11A Piecing It All Together

1)    You. 

I’m a business administration major at the University of Florida. I’m also a Cuban-Spanish American who grew up in Miami. I’ve played sports since I was five years old and have grown a passion for fitness. I’ve found that keeping a steady fitness routine has become more challenging as my schedule’s become more hectic and want to contribute to a solution that makes working out quick and fun. My aspiration is to work in business analytics and help businesses make logical decisions. I would love to exercise this skill by creating a business that provides affordable at home or in office advanced gym-workout machines. This would have a significant impact on my life. I would be dedicating most of my time and energy to make building this business.

2)    What are you offering to customers? 

I’m offering customers an advanced at-home or office workout machine that would mitigate the need for a gym membership. This product resembles a treadmill, but the track is made with a recycled plastic mat that is easier on the knees and joints. The treadmill comes with a 24x36 inch HD touch screen that participants can use to select workouts that are in line with their fitness goals. The machine comes with built in workouts that feature beautiful HD scenic courses that slope up and down hill. These courses come in different lengths and levels and are included in the exercise machine’s initial price. Additionally, this machine will include workout classes held by top fitness instructors that can be live-streamed or pre-recorded for an additional monthly subscription fee. To help build a community or to get more out of your class, there will be a chat feature on the side of this massive screen that can convert audio to text and send messages to the live chat or directly to the instructor. The instructor can then answer your questions out loud during the class. Users will also have the option to make personal profiles on their machines and engage with community members and fitness professionals on different forums. This machine will replace the need for a gym membership and will have different monthly payment plans making it more affordable to the general public.

3)    Who are you offering it to? 

The demographics of this workout machine are middle- and upper-class professionals of all fitness levels who want to invest in their health.   

4)    Why do they care? 

     This is a need because jobs are becoming more sedentary and health awareness is on the rise. Additionally, time is becoming an increasingly scarce resource. My customers will invest in this machine because it will allow them to have an effective guided workout without spending time commuting to and from the gym. It will also have a community aspect which will keep customers accountable and engaged with their workouts.

5)    What are your core competencies? What sets you apart from everyone else? Also: what do you have that nobody else has? 

      My product has many different stakeholders which gives me a huge advantage. Some stakeholders are software designers, hardware designers, fitness instructors, and off course, my clients. Additionally, my product will have affordable payment plan options making it accessible to a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds. It also has the advantage of being located in the office or home reducing time spent commuting and has a community aspect.

   I think these elements really complement each other. However, I think it would be challenging to find enough investors to fund this business idea. This is a very expensive business idea.