Venture Concept 2

Venture Concept

Children with autism have limited spaces where they can completely be who they are, in a comfortable environment and around people who support them. Many children do not understand autism. With my playground, I wish to raise awareness and provide that space of playful fun for children with autism in the community. The market will be defined geographically and demographically to communities with a high number of autistic children with little resources. Generally, I am targeting families of a lower-income status. In every school, from elementary to high school, there are certain special needs programs. It can be offered in school but there are limited places designated for autism children outside of school and in the community. If we think about what happens in their day after school or during school breaks, there is not a place where they can play and interact with other children. Parents want spaces like this for their children. The window of opportunity will be there forever unless technology can switch around chromosomes, and I do not see that happening for ethical reasonings and not being as technologically advanced either. 

The non-profit organization to raise money for a playground designed for kids with autism is incrementally innovative. It will be innovative for certain communities but it has been done before. The playground will give children with autism a safe space to interact with other children who have autism and play with games of their liking. Every child with autism is a little different so there will be different types of games involving textures, colors, technology and levels of interaction. I will seek out a board of directors with the same passion, then reach out to the local legislature and create a huge fundraising campaign throughout the community. I imagine the park would require different permits, designers and builders. So, the whole project is projected to cost around 25k. 

I believe that parents who have kids with autism will take their kids to this playground because they are aware other kids can feel nervous around unfamiliarity and because they can connect with other parents. I don’t see the switch being a hard decision. There are no competitors, just different playgrounds within the community. I would create this playground in a community with a higher number of autism kids so there is an actual demand. I can see other kids coming to this park, or making fun of this park because they do not understand autism. Overall, this would be a safe space. 

For those who have any issues with the playground, they could always reach out to the non-profit organization. I would want to raise awareness and work with my customer as much as possible because it is ultimately, for their kids to feel safe and have fun. I would turn to the local legislature, builders that have build playgrounds for autism before and volunteers who share this passion for help. I believe this project will take 50+ volunteers and builders to accomplish.

The most important resource for the non-profit, would be collecting the money it takes to create this playground. I would focus on the research to show there is a high demand for my playground and look for people who care about helping children with autism. If this playground works out successfully, I would do the same in multiple communities that have a high number of autistic children with little resources for them. After launching and creating a few playgrounds, I would want to pass this non-profit off to someone with similar passions. It is also good to get a fresh perspective on companies to help it grow. 

I did not complete the previous venture concept so I could not provide answers to questions 2 and 3.

Final Reflection

1) Read through your posts from this semester. Recall all of the experiences you've had a long the way -- the highs, the lows -- the fun moments, and the moments of drudgery, and even the moments of dread.

The highs of this class are the easier assignments and the assignments that were also fun. I would consider the assignments talking about the thought processes and the why's of our product and company to be fun assignments. The moments of drudgery are obviously the moments where I decided to NOT do assignments and compromise my grade, and the assignments that I SHOULD have completed because there was a part two. The moments of dread, in my opinion, are the book assignments and the nitty-gritty details of each component of my company/product. I can confidently say, I am not interested in entrepreneurship 

2) 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?

Even though I did not enjoy the book assignments, I did learn something from them and would consider having gained the most formative experience. The experience I would remember the most is the entire class because I realized I do not want to be a business owner. I can see myself in manager positions, but not the creator or owner. The most joyous experience I received was going out into the community and interviewing people.  I am proud that I passed the class because there were moments that I felt like withdrawing. I also would like to say, this class is fairly easy and I was especially lazy this semester, unfortunately. 

3) 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?

I do not see myself as an entrepreneur. I can understand the entrepreneurial mindset but I do not wish to become one. 

4) 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?

I would tell a future student to pack up all their real-life issues and put it aside for this course. There is a lot of work to do, but it can be fairly easy if you aren't lazy and have good time management skills. Just do it. Schedule out your life and complete the work. Whatever mindset you are in, think about different ways that make you productive so that you can apply that to this course. 

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