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Are you solving a problem worth solving?
The document discusses the importance of identifying and refining problems worth solving, particularly in the context of business and technology. It emphasizes the need to validate hypotheses and understand target demographics to determine economic viability. The author shares insights from various athletes and users to illustrate the process of defining and addressing meaningful challenges.
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Are you solving a problem worth solving?
- 1. Are you solvinga problem worth solving? Elaine Chen May 13, 2015 © 2015 ConceptSpring
- 2. Getty Images GettyImages
- 3. Independence iBot -ViaDeka Research
- 7. Getting to aproblem worth solving 1. Define and refine 2. Validate your hypotheses
- 8. Photograph by GregRobinson – Via Buzzfeed
- 9. Photograph by GregRobinson – Via Buzzfeed
- 10. Photograph by GregRobinson – Via Buzzfeed
- 11. Photograph by GregRobinson – Via Buzzfeed
- 12. Photograph by LynnIshchay - Via robohub.org
- 13. From the 2008Ph.D. Thesis of Prof. Ed Olsen, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan Reproduced with permission by Prof. John Leonard, Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering. CSAIL, MIT
- 14. Via robohub.orgPhotograph byLynn Ishchay - Via robohub.org
- 15. Via robohub.org “We hadto engineer the robot from scratch for this specific purpose (although, naturally, we used commercially available off-the-shelf parts wherever appropriate).” - Mick Mountz, “Kiva the Disruptor”, Harvard Business Review, December 2012
- 16. Getting to aproblem worth solving 1. Define and refine 2. Validate your hypotheses
- 17.
- 18. z Getting to aproblem worth solving 1. Define and refine 2. Validate your hypotheses
- 19. Endurance Athletes Half iron Triathletes Sprint Olympic Ironman RecreationalAthletes Amateur Athletes Semi-Pro Amateur Athletes Professional Athletes Recreational Cyclists Road racers Mountain bike racers Cyclists Commuters Marathoners Ultra-marathoners Runners 5K/10K road racers Fitness runners Half Marathoners
- 20. Half iron Triathletes Sprint Olympic Ironman Recreational Athletes AmateurAthletes Semi-Pro Amateur Athletes Professional Athletes Recreational Cyclists Road racers Mountain bike racers Cyclists Commuters Marathoners Ultra-marathoners Runners 5K/10K road racers Fitness runners Half Marathoners Endurance Athletes
- 21. Getty Images Female road racefinisher • 5K/10K/Half marathons • 25-35 • Works full time • Married with children • Working on a Personal Record
- 22. Getting to aproblem worth solving 1. Define and refine 2. Validate your hypotheses
- 24. “Tell me aboutthe last time…” “Why not?” “You mentioned XXX. Can you say more about that?” “Why?” “Tell me the story of…”
- 27. Getty Images GettyImages
- 28. Getty Images GettyImages Liz, 38 • UX designer, style maven • Type A highly driven • 2 kids – Age 2 and 5 • 1.5h commute each way • No coach • 1st half marathon • Uses MapMyRun • Hit a wall with her pace • Needs help getting unstuck
- 29. 1. How manyLizzes are there? 2. Is there any money to be made?
- 30. z US Population: 319M1 Females aged18-65: 200M1 Female race finishers: 10.8M2 5K, 10K, Half Marathon: 667M2 1. US Census, 2014 – Quick Facts 2. Running USA 2014 State of the Sports, Part II: US Race Trends; internal analysis
- 31. 1. How muchwill Liz pay? => Is it financially plausible? 2. How will you find Liz? 3. How much does it cost to run your business?
- 33. A problem “worth” solvingto me 20y ago: • Is a technical problem • Is “interesting”: pushes the envelope • Includes hardware and software
- 34. A problem “worth” solvingto me today: • Is a business problem • Addresses a true need, and reaches many • Is economically viable
- 35. What problem isworth solving to you?
- 36.