4A Forming an Opportunity Belief: A Twist on Opportunity Identification

1) I feel like young people take really poor care of their hygiene. They party all night and then come home and pass out. Also, they are very busy and can sacrifice their personal hygiene for a certain task they need to complete. I feel like there is an opportunity to create a product that improves personal hygiene while also fitting into the impulsive, fast-paced lifestyle that people currently live. 
2) The unmet need I am addressing is a solution for personal hygiene, specifically dental hygiene, that fits the on-the-go, rapid lifestyle of young people today. The person who has the unmet need is anyone but more specifically 16-30 year olds. I feel like this need has always existed, but has been emphasized more today as young people live in an age with more and more instant gratification from advancing technologies. There aren’t a ton of mobile, quick, easy-to-use personal hygiene devices. I am 70 percent sure this opportunity exists. I think a great product/business would be some sort of mint that someone could eat, which dissolves or releases a fluid that then cleans/whitens teeth and freshens breath. 
3) The prototypical consumer would is any busy student that wants to stay hygienic while living an active, fast lifestyle. 
4) Interview #1: Parker Hershkowitz 
What is the exact nature of the need?: Parker has a lot of early-morning classes that he sometimes wakes up late for, and is always in a rush for class. Sometimes he cannot brush his teeth until after his morning class. When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes?  Parker experiences this need sometimes, but would use the product more often if he had the choice. How long have they had the need? He has had the need ever since he started college. When did they first become aware of their need? Why? He first became aware of the need when he was late to class because he had to go through his whole morning hygiene routine after waking up late. How are they currently addressing their need? How satisfied are they with this solution? He is currently addressing this need by trying to wake up earlier, but sometimes he catches himself unsatisfied with how he takes care of himself. 
5) Interview #2: Spencer Steinfeld 
What is the exact nature of the need?: Spencer goes out a lot and sometimes he is so tired when he gets back that he simply doesn’t have time to brush his teeth and use mouth wash thoroughly. When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes?  He becomes aware of this need when he wakes up in the morning and feels gross. How long have they had the need? He has had the need ever since he started college. When did they first become aware of their need? Why? He first became aware of the need when he was waking up with a disgusting taste in his mouth from the night before after not remembering to use mouthwash. How are they currently addressing their need? How satisfied are they with this solution? He is currently addressing this need by trying to be more efficient with his time and improve his hygiene practices, although he is not happy with his current situation. 
6) Interview #3: Taylor Kogan 
What is the exact nature of the need?: Taylor has a lot of class all day and although she has great personal hygiene, she wishes there was a way she could keep up her standards on-the-go with her busy schedule. When do they become aware of the need -- that is, do they experience their need all the time or only sometimes? She only experiences this need on days in which she has back-to-back double blocks of class. How long have they had the need? She has had the need since her busy schedule started in sophomore year of high school. When did they first become aware of their need? Why? She first became aware of her need when she wanted a way to clean her teeth after lunch in high school but didn't want to bring a toothbrush to school like a “crazy person.” How are they currently addressing their need? How satisfied are they with this solution? She is currently addressing this need by brushing her teeth after every meal but is unsatisfied with this solution because it is inefficient and does not fit her busy schedule. 
7) After conducting these interviews, I still believe that much of the opportunity is still there. I believe the opportunity is ever broader than I thought and one idea is versatile enough to suit multiple types of needs. Entrepreneurs care about money at the end of the day. If enough of their customers are giving a certain type of feedback, they should adapt their business to fit that feedback.