BLOG #2: ENGAGING & STRATEGIC PLANNING; GEE 16 VALIDATING INFORMATION FOR STARTUP PROJECT

Some important events have occurred in recent weeks. Today, I am excited to give you with an update on a variety of topics, including an overview of recent events, the progress of our startup project, the hypotheses we have been validating, the results we have discovered, and the engaging activities that have widened our lectures. By the end of this blog post, you will have a good understanding of all of these elements. I genuinely hope you have enjoyed engaging yourself in our entrepreneurial adventure together.

1. Narrative of each costumers, hypothesis, and results found.

A quick recap of our startup project "CMUGO," which is a QR code system in which students or people can scan the QR code and contact motorela/habal-habal drivers to pick them up and drop them off at specific locations, similar to Grab but with a QR code to scan. All of the data we collected was a success, and we truly heard both perspectives of the motorela/habal-habal drivers and students we questioned. First of all, we prepared certain questions for them to answer. For students we interviewed, our questions were as follows;

•Questions for Students/Community.

1. Do you think using QR code make our Transportation more easier?

2.What are your thoughts regarding the QR Code way of contacting the motorela driver/habal-habal driver? Is it convenient?

3. Are you willing to participate in the 15pesos fare?

4. As a passenger, do you think it's convenient? Why?

5. As a student/ community, what is your one problem and what kind of solution you can suggest?

They all gave the same answers to the questions asked to them, and some even suggested some problems. For the number one question, both of them respond that QR codes make transportation more easier because they do not require an internet connection; therefore, if you have a load to call the driver, there will be no problems. No#2, their thoughts on the QR code are also the same; they mentioned it's much more handy than waiting for a motorela/habal-habal; by contacting them, they can easily get to their desired location within the school premises. No. 3, they are all willing to spend 15 pesos or even 20 pesos to be picked up and dropped off at their designated spots. The previous questions have already solved question #4. Finally, no. 5, they highlighted some concerns to us, one of which is the trash around the school campus and whether we can do anything with it. Some also proposed that our startup project extend and do some food and school supply deliveries, which we are also considering.

We also interviewed the motorela/habal-habal drivers, and the majority of them agreed to our proposed startup project. Some of them agreed to the 15 peso fare because the passengers would be mostly students; others offered a 20 peso fare, but the majority agreed to the 15 peso fare. We also asked about the gasoline, and they stated it was fine and more than enough to pick up and drop off off passengers at their specified locations.

In summary, we effectively achieved outcomes that truly connect with our startup venture after conducting a thorough analysis that considered the important opinions and ideas offered by both customers and motorela/habal-habal drivers. Each one of these inputs helped us to adjust our project goals with the needs and expectations of the people we serve, creating the basis for future growth and development.

2. Decision Making

Our team held several discusses over the past week to identify the best plan of action for our startup project "CMUGO." Despite the hectic schedule of the week, we prioritized taking the time to thoroughly evaluate and apply our target market's comments and suggestions. It was important that we validate the information we gathered through detailed interviews and apply these findings to our decision-making process. Finally, we decided to proceed with the project because it aligned with the validated data and feedback received. We greatly appreciate the feedback supplied by our target market because it allows us to improve and polish our startup project. After considering their comments, we are excited about the future enhancements we may make to "CMUGO" and the greater influence it can have in giving essential support to our customers.

3. The Options

There were many options for taking on this startup project. We all provide ideas while deciding on the best startup project to pursue. We have suggestions for irrigation systems, as well as ways to recycle plastic bottles and make insecticides or pesticides that are relevant to our agriculture course. However, the transportation issue caught our interest because it directly affects us students, as well as one of the most common issues we experienced, which is a lack of motorela/habal-habal drivers, particularly in areas where there are few people passing by. In terms of QR codes, we consider something that is convenient and easy for us, particularly students and faculties. So, by calling the drivers, we can simply arrange transportation that will help us avoid being late to our classes or other occasions that require us to rush. Finally, we all decide on "CMUGO" as an startup project.

Lessons Learned

Throughout the week, many lessons were learned. The first step was to validate our startup project, in which we learned about our target market's opinions and suggestions, which may greatly assist us improve our project. Next, during our lecture, our instructor assigned us a challenge called the "Marshmallow Challenge," in which we were instructed to make the marshmallow ballance at the spaghetti sticks that needed to be done as a tower. It was a very exciting experience that required a lot of teamwork and strategies.

Prince, one of my teammates, had an amazing concept for how to make it work, so we completed it and finished first in the challenge. But what surprised us was that the ones who balanced the marshmallows were the workers of the kindergarten, while the unbalanced ones were the engineers. It was a great enjoyable event that taught us to work in groups and strategize things. Overall, it was a pretty enjoyable experience.