30A - Final Reflection

 Throughout this semester we have done a plethora of assignments that have put out minds to use and expanded the way we think to how entrepreneurs think. To this day the most difficult assignment for me was the bucket list of things we disliked. When something bothers us we think about it for a few moments and then move on with our day. It was hard coming up with 20 things that I disliked. I feel like I have developed an entrepreneurship mindset as I think about a lot of terms that we have talked about in class in the real world. I would tell a fellow student who is about to take this course is plan ahead, a lot of assignments require thought and some even require interviews and you have to plan accordingly, or else your assignments will not be done with quality. 

29A - Venture Concept No. 2

Opportunity and Innovation

Ever since the spawn of internet streaming platforms, there has been a need for a dedicated company to step up to the plate and review movies and shows for the audience. Companies like Rotton Tomatoes and IMDb have stepped up but in my opinion, they have not done the best job. There is definitely room in the market and industry for a company to capitalize on a personalized movie recommendation website or app.

Ventrue Concept 

With Flicks, people will be able to sign up and become their own reviewers for movies and shows they have seen in the past and then our adaptive algorithm will then give them suggestions for shows and movies that they will actually like. 

Feedback

I got overall great feedback from my fellow classmates only making me more confident that this idea is in fact a problem that many of us face when using platforms like Netflix and Hulu. 

28A - Your Exit Strategy

For my exit strategy, I have determined that I will stay with the venture until I retire, but with a twist. I am certain that this venture will not be my only venture so I will have people responsible for the day to day operations of the company but executive decisions and company goals would be something overseen by me. I would want to split my time between my ventures similar to Elon Musk does with Tesla, SpaceX, The Boring Company, etc. I chose this strategy because I think that this venture will be profitable for a long time and eventually could become a household name that is associated with Netflix and Hulu. 

Reading Reflection No. 3

For my last reading reflection for this course, I chose to read Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson. A bittersweet moment knowing that this class is about to come to an end. The overall theme of the book is that the way Steve Jobs was seen in the media was, in fact, the real Steve Jobs. He was a man who had a vision of what his products would look like and how they would be the best in the industry. Something that caught me by surprise that I did not know was that he was a college dropout, for some reason I had always thought he graduated from MIT or such. If Steve Jobs were alive today the only question I would have for him is why the simple fashion sense.

26A - Celebrating Failure

Earlier this semester I made it a goal to learn how to code and try to build a simple app from scratch. When I first started I found it to be harder than I had previously anticipated. I would get a couple lines of code in and then run the application to see how my progress was going so far and each time I would run it there would be some kind of error in my code. I quickly started to get discouraged and frustrated, asking myself if this was something I could do. Fortunately, the little voice in my head always told me to keep trying so that I could reach my end goal. I eventually did it and wrote the code to run a basic application.  The satisfaction that I got from writing that code from scratch was a great feeling. In the moment I believe failure is something that we all think we are never going to overcome, but only after we are long over with our obstacles can we really look back and reflect on how it helped us grow as a person. The obstacles we faced yesterday helped me be who I am today. 

25A - What's Next?

Existing Market

1. My company will continue to provide recommendations that are in line with not only what Netflix and Hulu are streaming but also what other platforms are streaming. We are also going to add a feature that recommends movies in general that are available to purchase through Itunes and Amazon. 

2. After the interviews I was informed that the next thing for the company would be to expand to other industries than just movies, perhaps recommending music, books, and other things that are not personalized to individuals based on their taste.

3. What makes the most sense for the company is to stay on track for what it came to business for. Perfect the movie industry and then if we think we can do a good job recommending other things such as music and books then we will do it but above all, we want great customer satisfaction.

New Market

1. Another radically different market would in fact be the music industry. 

2. I think that if done correctly we could provide just as good recommendations if not better than apple music and Spotify because we would not be in the market of acquiring licensing but rather just recommending what people might like to listen to 

3. They think that the idea is very optimistic and could have potential if I somehow got a big artist to back up the name of the company 

4. How similar and dissimilar both industries are. 

24A - Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity - The opportunity that this idea stemmed from came to the realization that I was not the only one who would go on Netflix and Hulu and spend more time looking for a show/movie than actually watching one. This problem only became more apparent when quarantine was in full effect and forced us all to stay home, with very little to do Netflix and Hulu were our saving graces but the problem of finding shows/movies was still very apparent. Often time it became only harder when you were with someone else because you could never find a show/movie that both of you agreed on.

Innovation - The idea consist of an app that works similar to Tinder, you make a profile and then start "rating" movies and shows that have you seen in the past, once you give the algorithm enough information it will then generate a list of recommendations. This list will only keep expanding as you give it more and more information. The companies name would be Flicks.

Venture Concept - As of today the only ways you could get recommendations are from Netflix themselves but 9/10 times the recommendations suck. Another solution is searching up lists of good movies or shows but the problem with this is that the list is not tailored to your taste but someone else's, also the content of Netflix and Hulu changes quite frequently.

23A - Your Venture's Unfair Advantage

1. Network

Valuable - In a world where who you know will get you further than what you know I believe this is a great asset to have in starting this company.

Rare - Although having an extensive network is valuable it is not something that is rare to come by

Inimitable - With enough charisma anyone is capable of attaining this type of network 

Non - Sustainable - Sustaining this could be done by being sociable and continuing to expand the network

2. App Development Experience

Valuable - Having experience in developing an app as extensive as the one proposed is no easy task and having some experience in writing code and working with app development software will only help and make the process easier

Rare - Having experience in app development is not rare and could be found relatively easy

Inimitable - After so much trial and effort another company could do the same thing

Non - Sustainable - In order to sustain this advantage the company must continue to expand their horizons in terms of gaining more experience in app development to stay ahead of the curve

3. Perfect Timing

Valuable - With anything in life, it is all about perfect timing, and I think that now would be a perfect time to develop and release an app with such capabilities

Rare - Not necessarily, but would be a while before another opportunity like this presents itself

Inimitable - Not easily, in this global pandemic many people are staying home which means they are streaming more than ever and could use a service like ours

Non - Sustainable - In order to be number 1 in our industry we must provide the best user experience now so when the pandemic is over we are still relevant

4. Adequate Funds

Valuable - For a company who is starting up the hardest part is coming up with funds in order to start buying things the company needs

Rare - Not rare, but difficult to come around

Inimitable - With the proper resources any company could come up with funds in a number of ways

Non - Sustainable - Using the funds properly will allow the company to not only pay back the loaned funds but also generate more revenue

5. Unmet Customer Needs

Valuable - The basis of this class is that in order for a product to work is that there must be a solution to an unmet customer needs, in our case the lack of finding shows/ movies results in an unmet customer need

Rare - Not rare either but the solution is not always so obvious, in our case the solution was right in our faces

Inimitable - Another company could not come up with the idea first, allowing us to have the advantage of hitting the market first

Non - Sustainable - Making a great product that consumers love will result in satisfied customers

6. Work Ethic

Valuable - Very valuable for any company. A company whose employees aren't focused on their work will result in poor performance

Rare - Somewhat rare, not everyone is willing to put in the work and you can't have people like that on your team

Inimitable - You could have it imitated but it would require a great work ethic

Non - Sustainable - Continue to work just as hard as always

7. Passion for what we are

Valuable - They say that if you do something you like you will never work a day in your life, we think we are designing apps and in doing so we are fulfilling a passion of ours

Rare - Very very rare, not everyone can say that they are doing something they are passionate about

Inimitable - Not at all, you must be passionate about your work in order to give it your all

Non - Sustainable - We will continue to innovate and work on our passion, providing the best service

8. First In the Industry

Valuable - Being the first in any industry could result in that company being the sole player if done correctly

Rare - Yes, spawning new industries does not happen overnight

Inimitable - Not at all, in fact, the opposite

Non - Sustainable - Once you have an idea you must act quickly on it before someone else thinks of it and beats you to it

9. Social Media

Valuable - With knowledge of social media, one can promote and advertise their company to reach audiences they could have previously never have reached

Rare - Not so much

Inimitable - A company could just make a social media account and have a presence

Non - Sustainable - Post and share content periodically in order to have an active fan base

10. Human Captial

Valuable - Very valuable, but in designing apps it does not require a lot of people

Rare - Not so much

Inimitable - Very imitable

Non - Sustainable - Expand the company in order to make it bigger and better than it was


Reflection - The biggest advantage that this idea/ company has going for it is it being the first in its industry. There are websites like rotten tomatoes but they judge movies and shows based on reviewers. Our company will allow the user to be the judge because ultimately they are the ones who will determine if they liked something or not.

22A - Elevator Pitch 3

https://youtu.be/ucJHRK-jfmg

21A Reading Reflection 2

For my second reading assignment I read Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance. The overall theme of the book was inspirational, the relentless hours Musk puts into his craft must not go unnoticed. I think this book connects flawlessly with this course as it solidifies the idea of going out and just trying new things and working for what you believe in. If i were to make an exercise from reading this book would be list out 10-20 of the most outrageous things you want to accomplish in life and take one step closer to achieving them. The most interesting this was that Musk lived in his office space to save money on rent with his brother.

20A Growing Your Social Capital

1. Domain Expert - I came across Patrick on Instagram, I follow a couple apple developer accounts and stumbled across his account. Patrick has his own app development company and has worked on a few big named apps. The nature of our friendship stemmed from me sending him a personal message and suing bum questions on app development. I have very limited exposure and experience with app development so having someone like Patrick on my side to ask questions will only be beneficial to my company.

2. Market Expert - Next, I came across Mark at the Mercedes dealership when I was getting my car serviced. In our short conversation we talked about a wide range of topics. Mark works for a marketing company in Florida. Mark would be great for my company since he would be able to give me advice on marketing products and services in order to generate traffic to our app.


3 - Supplier Expert - Amy, I met at the same time that I met Mark. They are a couple and work for the same company. Although Amy is in charge of distribution of signs, posters, and etc. My product would. it require physical advertisement but she would help me convince Mark to help me out.

Reflect - I really like this assignment because it makes you target people who are actually in your industry. These people wether we knew it or not can help us out tremendously in expanding and growing our business quicker. I stand by your network is your net worth.

17A - Elevator Pitch 2

https://youtu.be/p6ZFBgkxFO8

19A - Idea Napkin No. 2

1. I am Jorge Spinatto, and as previously discussed I possess skills that make me a nightmare for Netflix and Hulu's recommendation algorithm.

2. I am offering a plug-in/app that allows the user to rate movies/shows they have previously watched and then generate suggestions based on what you like and don't like. We think there is an unmet need in this area as finding shows/movies on platforms such as Netflix and Hulu can be difficult, their selections are always changing which only adds to the difficulty.

3. I am offering this service at first to Netflix users as the 'trial' run. From there we will evaluate how the algorithm is working and if customers are satisfied or not, making improvements as quickly as possible. Thereafter we will be available on both platforms.

4. People will care because they hate going on Netflix and searching for 20-30 minutes and then end up not finding a show that piques their interest.

5. Our competencies are that we are the only people in the industry, essentially creating a new market.

Looking back at all 5 elements of this assignment I can see how beautifully this idea and business will be. There is indeed an unmet customer need and our company will fill the gap. Our elements complement each other and without the other elements it is only an idea, but put it all together and you have yourself a very successful plan.

The feedback I got was very positive, the main thing was how do I plan on generating revenue at first and generate traffic. I believe that word of mouth will be our biggest friend, making a great product, and having the results speak for themselves.

18A - Create a Customer Avatar

My prototypical customer is someone who is young, they are in their late teens/the early 20s. This is because my product is for people who use Netflix or Hulu and the people who use these platforms tend to be younger. They are in college and love to watch Netflix on their free time but always find it difficult to find new shows/movies. They are very outgoing people and talk about their favorite shows with their friends. Most of the shows they've seen are based on suggestions that their friends have given them.

I have a few things in common with my prototypical customer, I also use Netflix and Hulu but struggle often to find shows/movies to watch. I mostly watch shows/movies based on friends suggestions. I am also a very outgoing person and discuss shows with my friends.

15A - Figuring Out Buyer Behavior

1. After explaining the service and how it works to my interviewees they mentioned some good alternatives in the movie rating industry, there are already a few big-name brands that people are already familiar with that include Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb. The way that we would stand out would be by the reviews/ratings not being by a board or a group of reviewers but rather the people themselves. Additionally, these platforms don't make suggestions they only rate the movies and shows, this in itself would be a feature desired by people.

2. It is the goal of the company to provide a great service for no cost to the consumer. I mentioned this to the interviewees and they seemed to agree that a service like this although great would not seem ideal or practicable to pay for on top of the subscription fee from using platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. The interviewees mentioned that they wouldn't mind ads in order for the company to generate revenue as long as it doesn't happen too regularly after a point it just gets annoying and it becomes an app that no one wants to use mentioned one of my interviewees.

3. The post-purchase evaluation a question that came up in all 3 interviews was how quickly can the algorithm learn your taste before it can suggest movies and shows. The company strives for its ease of use and effectiveness of suggestions. The app would have to have about 15-25 rated movies by the user before it can make any sort of suggestion. This would reduce the chances of the consumer receiving poor suggestions for the service.

4. Overall, what I took from these interviews was the customer service is very important. The service has to do exactly what it says or else the customer builds a level of expectation that will only not meet what they expected.

14A - Halfway Reflection

1. The key to a successful semester in this course is working ahead. You don't have to work a week ahead of schedule but I would highly suggest getting the work done well in advance of the due dates. In my case, I would finish all the A assignments on or before Wednesday night and the peer reviews on Friday. I would also suggest changing the due dates to the night before at 11:59 it is very odd to have the due time at 12:00 pm.

2. Right out of the gate I knew this class was going to stimulate the mind and have me thinking about things I never really gave much thought into. The first assignment, for example, took me longer than I admitted and I felt that it was going to be a long semester. Additionally, the reading reflection I felt like reading a book in such a short time frame felt almost impossible but nonetheless, I did it and am happy I did.

3. I would develop the skill of punctuality, don't wait the last minute to do the assignments. It is just as important to develop a mindset that fosters a get it done attitude. I would suggest imagining that the work and thinking you do in this class is one small step into the business world. Use that energy of stepping into the business world and give it your all.

13A - Reading Reflection No. 1

For my reading assignment, I read The Wright Brothers, David McCullough

1. The thing that surprised me about the Wright brothers was that they owned a bicycle store, they weren't any kind of engineers when they started playing with the idea of a flying machine. The most admirable thing about this brotherhood was their dedication to creating the world's first flying machine. They risked their own life testing the final products and often would either get hurt or nearly avoid death. What I admire the least was their desire to try and keep their design to themselves and not share it with the world for the better of mankind. They encountered many and various failures and setbacks but that did not stop them, it really paints a perspective on what determination and preservice gets you.

2. Some of the competencies that they had were hard work, passion, brotherhood, and determination.

3. There weren't any really confusing parts as I understood all the technical aspects of it since I am a pilot. The only part that troubled me was their desire to keep their design to themselves.

4. Why did you guys never give up? and What did you guys feel when you finally did it?

5. I don't think that the Wright brothers were hardcore entrepreneurs but had a business model in which the product sold itself, they would have spectators just watch out of pure curiosity not marketing. I believe my product works the same way as well.

12A - Figuring out Buyer Behavior

1. Since the consumer needs to have or show interest in subscribing to Netflix or Hulu we will be targeting a specific group. The service will be available for all but we will be targeting from the ages of 5+ to 30, this age group provides a sweet spot for word of mouth.

2. In compliance with finding 3 people that fit this segment, I have chosen subscribers of both Netflix and Hulu streaming services.

3. The problem of not finding shows and movies occurs for all of my interviewees the majority of the time. When people on social media are not talking about a movie or show then this problem is occurring. Some of the last shows/movies that were trending were 365 days, Birdbox, and Dangerous Lies. These suggestions come from time to time but if you use your platforms on a daily then you can see how you will run out of suggestions very quickly.

4. When my interviewees found that they have this unmet need they did a quick google search and only found suggestions on websites that do the top 10 or top 20 movies and shows to watch this year. They said that these movies or shows are based on reviewers and not the public. In many instances, the ratings on websites like rotten tomatoes did not align with how the public rated the movie/show.

5. My findings conclude that the unmet need is really left unmet for more than I originally thought. My interviewees agreed that they could benefit from a service that would suggest movies/shows based on what the public thought and not what industry raters think.

6. I will use what I learned in my interviews to apply it into our company’s business plan so that we can give the consumers what they want in order to become successful.

11A - Idea Napkin No. 1

1. I am Jorge Spinatto, I possess a particular skill set that makes me a valuable person to any company. I fly airplanes for a living and I believe this business idea will take off.  I see this business going mainstream and if done correctly we will be doing numbers like Netflix.

2. In the simplest form what I am offering the customers are movies and show suggestions. The app we are developing will make suggestions to our customers via a learning algorithm.

3. We are offering this product to all and every consumer who already uses Netflix and Hulu. This would even branch out to the individuals who have left these platforms because they couldn't find anything to watch. Our service could attract them back. Primarily our customer target age would be anywhere from 5+ to 30. All my customers love to watch movies and shows but fall victim to the plethora of content to watch on these platforms.

4. The customers will not have to pay for the services we provide, we will have a business plan similar to Facebook. We will offer our services for free and let word of mouth take the company to new heights. Once the company creates enough traffic will introduce ads, just like YouTube and Facebook have. The customer will use our platform since it will be free and help them with finding a show or movie. Nothing grabs consumers' attention than free.

5. What sets us apart from anyone else is we would be the first ones, we would create a new industry. The Tinder of movies and shows.

Overall I think that these points work hand in hand with each other and only makes me think that our business idea is a solid one. The word of mouth for our target age will attract a lot of attention and since the app is free and only makes revenue via ads it will be perfect for the volume we are trying to achieve and match up with those of Netflix users. We are indeed one of a kind company and will create a new industry.

10A - Elevator Pitch

https://youtu.be/f4o9Povnz5k

9A - Testing the Hypothesis

After conducting 5 interviews with some more coworkers I now know who does not fall within the boundary of my opportunity. Knowing this will allow me to fully take advantage of individuals who actually do fall within my boundary.

Who: Although these individuals share the same interest in watching shows and movies they don't rely on Netflix or Hulu for their content. These individuals rely on either cable t.v or website in which they can watch movies and show at no cost. These individuals would not benefit from a new algorithm because they just don't use the platforms we are targeting.

What: The opportunity I mentioned does will not have a true competitor, Netflix has a system for liking and disliking shows and movies you've watched but from experience, it is not all that effective. Just like Yelp does not really have a true competitor, besides actually searching up the restaurant or attractions there really is no other place to get reviews.

Why: There is no underlying issue other than the users outside of the boundary do not use the platforms we are trying to target.

Inside the Boundary Outside the Boundary Who is in: Individuals who use platforms such as Netflix and Hulu who have a hard time finding shows and movies to watch Who is Not: Individuals who watch movies and shows on cable TV or websites that have the files for free What the Need is: An algorithm within an app that yields suggestions based on what you’ve liked What the Need is Not: A platform to stream shows and movies Why the Need exists: Because of the number of shows and movies on these platforms and the fact that these platforms are continuously updating their selections making it hard to find shows and movies to watch Alternate Explanations: Go with the crowd and watch what is trending or rely on friends to tell you what is good

8A - Solving The Problem

During quarantine, I came to the realization that there is an opportunity in how we can find shows and movies to watch on platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. These platforms are constantly being updated, thus making it difficult to keep up with what is and isn't on these platforms. I propose a third-party app that tracks what shows and movies you've liked and disliked. It can be activated as an extension to the original app or as a stand-alone app. You can search for movies and shows that you have watched and rate them like you do with restaurants or any other attraction. Additionally, it will display what you have previously watched on Netflix or Hulu and allow you to rate them. Once it has enough information it will then yield results and suggestions on what you might like. Time and time again I go on Netflix and Hulu to only find myself back on social media because I could not find a show or movie from the plethora of options. The way the app will generate revenue will be through advertisement. Every once in a while you will get a 15-second ad just like you do for Spotify or YouTube, for a small fee then the ads would disappear for the lifetime of the app. The philosophy of the app will be in ease of use. We do not want to make the experience only that much more difficult for our customers. That is why in every suggestion it will have the link for each corresponding platform you want to watch it on. Ease of use will be why customers use this app.

7A - Testing the Hypothesis, Part 1

1. An algorithm that takes Netflix selection to recommend movies and shows to your personalized taste.

2. The "who" is Netflix users who also have a hard time finding movies and shows. The "what" is to make an app that better identities what you like and dislike. The "why" is to be able to get the most out of these steaming platforms.

3. My opportunity will be a new algorithm for the Netflix streaming platform, the algorithm will be like the ones you see on tinder or such online dating apps. It will require you to like and dislike movies you have seen and based on this feedback will be able to recommend you movies that you would like, the more you interact with the app the better it gets to know you. This opportunity will be available to those individuals who use Netflix but just like me find it very hard to find new shows or movies that I am interested in since there is so much to choose from, I would like it to be narrowed down a little bit to my particular taste.

Interview 1. The first person I interviewed was my little sister, I asked her what she thought about an app that allows you to easily pick a movie or show based on what you have previously said you liked and disliked, she said that she might use it but doesn't know how long it will take for the algorithm to actually register what you like and give you recommendations. I asked if she thought it was useful and she said that it could be if applied correctly. I asked if she would use it and she said she would.

Interview 2. I interviewed my roommate, I know he loves Netflix and has watched a lot of random shows and movies just out of boredom. I started off by explaining how the app will work and he actually thought it was a great idea, he has seen so many things on Netflix that he would rate them and then the app will give him recommendations on what he will actually like and not spend time watching something that he doesn't particularly like. I asked if he thought people would use the app and he said that he would use it and doesn't see why people wouldn't use it, the only thing he suggested is once the app recommends movies that the app should be able to retrieve the Netflix link for you to play the shows or movies

Interview 3 - I interviewed a friend, I asked where and how he chooses movies to watch. The response was Netflix or theaters but since the virus, it has solely been Netflix. He chooses movies by what is trending or what friends recommend. I explained how the app would work and he thought it would be a good idea as well. I asked if he could think of anything that would make the app better and he said that it has to be very user friendly, and intuitive if it lacks these things then the app will not be successful.

Interview 4 I interviewed a coworker, I started off with how she chooses shows to watch on Netflix and she said that she usually just browses around and watches the trailer, and I told her about my app but I made it seem like it was already out and she should try it and she said it was a great idea that she spends more time looking for a movie or show than actually watching anything.

Interview 5 I interviewed my manager, I pitched him the idea of the app immediately and asked what he thought and if he would use anything like that. He told me that Netflix already has this feature it's just not widely known or used but after a movie or show it gives you the thumbs up or thumbs down on whether you liked it or not. I did not know this but thought to myself if I didn't know this then I doubt many other people know it either.

In my 5 interviews, I came to the conclusion that an app like this would be very useful since it really is difficult to find a movie that you would like. I know that the app now has to be intuitive and very easy to use for people to want to use a 3rd party app for streaming. My who, what, and why have not changed and I know there is still a demand for this kind of app.

6A - Identifying Opportunities in Economic & Regulatory Trends

Opportunity 1 - The first article is Netflix: Coronavirus Cements The Company as Untouchable, the article describes how before the coronavirus the company was looking at some very tough competitors such as those of Disney Plus and the Apple streaming platform. But thanks to the virus the company has only solidified itself as the best streaming platform in the industry. I believe now more than ever it is time to invest in Netflix, as things will only look up for the company. I think that anyone who can read this article and do some basic research on how the companies stock has only increased during this pandemic can also come to the conclusion that this company is the biggest in the game.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bethkindig/2020/04/25/netflix-coronavirus-cements-the-company-as-untouchable/#209a0c31d94c

Opportunity 2 - In the article Disney World to Reopen in Mid-July we take a look into the Disney parks in Florida. The company is set to open again in mid-July, this creates opportunities for jobs for the people who were laid off and those who are currently looking for jobs. This opportunity is very apparent and can be seen from a mile away. I think it will be a hard opportunity to exploit as there is a lot of demand for work right now so the competition will be high. 

https://www.usnews.com/news/national-news/articles/2020-05-27/disney-world-to-reopen-in-mid-july

Opportunity 3 - In the article Executive order takes aim at social media companies, Donald Trump signed an executive order this week as the first-ever fact check appeared on his tweets, this also comes from the video of Geroge Floyd being wrongly arrested and murdered by the police. This is an opportunity for the people to fight back and not have their social media limited to what the government wants us to see or thinks is okay to be on there, yes the video is graphic but it is the sad truth in the times we live in, censoring that will only leave the American public even more in the blind. This opportunity is obvious and should be taken with outrage, we should not allow this to happen.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-executive-order-social-media-platforms-section-230/

Opportunity 4 - The article States Are Reopening, But Many Americans Say They Aren’t Rushing Back To Normal Life, is the economy trying to reopen. Many states are now reopening and allowing businesses to operate in certain capacities allowing work to finally come back. This opportunity is apparent and slowly the American public will go back to going out and eating out. This opportunity of low demand should be the time to take advantage and invest in companies that have been affected by the virus.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/states-are-reopening-but-many-americans-say-they-arent-rushing-back-to-normal-life/

5A - Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity 1 - In the article "Boca Raton approves $500K small business recovery program" the city has now approved 500k small business relief package for businesses that have been struggling due to the Covid-19 virus. The relief will give up to 5,000 to each business to request for the aid, it is on a first come first serve basis. The problem is people who have small businesses and need this money and perhaps even more since they have had to close their businesses due to this virus.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/boca-raton/boca-raton-approves-500k-small-business-recovery-program

Opportunity 2 - In the article "Palm Beach County organizations helping to feed families this summer" small organizations are helping the community by providing every week since about 19 percent of children in palm beach county will or have gone hungry since 2019. This opportunity will allow innocent children to not to go sleep hungry.

https://www.wptv.com/rebound/palm-beach-county-organizations-helping-to-feed-families-this-summer

Opportunity 3 - In the article "South Florida community leaders react to the killing of George Floyd" change is coming. This change will be to policies practices to ensure something like that never happens again and let alone in the state of Florida. This opportunity is for anyone who could be innocently accused and arrested, to ensure that they will be treated with the respect they deserve.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/south-florida-community-leaders-react-to-the-killing-of-george-floyd

Opportunity 4 - In the article "Half a million dollars of help for Palm Beach County nonprofits" the city just approved a half a million aid for nonprofits. Each nonprofit will be granted up to a check of six figures to continue allowing to change the community. This opportunity is great for individuals who run a nonprofit and have been finding it very difficult to find funds in these tough times.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/delray-beach/half-a-million-dollars-of-help-for-palm-beach-county-nonprofits

Opportunity 5 - In the article "West Palm Beach prepares for hurricane season during coronavirus pandemic" the city is now advising the citizens of the cities to start thinking about the hurricane season that is right around the corner. With a forecasted very active season in store for us, it is crucial that we prepare. Anyone in Florida benefits from these articles and advisories as it gives us ample time to prepare.

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-c-palm-beach-county/west-palm-beach/west-palm-beach-prepares-for-hurricanes-during-a-pandemic

4A - Forming An Opportunity

1. I see an opportunity with an app that recommends movies and shows

2. This belief stems from far too much personal experience. Throughout the years I have spent more time in search of a show or movie than actually watching one. I believe this is because the algorithms that Netflix and Hulu use aren't exactly the best. I believe that everyone who uses these platforms experiences this problem. I can say with 100 percent certainty that this problem affects Netflix and Hulu users, as of now most people rely on word of mouth for good movies or shows.

3. My prototypical customer would be someone who uses Netflix and/or Hulu. 183 million and 30 million active paid subscribers.

4. Interview 1: The first person I interviewed was a good friend. I began the interview with how she personally finds shows to watch on platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. She replied with "I usually just scroll around watching trailers until I find something that catches my attention." I then asked how long does that usually take. The response was that it varies on what comes up on the home page and categories page. I continued with what if you cannot find something that catches your attention. She replied with I start asking friends if they've seen anything recently that they would recommend.

Interview 2: The second person I interviewed was a colleague. In the same fashion as the previous interview, I asked how they find movies or shows to watch on platforms such as Netflix and Hulu. They responded with "usually I just go on what's currently trending, then I go on YouTube and watch the trailers and read the comments to get an idea on whether or not I will like it. I then followed with how long does that usually take and if it is effective. They said that it depends on what their mood is and if they are interested in what is currently trending or if they have something in mind that they want to watch.

Interview 3: The last person I interviewed was my little sister. As you could have guessed I began the interview in the same manner that I began the previous two. Her response was that she relies heavily on word of mouth. She doesn't like to waste her time looking around for a movie or show. She believes that usually whatever is trending is usually good. I then asked if she knew how her friends got the idea to watch that show. She didn' know how exactly her friends ended up watching the movies or show but that she believes that maybe it was because of the further word of mouth.

5. Reflect: Before any of the interviews I thought long and hard about how I could ask the right questions without simply telling the interviewees what the problem I was trying to solve was. To my surprise the problem became rather apparent once we both knew that the problem with these platforms is finding something that you'll like. I got a good amount of information and it only solidifies my idea that there is in fact an opportunity with these platforms. If the app becomes successful then perhaps Netflix and/or Hulu would be interesting in working with us or outright buying the app and integrating it into their own platform.

6. Summarize: I would say that 90-95 percent of my original statement is still true. The only reason I say that my percentage changed a bit was that my sister brought up an interesting point. Some people know exactly what they are going to watch and some people do not want to waste time finding a show to watch. They just want to put something on and see how it goes, whether it is good or not. I believe that an entrepreneur should adapt their ideas and opportunities and much as the customer thinks they should since they are the ones who are going to buy/use the product.

3A - Your Entrepreneurship Story

I have always been interested in entrepreneurship growing up but one of my first real-life encounters of such was when I was 17. I was at the mall with some of my friends and we decided to go into the Tesla store to check out the cars they had on display. I saw this hipster guy who was looking at one of the cars, I approached him and we started having a conversation, the conversation went on for a good 20 minutes. We talked about Tesla, the future of technology, and several other topics. At the time I didn't know that he was an entrepreneur, we exchanged cell phone numbers and he told me that he liked my attitude and approach on these topics. He said to give him a call sometime so we can continue to talk about such subjects. After leaving the mall and a few days went by I decided to give Daniel a call and see could stem from this spontaneous exchange. He told me that he was the CEO of a technology company here in Florida and how he changed his life just wanted to help others with paving the way for their lives as well. He described what he wanted to do as helping others with their own maze. He already completed his life long goals and now he wanted to share what he knew with others so they can achieve the same for themselves. This encounter really opened my eyes to the importance of financial freedom. Starting out from a young age is important, following ones passion and never taking no as an answer. I joined ENT3003 not only because it is a requirement for my degree but also because I am fascinated with how the business world works from another point of view. I have heard a lot of good things from this professor and am looking forward to what insight he has to offer. At the least, I would like to get my moneys worth from this course but more than that I want to be able to take what I learn from this course and apply it to my career.

2A - Bug List

It bugs me...

1. When Netflix suggests movies that I wouldn't find particularly interesting

Why: Netflix makes suggestions based on what is popular overall and not really what you will like

2. When I don't have enough time to finish an assignment

Why: Poor time management on my end

3. When News outlets take situations out of context for views (Covid-19)

Why: They do it for an increased rating

4. When millionaires ask for the public to donate to charities/ programs when they haven't donated themselves

Why: Because they were pressured or told by their managers/agents

5. When I go to the store for one item during the day and the lines are long

Why: I go during times in which everyone gets out of work

6. When I go to the gym during the evening/ early night and I spend most of my time waiting for a machine to open up

Why: This is a popular time for people to go

7. When I am watching YouTube videos and there are multiple ads during one video

Why: The creator monetizes as much as they can

8. When people want to protest a virus yet wear a mask during the protest

Why: Lack of knowledge/ common sense

9. When I binge-watch a show and the next season is not even in production

Why: I get carried away and don't pace myself

10. When I was my car and the next day it rains

Why: I do not check the weather and I have bad luck

11. When I am trying to sleep and my apple watch keeps vibrating with notifications

Why: I usually take naps during the day and I forget to set it on do not disturb

12. When professors think their class is the only class I am taking and assign a plethora of work

Why: They think very highly of their class

13. When my dog drinks/ eats and makes a complete mess

Why: He's not trained

14. How every major production company is starting its own streaming service

Why: They want to make more profit since cable tv is dying

15. When classes require an access code that cost just as much as the class did

Why: The author needs to make money for the time they took to research and write the book

16. When Uber prices increase later into the night or during large events

Why: These are high demand time and times in which not a lot of people are working thus supply decreases while demand increases

17. When the ice cream machine at fast-food restaurants always being down (Mcdonalds)

Why: The high demand for the ice cream means the machine runs more often and thus reduces the life of the machine

18. When I am taking an exam on proctor u and the proctor wants me to completely clear my desk even though my desk doubles as a bookcase stand

Why: They want to ensure that I am not cheating

19. When Walmart runs out of toilet paper

Why: People get paranoid and panic and for some reason think it's a great idea to stock up on toilet paper

20. When airlines charge more for a ticket as the departure date gets closer

Why: I think it should be the opposite as they have an empty seat on a flight but maybe because if someone really needs that seat they are willing to pay more for it

Reflection: For some odd reason I found it rather difficult towards the middle of my bug list, at first I was able to think of a few good things that instantly came to mind. The same can be said for the ending, I felt like I ended strong but the middle was hard. I didn't think it would be hard to actually think of these since most of these things happen in real life and I forget about them almost instantly.

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