MedEntrep
Entrepreneur: Katrina Louise M. Taguba
NU 10 version 2
January 9, 2016
1. Vendo machine that dispenses mini toiletries: small soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, facial wash, sanitary napkin, razor, shaving cream, small isopropyl alcohol, small lotion, shampoo, mouth wash
Vendo machines are seen almost everywhere especially in places where business establishments are run almost 24 hours, 7 days a week. These automated machines traditionally dispense chips, sodas, juices, water, sandwiches, and more recently, coffee! Unfortunately, other non-food "basic necessities" are not found in these vendo machines and one would have to find a Sari-sari store in the area, a gas station with a convenience store, or 24/7 convenience stores like 7/11, Mini Stop, Family Mart, or All Day Mart! With the renewed popularity of travel and tourism in the country at present, both Filipinos and foreigners alike would appreciate easily accessible stores for non-food, commonly used basic commodities like toiletries. The vendo machines can address this need. Industrial engineers can redesign the machines to fit the specifications of the objects to be dispensed. Machines can be rented. The same logistics as to the traditional food-dispensing vendo machines are applied. These machines can be placed in bus stations, train stops, airports, or even in BPO offices which run 24/7. This will be a welcome innovation for people on the go and a dream come true for those who want to travel light!
2. A bookstore/online store that buys and sells and rents out used current edition high school books, college books, medschool books, law books, etc.
Parents dream of giving the best education for their children. Education equals books. Books equal additional out-of-pocket expenditure. Even with the availability of e-books, traditional books are still required in most schools, colleges, and universities. Unfortunately, these books may cost a lot. Library copies may not be enough to cater to the number of students. Some books unfortunately are only used for 1 semester and would gather dust in one's bookshelf at home. Some books are updated as often as every 3 years and will require one to purchase an updated edition. As a result, students have no books or have resulted to photocopying – perpetuating illegal reproduction industry. To address the need for cheaper, original books, 2nd hand bookstores should be made available and accessible to all. This industry will open opportunities for students to earn by selling their used books, at the same time help fellow students by making available required books made affordable. Although there are existing similar stores in Recto, what makes this set-up different is that this is organized, legal, available online, updated, and can have a tie-up with public and private elementary and high schools, solving the problem of poorly-written and old edition books. Corruption can be curved, too!
3. Home-based cleaning service
Nowadays, both parents are working to help augment the needs of the family. Household help at the same time are not always available, or has a very high rate of turnover. As a mother of 3, the author has first-hand experience living in a situation where cleaning the house is a challenge because of work and attending to the children. Although there is luckily a nanny to help out with the children, the author would prefer the nanny not to do cleaning jobs that would make them dirty and dusty, hindering them from handling their nanny duties properly and hygienically. To address this problem, a cleaning service can be called. Much like the typical household help, this service provide trained staff with their own cleaning paraphernalia. The service can be reached by phone call or online through phone apps. This is an answered prayer for mothers with young children, working moms, even men who maintain their own condos or apartments!
4. Errand service—Example: will cover books (especially now that school is starting), change your beddings, water your plants, etc.
Very much like the home-based cleaning service, mothers, young and old, will appreciate additional help that they can get. Traffic, the smoldering heat, and busy, busy schedule at work can most of the time make it impossible to do the little errands that can pile up in time. A mother can feel like a winner if all beds in the house are fitted with fresh linens after weeks of delaying it, or if the old, dying leaves are trimmed off the plants, or groceries were bought and packed away neatly in the cupboard! It can get crazy especially at the start of the school year when mountains of books and notebooks have to be covered with plastic and properly labeled for one child – what more if there are 2 or more! A simple phone call or touch in the phone app can make the wish come true!
5. Foldable lightweight baby/toddler stroller that can fit into a standard-sized backpack
The author remembers going out of the house with a baby/toddler in tow feeling like staging a big production number! Before going out, the car has to be packed with the baby bag with diapers, change of clothing, wipes, milk bottles, milk powder stacks, snacks, AND the most important bulky stroller! Sadly, nature made toddlers decide when to stop walking and start wanting to be carried which most often comes during the time when the author's arms are full of purchases. Strollers were invented for this but being bulky even when traditionally folded makes it still taxing to bring. To address this situation, a lightweight stroller that is foldable to fit a standard-sized backpack will be the most useful innovation. This stroller can be neatly packed and brought out only once needed. Who would have known that a backpack can be full of tricks and wonders?
6. Foldable skateboard at the bottom of a standard-sized backpack or foldable stool at the bottom of the backpack
Walking, aside from contributing to a healthy mind and body, is also a good alternative when travelling short distances rather than being stuck in traffic. Sometimes, however, the 5-minute walk is just too far and tiring, not to mention, too hot for comfort. In addition, commuting in Metro Manila can be taxing due to long waiting time for jeepneys, MRT, bus, or even tricycle. A way to help ease the younger generation commuters' daily grind is a skateboard at the bottom of their backpacks. In open areas, they can easily unfold the skateboard and go to their destination faster. Packing away is easy as well. For the older generation, a sturdy stool that can easily be unfolded from the bottom of the backpack is the solution. They can sit anywhere while waiting for their ride, their turn at the grocery counter, or in just about any queues! The senior citizens, pregnant ladies, sick and weak can especially benefit from this innovation.
7. Baby/toddler shoes with adjustable sizes so it won't be outgrown so fast!
Babies and toddlers are so cute to dress up. Their shoes are so adorable but are also expensive. Unfortunately, this is also the age group where growth rate is fast. Shoes are often worn only for a short while before their feet outgrow the shoe size. In effect, parents need to buy shoes every so often and end up with lots of almost new, almost unused shoes in their children's cabinet. To make a practical solution, baby/toddler shoes can be made such that the soles can be adjusted for up to 3 shoe sizes so the shoes won't be outgrown fast. Parents will welcome this innovation since it will give value for their hard-earned money – and still be able to dress up their cuties!
8. Upcycled old tires – made into furniture
Global warming and climate change are realities that each one has to take seriously and be proactive about. Actions have to be made to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Industries that make use of recyclables should be created. A practical solution would be to make a furniture shop that reuses all worn tires and resurrect it as stylish furniture. Sofa set, center tables, bookshelves, garden sets, stools, study table, among others can be made out of used rubber tires. Creating these nature-friendly furnitures would give consumers an option other than the traditional wood. More than home use, these products can be offered to coffee shop owners, restaurateurs, and even schools. This definitely would make the user feel that he is contributing to a healthier mother earth!
9. A watch that works like a GPS with a microphone so 2-4 people can communicate even without internet – especially useful for parents tracking their children
All parents pray for the safety of their loved ones. In light of the impending major earthquake in Metro Manila and the almost yearly major flooding, parents worry about their loved one's safety and would like to know their whereabouts. Cellphones in these situations may not work. A solution is to create a watch with built-in GPS and microphone so that 2-4 people can communicate at any time. Internet is not needed. Furthermore, it can be solar-powered. Much like how GPS works for vehicles, GPS watches with microphone will bring safety and peace of mind for everyone most especially parents.
10. DVD series of revised and updated teaching materials to uplift quality of learning in the Philippine public school system
At present, one problem of the Philippine public educational system is the substandard books distributed in classrooms used by public school teachers to teach. Data in these books are not updated, full of typographical errors, and may contain some inaccuracies. As a result, quality is very far compared with the private system. An effective way to teach quality education in public schools is to use the same materials private schools use to standardize the teaching across the whole country regardless if enrolled in public or private school. This could be obtained through use of DVD series of materials to teach different subjects in elementary and high school. The local government just needs to procure a TV and DVD player. This solves the problem of wrong data in books, lack of enough books and teachers. This could be a collaboration/public-private partnership and can produce at par graduates even in far-flung areas.
<Done. Great work>
