2.) It can take a long time walking up and down stairs looking for a spot to sit at which wastes precious study time. There needs to be either more libraries on campus that are open for longer hours, or more tables in the unused areas in the current libraries, or more coffee shops with large study spaces need to open close to campus. College students have this need. The need has always existed that I know of from my experience. People may be choosing to study at home or go to far away coffee shops instead of wasting time trying to find a spot at the library. I am about 90% sure this opportunity exists.
3.) Three Prototypical Customers Interviewed
4.) Iterations
a. Prototypical Customer 1-
Has experienced the need for more study space on/near campus. Been aware since freshman year and it is a problem most of the time he has tried to go to the library to study. 5 years (as long as he has been a college student). Addresses the need by studying at home instead. Not satisfied with this solution because he focuses better at the library but its not worth the hassle.
b. Prototypical Customer 2-
Has also experienced the need for more places to study on campus because it sometimes has taken her up to 20 minutes to find a place in the library to study. She became aware of the need since she went to the library for the first time her freshman year of college and says she feels the need for more study space most of the time, but it depends on what time of the day you go. It has been a need for four years, since her start of college. Her solution has been to study at home or in off-campus coffee shops instead, she is pretty satisfied with this because she doesn’t care to study on campus anymore.
c. Prototypical Customer 3-
She has also experienced the need for more study space in her college’s libraries. She became aware her freshman year as well when she started studying in the libraries on campus. She is a senior, so she has been dealing with this issue for 4 years, the need arises when she tries to find a spot in the library at peak hours—the worst being around 5-6 she thinks. She addresses the need by trying to go at different times and just pushes through until she finds a spot to study. She is decently satisfied with this solution but wishes there were more tables and places to study on campus.
5.) Reflection: After speaking with my three college friends who I believe would be prototypical customers of the opportunity I found from the problem of there not being enough spots to study at in the libraries on college campuses, I really believe there is an opportunity here. The business opportunity would be for more coffee shops/restaurants to open near campus with large study spaces for students. Another opportunity is for colleges to open more libraries or utilize the space they have in their current libraries by putting more tables for students to study at. This would be a big positive for new students touring their campuses. The most surprising thing I found after speaking to the prototypical customer was seeing just how big of an opportunity this is because the need reached all of them and I think many more.
6.) Summary: I believe all of my original opportunity is still here even after speaking to all three prototypical customers. I think the opportunity is still just as accurate as when it started. I think entrepreneurs should adapt and take full advantage of this opportunity, but it may be a problem finding enough space to fully fulfill this opportunity. There will most likely be a trade off between entrepreneurs and students need for more study space on/near campus.
Has experienced the need for more study space on/near campus. Been aware since freshman year and it is a problem most of the time he has tried to go to the library to study. 5 years (as long as he has been a college student). Addresses the need by studying at home instead. Not satisfied with this solution because he focuses better at the library but its not worth the hassle.
b. Prototypical Customer 2-
Has also experienced the need for more places to study on campus because it sometimes has taken her up to 20 minutes to find a place in the library to study. She became aware of the need since she went to the library for the first time her freshman year of college and says she feels the need for more study space most of the time, but it depends on what time of the day you go. It has been a need for four years, since her start of college. Her solution has been to study at home or in off-campus coffee shops instead, she is pretty satisfied with this because she doesn’t care to study on campus anymore.
c. Prototypical Customer 3-
She has also experienced the need for more study space in her college’s libraries. She became aware her freshman year as well when she started studying in the libraries on campus. She is a senior, so she has been dealing with this issue for 4 years, the need arises when she tries to find a spot in the library at peak hours—the worst being around 5-6 she thinks. She addresses the need by trying to go at different times and just pushes through until she finds a spot to study. She is decently satisfied with this solution but wishes there were more tables and places to study on campus.
5.) Reflection: After speaking with my three college friends who I believe would be prototypical customers of the opportunity I found from the problem of there not being enough spots to study at in the libraries on college campuses, I really believe there is an opportunity here. The business opportunity would be for more coffee shops/restaurants to open near campus with large study spaces for students. Another opportunity is for colleges to open more libraries or utilize the space they have in their current libraries by putting more tables for students to study at. This would be a big positive for new students touring their campuses. The most surprising thing I found after speaking to the prototypical customer was seeing just how big of an opportunity this is because the need reached all of them and I think many more.
6.) Summary: I believe all of my original opportunity is still here even after speaking to all three prototypical customers. I think the opportunity is still just as accurate as when it started. I think entrepreneurs should adapt and take full advantage of this opportunity, but it may be a problem finding enough space to fully fulfill this opportunity. There will most likely be a trade off between entrepreneurs and students need for more study space on/near campus.
I completely agree with you that we need way more study space on and around campus. I am in my fifth year at college and have also decided to just work from home because on campus there is never enough room and with so many people consonantly walking around trying to find a spot it can become distracting. I would love if the Starbucks on campus were closer to real Starbucks and had more sitting areas where people can do work. I am not sure that there is a possibility to build more libraries but I do think they could better utilize the space in our existing ones.I think the only thing that could make your opportunity better is if added more power outlets upstairs in the quiet study spaces. Sometimes you find a seat but there is no place to charge a laptop. Overall, I think this a great opportunity.
ReplyDeleteHi, I couldn't agree more with your post we need more space to study around campus. I am at my senior year, and for the past 4 years I have always spend more than 30 minutes finding a sport every time I go to any Library at UF. Some coffee shops could use this on their advantage but we have not seeing any actually doing it. I really think there is an opportunity here.
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