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Are you solving a problem worth solving?
Elaine ChenMay 13, 2015
© 2015 ConceptSpring
Getty Images Getty Images
Independence iBot -Via Deka Research
Getting to a problem worth solving
1. Define and refine
2. Validate your hypotheses
Photograph by Greg Robinson – Via Buzzfeed
Photograph by Greg Robinson – Via Buzzfeed
Photograph by Greg Robinson – Via Buzzfeed
Photograph by Greg Robinson – Via Buzzfeed
From the 2008 Ph.D. Thesis of Prof. Ed Olsen, Associate Professor of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of MichiganReproduced with permission by Prof. John Leonard, Professor of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering. CSAIL, MIT
Via robohub.org
“We had to engineer the robot from scratch for this specific purpose (although, naturally, we used commercially available off-the-shelf parts wherever appropriate).”
- Mick Mountz, “Kiva the Disruptor”, Harvard Business Review, December 2012
Getting to a problem worth solving
1. Define and refine
2. Validate your hypotheses
Getty ImagesGetty Images
z
Getting to a problem worth solving
1. Define and refine
2. Validate your hypotheses
Endurance Athletes
Half iron
TriathletesSprint Olympic
Ironman
Recreational AthletesAmateur Athletes
Semi-Pro Amateur AthletesProfessional Athletes
Recreational Cyclists
Road racersMountain bike racers
Cyclists
CommutersMarathoners
Ultra-marathoners
Runners
5K/10K road racersFitness runners
Half Marathoners
Half iron
TriathletesSprint Olympic
Ironman
Recreational AthletesAmateur Athletes
Semi-Pro Amateur AthletesProfessional Athletes
Recreational Cyclists
Road racersMountain bike racers
Cyclists
CommutersMarathoners
Ultra-marathoners
Runners
5K/10K road racersFitness runners
Half Marathoners
Endurance Athletes
Getty Images
Female road
race finisher• 5K/10K/Half
marathons
• 25-35
• Works full time
• Married with
children
• Working on a
Personal Record
Getting to a problem worth solving
1. Define and refine
2. Validate your hypotheses
“Tell me about the last time…”
“Why not?”
“You mentioned XXX. Can you say more about that?”
“Why?”
“Tell me the story of…”
Getty Images Getty Images
Getty Images Getty Images
Liz, 38• UX designer, style
maven
• Type A highly driven
• 2 kids – Age 2 and 5
• 1.5h commute each
way
• No coach
• 1st half marathon
• Uses MapMyRun
• Hit a wall with her pace
• Needs help getting
unstuck
1. How many Lizzes are there?
2. Is there any money to be made?
z
US Population: 319M1
Females aged 18-65:200M1
Female race finishers:10.8M2
5K, 10K, Half Marathon: 667M2
1. US Census, 2014 – Quick Facts2. Running USA 2014 State of the Sports,
Part II: US Race Trends; internal analysis
1. How much will Liz pay?
=> Is it financially plausible?
2. How will you find Liz?
3. How much does it cost to run your business?
A problem “worth” solving to me 20y ago:• Is a technical problem
• Is “interesting”: pushes the envelope
• Includes hardware and software
A problem “worth” solving to me today:• Is a business problem
• Addresses a true need, and reaches many
• Is economically viable
What problem is worth solving to you?
Thank you
Hardwareproduct.info@chenelaine blog.conceptspring.com
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