Forming an Opportunity Belief

I believe there is an unmet need with people who want to find good restaurants and food in an area they are unfamiliar with. Anyone who travels somewhere without much or any knowledge of the place would have this problem. There are apps that exist that aid with this problem, but in my opinion, it could be done better. There are so many Instagrams that are solely food blogs, yet there is no easy way to search though these to find a good place to eat around you. I believe I could create an app that could search through Instagram's data and find specific food items or restaurants in the area that have gotten a lot of attention. There are so many food blogs and pictures of food on Instagram, yet they are not being put to any good or practical use. I am about 75% sure that this opportunity exists.

Interview #1: 21 year old female who runs an Instagram food blog

• Do you have trouble finding places to eat while traveling?
• "I try to look at apps like Zomato or Yelp but I can't really tell if a restaurant looks good just from that." So then what do you do? "I end up looking at Instagram to see what the actual food looks like, but it's hard to pinpoint a place in my area."
• Do you experience this trouble at home too? Or only when traveling?
• "I know most places around me, so usually only when I travel, but it's definitely difficult to find other places in my area from those apps [Zomato and Yelp]."
• How long have you had this problem?
• "I guess since I started doing this without my parents. So since I turned 17 and could drive."
• Has it become more relevant since you started your food Instagram?
• "For sure. I never really realized how many great food pictures were on Instagram until I started it, and now it's my go-to."
• Would you use an app that searched Instagram pictures instead of restaurants in your area?
• "Yes! For sure. That would be so easy."

Reflection: I was happy to learn someone who owns a food blog seemed excited about my app idea, and she said it would be super helpful! Although, since she is really into food, I'm not sure it would appeal to the general population, so I definitely need a point of view from the other side as well.

Interview #2: 21 year old male who is not an avid social media user, but loves food

• Do you have trouble finding places to eat while traveling?
• "I guess it's not that easy. I try to ask local people that I know where the best place to eat is." What if you don't know anyone in the area? "Then I'll ask people who have been there before, or walk around until I find something that looks good."
• Would you be open to using an app to find a place to eat?
• "Yeah, for sure if it helped me find good places." Have you used an app like Yelp or Zomato? "I've used Yelp a couple times but not really to find restaurants."
• Was there ever a time where you wished you had something to help find a place to eat?
• "Actually, yeah. I was traveling last summer with a couple friends and we ran into that problem a few times. I kinda wish I did have an app like that because we just ended up walking around until we found something, and usually it was mediocre."
• Would you use an app that searched Instagram pictures in your area?
• "Yeah any food pictures I see on Instagram are so good. I want to eat at all those places"

Reflection: I was surprised and happy to learn that even someone who doesn't use social media often is aware that Instagram has tons of food pictures and wants to eat at those places.

Interview #3: 20 year old female who does not own an Instagram account

• Do you ever have trouble finding places to eat while traveling?
• "Well I usually look online to find places but I guess I don't really know what I'm getting until I get there." Do you ever use apps? "I have but I don't like them. I think just looking online is easier."
• Would you be open to using a better app to find a place to eat?
• "Yeah, I just don't like how a lot the places on the apps I've tried are ads so I don't know if it's actually good"
• Have you ever looked on Instagram at the food pictures?
• "Actually my friend owns a food Instagram so I've seen hers but that's pretty much it." What did you think of it? "I mean the food always looks so good. I would eat all of that."
• Would you use an app that searched Instagram pictures in your area?
• "I probably would because I'll know it looks good from seeing it firsthand."

Reflection: Again, I was happy and surprised to learn that someone who doesn't use Instagram would rely on Instagram to find places to eat. 

Summary: 

After doing these interviews, I'm more confident that the opportunity is there to make an app like this. I think people would use it and find it helpful in most cases, based on these 3 responses. I think it is extremely helpful to take customer feedback into account because the customers are the ones who are going to make or break the business. Following your original idea is important, but getting feedback and adapting from it is what is going to make your company successful.