People I (Mostly) Admire

Super Bowl Ad Network for Emerging Brands

Market Gap: Emerging brands struggle to gain traction without network effects.

This business idea proposes creating an advertising network that focuses on connecting emerging brands with opportunities to advertise during high-visibility events like the Super Bowl. The network would facilitate ad placements, ensuring that new companies can showcase their offerings in front of a large audience, capitalizing on the network effects that such events create. By providing a platform that aggregates demand from various startups and negotiating ad spots collectively, this service could lower costs and enhance visibility for brands that may otherwise struggle to afford traditional advertising rates. This would help level the playing field for new entrants in competitive markets, driving growth and user adoption.

From: 167. The Secret of Humanity? It’s Common Knowledge.

Public Knowledge Awareness Platform

Market Gap: Lack of awareness about common knowledge causes social coordination issues.

This business idea involves creating a platform designed to enhance public awareness of common knowledge through organized events and communications. The platform could serve as a hub for communities or organizations to announce significant events, decisions, or changes that require collective understanding. By leveraging technology, the platform would allow users to share information that is essential for collective coordination and social functioning. Features could include event scheduling, notification systems, and tools for feedback to ensure all parties are on the same page. This would address the issue of misalignment that often arises from assumptions about shared knowledge, especially in large groups or complex organizations.

From: 167. The Secret of Humanity? It’s Common Knowledge.

Deep Question Exchange App

Market Gap: People lack meaningful connections in social interactions.

An app designed to facilitate deep conversations through a curated set of escalating personal questions could help users form stronger connections. This app would offer users prompts that guide them through a series of questions designed to elicit meaningful responses, similar to the '36 questions that lead to love' concept. Users could engage with friends, family, or even strangers, fostering vulnerability and intimacy in their interactions. By creating a safe space for sharing personal stories and experiences, the app could help combat loneliness and promote more fulfilling relationships, echoing insights from Charles Duhigg's discussions on communication.

From: How to Have Great Conversations (Update)

Conversation Facilitation Software for Teams

Market Gap: Teams struggle with effective communication in meetings.

A software platform designed for facilitating team conversations could help organizations improve their communication skills. This platform would allow team members to prepare for discussions by suggesting topics, guiding users through the conversation structure (practical, emotional, and social), and providing prompts for deep questions that encourage authentic engagement. By focusing on emotional connection and understanding, this tool could help teams navigate complex discussions more effectively, ultimately leading to better collaboration and outcomes. Similar to the practices discussed in Charles Duhigg's book, this software could integrate communication techniques to enhance interpersonal interactions in a work setting.

From: How to Have Great Conversations (Update)

Incentive Program for Vaccine Research and Development

Market Gap: Insufficient R&D investment for vaccines targeting developing world diseases.

Creating a global incentive program that provides funding and resources for vaccine R&D targeted at diseases prevalent in developing countries could help stimulate innovation in this area. This program could include grants, tax incentives, and partnerships with research institutions to lower the financial risk for pharmaceutical companies. By aligning the interests of both the public and private sectors, this initiative could facilitate the development of new vaccines that address critical health challenges and reduce mortality rates in vulnerable populations.

From: 166. The World’s Most Effective Public Health Intervention Is Under Attack

Public-Private Partnership for Vaccine Distribution

Market Gap: Access to vaccines is inconsistent in developing countries.

A public-private partnership model similar to Gavi's could be established to ensure consistent vaccine distribution in developing countries. This model would involve collaboration between governments, NGOs, and pharmaceutical companies to create a reliable market for vaccines. By securing commitments from participating countries to purchase vaccines at agreed-upon prices, manufacturers would be incentivized to invest in production capacity. This approach not only addresses the immediate need for vaccines but also helps build long-term health systems that can adapt and respond to future public health challenges.

From: 166. The World’s Most Effective Public Health Intervention Is Under Attack

Vaccine Stockpile Management System

Market Gap: Vaccine wastage due to inadequate stockpile management.

Developing a digital platform for vaccine stockpile management can help countries optimize the use of their vaccine supplies. This platform would provide real-time tracking of vaccine inventories, expiration dates, and storage conditions, allowing health officials to make informed decisions about vaccine distribution and usage. The system could include predictive analytics to forecast demand based on historical data and outbreak modeling, ensuring that vaccines are administered before they expire. This innovation could greatly reduce waste and improve public health outcomes during epidemics.

From: 166. The World’s Most Effective Public Health Intervention Is Under Attack

High-Quality Survey Design Service

Given the challenges highlighted by economist Stefanie Stantcheva in designing effective surveys, a business could be established that focuses on creating high-quality survey design services. This service would cater to researchers, academic institutions, and organizations looking to gather meaningful data through surveys. It could offer tailored solutions that include survey question formulation, distribution strategies, and statistical analysis of responses. The business could leverage Stantcheva’s insights and methodologies to create a unique selling proposition, emphasizing the importance of properly designed surveys in gathering actionable insights. Potential clients would include universities, think tanks, NGOs, and market research firms, all of whom require high-quality data for decision-making processes.

From: 165. The Economist Who (Gasp!) Asks People What They Think

Public Perception Study Platform

There is an opportunity to create a platform dedicated to conducting public perception studies on various socio-economic issues, starting with immigration as a key topic. This platform could provide comprehensive insights into public perceptions by running large-scale surveys across multiple demographics and regions, similar to the studies conducted by Stantcheva. By partnering with academic institutions and government bodies, the platform could also offer analysis services, helping policymakers understand public sentiment and make informed decisions. This would not only serve researchers but also NGOs and advocacy groups working to address public misconceptions and promote awareness on critical issues. The platform could utilize data visualization tools to present findings in an engaging manner.

From: 165. The Economist Who (Gasp!) Asks People What They Think

Narrative-Based Policy Advocacy Tool

A business could be established that focuses on creating narrative-based advocacy tools aimed at influencing public policy perceptions. By utilizing storytelling techniques, this tool would help organizations frame their messages around sensitive topics—like immigration or welfare—by providing compelling narratives that resonate with the public. The platform could help NGOs, political campaigns, and advocacy groups craft impactful narratives based on research findings, which have been proven to sway public opinion. The tool could also include analytics to measure the effectiveness of different narratives, allowing organizations to adapt their messaging strategies in real-time. This would cater to a wide range of stakeholders looking to engage the public on important issues effectively.

From: 165. The Economist Who (Gasp!) Asks People What They Think