Idea Generator

Did any one business idea jump at you on the list?  If you’re still having trouble coming up with something unique, try these idea generating tactics:

An excellent way to come up with startup ideas is to ask yourself the question:

“what do you wish someone would make for you?”

SCAMPER technique -

1. Substitute
   1. Components
   2. Materials
   3. People
   4. Services – instead of buying, could it be rented?
2. Combine
   1. Mix with other products or services
   2. Combine 2-3 different types of businesses
3. Adapt
   1. Alter
   2. Change function
   3. Use part of another element
4. Modify
   1. Increase/reduce in scale
   2. Change shape
   3. Modify attributes – color, more refreshing design
5. Put to another use – remember backpacking as a fitness program?
6. Eliminate
   1. Remove elements
   2. Simplify
   3. Reduce core functionality
7. Reverse

Attribute Listing Technique:

1. List attributes or properties of a product or service
2. Use these attributes as headings (can use in Excel program for ease of moving things around)
3. List all possibilities under each heading, then combine one from each column to generate multiple possibilities

Example – Headlamp

Material         Bulb         # bulbs   Housing     Security        Lighting

plastic              LED               1           round     elastic strap    steady

carbon fiber    Regular         2         square       velcro            blinking

aluminum      flourescent    3        pyramid   retractable     chasing

The list could go further, but surely you get the idea here.  Break a business down into as many components so you can make as many combination as you can dream up.

How about a plastic, LED headlamp with 4 bulbs in shape of a big sunflower that has the steady, blinking, and chasing lights option, secured to your head with an elastic strap that you can market to kids?  Think that would make their backyard camping more exciting for them?  How about adding a way to add colored light options too?