You: I am a junior at the University of Florida studying finance. I am from Long Island, New York. I enjoy traveling, skiing and trying new foods. Some of my skills include being proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. I consider myself to be very good with computers and able to pick up technology very easily. I am very interested in the entertainment industry and this past summer I interned at AMC Networks in the finance department for AMC and Sundance. There, I was able to use my analytical, Excel, and organizational skills to further develop my passion for the entertainment industry. If I were to start this business, I think that it would start out as a part time side job which would eventually turn into a full-time job. I would develop a software for the Bluetooth that would be compatible and safe for the in-flight entertainment and not interfere with the pilot’s signal. Eventually I would sell it off to a different company or even try to start selling it to the airlines themselves. I think that my idea is there, and many people experience the same problem as I do.
What are you offering to customers? I am offering an easy way to connect Bluetooth devices to airplanes. Since not all passengers may want this service, it can be an opt in type of program. If the passenger wants to be able to connect to the Bluetooth, that service can be offered to them for $1.99-$3.00 for the entirety of the plane ride. I don’t know the exact pricing yet. I think that the opt in service is better than making it available to everyone so that the Bluetooth signals are a lot lower. 100% of the plane would not be using the Bluetooth so it would be a lot safer. My invention will make it so that travelers will never have to worry again about owning and bringing a wired pair of headphones while traveling.
Who are you offering it to? At first, I was going to invent a device for consumers to purchase in the store such as best buy, target, etc. making it B2C. Now, I want to develop the program software and sell it to different airline companies for them to install it on all of their airplanes, B2B.
Why do they care? They care because it would increase their customer satisfaction. The airlines could set prices to make a profit on this service. They know that it is a known problem, and by people not using the personal entertainment, they are wasting money on contracts with entertainment companies that provide their content to the airlines. Having the Bluetooth opt in program available would increase their customer satisfaction, profits, and bring them into the future of technology.
What are your core competencies? My passion for both entertainment and traveling are to my benefit. I am able to understand how consumers want to travel while keeping a budget in mind. My detail-oriented mind will be of benefit when deciding key decisions for the business.
When evaluating all of these questions, I do think that they tie into each other in one way or another. Great computer skills will allow me to develop a software. Excel and business skills will allow me to keep track, organize, and analyze important business decisions. Selling to the airlines would be the best approach. The software development could be a very successful business and a great industry to enter because people will always want to travel, and the travel industry isn’t going anywhere.
While I didn’t get feedback on Idea Napkin No. 1, I did get feedback in general for my product. I read about the concern of the Bluetooth connectivity not being safe for the pilots and passengers. That is when I took into consideration for it to be an opt in service so that there are minimal connectivity signals, at least in the beginning. I think that over the year’s technology will allow the entire plane to be able to connect without their being any safety concerns. That was the only feedback I received for me to change anything. I changed this in the “Who are you offering it to” and “Why do they care” sections.
