Opportunity Belief

1.     I believe that an opportunity exists in parking lots and parking garages to create a more efficient system for those trying to find a parking spot.

2.     When arriving at a large and packed parking garage or parking lot, many have to spend an excessive amount of time looking for an empty parking spot. In addition, they may even have to deal with the passing of an empty parking spot because they could not look for a parking spot while also paying attention to driving. In order to park in a timely manner and save the excessive amount of stress that parking brings, there should be an electronic display, which could also require an app, at the entrance of the parking lot/parking garage or the entrance of each row of parking that lights up which spots are open. Anyone who drives, owns a car, and is forced to park in a busy parking lot/parking garage is effected by this unmet need. This need has existed since parking lots and parking garages have existed, but the need has been increasingly necessary with the increase in population, the increase in the amount of people who drive, and the increase in the amount of people own cars. To meet this need now, people are giving up their precious time to search for an open parking spot or they are leaving at an earlier time to get places to ensure that there are more empty spots to choose from. I am 95% percent sure that this opportunity exists. 

4.     Interview #1: Ken
Ken found that the exact nature of the need was searching for an available parking spot and experiences this unmet need sometimes. He has had the need for 35 years and realized how big the need might be 35 years ago at Christmas time, when shopping for presents. Currently, Ken addresses his need by driving around until he finds a spot and is unhappy doing so. However, when presented with my solution to the problem he was satisfied and believes that there is a definite need in parking garages and parking lots. Ken believes there needs to be a real-time grid installed, so a driver can also know what other cars are also seeking spaces.

Interview #2: Kim
Kim believed the exact nature of the need was for ease of finding a parking space and believed this unmet need sometimes. She has had this need for 30 years and realized the unmet need, also while Christmas shopping, 30 years ago. As of right now, Kim copes with the need by driving endlessly around parking lots and parking garages. She feels the current way she has to address the need is time consuming, frustrating, and wastes fuel. Kim believes with the solution presented to her would be very helpful. However, she was concerned that if you do not have a good memory or someone else wants that open spot, you may have to return to the screen. She suggested an app that directs to closest spot.

Interview #3: Cayla
Cayla desires to find a quick, easy and accessible parking spot when as she deals with searching for a parking spot all the time, when returning to school from work. She has had this need for three weeks and has realized the need after returning to school and taking 45 minutes to find a parking spot. Cayla currently addresses the situation by driving around the entire parking lot looking for a spot. After presenting my solution, Cayla explained that she would be very satisfied if it was implemented.

5.     Throughout the various interviews, I learned a lot about my opportunity. I learned that the unmet need that I address is one that a lot of people have been dealing with for most of their lives. In addition, I realized that it becomes more of a problem during busy times of the year or in different seasons. I also learned that was definitely a problem for colleges as they do have limited parking and a lot of students, and it can be especially hard for students to find spots. The most surprising thing I learned was probably the ideas that Ken and Kim had to offer. I did not think of people being forgetful and I did not think of making it as a real-time to grid to ensure that people are not going for that empty spot already. 

7.     My original opportunity is still very much intact; however, it has altered based on suggestions and concerns that people I interviewed brought to my attention. Based on the suggestions and concerns I received, I feel that the new opportunity is definitely more accurate then when I started. I have reconsidered how I would model this and decided that creating an app for a mobile phone or for a car with a display could be even more helpful for drivers as it would provide as a reminder where the spots are and give real time updates of other cars arriving at open spots. I think that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback if the feedback will truly make the opportunity better fit the needs of more customers. In other words, I feel that entrepreneurs should take in customers ideas, especially if the entrepreneur had not thought about them. The entrepreneur, however, should also know when to stay firm and not be swayed if a customer wants to change the whole opportunity or does not agree with the opportunity. If customer feedback is consistent, the entrepreneur should look to see what he/she could do to adapt the opportunity.