30A – Final Reflection

What sticks out to you as the most formative experience? The experience that you'll remember years later? What was your most joyous experience? What experience are you most proud of yourself for accomplishing?

One of the best experiences that I received in this class was my experience with the elevator pitch exercises. This was my first attempt at an elevator pitch and it was definitely an experience that will bee of value to me. I learned the in's and out's of an elevator pitch and now I feel I can give a successful elevator pitch for the product idea that I chose for this class. I am extremely proud of myself for this experience because every time I filmed a new elevator pitch, I learned something new that I would incorporate into my next attempt.

At the beginning of the semester, I mentioned that I wanted each of you to develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Now, at the end, do you see yourself as an entrepreneur? Do you think you have moved closer to developing an entrepreneurial mindset?

After finishing this class I know I developed as an entrepreneur based on the skills that I was taught throughout this semester. With that being said, I believe I developed an entrepreneur mindset that I will carry forward in my career. I know I developed this mindset because everyday I am always thinking of new ways to be innovative. In addition, I am always trying to figure out how to help other people and make ones everyday task easier.

What is the one recommendation you would make to the students who are going to journey down this path in the future? What would you recommend they do to perform best in this course? What would you recommend they do to foster that mindset?

To be a successful student in this course, I believe it is important to keep up with the coursework. In addition, it is also extremely important to choose an entrepreneurial venture that you believe in because you will end up developing that idea for the whole entire semester. Lastly, always remember to try your hardest and do your best job on anything that bears your name. Diligence not only applies to principles of entrepreneurship, but to everything you do in your career. In order to maintain this mindset you need to bee organized so I suggest setting reminders on your phone for when your assignments are due and completing your assignments days before the deadline.

Venture Concept No. 2

Icebreakers

Opportunity

There are nearly eight billion people in the world today which leaves us with the lifetime opportunity of meeting new people. Despite there being so many people in this world to meet, we still tend to only talk to the people we already know when we go out to a bar or a social setting. This is mostly due to our natural instinct of doing what is comfortable and fearing the uncomfortable. With that being said, I am creating an app that has the ability to make socializing in a social setting a little bit easier. After being in Gainesville for nearly 2 years and spending almost every weekend going out to social events, I found the need for a solution to a problem. When I first walk into a bar, the first thing I do is look for people I know if I haven’t already come with anybody I know. Every time that I have gone out, I have been with a group of people. We usually see people in the bar that we already know, and we go and talk to them. This is not a problem, but I believe that it should be easier to meet new people and there has to be a way to promote social networking in a bar setting. I then realized that there is a need for a social networking app that is specific to each social setting. Personally, I think this need can apply to all age range’s, but my app is built specifically for college students that are 18 to 22 years old. The introduction of this app would make a bar setting more social and promote social networking. This app would also target people outside of college that are in a social city bar setting. This would be a great market for the app because most people go to new cities after college for work and they usually don't know many people when they walk into a new bar. 

There is already an extremely successful app known as tinder that has the similar function but the app, they use does not have the functionality to be specific to each bar. Tinder is known for being more of a stay at home hookup app instead of a social networking app like Facebook. With that being said, this is a he opportunity because a platform with the functionality oi just described does not exist.

Innovation

The name of my app is Icebreakers. The icebreakers app is a free social networking platform that helps people network with the other people in the same social setting as them. When you walk into a bar you open your Icebreakers app and check into that bar. After checking into that bar you will be able to see who is in that bar through the app. You will only be able to see the people that have the app and have checking into the bar. Next, a notification will be sent out to everyone using the app that you entered the bar. You can then filter out who you want to see in that bar and you now have the opportunity to view who is in the bar. After viewing who Is in the bar, you find someone that is in the same club as you at UF that you haven’t yet met. You then send this person a request to meet up. The other person can view your request and see if they are interested in meeting you. After they accept the meetup request, you will be given a meetup location in the bar and you will be placed in a direct message to communicate. In terms of security, this app does a background check before anyone joins the app. After completing the background check anybody can report suspicious behavior and those people will be removed from the app. Also, let’s say someone requests to meet you and you don’t want to meet them because they seem sketchy, then you simply just decline their request and the person cant request you again that night.

Venture Concept

My innovation will address this opportunity because it will give people a new alternative for networking that may be easier and more enjoyable for some people. If this app is used in full effect, then it will allow people to network and make new friends when out in a crowded social setting. Obviously, the hardest part about creating this app is getting people to use it. My competitors are tinder and Facebook but at the end of the day this app’s one of a kind, so it doesn’t really compare to Facebook or tinder due to its distinct functionality. This product would require a tech team to fix any problems that the users may have. It would also require a research and development team to further advance the software.

The three minor elements

I think my most important resource will be the ability for this app to be a fully integrated platform. This means that every step of the networking experience is done through the app all the way up until you meet the person face to face. Also, I think the experience that people receive when using this app is an exhilarating experience that will differentiate us from the competition. The next steps for this venture are to meet with a app developer ad work on creating the app that will perform everything I described above. Also, I need to develop a cost breakdown of the expenses that will go into getting this app up and running. After launching this app, my main focus will be on spreading the word and getting people to try out this platform. Five years from now, I could see this app being a global leader in social networking platforms. I want to see this app develop and improve based on user feedback. This will give the user the best experience possible and it will allow this app to spread a good word. I believe this app will change the world for the better. This app will allow people to go out in a social setting and comfortable and safely build their social network and advertise their personal brands

2&3) Provide a summary of the feedback you received from your previous venture concept description. You certainly want to include the student feedback, but you may also include the feedback you received from others during the "What's Next" exercise. You want to summarize all of the feedback, but be sure to place an emphasis on what people recommended you change about your idea. (In other words, don't just describe the positive feedback.) Describe how you changed your venture concept, based on what you learned from the feedback.

In this assignment I included some of the feedback that I received from my first venture concept assignment. One of my classmates expressed his concern for me strictly targeting college students so I expanded my audience where I am also pursuing college graduates who just moved to a new city and don't know anyone at the bars. I found this advice extremely helpful because I was too focused on college students when my app is very applicable to many different crowds. 

4)

28A – Your Exit Strategy

1) Identify the exit strategy you plan to make. Do you intend to sell your business in the next 5 years for a large return? Do you intend to stay with the business for several decades and retire? Do you intend to protect the venture as a family business, and pass it down to your children?

Following my experience in in ENT I plan to continue developing my company Icebreakers. As I mentioned in previous posts, there are still many steps and updates that I plan to implement into the development of the Icebreakers app. Long term I want to develop this app into a self sustaining company where I don't need to put as much effort into it as I do now. 

2) Why have you selected this particular exit strategy?

I selected this strategy because I want to keep my company so I can continue to develop it. In addition, I believe this company will eventually be self sustaining which means it will require less of my attention. I will then be able to focus on my other business ventures and hopefully pass this business down to my kids or sell it in the long term. 

3) How do you think your exit strategy has influenced the other decisions you've made in your concept? For instance, has it influenced how you have identified an opportunity? Has it influenced your growth intentions or how you plan to acquire and use resources?

When creating my concept I always did so with the mindset that I will not be selling this company anytime soon. With that being said, this decision will not effect my concept at all.

27A – Reading Reflection No. 3

1) You read about an entrepreneur:

Ray Kroc built Mcdonalds at the age of 52. This is extremely inspiring because when you are older, it is alot tougher to take risks because you have more obligations. I admired the fact that he owned and started multiple business at the same time at the age of 52. Ray Kroc owned the Mcdonalds Realty which means that every person that started a McDonalds had to pay him rent. In addition he owned the Mcdonalds franchise and he invented the ice cream machines that are used in McDonalds today. I do not admire that he is selling food that is knowingly unhealthy and dangerous to humans. This food is cheap which makes it more appealing to humans. When Kroc went to sell multi mixers he quit his job working for the paper cup company that he previously worked for. They found out that he signed a contract with them and they demanded 60 percent of his business in a lawsuit and he had to accept. With that being said he lived off only 40 percent of his income which was tough but he was able to do. In addition, when building the second location, the entrepreneurs struggled to get the fries to taste right which directly effected their customer satisfaction

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

Kroc was able to successfully create the best French fries known to man at the time and even compete with the top burger company's. He was able to expand McDonalds with most of the locations being franchises. He made most of his money after he first met with the McDonald's brothers to sign a contract where he handled the new locations that would be built. This allowed him to expand the McDonalds brand while also selling more of his multi mixers.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

I was confused by how easy the McDonald brothers signed rights over to Kroc. They should have realized how valuable there company was and expanded it themselves.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

I would ask Kroc, what is the biggest piece of advice that he would give people who are looking to start a business but who are scared to do so. Kroc has alot of experience and. I am sure he could give good guidance. I would then ask him how he plans to continue the growth of Mcdonalds with the world tending tom shift to a healthier diet, and more information on the health of McDonalds being released.

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

I believe that Ray Kroc is a very hard working man. It has been made obvious through his extreme venture as an entrepreneur. He seems to believe that hard work is essential to being successful and I completely agree with that opinion.

26A – Celebrating Failure

1) Tell us about a time this past semester that you failed -- whether in this class, or outside of this class. Don't spare any details! It'd be even better if there was something you tried several times this semester, and failed each time.

A time that I failed this semester would be when I took my first exam in marketing. It was my first time using smoking notes and I did not fully understand how to study for the class. In preparation for this exam I only read the smokin notes one time and that was it. With that being said, I did not do well on the exam. 

2) Tell us what you learned from it.  

Following the exam asked my friends how they studied for the exam and they said to do the smoking notes, memorize all vocabulary, and complete all of the practice exam. I did one third of that which Is why my first exam didn't go well. With that being said, for exam 2 I did all of the three things I listed above and I aced the second exam. 

3) Reflect, in general, on what you think about failure. Failure is hard, isn't it? It's embarrassing, sure, but it also means that we have to change something about ourselves. Talk about how you handle failure (emotionally, behaviorally). Finally, talk about how this class has changed your perspective on failure -- are you more likely to take a risk now than you were just a few months ago?

Personally, I believe that failure is essential for human development. The best way to learn is to fail. Naturally, our bodies and our mental state tend to shy away from failure but if we face failure head on our body and mind will adapt. It is important to assess your failure and figure out why you went wrong then develop a new plan. Learning from failure is what develops us as humans. If we didn't learn from failure, we would be stuck and never develop. Following this class, I find myself always willing to take risks because ei know that if I fail, I will come out a better person.

25A – What’s Next?

Existing Market:

Step 1: The next steps for my venture is to develop and budget the app.

Step 2: Did not do interviews due to teachers instructions

Step 3: I think that to grow in my existing market, I need to focus on the experience that the app provides. The experience is what determines if the user will use the App again and it will also determine if they will spread a good word or a bbad word. In my opinion, most social networking apps spread through word of mouth if they provide a good experience.

New Market:

Step 1: I can target people over the age of 22.

Step 2: My app could create value for the individuals in this market because they could expand their network and meet new people. Also, not all people over the age of 22 are in relationships. With that being said, this app could help them in meeting someone new that they could build a relationship with.

Step 3: Did not do interviews due to teachers instructions

Step 4: The new market I identified above seems like it would be an extremely successful market. I say this because people over the age of 22 still have desire to build their social network so this app would provide them that opportunity. Personally, I think my target market should be people between the age of 18-22 but I think this is a market worth pursuing. I think the best way to tap into this market would be to create filter that allows you to choose the age range that would are looking to network in. After choosing this age range, the app will automatically filter out the people that don't fall into this age range.

24A – Venture Concept No. 1

Icebreakers

Opportunity

There are nearly eight billion people in the world today which leaves us with the lifetime opportunity of meeting new people. Despite there being so many people in this world to meet, we still tend to only talk to the people we already know when we go out to a bar or a social setting. This is mostly due to our natural instinct of doing what is comfortable and fearing the uncomfortable. With that being said, I am creating an app that has the ability to make socializing in a social setting a little bit easier. After being in Gainesville for nearly 2 years and spending almost every weekend going out to social events, I found the need for a solution to a problem. When I first walk into a bar, the first thing I do is look for people I know if I haven’t already come with anybody I know. Every time that I have gone out, I have been with a group of people. We usually see people in the bar that we already know, and we go and talk to them. This is not a problem, but I believe that it should be easier to meet new people and there has to be a way to promote social networking in a bar setting. I then realized that there is a need for a social networking app that is specific to each social setting. Personally, I think this need can apply to all age range’s, but my app is built specifically for college students that are 18 to 22 years old. The introduction of this app would make a bar setting more social and promote social networking. There is already an extremely successful app known as tinder that has the similar function but the app, they use does not have the functionality to be specific to each bar. Tinder is known for being more of a stay at home hookup app instead of a social networking app like Facebook. With that being said, this is a he opportunity because a platform with the functionality oi just described does not exist.

Innovation

The name of my app is Icebreakers. The icebreakers app is a free social networking platform that helps people network with the other people in the same social setting as them. When you walk into a bar you open your Icebreakers app and check into that bar. After checking into that bar you will be able to see who is in that bar through the app. You will only be able to see the people that have the app and have checking into the bar. Next, a notification will be sent out to everyone using the app that you entered the bar. You can then filter out who you want to see in that bar and you now have the opportunity to view who is in the bar. After viewing who Is in the bar, you find someone that is in the same club as you at UF that you haven’t yet met. You then send this person a request to meet up. The other person can view your request and see if they are interested in meeting you. After they accept the meetup request, you will be given a meetup location in the bar and you will be placed in a direct message to communicate. In terms of security, this app does a background check before anyone joins the app. After completing the background check anybody can report suspicious behavior and those people will be removed from the app. Also, let’s say someone requests to meet you and you don’t want to meet them because they seem sketchy, then you simply just decline their request and the person cant request you again that night.

Venture Concept

My innovation will address this opportunity because it will give people a new alternative for networking that may be easier and more enjoyable for some people. If this app is used in full effect, then it will allow people to network and make new friends when out in a crowded social setting. Obviously, the hardest part about creating this app is getting people to use it. My competitors are tinder and Facebook but at the end of the day this app’s one of a kind, so it doesn’t really compare to Facebook or tinder due to its distinct functionality. This product would require a tech team to fix any problems that the users may have. It would also require a research and development team to further advance the software.

The three minor elements

I think my most important resource will be the ability for this app to be a fully integrated platform. This means that every step of the networking experience is done through the app all the way up until you meet the person face to face. Also, I think the experience that people receive when using this app is an exhilarating experience that will differentiate us from the competition. The next steps for this venture are to meet with a app developer ad work on creating the app that will perform everything I described above. Also, I need to develop a cost breakdown of the expenses that will go into getting this app up and running. After launching this app, my main focus will be on spreading the word and getting people to try out this platform. Five years from now, I could see this app being a global leader in social networking platforms. I want to see this app develop and improve based on user feedback. This will give the user the best experience possible and it will allow this app to spread a good word. I believe this app will change the world for the better. This app will allow people to go out in a social setting and comfortable and safely build their social network and advertise their personal brands

23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

Resources: 
1. Convenience
V: This is a valuable resource because people can use the app anywhere at anytime.
R: This is not a rare aspect because most social networking platforms are apps.
I: This is not tough for others to copy.
N: This can bee substituted through a different platform but an app seems to be the most convenient.

2. Motivation
V: This is a valuable resource because the team that runs this app is one that is always striving to be better.
R: This is rare because motivated individuals are hard to find.
I: This is tough for others to copy.
N: Motivation has no substitute in my opinion.

3. Social Capital
V: This is a valuable resource because it helps others build a stronger social network.
R: This is rare because it takes a lot to build a strong social network.
I: This is tough for other people to copy.
N: Social capital is hard to substitute.

4. Safety
V: This app is backed buy security checks and deletes the risk of social networking.
R: This is rare because most social networking apps are dangerous.
I: This is tough for other people to copy.
N: Safety is pretty straight forward so it is hard to substitute.

5. Finance
V: With my major being in finance, I can apply my skills and knowledge to keep this company financially secure.
R: This is rare because not everyone is a finance major.
I: People can copy this but it would cost them time and effort.
N: This can be substituted for a different major but they all have different benefits to the business.

6. Fully Integrated
V: This is a valuable aspect of the app because every step of the process of meeting new people goes through one platform.
R: This is rare because not all apps are fully integrated.
I: This can be copied.
N: Integration can be substituted for separate platforms but it is better to have a service all on the same platform in my opinion.

7. Price
V: This app is affordable for all people.
R: This is rare because not all apps are free.
I: This can be copied with the right financial backup and setup.
N: Price is easy to substitute, but substitutions can have huge implications on the company.

8. Experience
V: This app leaves people with a special experience that they tend to not forget.
R: This is rare because creating a good experience is not easy.
I: This can not be copied.
N: Experience is hard to substitute.

9. Tech Team
V: There is a technology team working around the clock to fix any problems with the software.
R: This is not rare but it is extremely helpful.
I: This can be copied but may not be as effective.
N: A tech team can be substituted.

10. Research and Development
V: This team filters through customer feedback to help develop the app.
R: This is not rare but it is extremely helpful.
I: This can beg copied but may not be as effective because all teams are different.
N: A Research and Development team can bee substituted.

Reflection:

After completing my list of resources, I have come to a conclusion that my most valuable resource is my background in finance. This allows me to look at the company from a financial perspective and develop it in the most financially realistic way.

21A – Reading Reflection No. 2

1) What was the general theme or argument of the book?

The book that I read is 'How to fail at almost everything and still win big' by Scott Adams. This book is a memoir of Scott Adams that tells his life story and the important lessons that he took away from his life experience. In this book, Scott explains the importance of using systems instead of goals. Goals always feel like a win every time you complete a task while systems make you more vulnerable to failure because you always have more to do. This is great because you are working towards a large achievement but not everyday is a success so it is a lot more realistic. He then discussed the importance of choosing a job that you are most likely to take risks with. Lastly, Scott is a big believe in finding your energy. By this he means that it is important to do something that keeps you feeling energized because if you can learn to manage your energy then you can fail a bunch and still produce big wins.

2) How did the book, in your opinion, connect with and enhance what you are learning in ENT 3003?

This book enhanced my learning in ENT 3003 by reminding me that failure is apart of entrepreneurship and even part of life. I need to accept failure and learn from it because that is how you grow into a better person. In addition this book reminded me of the importance of patience. Lastly this book helped enhance my learning in ENT by teaching me the importance of systems over goals. It is good to create systems because they keep your energy moving and allow for failure.

3) If you had to design an exercise for this class, based on the book you read, what would that exercise involve?

If I were to design an exercise based off this book for student then it would bee an assignment where a student picks 5 of his goals. The student then changes his 5 goals to 5 systems. This would help students understand the importance of systems and teach them how this concept can benefit their lives.

4) What was your biggest surprise or 'aha' moment when reading the book? In other words, what did you learn that differed most from your expectations? 

One of the subjects in this book that really stood out to me was the idea of patience. Most people aren't extremely successful before the age of 30. HE used many well known names as examples of people that didn't become known until after their 30's. This made me realize that I need to be more patient. Many people expect that success is going to come as soon as they start working hard but in reality working hard only sets the foundation for being successful. It is important to set short term and long term goals and to be realistic. While setting goals one will face failure and it is important to learn to embrace that failure. If you learn from your mistakes and develop a strong work ethic, the possibility are endless. 

22A – Elevator Pitch No. 3

Reflection: During this process the feedback that I have received on my elevator pitch has been a huge help. Without people commenting on my post it would be hard to continue to develop my pitch. For my previous pitch I was told that everything went great and wasn't given too many points of error. In this final pitch I changed some of the wording and vocabulary that I use to help my speech flow more. I also tried to speak louder and clearer to help communicate my product more strongly.

20A – Growing Your Social Capital

Interview 1:

1) Who they are and what their background is.

The first person I interviewed is successful individual who has started multiple apps.

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

Domain expert

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

One of my buddy's who recently graduated from Boston College connected me with him. I scheduled a time to speak with him through text then we spoke on the phone for a good period of time.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? 

We had a great conversation and he was extremely supportive of my idea. The main piece of advice that he gave me was to listen to feedback because the first version of the app that you release is always the worst. The key to making a perfect app for consumers is through trial and error.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

This is a great person to have in my network because I can reach out to him for advice while developing the app. He offered to mentor me through the process. 

Interview 2:

1) Who they are and what their background is.

The second person I interviewed is Jim and he is a marketing research and intelligence manager at Facebook.

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

Market Expert

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

I was connected with Jim through my cousin. I spoke with Jim through the phone.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? 

Jim could only speak for a short period of time because he had a meeting to go to but I explained my idea of icebreakers to him and he really enjoyed it. He said the social networking industry is a perfect industry to get into right now because the whole world is becoming so technology based. In addition he said it is extremely important for me to focus on the user experience of the app. The users have to enjoy using the app before they actually enjoy and understand the service that it is providing.

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

This is a good person to have in my network because they have a lot of knowledge on the industry. If I were to reach any barriers, this would be great person to reach out to for advice.

Interview 3:

1) Who they are and what their background is.

The last person I interviewed is named Alex and he is a HR Business partner for Global sales. 

2) Which 'slot' you are filling with each person (i.e., domain expert, market expert, supplier), and how the person fills the spot.

Supplier

3) A description of how you found the person and contacted the person.

I met Alex through Jim, the previous person that I interviewed. I spoke with Alex through the phone shortly after talking to Jim.

4) The nature of the exchange you have with the person -- what favor did they do for you? What is the return expectation? 

I spoke to Alex for a long time and he gave me some very useful advice. I started off by explaining my idea in detail and he asked many questions about the app and what I am trying to accomplish with it. He said after I get the app started I need to start cold calling concerts and bars and I need to ask them if they would sponsor my app. He said most companies are going to want money in return but that if I call enough people I will be able to find someone that will promote my app for free. It is extremely important to publicize my app and allow other people to discover it. 

5) How will including this person in your network enhance your ability to exploit an opportunity?

This is a great person to have in my network because he helped me learn to look at my app from a sales perspective. This helps me understand what I need to do to help people discover my product which is half the battle.

Reflection: 

During this assignment I learned the value of networking especially when you are working developing an app. In addition, I learned that we have so many resources at our fingertips to help us network and meet other people. After networking with these three successful individuals, I am able to look at my product from a different perspective. They provided me with the information I needed to move forward and continue to develop the IceBreakers app.

19A – Idea Napkin No. 2

1) You: Hi my name is Matthew Mainzer and I am a first year finance student at the University of Florida. I am talented at technical analysis and trading foreign currency's. My goals and aspirations are to get a job doing tech/software sales which will teach me the skills to start my own business. My goals with this company are to develop the software and perfect it through trial and error.

2) What are you offering to customers? The product that I am selling is an app called Icebreakers. The point of the icebreakers app is to help meet new people in a social setting such as a bar or club. This app allows people to walk into a bar and know who is in the bar, who is single, and even request to meet them before aimlessly walking up to them. This app is for social networking but it is also meant to help people find relationships. 

3) Who are you offering it to? I am offering this service to college students aging between 18 and 23. These students are the ones that are actively going to bars and trying to socialize with other students to help them meet new people. The users of the app can be any gender and they get to choose the gender that they are seeking or you can have the option to view everyone using the app in the bar, male, female, etc.

4) Why do they care? They care about this product because it makes it less risky to walk up to someone you don't know because before hand you will know if they are interested in meeting you, if they are single, and if you share interests or friends. People also want to use this app because of the exhilarating feeling that it provides. People really enjoy making new friends and through this app it is an experience like no other.

5) What are your core competencies? One of my biggest competitors with this product is tinder and Facebook.  What sets me apart from Tinder is the fact that my software is specialized and specific to each bar. The point of this app is to allow you to meet new people that are standing in the same bar as you. The point of tinder is to allow you to meet people that live in the same city as you. On the other hand, Facebook is a more generalized social networking app that doesn't have the same functionality as my app but attempts to bring people together.

First, id like to start off by saying that I think this company has a lot of potential but that there are definitely some roadblocks that I am going to face along the way. I think that the idea is there but that marketing is going to be a huge factor with this product. There needs to be people using the product at every bar for it to actively work. Overall, I think all of the five factors above tie together quite well but implementation is going to be very important with this product. Although Tinder and Facebook are my main competitors, I believe that the Icebreakers app is one of a kind and is very different than their apps.

Feedback Memo:

I found my feedback to be extremely helpful and I used it to help develop my idea napkin. The first point of feedback that I used was the idea that I need to put an emphasis on the experience that my app provides for users. As I mentioned above, the app is fun for users because of the exhilarating feeling that provides when you meet someone new. Next, I specified my competitors and how the app can be used for more than just social networking. The app can be used to help people find relationships. 

17A – Elevator Pitch No. 2

Reflection:
In my new elevator pitch I changed a few things based on my peer reviews. One of the biggest worries that I received from my peers is the idea that most people go out with their friends. Furthermore, to solve this problem I added a group mode where you can join the app and create groups to meet other groups. This feedback was extremely useful and was an idea that had not yet crossed my head. This comes to show the importance of peer reviews. In addition, compared to my first elevator pitch I was more specific about where the guests meet as well as some of the information they can view before sending a request or after receiving a request.

18A – Create a Customer Avatar

Below is a picture of Phil. Phil is a junior at the university of Florida who is majoring in finance. Phil is extremely interested in soccer and fishing. He actually plays on the club soccer team at UF. To get to and from practice, Phil drives his Chevy Silverado which his dad gave to him when he was just a young boy. Phil is not a fan of watching tv. Instead in his free time he enjoys socializing with his friends, going out to the bars to meet new people, or going fishing on the east coast. Phil is not a fan of going out to drink, he is more a fan of going out to meet new people which has been successful for him. 

What do you have in common with the customer avatar? If you have anything in common with the avatar, do you think that is a coincidence? Why?

Compared to the Phil, the avatar I created above, I see a few aspects of our character that we have in common. We both enjoy soccer and fishing. In addition, we both like going out and socializing with our friends as well as going out to meet new people. I think the few things we have in common are a coincidence because I created the avatar. Phil does match the target audience because he is interested in meeting new people and enjoys being in a social setting.

16A –What’s Your Secret Sauce?

My Human Capital:

1. Motivated: I am always itching to be better and get a lot done during the day.

2. Hardworking: I am always working hard which is good because I get a lot done.

3. Leader: I always show leadership by working to help other people be better and trying to help out others.

4. Quick learner: When. I am introduced to a new subject I usually pick it up fairly quick because I am focused on learning. 

5. Respectful: I am a good person to work with because I am respectful of others. 

 Conclusion:

15A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 2

Interview 1: 
The first person that I interviewed said that she would only use the app if it was easy to use. She said it would be no fun going out and trying to use a app that is not easy to use. In addition to being easy to use, she said it would be important for the app to have a quick reaction time. The point of going out is to spend time with your friends and try to meet new people in the process. If the app did not have a quick reaction time then it would mean that she has to check her phone a bunch to see if anyone paired up with her which is no fun.

Interview 2: 
The second person I interviewed said that security would be one of the main things that she would worry about when using the Icebreakers app. She explained that if the app is not safe, then she would not be willing to take the risk. She says that as much as she wants to meet new people, the app needs to delete all possibilities for breach of security. In addition to security she wants to make sure that the people that she is meeting are actually who they say they are.

Interview 3: 

The last person I interviewed said that they would want to make sure the users of the app are good people that aren't going to attempt to cause any problems. In addition, he said that he would worry about people making fake accounts that would say they are someone that they are not so that they would get more matches. There would need to be a functionality in the app that confirms someones identity so that they are not making fake accounts.

Conclusion:

After evaluating all of these interviews I was able to see different perspectives on the icebreakers app which was extremely helpful. These interviews confirmed that one of the main priorities for developing this software should be security. If the app is not safe to use then nobody is going to use it and it is going to create a lot of liability on my part. With that being said, I am going to look into adding identity verification and possibly a way to run a background  check. In addition to security it is also important to make the app easy to use so the people using the app don't have to watch their phone for long to get a match.

14A – Halfway Reflection

1) Tenaciousness is a competency. What are the behaviors that you have used (or developed) to keep up with the requirements of this course? 

Given that I am halfway through this course, I think it is extremely important to pick an idea that you are actually passionate about to develop throughout the course. When you are passionate about your idea it makes all of these assignments much more effective and enjoyable than if you didn't care about your idea. Throughout this course I have seen my idea develop which shows me how beneficial this course really is. 

2) Tenaciousness is also about attitude. Talk about a moment or two when you felt like "giving up." What pulled you through? Do you feel like you've developed a tenacious attitude during the past two months? What experience or experiences most contributed to this?

There are always times that I face adversity, but quitting just isn't an option for me personally. The last time I thought about quitting was when I was running a 5k and half way through my calves started cramping up but really they were just sore. Whenever things get tough it is natural for our bodies to want to stop and take the easy way out. It is our job to take control of our feelings and learn to embrace tough times. Personally I see tough times as a test to see whether we are good enough to achieve great things or if we are just dreamers.

3) Three tips. What are three tips you would offer next semester's student about (1) fostering the skills that support tenacity and (2) developing the 'tenacious mindset' ?

If I had to offer three tips I would first say to make sure you think long and hard about the problem that you want to solve and make sure it is something that interests you. Secondly, take pride in your peer reviews and make an effort to help other people out because giving feedback opens your mind to new ideas. Lastly, make sure to stay focused and motivated on the task at hand because if you do that anything is possible. 

13A – Reading Reflection No. 1

1) You read about an entrepreneur:

• What surprised you the most?

Elon Musk is mostly known for Tesla and SpaceX but most people don't know the journey of entrepreneurship ventures that it took for him to get there. He first created a company with his brother Called Zip2 which he founded when he was quite young. After this he created PayPal which was on oof the first ways for people to complete transactions through the web. He then sold PayPal to eBay which up until this time, eBay was one of his biggest competitors because they had a similar functionality on their website. Shortly after he created SpaceX and Tesla which are growing rapidly with huge plans for the future. Lastly what most people don't know is he also started a solar panel company known as Solarcity. Solarcity is one of the largest solar panel companies in the world.

• What about the entrepreneur did you most admire? What about the entrepreneur did you least admire? Did the entrepreneur encounter adversity and failure? If so, what did they do about it?

One of the things that I admire most about Elon Musk is his work ethic and his creativity. These are both great factors to have especially in business but what makes Elon so powerful is how he is always thinking about how he envisions the future and when he gets a great idea, he does everything in his power to make it a reality. For example, SpaceX almost went out of business multiple times because they couldn't successfully put a rocket into orbit but Elon musk used his own capital to fund them out of bankruptcy multiple times until they finally put a rocket into orbit. When Elon faced failure in this situation he did not let it cause him to stop but instead he allowed this to drive him forward and eventually reach success.

2) What competencies did you notice that the entrepreneur exhibited? 

Musk exhibited many competencies such as being a successful self taught entrepreneur. HE created multiple company's by teaching himself what he needs tom know to develop and grow his company. For example, when Elon created PayPal he actually typed the code all by himself and learned how to code. In addition, Elon was exceptional at reading so he spent the majority of his time learning about new things. This ultimately is what makes Elon so unique is his desire to learn and change the world.

3) Identify at least one part of the reading that was confusing to you.

The most confusing part of the reading was really how Elon managed multiple company's at once which thrive to such a high level.

4) If you were able to ask two questions to the entrepreneur, what would you ask? Why?

- What is the most important trait to have to be a successful entrepreneur?

- Did your entrepreneurship ventures help or hurt your relationship with your brother?

5) For fun: what do you think the entrepreneur's opinion was of hard work? Do you share that opinion?

Elon makes it very clear that hard work is the key to being successful in addition to having a vision. Elon is always thinking about how he can change the world and he is never not working to do that successfully. I am a big believer in hard work. I know that if an individual sets his or her mind to something, the possibilities are endless of what he or she can achieve.

12A – Figuring Out Buyer Behavior No. 1

Interview 1: 

He said that when he goes out to a bar he usually just talks to the people that he already knows. He loves when he meets new people at a bar but the main reason he doesn't meet as many people as he could is because he is too nervous to walk up to someone he doesn't know. In addition he doesn't know what to say to them because he knows nothing about them which most likely makes it an awkward conversation. He then goes to his friends, and asks them what he should say to the girl but he ends up being too shy to say it because he doesn't want to be seen as creepy.

Interview 2: 

The second person I interviewed said that when they are out at a bar they make an exceptional effort to try and meet new people but often they face many roadblocks. The biggest roadblock that he faces when walking up to a girl is not knowing if she is single or has a boyfriend. In addition, he also sometimes has awkward conversations because he doesn't know if they share mutual friends or hobbies so it is hard to engage in a quality conversation. He said every once in awhile he will click with someone and have a quality conversation but it is a hit or miss because he can't tell if someone is out just to hangout with their friends or if they are out to meet new people.

Interview 3: 

The third person I interviewed said that she often has guys come up to talk to her with nothing genuine to say. She said that they are usually very nervous and ask her questions like "whats up?" which she finds very boring. She said that she usually hangs out with her friends and meets new people through them but she said the chances are low that she has a genuine conversation with someone new. She usually asks her friends to introduce hereto new guys but she said it is a hit or miss because they could be in a relationship or the guy is just caught from surprise so the conversation is very nerve racking.

Conclusion/summary:

In these three interviews I gained a lot of very useful information and feedback. I need to help people feel comfortable to use the app by making it very user friendly, and most importantly giving the software a good reputation. If people start using this software, there is no doubt in my mind that it will start solving their problems. This software has the ability to give people the information they need to know to make the right decision when walking up to someone they don't know. It tells them just enough information to know what to talk about and most importantly it tells them if the person is single and interested.

11A - Idea Napkin No.1

1) You: Hi my name is Matthew Mainzer and I am a first year finance student at the University of Florida. I am talented at technical analysis and trading foreign currency's. My goals and aspirations are to get a job doing tech/software sales which will teach me the skills to start my own business. My goals with this company are to develop the software to make it exists and perfect it through trial and error.



2) What are you offering to customers? The product that I am selling is an app called Icebreakers. The point of the icebreakers app is to help meet new people in a social setting such as a bar or club. This app allows people to walk into a bar and know who is in the bar, who is single, and even request to meet them before aimlessly walking up to them.



3) Who are you offering it to? I am offering this service to college students aging between 18 and 23. These students are the ones that are actively going to bars and trying to socialize with other students to help them meet new people. These users can be male or female but



4) Why do they care? They care about this product because it makes it less risky to walk up to someone you don't know because before hand you will know if they are interested in meeting you, if they are single, and if you share interests or friends.



5) What are your core competencies? One of my biggest competitors with this product is tinder. What sets me apart from Tinder is the fact that my software is specialized and specific to each bar. The point of this app is to allow you to meet new people that are standing in the same bar as you. The point of tinder is to allow you to meet people that live in the same city as you.

First, id like to start off by saying that I think this company has a lot of potential but that there are definitely some roadblocks that I am going to face along the way. I think that the idea is there but that marketing is going to be a huge factor with this product. There needs to be people using the product at every bar for it to actively work. Overall, I think all of the five factors above tie together quite well but implementation is going to be very important with this product.

9A – Testing the Hypothesis Part 2

	Inside the Boundary	Outside the Boundary
WHO:	College students between the age of 18-24	People under the age of 18
WHAT:	Help people meet new friends out at a bar	This app is not meant to be a hookup app
WHY:	Many people are to nervous to walk up to a stranger so this app is meant to make it just a little bit easier.	This app does not make it more dangerous for people to meet because they have to pass the other persons verification.

Interview 1:

-She said that my main focus should be on college students because the wider the age range, the more liability there is for this app. She said this seems like an effective way to meet people out at a bar. She agrees with the why and said that most people are either shy or they just prefer hanging out with their friends but for those who want to meet new people, this app would be very effective.

Interview 2:

He agrees that the main focus should be on people between the age of 18-24. He thinks this would definitely make it easier for people to walk up to strangers because they could see that they have mutual friends and immediately have a topic of conversation. He agrees that this app would make it a little less nerve racking for others.

Interview 3:

She thinks the age minimum for this app should be 21. She thinks that this app would work great but the biggest problem will be getting enough people on the app for it to work. She said this app would make it a little less scary because you can see that they have mutual friends with you.

Interview 4:

He agrees that this app should be strictly for college students. He thinks that the app will be a great way to meet new people and also make it safer because if you don't want someone to come up to you then you can decline their request. He said this would definitely make it easier to walk up to a girl because you know you share friends with her and you have easy talking points.

Interview 5:

She says that the age range should be 21 and up. She says this would be a good way to meet new people at a bar but that you have to have active users for it to work. As long as the app builds a good reputation then it would probably be less scary to meet new people.

Summary:

After interviewing 5 different people, I am confident that this app will be effective in helping people make new friends, but there are definitely some parts of the app that will require some thought and critiquing. I realized that the app makes it easier to have a conversation with the other person because you can see if you share mutual friends with them which is a great topic to start off with when talking to a stranger. Overall, I am glad to see the idea of this app progressing, and I look forward to seeing what the final product is.

10A – Elevator Pitch No. 1

8A – Solving The Problem

Solving the Problem

The opportunity that I would like to solve is helping people connect with new people when they are out at a social setting. After interviewing multiple people, it is clear that most people struggle to walk up to strangers at a bar because they are either too shy or they don't know if they are single or not. With that being said, I have visioned an app that solves this problem. This app is going to be called IceBreaker and its job is to break the ice for people who are too shy to walkup to someone they don't know. It does this by first checking people into the bar where they are then added into a pool where they can see everyone who is in the bar and is single. They can then view the other persons Facebook to see if they are interested in meeting that person. If they are interested, they can then send a request to that person to connect. If the person accepts that request, they then get put in a private message where they can text and then plan to link up. Obviously, there are going to besoms roadblocks with developing this app/software, but I believe that creating this app will connect people.