I found a great site the other day - it’s called Kickstarter.
Basically if you have an idea for a venture that requires some funding, go to Kickstarter, describe your idea and say how much you need.
If they wish, individuals can then pledge small amounts towards your goal amount: if the total is reached then they must cough up, if it isn’t then nobody is charged.
In research terms it’s an interesting way to run your idea past a number of potential (though small time) investors. A kind of small scale focus group. If nobody wants to invest then this has to say something to you.
All the same, it’s a bit of a mass market tool - a complex or niche business may not appeal to this audience. So beware.
It could suit some though, so check out http://www.kickstarter.com/ if you think it might work for your concept and budget.
And if you need help pitching your idea, be sure to contact KnowledgeWorks.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Where are all the entrepreneurs?
With jobs in the private sector at a premium and the closure of the public sector to new entrants, one would expect there to be a plethora of new business start ups.
Or has the depression of the recession affected our entrepreneurial spirit?
Every quarter Bank of Ireland measures the number of new companies which have registered with the CRO. Unsurprisingly (in my opinion), the numbers have been more or less flat recently. A more relevant measure might be new business registrations, which reflect a more informal business start up, without all the red tape and expense of a corporate registration. Unfortunately the CRO doesn’t compile these kinds of statistics, so there’s no way to tell, unless we look at anecodotal information.
Anecdotal opinion – or stories: this is unscientific research but it does provide some interesting pictures of individual cases (where all else fails). For example, we’ve all seen a huge plethora of door drops in recent months for handy men, cleaners, landscape gardeners and more.
Websites and services which are targeting new business are prominent, providing help and information to them to encourage their progress (http://www.business-startup.ie/) , http://www.enterpriseboards.ie/ http://www.startups.ie/ to name but a very few ). Stories in the news reports (e.g. recent Last Word interviews with recent graduates who have set up in business etc) are everywhere.
Either way, I still believe in our entrepreneurial spirit. Shortly after decimating the pay of the public servants yesterday, and introducing real hardship into previously affluent households, Brian Lenihan talked about our spirit. He said: “we need to rediscover our optimism and our self-belief. Now more than ever, we need that confidence on which business thrives.”
Despite what you think of his budget, you have to agree with that: only our self belief and attitude will set us back where we were just a few short years ago (and I mean before the greed and excess of our ‘boom’). We were a tiny nation which was winning respect and liking the world over for our gutsy ‘take on the world and have a laugh doing it’ attitude. Leave out disastrous banking policies and our national obsession with property and I believe we can make our mark again.
Roll on the recovery, I’m tired of the recession!
And for help with your business start up, get in touch with KnowledgeWorks.
Or has the depression of the recession affected our entrepreneurial spirit?
Every quarter Bank of Ireland measures the number of new companies which have registered with the CRO. Unsurprisingly (in my opinion), the numbers have been more or less flat recently. A more relevant measure might be new business registrations, which reflect a more informal business start up, without all the red tape and expense of a corporate registration. Unfortunately the CRO doesn’t compile these kinds of statistics, so there’s no way to tell, unless we look at anecodotal information.
Anecdotal opinion – or stories: this is unscientific research but it does provide some interesting pictures of individual cases (where all else fails). For example, we’ve all seen a huge plethora of door drops in recent months for handy men, cleaners, landscape gardeners and more.
Websites and services which are targeting new business are prominent, providing help and information to them to encourage their progress (http://www.business-startup.ie/) , http://www.enterpriseboards.ie/ http://www.startups.ie/ to name but a very few ). Stories in the news reports (e.g. recent Last Word interviews with recent graduates who have set up in business etc) are everywhere.
Either way, I still believe in our entrepreneurial spirit. Shortly after decimating the pay of the public servants yesterday, and introducing real hardship into previously affluent households, Brian Lenihan talked about our spirit. He said: “we need to rediscover our optimism and our self-belief. Now more than ever, we need that confidence on which business thrives.”
Despite what you think of his budget, you have to agree with that: only our self belief and attitude will set us back where we were just a few short years ago (and I mean before the greed and excess of our ‘boom’). We were a tiny nation which was winning respect and liking the world over for our gutsy ‘take on the world and have a laugh doing it’ attitude. Leave out disastrous banking policies and our national obsession with property and I believe we can make our mark again.
Roll on the recovery, I’m tired of the recession!
And for help with your business start up, get in touch with KnowledgeWorks.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Secondary Research - what's it all about?
KnowledgeWorks offers all the usual research services, but at our core, we like to focus on Secondary Research & Analysis. What exactly is that, I hear you ask…
- It’s about the first stage of any research project, maybe even before a research project.
- It’s about understanding as much as you can about your market before you go out and conduct primary research by talking to people.
- It’s not expensive.
- Usually, it’s amazingly worthwhile.
- You can even do some of it yourself (be careful though, some results need to treated with caution).
More to come on this blog on the How-To’s of Secondary Research, but for now, bear it in mind whenever you need to:
- Develop a new market
- Launch a new product
- Change your pricing or product offering
- Or most importantly when you’re making any strategic decision about your business.
What is the point of doing any of these things, without understanding your market?
Not a lot, when you think about it.
Know your market, know your competitors, know your customers, know your market size and potential, know your market’s trends and drivers.
To do this, in the first instance, use Secondary Research & Analysis.
- It’s about the first stage of any research project, maybe even before a research project.
- It’s about understanding as much as you can about your market before you go out and conduct primary research by talking to people.
- It’s not expensive.
- Usually, it’s amazingly worthwhile.
- You can even do some of it yourself (be careful though, some results need to treated with caution).
More to come on this blog on the How-To’s of Secondary Research, but for now, bear it in mind whenever you need to:
- Develop a new market
- Launch a new product
- Change your pricing or product offering
- Or most importantly when you’re making any strategic decision about your business.
What is the point of doing any of these things, without understanding your market?
Not a lot, when you think about it.
Know your market, know your competitors, know your customers, know your market size and potential, know your market’s trends and drivers.
To do this, in the first instance, use Secondary Research & Analysis.
First post...
So, this is my first blog posting, and I have to admit to being a little nervous. Who will read me, will I be admired, admonished, alluded to, and all the other 'a' questions that I could list?
This is something that appeals however. I like writing. You'll be glad to hear that I'm usually short and to the point! And now that I'm back in the driving seat at KnowledgeWorks, I want to start thinking about business - and all you Bloggers know that writing about something is one of the best way to get those creative juices flowing.
So, speaking of KnowledgeWorks, we are now back open for business. If you need assistance with business research and market analysis then give me a Bell. I'll be sure to tell you if what we do is right for what you need.
And in the meantime, check out my blog. As it develops, you'll see my ideas on:
- developing a small business in a recession
- just how important research is
- my thoughts on other people's interesting research
Stay tuned...
This is something that appeals however. I like writing. You'll be glad to hear that I'm usually short and to the point! And now that I'm back in the driving seat at KnowledgeWorks, I want to start thinking about business - and all you Bloggers know that writing about something is one of the best way to get those creative juices flowing.
So, speaking of KnowledgeWorks, we are now back open for business. If you need assistance with business research and market analysis then give me a Bell. I'll be sure to tell you if what we do is right for what you need.
And in the meantime, check out my blog. As it develops, you'll see my ideas on:
- developing a small business in a recession
- just how important research is
- my thoughts on other people's interesting research
Stay tuned...
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