Idea Napkin No. 2: 2 BUS-y 4 U

1) You.  
My name is Marissa Mosher and I am a junior at the University of Florida, majoring in General Business with a Specialization in Travel and Tourism Management. I have worked in the hospitality industry for the majority of my life, and from this experience I have learned how to be personable, relate to others well, and patient with many different types of people. I aspire to work in the hotel industry and travel often. In regards to my business concept, I could certainly see this working well in my life. While it is not directly related to hotels, proper public transportation is an important and essential segment in the tourism industry. 

2) What are you offering to customers?
With 2 BUS-y 4 U, through this app people will be able to see not only WHEN the next bus is arriving but also if it is already FULL. This is essential to time management and ensuring that one arrives on time to their destination. Even beyond helping a student see if a bus is full as he is on his way to class, it could help a tourist see whether or not they are able to take the next bus to the airport or if they need to arrange for an alternative plan.

3) Who are you offering it to? 
This app would be beneficial to any and all people who use a public bus system to get around. While I was inspired by my fellow students, as well as my own experiences, this app is not only helpful to students. It would greatly aid tourists, anyone without a car, those too young or old to drive, etc. No matter who you are, you want to know how and WHEN you will be getting somewhere. If you believed that you would be able to take a bus in 5 minutes but it arrived full and you had to wait another 30 minutes for the next one, that can be problematic.

4) Why do they care? / 5) What are your core competencies? 
Customers will pay for this app because time and time again, it has been proven that people are willing to pay a bit extra for added convenience and accessibility. While there are already some bus apps on the market for free, people will be willing to pay for 2 BUS-y 4 U for the information of knowing which buses are full and the added ease of better planning out their departure/arrival time.

I believe that all of these elements fit well together and make for a cohesive idea plan. This transportation-centered issue meshes with my interest in travel and tourism, and I know that this app is filling a need as I myself have this need. While this concept seems fairly strong to me, I know that if I actually began the steps to put my ideas into action and create this app, there would be bumps along the way, as with any new business venture. It is impossible to foresee all potential future issues, but that is where tenacity and perseverance would come in so that I may keep striving towards my end goal.

The five key takeaways that I got from my feedback on Idea Napkin No.1 are:

 1) My idea has a lot of potential
 2) People are willing to pay for convenience and accessibility
 3) The availability of this app to everyone increases its value
 4) The commenters have personally experienced the issue of a crowded bus
 5) My background in the hospitality industry will help me in running a business/company


As all of my comments were positive and none offered and new suggestions/ideas, I did not do much to alter my Idea Napkin. It provided a clear understanding of who I am, what my product is/does, and who my target audience would be, so I did not feel that it would greatly benefit from too many alterations.