Hoping to jump onto the nanotechnology bandwagon and earn a pile from it? Well, you can certainly join in the crowd if you have been observing the trend of nanotechnology taking the shape of big business, with numerous companies having spun off from academia. The global government and private investments have estimated to be at over $4 billion. The scope of developing potential products from nanotechnology is literally boundless!

One recent product that was introduced to the market was the nanopowder sunscreens, Colorescience Sunforgettable. This innovative product will definitely be a hit with diehard beach bums who worry as much about looking good as they do about getting burned. Promising results work wonders on the people sun tanning as Nanopowder sunscreen puts a thin, invisible shield between skin and sun, giving melanoma the brush-off.

Nanopowder sunscreen first made a splash on Australia's sun-baked beaches with products like ZinClear that use micronized zinc oxide to give the ray-wary protection. Besides, Colorescience Sunforgettable is packaged to look like makeup with its brush applicator and loose-powder to give a unique powder-room appearance. The unisex, safe-for-all-ages sunscreen, which stands up to sun, is certainly enticing to those outdoor adventurous seekers!

Let's Get Down To Business...
Applying R&D to existing products surely give an upperhand in any business as consumers are enticed and will show greater confidence in high tech products. Being a novelty in the local scene, this revolutionary Nanopowder will certainly attract much fanfare. The demands and expectations of customers in the consumer goods industry have undergone changes over the past years. Key lesson here: improvise on existing products based on new technologies like nanotechnology.

Also packaging is always important, as it will create good and lasting impression on the customers. Uniqueness is the key to win the hearts of your customers! You can also choose to tailor your branding campaign according to the preferences of your target audience.

Related Ideas & Trends
http://www.smalltimes.com/document_display.cfm?document_id=3749
http://www.weightlossandskincare.com/cosubobrspf3.html
http://www.loventouches.com/product_info.php?cPath=8_89_90_112&products_id=303
http://www.lajolieboutique.com/promos/specials.htm

Adding to the ever growing myriad of drinks (of every flavour and kind imaginable) that hits the supermarket shelves is the Natural Berry Relaxing Fruit2O Plus. Unlike what its name suggests, it is not a fruit juice (nor does it contain any fruit juices)!

Natural Berry Relaxing is blended with pure spring water and infused with Antioxidants, Vitamins A, C, B3, B6 and B12 to help strengthen the body, and & Chamomile & Lavender to relax the body, mind and spirit. Hurray to the makers of Berry Relaxing for adding yet another kind of health drink to our supermarket shelves.

Fruit2O and Fruit2O Plus are the world's first "full fruit flavored" natural spring water beverages, that feature zero calories, no carbohydrates and no sugar. Flavored with natural fruit essence through a unique distillation process, and lightly sweetened with Splenda (a no-calorie sweetener that is made from sugar), Fruit2O allows you to consume water while satisfying your flavor needs. Fruit2O is a delicious healthy alternative to the boredom of unflavored water, and the sugar, calories and/or caffeine in sodas and juice drinks! An ideal complement to all low carbohydrate/sugar diets, Fruit2O aids hydration for individuals who struggle to consume five to eight glasses of plain water (Source: Fruit2o.com).

Let's Get Down To Business...
Nutritionists say that water is the best means for hydration, as it serves the critical role of replenishing your body without affecting calorie, fat or sugar intake. Unfortunately water is also without flavor, and many consumers struggle to drink the recommended 5 to 8 glasses per day.

As we can see, the producers of Fruit2O, keeping in mind the health needs of the customers, have came up with an innovative and interesting new product that supplements our daily dietary needs. Besides that, it is also suitable for diebetics.

They have made a very smart move as they are not narrowing their scope of target audience when making this "sweetened" beverage. We have to keep in mind that innovation brings about new possibilities and we have to innovate in order to create more opportunities for our business. For example, by introducing an all-new "sweetened" beverage that is suitable for diabetics, the makers of Fruit2O have captured a market share that was once non-existent as diabetics have to strictly control their sugar intake. Of course, providing a healthy alternative to consumers is also a very smart move as people nowadays are increasingly more health conscious.

So, our advice to you: come up with new products that are more beneficial to the health of your customers! It would definitely help you capture a larger pie of the share in business.

Related Ideas & Trends
Innovation + Style = Lots of Customers
Cereal That Taste Like Cookies
http://www.fruit2o.com
http://www.bevnet.com/reviews/veryfine_fruit2o/

The latest fast-food concept is so absurdly simple, self-indulgent and reflective of one's inner child that, well, how can it fail?

Imagine a food stand that resembles the kitchen of your house and serves nothing but cereal and breakfast drinks 24/7. A place where you can create your own blend of Cap'n Crunch nestled on a bed of Lucky Charms and garnished with Cocoa Puffs, honey, bananas and soymilk. Yes, there is such a place: the Cereality Cereal Bar and Café.

"I wanted to create a totally cool experience where all of those (cereal) rituals and habits can be celebrated out of the home," says Cereality co-founder David Roth. He was inspired by the buttoned-up exec on Wall Street who regularly sneaks Cocoa Puffs behind his desk at three in the afternoon, the first-year college student who can't write a paper without a box of cereal at her disposal, and new moms who would never leave home without diapers and a secret stash of Cheerios.

Each Cereality café would offer about 30 hot or cold cereals (best-loved brand names from Quaker, General Mills, Kellogg's and Post); 34 toppings; seven types of flavored and unflavored milk; cereal-and-yogurt-based smoothies (called "Slurrealities"); and fresh-baked breakfast bars. You may order two full cups of whatever cereals you want, a topping and milk in a leak-proof container, all for under four dollars (Source: Yenra.com). Cereality has indeed made eating cereal away from home more convenient and appealing with its patent-pending concept.

Customers can construct their own mixes and store the formula in an on-site computer for their next visit. Or they can buy a prepackaged designer mix such as "Devil Made Me Do It", consisting of Cocoa Puffs, Lucky Charms and chocolate-milk-flavored crystals, topped with malt balls. They can even consult with "cereologists" wearing pajama tops! (Source: Cereality.com)

Let's Get Down To Business...
You should give shoppers access to an unparalleled variety of flavors, fragrances, or styles with your own product bar. Given freedom of choice, their wants and preferences can also be satisfied and they will definitely come back for more! Personalization is the essence of this concept. Current food offered as grab-and-go packages are too bland for the people who wanted to make their meals unique.

On Design/Packaging: one must conjure up creative ways to deliver delicious comfort foods (or any other products for that matter) to people on the go. Try to accommodate the hectic schedules and non-traditional meal times of people like students and white-collar workers.

Related Ideas & Trends
http://www.cereality.com
http://www.yenra.com/cereality/
http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/local_business/ article/0,1713,BDC_2461_2848628,00.html
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/ articles/0607cereality07side.html

CoolBusinessIdeas Newsletter Issue 3 - June 16, 2004

New Business Ideas/Opportunities Featured In This Issue:

• Innovative Business Ideas From Enterprising Youths
World Indigo. Project Proteus. Fanciful-sounding names they may have, but do not belittle the promising business ideas these two young start-ups have. Their innovations are certainly one-of-its-kind in their respective industries.

• Cars for the PlayStation Generation
Fancy driving a car in which everything is operated through a handheld PlayStation-like device? Well, you'll have to wait till the year 2015, when General Motors rolls out its very high-tech concept car called the Hy-wire.

• The Swiss Army Knife of the Eyewear Industry
Wouldn't it be great to eyewear that not only own protects your eyes but also to have in possession features for taking care of your eyewear? Well, we are introducing to you the noble hides™ multi-function eyewear necessities!

• Fast Food Cereal
The latest fast-food concept is so absurdly simple, self-indulgent and reflective of one's inner child that, well, how can it fail? Cereality has indeed made eating cereal away from home more appealing with its patent-pending concept.

• Fruity Spring Water
Adding to the ever growing myriad of drinks (of every flavour and kind imaginable) is the Natural Berry Relaxing Fruit2O Plus. Unlike what its name suggests, it is not a fruit juice (nor does it contain any fruit juices)!

• Nanopowder Sunscreens
One recent product that was introduced to the market was the nanopowder sunscreens, Colorescience Sunforgettable. This innovative product will definitely be a hit with diehard beach bums who worry as much about looking good as they do about getting burned.

Wouldn't it be great to eyewear that not only own protects your eyes but also to have in possession features for taking care of your eyewear? Well, we are introducing to you the noble hides™ multi-function eyewear necessities!

hides™ produces the only product in the world that combines the essentials of an eyewear retainer (for security), case (for protection) and cleaning cloth (for performance) all in one high quality product. hides™ products are designed and manufactured based upon an active lifestyle. All hides™ products over deliver in terms of performance, functionality, comfort, durability and style!

The people at hides™ take multi-function very seriously and to a whole new level through their patented and exclusive "double roll" manufacturing process. Manufactured from high quality DuPont micro fiber, surgical grade tubing and high buoyancy neoprene, their materials are simply second to none.

hides™ products are ideal for anybody that is concerned with high performance eyewear security, comfort, performance or just looking cool.

(By the way, be sure to check out an online demo of the hides™ products and see for yourself their many uses and functions.)

Let's Get Down To Business...
A product can be a hit if it guarantees performance, functionality, comfort, durability and style! Like the products that hides™ have to offer, such qualities can be incorporated in your products. In fact, consumers are now looking not only for style and appeal, they are also demanding for products to be durable and of sound quality. Many consumers nowadays are even willing to part a few more dollars just for that extra safety feature or quality function! So why not start today… start innovating ways in which you can enhance the quality of your products, while bearing in mind not to compromise aesthetic values because they are, after all, equally important in attracting consumers.

Oh, and please do bear in mind the price as well! What consumers want is also affordability. :-)

Related Ideas & Trends
Space-saving, Convenient Cup Dispensers
http://www.hides.com

Fancy driving a car in which everything - including the car's steering, throttle and brakes - are operated through a handheld PlayStation-like device? Well, you'll have to wait till the year 2015, when General Motors rolls out its very high-tech concept car called the Hy-wire.

The Hy-wire, first unveiled at the 2002 Paris Motor Show, is at the cutting-edge of technology as far as automotives are concerned. It features PlayStation-style handgrips for steering, plus brakes and an accelerator that work electronically instead of via pressure from the driver's foot. In addition to a lack of floor pedals, the Hy-wire also has no internal-combustion engine; it's powered by environmentally friendly fuel cell technology (Source: Wired.com). Named for the Drive-by-Wire technology it uses to replace conventional steering, accelerating and transmission controls, the Hy-wire has electronic wires in its chassis instead of mechanical parts. Pressing buttons on the PlayStation-style control device will send an electronic signal along these wires rather than activating a physical connection to the engine or brakes.

The Hy-wire's unique skateboard-like chassis is proving to be a significant advance in interchangeable parts. This design allows Hy-wire's body to be quickly removed and replaced with another. Wouldn't it be great, after owning it a few years, to be able to change your Hy-wire's body with any new snap-on body in any color or style you like, just like mobile phones?

Just when you thought the Hy-wire is too futuristic a concept for you, consider the many possible mind-blowing technologies that could be present in the cars of tomorrow:

• Active safety systems that keep a lookout for danger using radar and cameras as opposed to passive protection such as airbags
• Keyless credit-card style entry systems - keys are going the way of the dodos!
• A computer-like screen mounted on the dash which displays a navigation system that provides directions, maps, and information on hotels, hospitals, and restaurants using a global positioning satellite and onboard DVDs
• Wi-Fi connectivity which automatically provides the weather, news, sports scores, e-mail and other information such as traffic levels on the roads
• Cameras to help parents keep an eye on their kids and help drivers detect blinds spots (Source: BusinessWeek Online)

Who knows, maybe cars of the 21st century will even be able to drive themselves!

Let's Get Down To Business...
Think out of the box! The car is no longer just a car; it's a necessary part of our everyday lives. Since it's so useful, you should make it even more useful for consumers by adding extra functionality and features. And this is by no means restricted to cars only.

With the trend of cars increasingly being equipped with the latest technologies and functionalities, it wouldn't hurt to be the provider of such services. For example, you can take advantage of this trend by marketing info-on-demand services, Wi-Fi systems, or special cameras for use in vehicles. As the demand for concept cars grows, so should your business!

Related Ideas & Trends
http://www.gm.com/company/gmability/adv_tech/400_fcv
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/hy-wire.htm
http://www.wired.com/news/autotech/0,2554,63467,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_6

Special Feature: Start-Up@Singapore 2004

World Indigo. Project Proteus. Fanciful-sounding names they may have, but do not belittle the promising business ideas these two young start-ups have. Their innovations are certainly one-of-its-kind in their respective industries.

Take for example World Indigo, grand winner of the Start-Up@Singapore business plan competition 2004. Led by Ms Goh Yiping, a National University of Singapore (NUS) Overseas College student, World Indigo aims to be the market leader in providing low cost text messaging (SMS) and email services to passengers' mobile phones onboard ferries, trains and airplanes worldwide. Although there had been attempts to enable communications on moving vehicles via voice or Internet access, the costs of setting up such a system is just too expensive.

World Indigo's proprietary technology, which places an in-vehicle equipment that comprises a communication gateway, global satellite link and a low power wireless network, detects a phone call and forwards it across a satellite network to an operation center in Singapore which then deliver it to the intended destination (Source: World Indigo press release). If you're a business traveler, World Indigo's services would indeed be a godsend to you. You could use your mobile phone as seamlessly (and cheaply too!) as you normally would on the ground.

Although Project Proteus finished as runner-up in the competition, its Proteus Solution is no less promising. Advances in genetic sequencing have resulted in a flood of data available for analysis, causing genetic databases to double in size every 12 months. Luckily for the bio-informatics and biomedical market, Project Proteus provides a reconfigurable computing platform that accelerates the data processing process - the Proteus Solution consisting of the Proteus Board, the Proteus Software Platform and Algorithms. "The amount of genetic data has been growing at a rate faster than what normal processors can keep up with. This means that the time taken for research will increase and the cost of upgrading computer hardware speeds will keep on increasing. The Proteus Solution is a speed increasing, cost effective and space saving solution for their (biotech companies) problems." - says team member Mr Kelly Choo. There's no doubt that biotech companies will be flocking to Project Proteus once this Ngee Ann Polytechnic research project officially becomes a commercial entity.

To give you an idea of how fast the platform is, one Proteus Board is about 100 times as fast as a Pentium 4 PC. Imagine several Proteus Boards hooked up together…

The recently-concluded Start-Up@Singapore National Business Plan Competition, jointly organised by the NUS Entrepreneurship Centre and NUS Business School Alumni Association, encourages the growth of entrepreneurship through education and competition. The winner of the 5th Start-Up@Singapore received a cash prize of $30,000 while the first and second runners-up each received $10,000. That's a lot of start-up capital for the winners, eh?

Related Ideas & Trends
http://www.startup.org.sg
http://newshub.nus.edu.sg/pressrel/0405/040530.htm
http://www.nus.edu.sg/enterprise/newsletter/june04/happenings/startup.htm