4A - Forming an Opportunity Belief

1. Belief: There is a lack of adequate supplies (gas, food, water, etc.) in the case of a natural disaster such as a hurricane.

2. Who: Those that are under warning such as a hurricane warning are affected by this.
    Need: The need for food, gas, and water is high when there is a hurricane warning.
    What is being done to meet the need: Stores will try to overstock on necessary food items and water, however the demand is greater than they are able to supply.
    Where: This need takes place in areas where natural disaster warnings typically exist. For hurricanes, Florida is commonly affected in the United States.

3. The Prototypical Customer: The prototypical customer is someone who has concern during a hurricane warning. They will go out and overstock on food, gas, and water to be prepared in case of a power outage. Typically the stores and gas stations will run out of supplies days before the hurricane actually comes.

4.                                                                 Iteration #1:

What is the exact nature of the need?
"I believe that the nature of the need comes from the concern that the area that we are living in is going to run out of food and water after a natural disaster. I think people typically want to prepare for the worst."

When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes? 
"I only experience this need sometimes. It happens when there is a potential hurricane threat to the state of Florida."

How long have they had the need? 
"This need has existed since 2004 when I experienced 3 hurricanes in elementary school."

When did they first become aware of their need? Why? 
"I believe I first became aware of this need when I started college and was living on my own. I had to decide what kind of food I was going to buy and how much water should be necessary in case I had to live without power for an extended period of time."

How are they currently addressing their need? 
"Currently, I try to keep the essentials that are needed for a natural disaster already stocked in my apartment and keep a couple cases of water stocked so that I don't have to scramble and beat the crowds when a hurricane warning arises."

How satisfied are they with this solution?
"So far, I am pretty satisfied with this solution. With all of the hurricane threats that have been looked at by the state of Florida over this past hurricane season, it's nice to know that I may not have to leave my house and try to fight for food and water and the crowded grocery stores."

                                                                    Iteration #2:

What is the exact nature of the need?
"This need comes from those that worry heavily about the potential destruction of a hurricane to the state of Florida. People tend to over react or over prepare even when the potential threat is low."

When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes? 
"I become aware of the need about once a year at the start of hurricane season. Even if Florida isn't in direct threat of a hurricane, there are still people that will begin talking about it."

How long have they had the need? 
"This need has been there since I was born. However I wasn't aware of it since I was born."

When did they first become aware of their need? Why? 
"I became aware of it in elementary school when my parents were buying lots of water and food at the grocery store and were telling me that a "storm was coming and we had to be prepared".

How are they currently addressing their need? 
"I try to keep water stocked all of the time because it's typically the first thing to go when a hurricane warning comes into affect. I will go out and buy extra non-perishable food if I believe the hurricane is a real threat to where I will be staying."

How satisfied are they with this solution?
"I'm content with this solution. I think in the state of high emergency I would try to stock up on a little more water and definitely a lot of food in case the power went out for more than a week."

Iteration #3:

What is the exact nature of the need?
"The nature of the need is that we don't have enough supplies to supply adequate drinking water and food for everyone in the case of a natural disaster. People over react and go buy excessive amounts of water and food for themselves, living minimal for everyone else."

When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes? 
"I become aware of the need when I walk into the store to buy drinking water when a hurricane is a week away and the only water left on the shelf is the $20 fiji water."

How long have they had the need? 
"I have had this need a couple of times in the past few years as I have lived on my own in Gainesville. When I lived in Orlando, my parents typically took care of what we needed."

When did they first become aware of their need? Why? 
"I first became aware of the extent of this need when I went to get water for the tropical storm that was going to hit Gainesville last year and there was none left."

How are they currently addressing their need? 
"Currently I will go out and buy extra food and water the second I find out that there could possibly be a hurricane coming to Florida. I don't want to take any chances in waiting and have to deal with the different crowds of people."

How satisfied are they with this solution?
"I believe that this solution is adequate for getting what I need when a hurricane threatens Florida."

5. Reflection
What did you learn about your opportunity?
I learned that different people react to the same situation very differently. When a hurricane is approaching, some people go very early to get their supplies. Some people wait until the storm is only a day or two away, and have minimal options to choose from, and some people have plenty of supplies already stocked in their houses whether a hurricane or natural disaster is approaching or not.

What was the most surprising thing you learned about your opportunity?
The most surprising thing that I learned about this opportunity is that the opportunity could be non-existent if all people prepared ahead of time and had food and supplies already stocked. It would cause the grocery stores to not run out of water and supplies. As for gas stations, it is less likely that people stock up ahead of time on gas as it is used constantly.

6. Summarize
How much of your original opportunity is still there?
Almost all of my original opportunity remains. There is still a huge need for extra water and supplies during hurricane season. Having someone that delivers water and food to houses prior to a hurricane may also help people from "over-buying" and getting unnecessary things while shopping.
Do you believe that your new opportunity is more accurate than when you started?
Yes, I believe that my new opportunity is more accurate now than when I started. I think interviewing others allowed me to see different perspectives from individuals.
How much do you think entrepreneurs should 'adapt' their opportunities based on customer feedback?
I believe that it is very important for entrepreneurs to adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback. They must know what kind of product and needs that different customers wants and adapt their ideas to satisfy the largest portion of the population.

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