My belief is that there is a need for the electric razor scooters on the University of Florida’s campus and surrounding city. These scooters have taken over cities like Austin, Nashville and San Diego. I believe they would work at UF because of our lack of parking, the dangers of scooters, and the higher costs of Lyft/Uber. The scooters are convenient, cheap, fun, and easy to use. If the company is started before competitors, like Uber’s JUMP electric scooter line, then the company could possibly be the leader in the Gainesville market.
What is the unmet need? a safe, cheap, fast, and easy way to get around UF’s campus. Scooters are dangerous, parking is unheard of, Uber/Lyft are so expensive, and the bus can take forever in heavy traffic periods.
Who has the need? Students, professors, visitors, employees, Gainesville residents.
Where did the need come from? I think that parking and transportation has always been an issue at the University of Florida because of the amount of people who attend the University and the amount of people who are residents of Gainesville. It overpopulated quickly and was not built for a large number of vehicles.
What are people doing to meet this need now? Buying scooters which are dangerous and expensive, paying parking tickets, risking getting towed, biking, walking, not finding parking and driving around aimlessly until you do, taking the bus, and paying $150 per month to park at your apartment complex.
How sure? I believe if someone brought razor scooters to Gainesville it would be a success. Almost 90% certain this opportunity exists.
Who is a prototypical customer? Anyone at the University of Florida or surrounding campus who is struggling to get around such a large campus.
Interviews:
Rebekah Karish, age 21
1. Do you feel there is a need for electric razor scooters on the University of Florida campus? I feel that I am constantly struggling to find parking, especially where I live, at the Standard. If I got to use an electric razor scooter to get around for cheap I would definitely use it over my scooter and car in a lot of situations.
2. When do you become aware of the need? I become aware of the need when I struggle to find car parking or I feel unsafe driving my scooter down the 8 floors in a very dangerous parking garage.
3. How long have you had the need? I have had the need since I was a freshman. It has always been a struggle to get around such a big and busy campus in an effective way.
4. How are you currently addressing the need? I use my scooter and car quite a bit. The need to get around is always met but I am never fully satisfied with my options.
5. How satisfied are you with this solution? I think the electric razor scooters are a great idea and they seem to be such a big hit in a lot of cities. I think they would make it so much easier to get around our campus.
Reflection: I think that the opportunity exists and is relevant for people who have scooters and cars here. It allows them to use an alternative if they did not want to use their scooter that day or move their car to find parking.
Kendall Pikowski, age 20
1. Do you feel there is a need for electric razor scooters on the University of Florida campus? I would say there are numerous alternatives but I could see the students absolutely loving it. When I visit Austin, Texas it is always so fun to ride the scooters there.
2. When do you become aware of the need? I become aware of the need for better transportation and parking when I have to drive my scooter down 8 flights in the Standard parking garage. I also become aware of it because I pay so much to park where I live every month and have been towed unfairly before.
3. How long have you had the need?I have had the need for a better solution to transportation and parking since I have started here at UF in 2016.
4. How are you currently addressing the need?I pay $150 a month for parking at my apartment and use my scooter often.
5. How satisfied are you with this solution? I am unsatisfied with the cost of parking and how hard it is to get around our campus.I love the idea for the electric scooters. I think it would make getting around a lot easier for those who don’t have scooters or need to travel shorter distances on campus.
Reflection: I learned that opportunity might exist more so in the students that don’t have scooters. The electric razor scooters would be a great alternative to walking, biking, and taking the bus. I think what is surprising is that with multiple transportation options a lot of people think this is a fun idea they would use it just for fun.
Cliff (bouncer at Midtown), age 27
1. Do you feel there is a need for electric razor scooters on the University of Florida campus? I feel like it might not really apply to me because I am not a student. I would use it for fun possibly.
2. When do you become aware of the need? I think parking has always been a problem on and around campus. Mopeds seem dangerous especially the accidents that happen when dumb kids decide to drink and drive their mopeds home. Uber works pretty well though and it is not too expensive in Gainesville.
3. How long have you had the need? I have always found the need for better parking options especially when I get to work and its dinner time. But I wouldn’t know when I would use an electric razor scooter.
4. How are you currently addressing the need? I drive my car to work and park behind Midtown. Sometimes I have to drive around or park far away.
5. How satisfied are you with this solution? Now that I said I have to park far away sometimes I am not very satisfied. Maybe the electric scooter thing would be good if I parked in the outer parts and could scooter in instead of walking.
Reflection:I do not think that older people who work around the UF Campus would use the electric razor scooters as often as people who are on campus. I found it surprising that he could possibly use it if he was forced to park far away.
Summary: My opportunity will lie in the hands of people who are on and around the UF Campus a lot. I think it could be a fun activity or a useful way to get around. I think my opportunity has always been accurate, but I am more certain in my opportunity belief after interviewing a sample. I think that customer feedback is so important. If you adapt to what your customers want then you lose business.
Hi Emily. I really like your opportunity belief. Motorized razors seem like they would help alleviate some of the congestion issues in traffic and space issues for parking. I don't live in Gainesville, but my son attended UF and we have been there for numerous events and getting around can be quite frustrating because of all of the traffic and lack of parking near events. I do have a couple of questions. Are the scooters lightweight and can they easily be parked and locked somewhere like bicycles? I also like how you interviewed someone who is not a student and you received different feedback. I experienced that somewhat with my belief which, in the end, made me think my opportunity belief was not viable. As you mentioned in your summary, the need for entrepreneurs to adapt their beliefs is necessary.
ReplyDeleteHi Emily,
ReplyDeleteI think your idea of introducing electric razor scooters at UF could be very convenient for students. Your statement about the parking being difficult is so true, it is so inconvenient and a pain to find a parking spot around campus. The parking tickets that they always give are the worst too. I see professors ride around their Segway’s on campus all the time, which is pretty like an electric razor scooter. I think it could possibly be useful and convenient for students and professors at UF.