Starting something of their own that's scalable and has clear medium-term exit options. This is the goal that prospective founders have in mind when looking at the fast-moving and fragmented digital world. And they often don't know which topic to focus on.
Our guest author Christan Gleich provides insights into the most promising trending topics that could currently be worthwhile for a new business start-up.
If not now, when?
The current era is a good one. It rewards hard-working individuals and offers a stable economic environment for risk-takers, as well as good opportunities for lucrative exits. However, many who are considering starting a new business are unsure about exactly what type of startup they should establish. One thing is clear: it only works with a well-thought-out business model and perseverance.
Nowadays, many technologies that once required a degree are almost self-taught. Anyone who has ever tried a Raspberry Pi and experienced rapid success knows what I'm talking about. In addition, there are often existing technologies available in a modular design that can often be used as the basis for a planned business. Testing and retesting is important advice here.
Bots are the new apps
This applies to one of the hottest current topics: Bots or messengers. These are functionalities that are intended to make life easier—similar to a personal butler or concierge. Facebook Messenger is the most prominent example.
Interested parties can visit the “Facebook Messenger Platform” or the “Microsoft Bot Framework“ develop their own bots. Tools such as codes, links and plug-ins are used here. Modular systems such as “Chatfuel“ allow you to build a chatbot without all this knowledge, as long as you can use drag-and-drop.
There are now agencies that don't have their own website in the traditional sense, but rather a branch for a chatbot that allows users to query the agency's content. "Heek" already allows you to build a website using only the chatbot of the same name. So, there's a market for these practical helpers.
“IoT” becomes “IoE”
The second hot topic is IoT, the Internet of Things or, as many now call it, “Internet of Everything“ (IoE).
Everything in my home is connected. The lights turn on automatically the second I walk through the door, and Amazon Echo turns on the TV with the voice command "Alexa Trigger: Turn on the TV". How does that work? The devices communicate with each other. They execute predefined commands, currently mostly very one-dimensional, for specific situations. If we now add the other trending topic “AI”, artificial intelligence flow in, we speak frankly.
Speaking of speaking: Another trend topic is closely linked to IoT and is becoming increasingly popular: Voice Search. Essentially nothing more than an alternative user interface (UI) to the traditional keyboard, it will be the simpler input method that will predominate in the future. The Oculus Rifts and Microsoft HoloLens of the future will not only be connected to the devices around them, but will also understand voice input. And reliably. The much-cited smart refrigerator, which independently orders products and releases them for immediate delivery, is a nice gadget, but nothing more—yet.
The aforementioned Raspberry PI may be experimental, but it can demonstrate how IoT lays the foundation for simplifying things that still seem cumbersome to us today. Examples include time recording systems. Or they can create meaning, such as activity robots in retirement homes and dementia clinics, where fun applications like the cube robot are still the focus today.
As exciting as all these topics sound, they can only be tackled with your sleeves rolled up. Therefore, dear founders, to paraphrase Franz Beckenbauer: Let's go, get out there, and get going.
Guest author Christian Gleich
Christian Gleich is a digital all-rounder with 18 years of experience in mobile and online marketing. He currently serves as Director of Strategy & Innovations at the performance agency Metapeople, where he is responsible for trends and their implementation for clients.
He is a futurist, trend scout and innovator and speaker on these topics at events, among others — next time at the Deep.48fwrd: IoT Masterclass on February 13, 2017.
