The next big idea is what industries and investors are eagerly looking forward to, even if it is disruptive (or probably because it could be disruptive). Huge sum of money is splurged on the “Unicorn”, any startup that has huge potential and is a million dollar idea.
From where these ideas come? Is it pure serendipity, or are there some other forces at work? Well, if I say that the many money-making ideas are part “luck” and part “experience”, I wouldn’t be wrong. Granted, there have been startups by fresh college graduates and dropouts, but the experience doesn’t only come from corporate, right?
Do you want to make your mark in Entrepreneurship arena? How about getting a brilliant idea for an application? Here’s how to start!
Look Around
If you’ve got a lot friends, that’s a plus. Ask them what they wish their smartphone had or could do. Is there anything that can be coded and converted into an application? The point is, try solving the problem that users are facing with their smartphones or probably the app they are fancy about. The ideas are all around you. Some are in written form, while others are out there in the fresh air.
Search App Stores
Search extensively on Google Play Store, iTunes, BlackBerry World, and Windows Store. Your idea might be hiding in there. Go through the applications of the categories you are interested to create an app in, find reviews and carefully note the recommendations and complaints of app reviewers. Ask yourself, can your app address those issues? Can you provide existing services that aren’t available for free (everybody loves free stuff)?
Steal like an artist.
Join Mobile App Communities and Contribute to Forums
There are many communities and forums populated by App developers and users. This will not only help you learn new traits, but also keep you abreast with the latest happenings in app ecosystem. Don’t shy about sharing what you believe or feel about your idea(s), but you don’t need to sip all the beans. Getting validations is a huge motivation.
Follow Latest Startups
There are many founders and entrepreneurs that have emulated the business model of their (pre-existing) foreign counterparts and modeled their services as per their own country and people, for example, Sina Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging website that is more of a hybrid of Facebook and Twitter and belongs to the Tumblr’s category.
There are no scarcity of websites that cover startups (and the content sells like hot choco-lava); TechCrunch, Wired, Mashable are some of the examples. You can also follow influencers, entrepreneurs and, founders on Twitter and LinkedIn. Networking is very important. Try to connect with them, tell your plans and get their suggestions. It is easier said than done, but who said businesses are easy to build?
Look for the opportunities that can be built into a viable business, and leverage the demography or laws and regulations unique to your country.
Conclusion
There is no dearth of opportunities. Innovations in technologies are opening new avenues for developers and businesses alike. Riding on the shoulders of smartphones, on-demand economy has fueled the growth of many startups and will continue to do so. You’re just an innovative idea away from changing the lives of people for the better.
