the interviews, I found that I view myself very close to how others do, at least those who know me best. For me, that is great satisfaction, because I know myself better than I thought I did. There are, of course, some things that I may have overlooked, or didn't really see as something big within my personal traits, and I made sure to ask everyone if they had anything like that, and hearing some of those things really open up my mind to learning myself further. For the last part of this assignment, I am going to have to add my loyalty and passion to the list of my personal traits. There aren't any things besides that that I would change, but I really do think I may have overlooked those two parts.