Presentation for 2019 class of WFF about vetting start ups and featuring start ups by young women and men.

1. mkossarian@gmail.com
@malous_k
Is Your Idea Viable?
Malous Kossarian mkossarian@gmail.com

2. What we’ll focus on
• Story time
• How to assess your idea
• How big is the problem
• What do you need to learn to solve it
• Your passion level
• Would people pay for it
• What solution already exists? How is yours different
• Example business ideas
• Ask for their ideas

3. Google Science Fair Winner
• Fione Ferriera wins 2019 Google Science Fair
• Won $50,000 for system to remove microplastics
from water
• Uses combination of oil and magnetite powder
• 87% effective in removing all microplastics
• Fione plans to scale out his invention and
implement at water treatment plants

4. CoderBunnyz & CoderMindz
• Samaira Mehta started coding at 6 years old
• CoderBunnyz teaches computer programming
concepts
• CoderMindz teaches basic AI concepts
• Generated $200,000 of revenue in a year, sold over
6,000 games
• Samaira visits schools, libraries and companies to hold
workshops for employees and their kids

5. Large Scale Impact
• Greta Thunberg led “school strike for the
climate” at 15
• 7 months later, 1.2M students in 112 countries
joined her protest
• Has become a climate activist
• “No One is Too Small to Make a Difference”

6. Consider your Idea
• Mission & Revenue
• WHO – Why are you the right person?
• WHAT – What do you want to build?
• WHEN – Is now the right time?
• WHERE – How will people hear about it?
• WHY – Is there a problem you want to solve?

7. Mission
• Why do you want to build this?
• Is there a social angle to your idea?
• Airbnb – connect people across cultures
• Blueland – reduce plastic waste
• Code.org – teach computer science to everyone
• Delta – make the world feel smaller through travel
• Hello Alfred – employ women and give back time

8. Why are you the right person
• Your interests, skills, and people
• What are your passions

9. What do you want to build
• What is the product?
• Who needs it?
• How did you think of it?

10. Is now the right time
• Is there something uniquely better about now?
• Why is now better than the past or future?

11. How will people find you
• Where will your business exist?
• How will people find you?

12. Is there a Problem
• Who experiences the problem?
• Are there solutions? Are they good enough?

13. Solar Heater Science Winner
• Xochitl Guadalupe Cruz
• Installed solar powered heater on her roof
• Wants to help her community have access
to hot water
• Created out of recycled materials

14. Blueland
Mission:
“Make being eco easy with innovative products
in reusable packaging that are convenient,
effective and affordable”
• Started Blueland to cut down plastic waste
• Inspired once she became a mom

15. Me & the Bees Lemonade
Mission:
“Save the world’s bee population. Buy a
bottle, save a bee.”
• Started at 4 years old, and grew the
business every day
• Uses social media to teach people about
honeybees

16. Gladiator Lacrosse
Mission:
“Provide high-quality lacrosse equipment at
an affordable price.”
• Started at 13 years old, when she couldn’t
find the equipment she wanted
• Joined forces with Casey Powell,
professional lacrosse player

17. Nannies by Noa
• Started summer art class for kids at 10
• Started a full service childcare agency