Home & Hobby Hacks
You constantly misplace your phone charger, or it's tangled in a mess of other wires.
Charger disorganization; difficulty finding/managing charging cables.
You always seem to lose your homework papers or notes in the bottom of your backpack. Identify the problem.
Disorganization or difficulty tracking important papers.
You often see litter on the sidewalks around your school. Identify the problem.
Litter/local pollution
How old do you have to be to an entrepreneur?
Any age.
You want to start a new hobby like drawing or playing guitar, but you don't know where to begin, and supplies or lessons are expensive.
Cost, lack of guidance/resources
You're trying to study for a big test, but your phone keeps buzzing with notifications, and there's constant noise at home. Identify the problems.
Distraction and lack of a quiet, focused study environment.
During busy times, the subway or bus can be incredibly crowded, making commutes stressful or difficult, especially if you have a lot to carry.
Public transportation overcrowding/lack of space
What makes someone an entrepreneur?
Someone who identifies problems and creates solutions.
Design a business or invention to help pet owners whose pets get bored and sometimes cause mischief (like chewing shoes) when left alone.
An interactive, automated pet toy; a service providing engaging pet activities.
Design a product or service for students whose lunch gets squished or soggy in their bag.
A multi-compartment, insulated lunchbox; a specialized, protective food container.
Develop a product or service to help people in NYC reduce their food waste at home or at restaurants.
A pickup service for food scraps; an app that helps plan meals to reduce waste or a service for restaurants to donate end of day foods to homeless populations
What's the difference between a product and service?
A product is something that you are physically selling (ex. portable charger). A service is an action or process that provides value to customers (ex. Netflix).
Propose a product or service that addresses the frustration of constantly running out of battery on your devices (phone, laptop, gaming controller) at inconvenient times.
A portable, multi-device charging hub; an on-demand delivery rental service for charging.
Create a solution to help middle school students who struggle to remember their locker combinations OR frequently forget materials for specific classes.
A smart locker system activated by a fingerprint or app; a digital checklist app for each class's supplies.
Every year, thousands of birds are injured or die in NYC because they fly into the glass windows of tall skyscrapers, especially during migration. Propose a business or invention to help prevent birds from colliding with city buildings.
Bird-safe window films (e.g., patterned, UV-reflective); a deterrent system using sound or light (that humans can't hear/see); a sensor system that detects approaching birds and triggers a visual warning on windows.
What is a "prototype," and why do entrepreneurs build them?
A prototype is a quickly-made, simple model of an idea; entrepreneurs build them to test ideas, get feedback, and show what their idea looks like.
Living in a city like NYC, it's often hard to get a good night's sleep because of constant disruptions like sirens, loud street noises, or sounds from neighbors in your building, leaving you tired for school. What's the problem, and how could an entrepreneurial idea help people sleep better despite these noises?
Sleep disruption due to urban noise; difficulty finding peace for rest. Solution Idea: Smart noise-canceling headphones/earbuds for sleep; a device that generates "white noise" to mask disturbances; soundproof window inserts for apartments
Your group project is due, but everyone has different after-school activities, making it impossible to find a time to meet up. What's the problem, and how would you solve it?
Problem: Difficulty coordinating schedules for group work. Solution Idea: A scheduling app that finds common free times across multiple calendars; a virtual collaboration platform for teens.
In the summer, NYC's concrete and buildings trap heat, making the city much hotter than surrounding areas. This level of heat can be dangerous for residents, especially the elderly or those without AC. What's the problem, and what entrepreneurial idea could help cool down city neighborhoods?
Dangerous heat levels in concrete-heavy city areas. Solution Idea: A business installing "cool roofs" or green roofs; a service that creates pop-up cooling centers using misting technology; a startup developing heat-absorbing street materials; a community-led initiative for planting more street trees.
An entrepreneur has a fantastic product, but nobody knows it exists. What's the problem, and how can they solve it?
Problem: Lack of awareness/visibility for their product. Solution Idea: Marketing/promotion (advertising, social media, word-of-mouth strategies).