Portable consumer electronics demand is on the rise. That’s what my intuition is telling me. Of course, I can do slow and tedious research to get concrete evidence that I’m correct. But I believe there are certain numbers that are too time-consuming as a solo entrepreneur to find. Drawing conclusions from personal experience within a niche I already belong to is the street-smart approach. An ever faster method to determine viability is to fill an existing demand within that niche. Sometimes the consumer doesn’t know they want my product yet but that’s where the real gold is.
Traveling to Bali showed me a world where scooters dominated the streets. Cars were considered a luxury and rightfully so because of the exorbitant cost to purchase and maintain. I recall giving $100 worth rupiah to our guide and driver for a tire expense he wasn’t expecting. To him, that was an enormous cost and he was such a great person I wanted to help him out. He had saved all his money to buy a van and start his tourist business so he can make a living as an artist and free spirit. There is very little access to capital unlike the U.S. If the economic climate is indeed leading the U.S. economy into a half-century dip then I’m sure the next generation will experience what our Balinese friends have lived their whole lives. That means less credit, less spending, and more economical means of transportation such as electric scooters.
The world is already acclimated to electric scooters thanks to Bird and Lime’s scooter-sharing business model. This idea primes the market to the possibility and options of this alternative mode of transportation. I remember seeing an electric scooter after finishing the Los Angeles Marathon in 2020 and taking it to the closest Starbucks so I can get picked up. The popularity of these scooters rose and fell as more rules are applied to their use and scooter-related accident statistics went on the rise. However, the real magic isn’t in the scooters themselves, but the batteries that power them.
Battery technology is at a breaking point where price and quality are entering the mainstream and will become a new standard of living. Traditionally the domain of electronics hobbyists and enthusiasts, batteries can now power every creature comfort in our lives. Starting with power banks, we are moving up working remotely and powering our laptops and cellular routers. This enables us information workers to work from anywhere and at anytime. We are unshackled from the structure of offices and workplaces. This is the concept that can make batteries very sexy.
The marketing strategy is to show people a lifestyle that batteries will allow. With some creative projects and viral social media networks, it would not be difficult to dream an image that people would like to emulate. This is how demand would be created. By combining the maturity of concurrent and complementary trends and technologies, creating a battery that is high-quality and consumer-friendly will undoubtedly disrupt a battery industry focused on technical specifications. Following Apple’s success, the strategy is to focus on branding and image and less on technical prowess.
The whole world runs on technology and electronics. Starting with one niche can extrapolate to every niche in the world. I believe the selection of a niche would require the domination of a single sense where the emotions take control. I cannot think of anything more emotional than music. I’d like to focus on people who love music and producing a battery that functions with cordless speakers. I believe that capturing music can capture the world. It will be for people not afraid to live a little bit louder.