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This week's selection of new business ideas covers a wide variety of industries: for telecom & mobile people, we have phones that consumers can build themselves. For our friends in F&B: bespoke chocolate portfolios. Web folk: online polls that deliver popular opinion in hours, or even minutes. Non-profits: turning accidental calls into small donations. We'll stop here and let you get to the newsletter ;-) Our next edition is due on 12 December 2007. In the meantime, check out our daily postings on www.springwise.com, send us your tips, and please don't forget to tell your friends and colleagues about us. Much appreciated, as always! |
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We've covered taxis for women in the past, and have noticed that the concept is spreading. The latest incarnation we spotted is Turkey's Pudracar. Instead of offering women lower rental rates, which many mainstream rental companies do, Pudracar provides an upgraded service that's undeniably feminine. A fleet of pink BMW 3 Series cars has been fitted with custom interiors in camel-coloured tweed, dark grey and soft pink, accentuated with twinkly bits of crystal. Besides sex-neutral goodies like DVD players, LCD screens an iPod and wireless internet access, Pudracar also added specially selected snacks, cosmetics and make-up tools. The Istanbul-based service comes with a female driver, in livery to match the car's interior. No word yet on pricing, but rates are likely to be as premium as the offering. The concept, which was developed for Europcar by marketing agency Agras, is clearly going after a subset of luxury-minded women who enjoy indulging their inner Barbie. While other women might object to gender-specific car services, entrepreneurs across the globe, from London and Istanbul to Tilburg and Moscow, seem to have found their niche. For more on creating and adapting products and services for women, check out trendwatching.com's recent Female Fever briefing. Website: www.pudracar.com Spotted by: Gökhan Tahtacı
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Two and a half years ago, Zopa launched its social finance concept in the UK. Yesterday, they finally went live in the US. While the basic principle is the same—consumers lend to other people instead of banks, and both parties win—Zopa US deviates from the path taken by its British sibling. While Zopa UK uses a number of methods to keep lenders' money safe—extensive profiles include a potential borrower's credit rating; risk is diversified by spreading money across a number of borrowers; Zopa works with a collection—Zopa US takes security a step further by federally insuring all funds through credit unions. Instead of lending directly to borrowers, lenders buy a Zopa CD (certificate of deposit). To buy a Zopa CD or borrow a Zopa Loan, members need to be a member of one of Zopa's partner credit unions. If they're not already a member, they can sign up online. After buying a Zopa CD, the member must pick at least one borrower to help. And this is where it gets interesting: by choosing the rate at which he or she 'helps' a borrower, the lender controls how much lower a borrower's monthly payments will be. APY for a CD is currently at 5.10%, with APR for the borrower ranging from 8.75% to 16.99%, depending on credit history. Feeling philanthropic? Set a lower rate for the borrower. More of a Scrooge? Keep a larger portion of the spread to yourself. This system not only sets it apart from Zopa UK, but also from the company's main US competitor: Prosper. Both Zopa UK and Propser let their internal markett of borrowers and lenders determine the going rates, and neither offers the security of a guaranteed loan. The safer route provided by Zopa US could help it tap into the very social market of loans between family and friends: the same audience that CircleLending focused on (now Virgin Money US). According to Online Banking Report, a research firm, roughly USD 100 million in new person-to-person loans will be issued this year, mostly by Prosper, with new P2P loans expected to jump to as much as USD 1 billion in 2010 and USD 9 billion in 2017 (source: Wall Street Journal). Which makes it a very interesting market to watch, or to join if you're in financial services. (Related: Zopa's launch in Italy and Peer-to-peer lending for 1.3 billion peers.) Website: us.zopa.com
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Do a web search for indoor composting, and you'll find plenty of useful step-by-step guides that explain how to build your own indoor composting system, complete with a friendly menagerie of worms. The systems are clean and produce great mulch, but not every consumer wants to deal with worms, let alone have them munching away in their kitchen. San Francisco-based NatureMill came up with a solution: an indoor composter that doesn't use worms, doesn't attract flies and isn't smelly. The units are small enough to fit in regular kitchen cabinets, can process up to 120 lbs (55 kg) of organic waste per month, and use just 10 watts of energy. Composting takes place inside a sealed inner chamber. Air is drawn into the chamber by a small fan, and a mixbar and heater keep the process moving along at the correct temperature. A red light indicates when the cure tray needs to be emptied—about once every two weeks—and the end-product is rich compost fertilizer. NatureMills sell for USD 299–399. An outdoor version (USD 399) takes care of pet droppings, too: "for up to 2 large dogs, or 4 cats, rabbits, hamsters, snakes or other small animals." NatureMill ships worldwide, but international shipping is costly. The company is building a global network of dealers. Time to contact them if you import or sell eco/household/kitchen products. While homemade, non-electrical versions bag their users more brownie—er, greenie—points, NatureMill’s solution still trumps the alternative of not composting at all. Like the household recycling plant we featured last year, NatureMill takes a green concept and makes it easy for households to incorporate into their daily routine. More to follow, please! (Related: Full-service home composting.) Website: www.naturemill.com Spotted by: Jill Fraser Crowley
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Every cell phone user has done it: forgot to lock their phone's keypad and accidentally called the first person on their contact list. Usually some unlucky person by the name of Aaron or Abigail. Belgian ad agency Duval Guillaume came up with a clever campaign that turns accidental calls into accidental donations to the Belgian League for the Blind. They're asking people to add 'A Blind Call' to their list of contacts (for those of you in Belgium, the phone number is 070 222260). Every time the number is called, A Blind Call is given a cut of the call's proceeds. Calls are cut off after 30 seconds, and the cost to the dialler is never more than EUR 0.75. Not only will the proceeds help the League for the Blind fund useful projects and research for sight-impaired people, every Alice, Alan and Abdullah will be spared a few coat-pocket soundtracks. ;-) (Related: Calling for a cause.) Website: www.ablindcall.be Spotted by: Sheila Wigman
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Human beings have long wished for a way to know what their genes hold in store for them. It’s a wish that’s starting to be fulfilled with the emergence of personal genome services. Three contenders in this area have all made announcements within the last few weeks: deCODEme, 23andMe and Navigenics. For an introductory price of USD 985, Iceland-based deCODEme scans more than a million variants in an individual's genome and calculates the risks of developing 17 different diseases, including asthma, multiple sclerosis and diabetes. The analysis uses a simple cheek swab, and the results also allow consumers to learn about their individual traits and genetic ancestry, as well as comparing their genetic profiles with those of a friend or relative. All data is stored securely online and the company provides updates as new scientific developments emerge. 23andMe, meanwhile, offers a USD 999 service that uses a saliva sample rather than cheek swab and analyses some 600,000 genetic variants. Consumers can use 23andMe's web-based interactive tools to explore the results, investigating their origins and genetic connections with others as well as understanding how the latest genetic findings apply to them. Currently, California-based 23andMe offers its service to US consumers only. Finally, early next year California-based Navigenics will begin offering a USD 2,500 saliva-based service that maps an individual's genetic makeup and then compares it with current research on the genetic bases of 20 actionable conditions such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Included among the results are assessments of the individual's risks relative to those of the general population and suggested steps the consumer can take to minimize the chances of developing a disease. Also included are a consultation with a certified genetic counsellor and a one-year subscription that continuously checks test results against new developments in genetics. These are obviously highly specialized services, but their promise has drawn the attention of major investors including Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers, Sequoia Capital and Google. Opportunities here? How about developing auxiliary services? With a wealth of sophisticated scientific data at their fingertips, consumers will increasingly need trusted medical consultants to help make sense of it all and navigate follow-up steps as needed, from additional testing to dietary advice. Websites: www.decodeme.com — www.23andme.com — www.navigenics.com Spotted by: Bjarke Svendsen
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Back in April, we featured Tadacopy—a Japanese company that provides free photocopies for students. Advertisers sponsor the free service by having Tadacopy print their ads on the reverse side of the copy paper. A variation on the theme was just launched in the Netherlands. Students at the University of Utrecht can sign up with StudyPrint. After registering with their university email address to prove they’re students, they can upload documents to StudyPrint’s website and pick them up by entering a code on the printer, or can bring their files to the print station on a USB flash drive. Emailing documents to a dedicated email address is a third option that StudyPrint is currently developing. The printed sheets, black and white only, have a horizontal, banner-style ad at the top and bottom of several pages, plus one full page ad per batch. Advertisers only pay for the number of students that printed documents featuring their ads, and can choose whether they’d like their ads to appear every 5 pages, or every 20. Offering advertisers an integrated campaign, StudyPrint will also add banners to emails sent to registered users. Potential benefits for advertisers? Students should, in theory, have warm fuzzy feelings for advertisers that offer them something useful for free. Ads will be viewed several times, since most printed material will be used both for classes or projects, and reviewed for exams. The startup, which was launched by four students, is currently operating just one printing station on the University of Utrecht’s campus. They aim to expand the concept to other universities and colleges soon. Free love knows no bounds! ;-) (Related: Free notepaper for students.) Website: www.studyprint.nl Spotted by: Marit Hoekstra
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We’ve covered premium chocolate in the past, featuring companies like Max Brenner and the 100% Chocolate Café. Nonetheless, we were intrigued by a premium chocolate concept featured in trendwatching.com’s latest briefing. Sir Hans Sloane, based in London, offers clients a bespoke chocolate portfolio. Customers work with the firm’s master chocolatier, Bill McCarrick, to discover which types and flavours of chocolate they enjoy most. Much like an expert vintner helps a clients stock their cellar with wines that please their palate, Sir Hans Sloane designs a unique chocolate profile for each client. No two customers share the same profile, and their selections are logged in a ‘Keeper’s Book’ for future reference. Once the selection had been made and catalogued, the chocolates are made to order and packaged in a handmade wooden box. Sir Hans Sloane’s chocolate premiumization doesn’t stop there. While other artisanal makers pride themselves on using only the finest raw materials from Madagascar or Ecuador, Sir Hans Sloane is the only chocolate studio in the UK to do its own conching—a refining process that involves up to 72 hours of rolling liquid chocolate to bring out flavours and a silky texture. Bespoke & premium: it’s a combination that should inspire entrepreneurs to come up with their own unique offerings for consumers who want to experience something über-upgraded, created just for them. (Related: Custom-blended teas.) Website: www.sirhanssloane.com
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Students at Cornell, USC, Princeton and a handful of other US universities now can pool their resources in a handy online forum at TheCollegeFreeWay—a network for sharing notes, outlines, essays, problem sets, study guides and more. Users can search by university, course or type of document needed. While anyone can view the materials, students must register to upload or download documents, rate them or make comments. Students can register directly through the site or can sign in via their Facebook accounts. While the site might not be a huge hit with professors, the site was not designed with cheating in mind, but rather to streamline the process of combining notes and other resources—which college students have been doing for ages—in a more convenient and organized fashion. And as long as TheCollegeFreeWay sticks to student-generated materials, copyright infringement shouldn't be an issue with school faculty. As the name suggests, the site is free to use and is financed through Google ads. As with any venture that relies on user-submitted content, getting off the ground can be tricky. But while the offerings are limited for now (the site currently lists ten schools, but only has documents available for half a dozen), once the buzz gets around campus, things could quickly take off. Now may be the time to start up duplicates for colleges or even high schools in other countries—or to consider how this type of sharing might make sense for professional networking in other industries. Website: www.thecollegefreeway.com Spotted by: Bill McMahon
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Back in June, we covered a location-based service—MizPee—that lets people use their mobile phone to find the nearest public toilet. The same idea just popped in London, dubbed SatLav and launched by the City of Westminster (one of London's central boroughs, and home to most of the city's popular shopping and entertainment venues). After texting 'toilet' to 80097, users receive a text message with the details of the nearest facilities and their opening times. Pitched by industrial designer Gail Knight, SatLav was the winning entry in a city council innovation competition. (Earlier this year, Gail Knight developed a pedestrian navigation system that points pedestrians in the right direction by way of two rings that vibrate when they need to make a turn.) While SatLav just got started, San Francisco-based MizPee has expanded its coverage to 14 North American cities. More smart location based services to follow? (Related: Luxe London loos and Zipcar uses mobile GPS to pinpoint nearest car.) Website: www.westminster.gov.uk Spotted by: RK
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Genealogy buffs can now pull together the fruits of their hard work and research into handsomely bound self-published books and family tree posters thanks to Ancestry Press, a new venture recently launched by Ancestry.com. Customers who already have their pedigree information archived on Ancestry.com can easily transfer their family trees, facts, photos, stories, historical documents, recipes and more to formatted templates—or blank pages they can design from scratch—for printing. And those who aren't yet Ancestry.com users can set up accounts quickly and easily. Books are hand-bound and printed on 100-pound gloss, acid-free, archival paper with hard leatherette covers that can be stamped with custom two-line titles in gold foil. Pricing is currently at USD 29.95 for a 24-page book. Customers can add extra pages for just 39 cents each up to a total of 100 pages. 18-by-24-inch family tree posters (additional sizes coming soon) are available at an introductory rate of USD 19.95 and can feature up to six generations. There are volume discounts, too, for those who might like to purchase multiple copies as gifts for family members. Turnaround time is two to three weeks. Much like the TasteBook customized cookbooks we recently featured, this is another great example of self-publishing targeting a niche market—clearly a trend for entrepreneurs in the publishing arena to keep their eyes—and thinking caps—focused on. Website: www.ancestrypress.com Spotted by: John Boufford
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There's nothing like compelling content to engage potential customers, and that's just what Realius is aiming for with its Fantasy Real Estate suite of online games. The first of these, Price Me Now, was demonstrated at the TechCrunch40 Conference in September and crowned Most Creative Idea at the Web 2.0 Summit a month later. Now in beta, the game challenges players to guess the prices of actual homes for sale in their market by viewing the photos and property details provided by the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Players earn points based on their performance against the Realius price, an aggregation of previous player estimates and the actual list price; in the near future, prizes will be awarded to the best pricers. The game is free to users, but real estate companies and professionals can purchase in-game placement as “coaches” who guide players and make their own professional guesses. Licensing fees, referrals and market reports are also part of Realius's planned revenue model. Chuck Teller, CEO of the California start-up, explains: "Realius captures the synergies between the enormous popular interest in casual gaming and Americans' obsession with real estate. Our games engage consumers as they dream about, search for, buy, furnish, remodel and sell their homes in ways that are incredibly fun—but also instructive." Other games in the works at Realius include Fantasy Flip, which lets homeowners give their homes virtual makeovers and then solicit opinions on how much the changes would increase their value, and Major League Investor, which pits players against one another as they build fantasy property portfolios. The games currently focus on the company's home base of the San Francisco Bay Area, but they're a nice example of marketing through content--which could be particularly important for weathering tough business climates such as the one faced by real estate today. One to bring to a market near you...? Website: www.realius.com Spotted by: Peter Yu
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For a while now, web developers have been mixing and matching web services such as Google Earth and Yahoo Weather to create mash-ups that perform useful new functions. Likewise, programmers have grown adept at tweaking the code used by open-source software programs. The result in both instances has been unique applications the developers of the original technology likely never dreamed of. US start-up Bug Labs wants to harness some of that same creativity by enabling tech-savvy do-it-yourselfers to create their own mobile devices. The company has designed several basic hardware modules that snap together like building blocks to perform whatever mobile function their owners can think of. “There are so many great gadget ideas that haven't been thought of yet,” the founders note. “We want to unlock and inspire the discovery and creation of as many of these devices as possible.” Besides letting them add whatever they want, the snap-together components also let consumers leave out what they don't want, which is a far cry from many pre-packaged mobile phones and PDAs that come crammed with features their buyers have no use for. How it works? Would-be product designers start with Bug Labs’ basic module—in essence, a Linux-based mobile computer. Then, they add other modules to give the basic device fresh capabilities. Want a camera that tags photos with a GPS-derived location and then uploads them to the web? All it takes is fitting the necessary components together. The software to run the device is also modular, though customizing it may require some minor coding. Bug Labs aims to start selling both the basic module and the first four add-ons (GPS, digital camera/videocam, colour LCD touchscreen and an accelerometer/motion sensor) by the end of 2007. Gadgets built with Bug Lab’s block-like components may not satisfy those who lust after branded mobile devices poured into seamlessly sleek designs. It will, however, appeal to people who enjoy making things,* and like having control over elements of a product’s design. Whether or not the component approach succeeds with mobile devices, plenty of other manufactured products would do well to study the concept and see if they can make their own products modular and stackable. Let them build it, and they will come! ;-) Website: www.buglabs.net Spotted by: Trine Plambech * More on MIY | Make it Yourself in trendwatching.com’s latest briefing, which highlights 8 important consumer trends for 2008.
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While a simple Google search will present you with expert and amateur views on almost any subject, those opinions are generally scattered across thousands of websites, blogs and forums. Online polling sites like Ask500People and BuzzDash offer a centralized alternative, allowing you to gauge popular opinion on almost any topic and see the results within hours. Ask500People ("World opinion while you watch") gathers votes on its own website and through widgets on thousands of other sites. Registered users suggest new questions and those that receive the most votes from other members are moved to the homepage. While in beta mode, Ask500People is limiting itself to 100 people. Each question is open until 100 votes are in, which generally takes less than 15 minutes. Incoming votes are displayed on a map in real time, with 'yes' or 'no' markers indicating where respondents are based and what they voted. (The voter's location is retrieved from the IP address of the computer he or she is using. IP tracking also allows the website to limit votes to one per computer.) Recent questions range from "Is America ready for a female president" to "Does honey help to heal a wound?" Although sophisticated formal survey tools offer organizations a more in-depth look into their audiences' minds, they're also expensive and take weeks to prepare and execute. No surprise then, that Ask500People is offering premium services. For USD 100-500, a company can poll 500 internet users on any topic, and have the results within hours. Survey results for corporate polls are private, and the company's identity isn't visible to the respondent. BuzzDash, meanwhile, takes a more elaborate approach to online polling. While Ask500People's strength lies in its simplicity (one question at a time, open for a very limited time span), BuzzDash offers an entire dashboard of questions, which can run for months. Visitors and voters can choose from categories like Entertainment and Business & Finance, and can also create 'buzzbites' to publish on their own websites, asking their own visitors the questions they want answers to. BuzzDash lets users suggest questions, but editors decide which question will make it to the homepage, "looking for those most likely to reflect the interests and breadth of opinions of users in the given topic areas." BuzzDash isn't currently offering premium services. Business opportunities? While global polls are fascinating, there's definitely value in local versions of Ask500People or BuzzDash, addressing topics that matter in your part of the world, asking questions in your native tongue. And, of course, allowing corporate clients to poll local markets. Websites: www.ask500people.com — www.buzzdash.com
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Earlier this month we wrote about RedesignMe, a Dutch site that offers a place for consumers to share complaints, offer suggestions and try their hand at redesigning the products that are part of their lives. San Francisco-based Satisfaction, which just recently entered beta, takes the concept one better by giving the marketers behind those products a chance to be explicitly involved. Working on a notion it calls "people-powered customer service," Satisfaction lets consumers participate in conversations about customer service issues specific to particular companies or products. A recent post in the Twitter section, for example, describes a problem one consumer had getting a Twitter application to update in Facebook. In the Timbuk2 section, another contributor asks for advice about laptop messenger bags. Participants in the conversations can include both customers and company employees (clearly labelled as such), and the posts ranked as most useful get propelled to the top of the list. Discussions are controlled by the community, free of impersonal contact forms or company censorship. Marketers who choose to join in, meanwhile, are freed from repetitive support tasks and able to engage their customers in a more collaborative way. The service is currently free for those on both sides of the equation. "Customer service is the new marketing," the people behind Satisfaction like to say. And it's true: customers who are motivated enough to spend time talking about you are almost certainly worth getting to know—if you don't interact with them, your competitors will. Next, how about bringing this model down to the local or niche level, focusing on regional offerings or products in a particular category? Website: www.getsatisfaction.com
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