Venture Concept 2

The opportunity for my product/idea is needed, and has been for a long time. In 2019, there was an attempt to count all the residents of California who were homeless. This number was 151,278 individuals, with this making up nearly a quarter of the US homeless population. The upward drive of prices in California is a strong force and connects this problem centrally to Los Angeles. My idea is a little different than most people in this class because customers satisfying their needs of living should be a basic right. My customers don’t have the luxury of satisfying their needs because as of now there haven't been many ideas that have successfully reduced numbers for the homeless. This opportunity is huge, the statistics should tell you that. Anyone who disagrees in California may come as a threat, but truthfully the support behind this idea as well as the need for it is too big to overlook. The window of opportunity isn’t going to close until homeless people start getting off the streets and start having basic rights like food and shelter. There is not necessarily competition for my product/idea. This goes to show that people are more worried about artificial and “basic” products to help their own livelihood. This idea/product I am trying to make happen doesn't exactly have traditional competition. Most companies working to solve this problem are not cut throat looking to compete against each other. The idea will most likely have a problem getting the government to agree on space and funding. My innovation is a shelter/rehabilitation facility for the homeless. It would look like a governmental facility - as far as rooms and things that would be spaced out around the facility. There would be a section for those who need a place to stay for a few weeks and then move on, and a space for those who are mentally/physically ill and can get the help they need. How will this make money? At first glance, there is no probable way I can say it will. But even if 5,000 of those individuals are able to get a suit for a day, have the ability to get a good night's sleep and get a job, this will start to boost the economy and have a higher rate of employment, which will be a positive thing. This will start to make money if people start realizing it is successful. This wont relate to everyone, but homelessness impacts so many people in California; the people there are bound to hope that a successful solution will be come soon. The average price of a house in California is 440,000. No one who is currently working a lower income could afford that. Apartments are cheaper, but still it is a stretch to say everyone who has a job can afford housing, especially workers who are paid minimum wage or below. The next step California must take is to create housing lots where the apartments/houses are significantly cheaper, for those who have a lower income. If we kick all the janitors, waiters, food workers, even teachers and police officers, the society won’t be able to function. There has to be something done, and it starts with getting a majority of the homeless off the street. My venture concept is a little more difficult, or maybe it is more straightforward than others. Either way, it is different. There are other organizations trying to do what I am offering. But there aren’t enough, and they don't have the necessities like people and space to achieve a widespread change. My customers don’t necessarily have to change - but a lot of them want to. There is not necessarily competition, and most likely the organizations that are considered competition will want to join together to create a mission for all of California. I am not looking to take down or compete with those who are close to my idea. This isn’t for my personal success. This product/idea is not to make me rich and “successful”. I want to do this for the greater good and to fix something that should have been helped a long time ago. Packaging and price doesn’t necessarily apply, but the location and support do. The price of this will largely depend on where this is located in California. I think to start, this needs to be in the major cities including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and others that have high homeless populations. I can’t say that everyone will want to partake, but most people who are homeless want a better life. The organization is probably the hardest part. I am not sure if we could pay most employees who help at first. This is where nonprofits and NGOs will hopefully step in for volunteers. My most important resource is definitely social capital. By having connections to non-profits, and having a large social network in California, this helps immensely. The connection to other places gives the idea a much more probable way of succeeding. If the idea starts working, more people will be willing to give money or time to help the cause. By having the networking, the likelihood of success increases a lot. The next venture is the cheaper housing lots. This will give people who get lower paying jobs a place to live and keep society running smooth as well. Hopefully once more rehabilitation/living centers are installed, the success rate of people getting jobs will be higher, so the next idea could come quick. The idea of space isn’t a problem, high rise structures can be built to be more sustainable and achieve lots of people living in a smaller area. For myself, I don’t see the atypical success others do. I see myself becoming a lawyer and fighting for issues like the homeless crisis, or women's rights or even the environment. My success isn’t going to be about the money. Almost every field needs creativity and entrepreneurship, as well as leadership. I hope to achieve the vision of taking entrepreneurship and leadership and applying it to a greater good. Sure a product does a lot of good, but an idea and fundamental change can do so much more. I hope I can be a part of changing the issues like the housing crisis in California. I don’t necessarily see myself going on shark tank and presenting this idea, but I could see myself doing it in front of a court or governing body. I think that ideas like this need entrepreneurial knowledge without the greed or basic structure of selling, but the other skills are very valuable to this. I changed some parts of my venture concept including wording and the idea that entrepreneurship is needed for an idea like this but only some parts of it. I didn't get much feedback on my last venture concept but I did get some nice motivation so I was happy to hear that. Overall, I like what my venture concept sounds like. Of course if I took this idea further, I would change things and add in more statistics and money ideas into it. I think what I did take from the feedback offered from a student was that change takes hard work and it doesn't always happen quickly. I am aware of this and I will continue to hope and work for change as long as I have to. photo from hopehomes.org