Forming an Opportunity Belief

1.     Opportunity: college kids have no time or knowledge to cook healthy food for themselves.

2.     Description: the unmet need is providing pre-prepared home-cooked meals for college students or courses to students on how to make healthy, quick food. This need has probably not always existed - as college becomes more and more difficult and students find themselves with less and less free time, making home-cooked meals becomes much more of an issue. I believe that our parents generation had an easier time of feeding themselves than our generation does. Right now, college students are attempting to meet this need by eating out for at least one meal every day, which is absurdly expensive and unhealthy.

3.     Prototypical customer: a college student probably in an intensive major where the classes are all in-person, so s/he does not spend much of the day at home.

4.     Interviews: 

1.     Alan Williams: https://soundcloud.com/sbrinkerhoff/ent-forming-an-opportunity-belief-interview_alan/s-Ro65k

1.     Nature of the need: Spends too much money on eating out because he does not have time to cook.

2.     When are you aware of this problem: During the fall and spring semesters, his Monday/Wednesday/Friday days are very busy and he becomes aware that he has no time to cook.

3.     How long have you had this need: Since beginning college.

4.     When did you first become aware of the need and why: When he got to college and left home, where his mom made most of his meals.

5.     How are you currently addressing this need: He tries to cook ahead when he thinks of it, to prep food for multiple days, but most of the time he doesn't have the ingredients that he needs or the time needed.

6.     How satisfied are you with this solution: He seems pretty dissatisfied with his solution, since it is not working well to solve his problem.

7.     My reflection: I learned that eating healthy was not really a concern of this college student, but that the amount of money he spends on eating out is a big problem for him.

2.     Jareb Mendez: https://soundcloud.com/sbrinkerhoff/ent_fob_interview_jareb/s-ig5fu

1.     Nature of the need: sacrifices eating healthy to spend the time he would normally spend cooking on studying for classes.

2.     When are you aware of this problem: when he opens his fridge and realizes he has nothing to eat.

3.     How long have you had this need: since leaving home and coming to college.

4.     When did you first become aware of the need and why: when he came to college and had realized that he to cook every meal for himself.

5.     How are you currently addressing this need: He eats out wherever is easiest and closest to get to.

6.     How satisfied are you with this solution: He would rather be sacrificing his eating habits than his grades, but wishes he could eat healthier in general.

7.     My reflection: I learned that my problem does in fact exist in the lives of other college students. However, I was surprised that Jareb was relatively okay with eating unhealthy foods every day. I was also surprised that he assumed he would have to sacrifice his grades or healthy eating habits instead of thinking he could balance the two.

3.     Bailey Fell: https://soundcloud.com/sbrinkerhoff/ent_fob_interview_bailey/s-Q3voT

1.     Nature of the need: Eats at least one meal on campus every day because she does not have time to cook for herself, and wants to eat healthier in general.

2.     When are you aware of this problem: When she checks her bank account and sees how much money she spends on eating out.

3.     How long have you had this need: Since coming to college.

4.     When did you first become aware of the need and why:Within the first few months of college, because the unhealthy dining hall was so much more convenient than using the communal dorm oven to cook meals.

5.     How are you currently addressing this need: She is choosing healthier options when eating out, such as Pita Pit over Relish.

6.     How satisfied are you with this solution: She is not currently satisfied with her solution, she would rather make herself food than eat out at all.

7.     My reflection: I noted that campus dining options probably make a lot of money off of students based purely off of the convenience factor. Also, though money is a driving factor for students, it does not seem to take priority over the inconvenience of cooking for oneself.

5.     Summary:

1.     How much of the original opportunity is still there?

§  The original opportunity is definitely still there. College students do not have time to cook for themselves, for various reasons.

2.     Do I believe the new opportunity is more accurate than when I started?

§  Yes, I believe I have a better grasp on the opportunity now than I did before. I understand the mind and the needs and wants of the average college in terms of food student a bit better.

3.     How much should entrepreneurs "adapt" their opportunities based on customer feedback?

§  I believe that entrepreneurs should be more willing to adapt than stay firm, at least in the beginning stages of their business. The only reason their business exists is because they have customers, so if the customers all want something specific to change or be implemented, it makes sense for the business owner to pursue that change. When an owner is first cultivating a target market, s/he needs to listen to the demands and wants of the whole voice of that market.