Business Idea Generator

About the Project

Desktop and mobile high fidelity mockups.

Project Introduction

This tool was designed to sort through 800+ business ideas to provide users with a list of appropriate options. How: the user chooses from a list of industries and other criteria to generate their best match. Once they have their results, each card opens up to provide a synopsis of the idea with the option to learn more or “favorite” the idea. The user can compare the ideas based on scalability, capital needed to start, number of employees needed, etc.

The Challenge

In a market oversaturated with side hustles and gig jobs, it can be incredibly difficult and time-consuming to find a business idea that will not only achieve the user’s financial goals, but is also accessible based on their interests, skills and assets.

The Solution

Design a tool that provides 1) personalized business idea results to each specific user and 2) actionable and achievable plans to launch their business.

 

Competitive Analysis

PageFly

  • Strengths

    • Efficient affiliate marketing flow

    • The downloadable checklist is an excellent idea

  • Opportunities

    • All results direct users to an affiliate link resulting in solutions that are not always relevant to user needs

    • The selections at the beginning of the flow seem to have little to no impact on the results

Tactyqal

  • Strengths

    • The tool provides extremely unique, niche business ideas

    • The UI is simple and easy to navigate

  • Opportunities

    • Large advertisements detract from overall user experience

    • Results lack personalization

User Personas

  • Who is Doug?

    Doug has an established 9-5 job but he is looking for a side hustle. He loves dogs, crafting and going out to eat with his family on the weekends. He is married with 2.5 kids, and doesn’t have a whole lot of extra free time. He lives in Dayton and enjoys spending his down time relaxing with his family. He is known to rest his eyes (he is absolutely NOT sleeping) in his chair on football Sundays.

    What are Doug’s main goals in using the Business Idea Generator?

    Doug’s main goal is to find a side hustle that doesn’t require a whole lot of extra time or work, can bring in some extra money every month, and won’t compromise his established career. Working from home whenever he has a spare moment would be ideal!

    What is Doug’s main barrier to achieving these goals?

    Doug’s main barrier to achieving his goal is that coming up with a unique, profitable business idea in an oversaturated side hustle market on his own is challenging. He ends up finding the same recommendations and nothing feels particularly interesting or attainable for him.

  • Who is Katerina?

    Katerina has always wanted to run her own business. She has been in the corporate workforce for a few years, working her way up to the C suite. She is interested in up and coming tech, automation and loves to travel when she can get the time off. She lives in Austin, TX, a fledgling startup scene and is highly motivated, capable and has a bustling social circle and business network.

    What are Katerina’s main goals?

    Katerina wants to be her own boss and leave the 9-5 in the dust. She’s tired of working for the man and wants the most surefire route to F.I.R.E. as possible. She knows she wants to start a business in tech, but has few other requirements.

    What is Katerina’s main barrier to achieving these goals?

    Katerina knows she is sold on joining the Austin tech revolution but needs to know what to expect when becoming an entrepreneur (e.g., needed capital, legalese required in her industry, etc.)

 

Low Fidelity Wireframes

Wireframes were created in Sketch.

Entering keywords, narrowing the search and viewing results.

Course correctionS & Takeaways

Changes & Reasoning

  • Replaced “enter keywords” in favor of 19 categories with icons

    • This change was made to provide a more guided user flow and eliminate “blank page paralysis” when users are faced with a blinking cursor and no idea what to write. 

  • Added a “sticky” toolbar with valuable functionality

    • This toolbar supports results sorting, accessing the favorites menu, comparing multiple business ideas and extra navigation.

high fidelity mockups

Mockups were created in Sketch

Landing page, choosing additional filters and results

 

Comparing results, accessing the favorites menu and sorting results