19A Idea Napkin No. 2

1) As a second year student here at the University of Florida, I have experienced both sides of the college lifestyle. Beginning University, I lived off campus in an apartment 20 minutes away from campus by car. I did not get involved in greek life nor did I partake in any clubs or organizations on campus. Joining a greek chapter this year has made it more than evident to me how the experience here at UF could be changed completely by this one thing. Going from barely knowing anyone, a homebody, and someone who was hesitant to pursue new endeavors on my own, to knowing all theses people involved in various things around campus and Gainesville itself has made me more open minded to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. My idea strayed from a system they implement in my chapter pairing girls together to make the new members as comfortable as they can be. That comfortability is what I aspire to give to everyone on campus regardless of your affiliation with greek life. I want these kids who are hesitant or scared to feel safe and welcomed on campus. Starting this business I see it becoming a great transitioning bridge for students entering their first year in college. Ultimately the positive impact it has on my customers life will carry over into mine. 

2) What I'm offering to my customers are new doors. Every customer will fill out a survey describing their personality, interests, and what they aim to gain from my service as best as they can. Customers can be new students in Gainesville, or non students who have yet to find their place in this city.  Additionally, active members on campus and around the city who want to get new people involved will fill out the survey as well.  New students/residents, and active members, will be paired based on similar answers. With their buddies, they can sign up for activities around campus and the city to explore where they belong in Gainesville as well as network and make connections with people they possibly would not have met otherwise.

 3) I am offering my service to both residents and students, new or not. The demographics I am focusing on are age, and ethnicity. Psychographics being hobbies and interests. The ages can range from 18+. Ethnic backgrounds will aid in allowing people to connect to their roots and hopefully make them feel more at home. But, pairings are not determined through ethnicity unless wanted. Hobbies and interests will connect those with similarities and help determine which activities are most demanded. What I think connects all my customers is that unfulfilled support group or social need. They have shared experiences of being frightened by this new change and they all want to enhance the experience to understand why people talk so highly of their college experience. 

4) People would actually care about this service because I know a lot of people can relate to the difficulty of meeting new people when coming into a new environment. I know from personal experience I would've been interested in a service like this, as well as know older people who could also potentially benefit from a service like this. The service itself would not be expensive and be affordable to as wide of an income market as possible. Having connections with people make a city and campus like Gainesville seem much smaller, safer, and welcoming.

5) My core competency is that I experienced this lack of myself. Also, I have connections with people in many diverse areas within Gainesville. My service stems from compassion and a genuine want to help people that feel out of place not revenue. Relating to my market helps me better understand where the need is and how to provide a viable solution for it.

I think all elements and reasoning fit well in creating this service. I think the area I need to focus on most is how to generate a gain from this service. Whether I should focus on a membership service or If I should also include individual activities. Also I need to focus on setting a reasonable price that exudes value and affordability. I think my biggest take away from the feedback I received was adding the idea of a subscription similar to study edge. I hadn't thought about putting that bundle idea into my service and I thought it was a really great one.