Session 16: Sunday January 31st

Interesting Companies

• Like a zabasearch http://www.123people.com/ and  http://www.spock.com/
• Online media and social retailing http://www.thisnext.com
• Insure.com
• Tastebook make a cookbook easily http://www.tastebook.com/

Technology

• Google TV
• Black screen google http://www.ecosmartsearch.com
• Analyzes text in web page search http://www.cuil.com/
• iPap app that wakes you up arrival alert http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/inap-arrival-alert/id290401644?mt=8
• Wolfram Alpha search engine
• Turtle Wings, an electronic recycling company

Luxury

• Moldable jewelry
• Fish pedicures http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,387302,00.html

Entertainment

• TV guide game 1980s

Medical

• Zicam no-drip liquid nasal gel swabs
• Selling unwanted and unneeded life/medical insurance

Kids

• Soap clay
• Customizing sneakers with removable stickers http://www.sneakart.com/

Nonprofits/Charity

• Smile Train
• http://www.charitynavigator.org/ .org
• measuring the soft impact of a charity
• Camp twitch and shout for kids with disabilities
• Concierge Specialities by Victoria www.conciergebyvictoria.com/ for charity

Sustainability

• A "sarbanes oxley" for eco/environment
• Europe mandatory carbon credit
• trees that feed on plastic

Services

• How to make Groupon work in a developing country like India
• Morgues on cruise ships

Quotables

• "Cruises are for the newly wed and the newly dead"

Ideas that need a "champreneur"

• Homework TV - a tv that reinforces the message that homework first
• Ejector bed
• Wardrobe slot machine
• Coat closet that is provided realtime inputs by weather
• Kids Konserve eco friendly lunch boxes
• Airline manicures and pedicures
• Recommendation and reminders for grocery shopping as you pass store
• Radio gets daily messages from websites to spread
• Massage warmer for pillow
• Hand warmers to keep food warm
• consumer contest "find the best apple pie"
• Library of best recipes user driven

Senior Citizen-related ideas that need a champreneur

• radio that exclusively broadcasts health news
• towel heaters
• senior scrabble
• omega licious chewies gummies for kids
• ivillage for seniors
• history lessons
• game of the month club
• real time food freshness update
• spoonshoot for dishwasher
• eco friendly lunches
• large print keyboard for seniors
• stay sharp games
• grandpa grandson toy in 1
• class of 1930 magazine like a facebook
• wwII camp with history lessons and equipment
• yelp for seniors
• swinging seniors cruiseline
• new user interface for seniors
• charity events for seniors without social security
• night classes
• wheelchair tours
• rent a daughter or rent a son service
• retirement contents
• sponsor a senior
• dating service with transport included
• advice hotline
• voice command - is this food ok?
• employ senior citizens for answering phones
• button operated grocery shopping
• bathroom and meds come to you
• arthritis water classes
• Medication reminder on the radio

Office-related ideas that need a champreneur

• Alerter when boss is nearby
• Waker upper when you doze
• office gps for coworkers' offices
• profiles of people as you walk by their office or home
• company dog to eat leftovers

 Ideas for twitter update products that need a champreneur

• ebay bids
• restaurant updates
• last minute tickets to games and shows
• lunch counter
• boss is in
• building specific weather updates

Voice recognition products that need a champreneur

• http://www.redstartupdate.com/
• commands based on gestures
• coloration of voice based on intonation
• easily accessible help
• single tasking instead of multi tasking
• skip keyboard altogether
• verbal employee reviews
• airlines tickets seats and services voice command

Kids products that need a champreneur

• Booth where kids can take pictures, chance to appear
• Let kids record their own version of jingle and post online for ads
• Short stores for kids by kids

Session 15: Sunday November 8th

Interesting Companies 

• Barefoot Contessa http://www.barefootcontessa.com/
• The one-stop Hindu puja shop Blessingz http://www.blessingzonline.com/
• Famous people cryogenically frozen http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryonics
• LA clinic for designer babies http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29478274/
• CatBook, DogBook, BabyBook
• Cynthia's robotic bartender http://www.cynbar.co.uk/

Technology

• Mobivity text message coupons http://www.mobilemarketing.net/Coupons.aspx
• I'll have your avatar call my avatar http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2009/november/203784.html
• Second Life http://secondlife.com/

Travel

• Hamptons Star Map an insiders guide to stars' homes http://www.hamptonstarmap.com/map/index.php

Entertainment

• Surrogates the movie http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0986263/
• Dollhouse TV http://www.fox.com/dollhouse/

Food and Beverage

• Stonewall Kitchen Barefoot Contessa gifts http://www.stonewallkitchen.com/navsubdepartment.aspx?L0=SpecialtyFoods&L1=BarefootContessaPantry
• Food 52 contest for recipes http://www.food52.com/
• wagamama is futuristic http://www.wagamama.us/
• Gourmet Teas http://www.adagio.com/

Kids

• Revolution foods School lunches http://www.revfoods.com/
• Cookum to buy or sell food - legal ramifications http://cookum.com/
• Cord Blood Registry http://www.cordblood.com/
  Kids Pick Flicks IMDB for kids and parents http://kidspickflicks.com/
  

Nonprofits/Charity 

• Asha for Education http://www.ashanet.org
• indicorps http://www.indicorps.org/

Events

• Nerd Nite events http://nerdnite.com/
• Tony n' Tina's wedding comedy show http://www.tonyandtinanewyork.com/
• NYC chocolate tours http://www.sweetwalks.com/

India-Specifc Ideas that need a "champreneur"

• virtual puja flowers
• online recipes for prasad
• wedding help
• live entertainment and restaurant, bollywood style
• acne medication in india
• fast food in india
• Masala dispenser
• spices in sachets

Work-Related Ideas that need a "champreneur"

• gift vending machines at work
• gift card vending machines
• iPhone vending machines in retail http://theappleblog.com/2007/07/08/ipod-vending-machines-now-in-us-retail-outlets/
• sugar rush vending machines
• office games and cook offs
• office pantry retail
• vending machine in airplanes
• JetBlue vending terminal
• DVD vending machines with reviews
• Meetings without actually being there
• Virtual 3-d world conference and events
• send different nationalities and body types of avatars depending on the target consumer (e.g. send possible japanese client a japanese avatar)
• changing avatars while in meeting
• automatic avatars to do my meeting for me
• Karaoke tour bus
• Rate a coworker online anonymously
• Rate a manager
• Rate a contractor
• How was my presentation rating, for immediate feedback
• Movie and drink night pairings recommended for parents and kids

Kid Ideas that need a "champreneur"

• Use twitter to review kids movies
• send samples to kids in queue for consumer research
• kids and parents rate toys online
• website the follows you from kid to teenager to adult

Food and Beverage Ideas that need a "champreneur"

• awards for entrants
• can do international cuisine
• restaurant that changes menu daily
• customizable menu
• customized mixology teas
• Meditation kit with my tea
• nyc bartending class http://bartendersacademyny.com/courses.cfm
• mixology bar in boston called drink serves based on mood http://www.yelp.com/biz/drink-boston-2
• iphone and 100 steps per m&m would be a cool app
• drink maker controlled via iphone

Session 14: Sunday September 27th

Interesting Companies

• MomsLikeMe http://newyorkcity.momslikeme.com/members/exploregroups.aspx?p=104
• Gas mask in bra http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091001/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_ignobels
• TapIt www.tapitwater.com Network of cafes/restaurants in NYC that will provide tap water easily and free – is also an iPhone app to find these participating cafes

Technology

• Best iPhone apps of the year http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/08/15/the-35-best-iphone-apps-of-the-year-so-far/
• Google hot trends in search http://searchengineland.com/google-hot-trends-integrated-into-google-search-26717
• Google 10 to the 100th project http://www.project10tothe100.com/index.html
• 85K iPhone apps http://brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/09/28/85500-iphone-apps-2-billion-downloads/
• Take charge mobile charge boxes http://www.cmu.edu/homepage/computing/2009/fall/charge-and-go.shtml#
• Musical instrument smart phone http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/10/15/iphone.music.zoozbeat/index.html
• Driving over an iPhone
• FakeCalls iPhone app to bail you out of bad situation
• Sifting through the mounting problem of electronic waste http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/08/02/e-waste.recycling/index.html
• Wellocity – wellness center in India, trainers secretly evaluated and software evaluate clients’ progress http://wellocity.com/
• Make cool photos with Photofunia http://www.photofunia.com/
• Ads inserted into other ads http://gawker.com/5369431/ads-now-inserted-into-other-ads

Consumer

• Crystal Aspirin http://thewwpc.blogspot.com/2009/09/new-bayer-important-info.html
• Tim Horton’s in Canada http://www.timhortons.com/ca/en/index.html
• Alka Seltzer wake up call for hangovers http://www.alkaseltzer.com/as/as_wakeupcall.html
• Berocca for hangovers in Australia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berocca
• Cookum buy and sell homemade food http://cookum.com/

Travel

• Sri Lankan cuisine http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/09/dining/reviews/09under.html?_r=2
• Mumbai world's greatest http://www.cnngo.com/mumbai/none/worlds-greatest-city-50-reasons-why-mumbai-no-1-809212#
• Beachwood BBQ beer list live on webcam http://beachwoodbbq.com/
• India’s first do-it-yourself travel company http://www.thebackpackerco.com/about.htm

Entertainment

• Age of stupid documentary on Climate Change http://www.ageofstupid.net/http://onebigtorrent.org/torrents/6287/The-Age-Of-Stupid-2009-Directed-By-Franny-Armstrong-McLibel

Kids

• Designing an Internet for kids http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/17/youtube.kids.zuitube.internet/index.html

Ideas that need Champreneurs

• Other designs just for kids
• Ratings for age groups
• Unique online IDs
• Tags on websites
• Youtube can copy and filter
• How can parents trust it?
• Websense
• Google Voice for kids on Internet
• OpenID
• Unique accounts for everyone in family
• Date of birth to be requirement
• Pre-defined categories

Everyday frustrations and possible solutions:
Problem: Awkward elevator silences and annoying music

• Live company chat Lisa P Maxwell http://www.prweb.com/releases/chicago_advertising/advertising_jobs/prweb2617634.htm
• Real Time footage of dog day care franchise facilities http://onlinedoggy.com/
• Shoe shine in elevator
• Headphones in elevator
• Market research and product tasting in 30 seconds in elevator (like or not)
• Webcam on each floor of elevator
• Customized elevator shafts – go the lift with the news you want (daily, sports, entertainment)
• Boss/employee web cam on elevator
• Vending machines and coffee makers in elevator
• For those who want a public profile, notification of who is in the elevator through a display board
• Makeup kit in elevator like restrooms (hairspray etc)
• 8 prime spots in elevator with LCD you can check weather, news
• Hourly professions like mechanic – have webcam on their work (to see if it really took an hour) – pay for that service for more transparency

Problem: Losing weight is slow even with hours at the gym

• Certain websites only based on weight
• Snacks and Foods with notified doctor about what you are doing
• Websites to lock or unlock foods
• Unique online ID with fitness profile
• Bus route subscription to your phone
• Treadmill desk http://www.treadmill-desk.com/
• Public goal websites
• “Meetings on foot” at work like at Bayer
• Money goes to George Bush if you don’t stay on diet
• Exercise machines build you up while you eat
• Food that requires more calories to digest than to consume

Problem: Irritating coworkers

• Website to help get you out of irritating situations
• Report irritating coworkers and post feedback
• Youtube for specific office mates
• Musical chairs mandatory for teams
• Irritatormeter
  

Problem: No universal language

• English translation in mid air
• Colors to signify emotions
• Penguin language is observed
• Signal to reduce translation and contextual errors
• “Lifeline” translators on demand
  

Problem: Why don’t people get EZ Pass?

• Bike-able bridges
• Cars with automatic EZ Pass (or a feature like leather seats)
• Incentives like prizes for EZ Pass
• Regular lanes 100x prices
• London chip embedded in cars for automatic tolls
• New roadway for non-EZ pass = 25 mph
• Social stigma with a branded NO EZ PASS car

Other problems and frustrations:

• Forgetting things and
• Losing track of commitments
• iPhone easily falls and cracks and breaks
• Service to fix iPhone is expensive
• Airline terminals and car rentals and baggage are too far apart

Session 12: Sunday May 31st

Interesting Companies

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki Wikis
• http://www.zopa.com/ Zopa
• http://www.prosper.com/ Prosper
• Like-minded people http://www.meetup.com/
• Pixman Nomadic Media http://www.pixman-usa.com/ TV screen hanging off of you
• Operation Glass Slipper giving prom dresses to girls who cannot afford them http://www.operationglassslipper.org/
• Promoting sustainable growth and funding for ventures such as irrigation pumps http://www.kickstart.org/

Technology

• Lawyers using social tools http://www.thestandard.com/news/2009/02/24/lawyers-hop-twitter-bandwagon
• Online book trading only pay postage http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php
• News event-inspired video games http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/05/26/current.events.games/
• Brightfeet Lighted Slippers http://www.brightfeetslippers.com/

Consumer

• http://www.terracycle.net/ promotion with Target – send plastic back to Target, get a Terracycle bag
• Handmade cards that are eco-friendly and wood-free http://www.anandzcreation.in/

Travel

• New York with a population of 8,038,600, compared to London's 7,393,800.
• London is bigger in terms of area, covering just over 600 square miles, whereas New York is almost exactly half that size.
• La Rioja, Spain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Rioja_(Spain) 

Food and Beverage

• Coca Cola Plant Bottle less carbon emitting http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/presscenter/nr_20090514_plantbottle.html
• David Drake restaurants http://www.daviddrakes.com/

Kids

• Knewton Test Prep adapts to students learning (like the GMAT exam does http://www.knewton.com/

Events

• Enterprise 2.0 conference in Boston http://www.e2conf.com/

Ideas that need a "champreneur"

Improving products/services:
Spoon/Fork

• Self cleaning spoon
• Spoon on one side, knife on the other
• Fork with a razor edge that can be used as a knife
• Comb and fork in one – self cleaning
• Spoon with straw insert so it can double usage
• Removable prongs so it can be a fork/spoon
• Sensor in utensil so it turns into a fork/spoon depending on if you are eating soup/pasta
• Returnable plastic ware to take-out restaurants
• Wine glass that becomes a beer glass by changing parts (Russian dolls)
• Electric chopsticks or utensils to warm up your food while eating it

Phone

• Automatically charges if starts becoming low on battery, no input from you
• Portable home phone land line
• Edible phones
• Lose your phone – track on GPS
• Call to see what Obama is eating – ready number
• In Germany, they dock cell phones on landlines

Toothbrush

• Musical melody toothbrush for kids http://www.hasbro.com/shop/browse/_/N-1r/Ntt-Tooth%20Tunes?Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial
• Customized toothbrushes – colors, tastes
• Video in mirror that shows your toothbrush
• Flashlight toothbrush
• Intelligent toothbrush
• Pill to see how clean your teeth are – chew, colored stains where teeth are dirty
• Connected to water pipe
• Dispenses toothpaste with any flavor, customize every day
• Flashing bright toothbrush
• Instant analysis about brush strokes and photos sent to Dentist while brushing
• Analysis about cleanliness of teeth - report after every brushing session
• Mouthwash on one side
• Kids electric toothbrush that don’t hurt teeth
• Chewable toothbrush (Heathrow airport) http://www.hanna-vending.com/toothbrush.htm

Broom

• Music and radio on broom
• Requires no hand holding
• Automatic disposal
• Roomba http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roomba
• Height adjustable
• Attached trashcan and recyclers
• Broom that is also a masseuse
• Remote control broom
• TV integrated broom
• Analysis of floor to suggest best cleaning method
• Assess glass and then broom mode activate

Wastebasket

• Plant basket
• Room decoration (a la Dirt Devil Kone http://www.dirtdevil.com/Products/productDetail.aspx?id=39981&wheretogetit=false&gclid=CK_-78aXgZsCFQIfswodnBfPcQ)
• Long term wastebasket
• Compactable wastebasket
• Automatic recycle bin
• Don’t need to re-line it every time
• Sensor tells you if something is rotting in there
• Empties itself periodically
• Adaptable to different size trash

Timelapse videocamera to watch your garden grow http://www.hammacher.com/publish/76551.asp

• Video camera to watch dust accumulate to get a ‘dirty monitor’
• Newborn growth monitor – time lapse growth so you can see baby get bigger
• Trace phone calls from a distance
• Pre and post weight loss watch time lapse video for motivation

Mirror Light Box responds to motion http://www.centsiblelighting.com/whats-new.htm

• Sensor in menus so the dishes change based on who you are (male/female/overweight/underweight)
• Retails clothing stores send a different message in window as you walk by - Bloomingdale's

Obama Fingers http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,612684,00.html

• Obama-branded cell phone for kids – press a button that says “Do your Homework kids”
• TV Channel to watch Obama at work in everyday mode
• Obama exercise manual
• Obama how-to have a successful relationship book
• Obama children's books

Alex Beard’s Impossible Puzzles M.C.-Escher-ish http://alexbeardimpossiblepuzzles.com/

• Customizable for adults and kids
• Use family photos to create abstract scenes and puzzles
• Create your own puzzle like Build a Bear
• Customize size
• Puzzle clothing
• Edible puzzles - great for parties

Launching a new product
Product: Premium red wine stain cleaner

• Roller ball elegant pen
• Can be used on silks
• Can be customized or branded
• Works on chocolate stains too
• Recycled after use

Distribution:

• Vineyards and wineries
• Beer and Wine Stores
• Tchotchkes