For my domain expert, I reached out to UF Advising. The advisors spend a lot of time helping students to set up schedules and plan out there semesters. In this area, they know how to read syllabuses and have plenty of experience planning out student semesters to help give the best possibility of success to students. I have gone to the advisors every semester to have them help me set up my semester plan, so I was able to discuss informally with my advisor about her opinions on my product. The nature of our favor was pretty much if I produce this product I need to have a discount or demo version that an advisor could use to show and help students.
Next, I reached out to my boss at the UF bookstore as my expert on the market. I gave him a call and talked over my idea, once again we talked super casually, but he was also in favor of promoting my product so long as I used the bookstore as a place to purchase access codes for it. He works with lots of students and is selling school supplies and resources to students.
To cap it off, I found a programmer who works at my other job to be my supplier. I sent him over an email containing my business plan. He explained to me the magnitude of what a project like this would be, and how much a project like this would cost timewise. He thought it was really cool to have someone interested in his work so he was happy to explain all of the various aspects that go into creating programs and the job he does on a daily basis and wants me to keep him informed on what happens if I produce this product. By knowing someone in this field, he can help me to identify good traits to look for in potential partners or show me how to get started on my own.
Doing this project has helped me to feel more comfortable reaching out to people. I will continue to reach out to people whenever I have a project that I am passionate about to find the best team I can to help me achieve my goals.
Hey Ethan!
ReplyDeleteI think it was a really good idea for you to talk to the UF advising office. They can definitely give you pointers on what your app should consist of. I felt the opposite about the assignment. I was pushed out of my comfort zone to talk to people in the industry. However, I appreciated this assignment as it helped me make new contacts.
Ethan,
ReplyDeleteWhile I think that you have some great content here, I think a better organizational system would make your post far easier to read. Your background information on each person is also lacking a little bit, so your interactions seem abstract to me. I think that these people seem like good connections, but also I know nothing about them.
Ultimately, you did a really good job by going to people close to the niche your product filled but not extremely close to your product as you see it. Great job!
Respectfully, Maeghan Solanki
Hi!
ReplyDeleteIt was really smart of you to choose someone from UF advising. I don't know why, but it didn't even occur to me when doing this assignment to choose someone who worked at a department at UF. They definitely know syllabuses inside and out and could provide really important feedback. Your boss was also a good idea of someone to interview because he interacts with students daily and the bookstore would be a great place to promote. All of this was really interested and I was reminded of how interesting your product is!
Great job!
Linnea Lindeman