WeBuildNYC

How might we...create opportunities for new start-ups by connecting the tech-savvy communities with the ideas of the general population?

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NYC Tech Genie

Tech Genie provides a concierge service to New Yorkers looking to get into tech or launch a startup idea. Sign-up online for a free 20-minute consultation an...

What can Tech Genie do for you? Follow Laura's journey from would-be-entrepreneur to connected app developer.

Thanks Tech Genie!

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Technology is hard. So is presentation prep. 

-E.P. 

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Tested with my sister who works at the Dept of Small Business Services. I also tested with a colleague of hers, an analyst at Goldman who wants to go back for her MBA in Entrepreneurship and a PhD candidate who wants to explore freelancing opportunities.

-LP

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For me, personally, I’ll understand what I need to do if I speak to someone directly.

Emily S., would-be entrepreneur 

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Our original design: Learn, Connect, Build

Our prototyping interviews revealed that users do not fit neatly between categories. We set out to streamline the website to provide one core service that connects the general public to tech.

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I like the idea, I like the approach. Low entry point for early to novice tech people who want the service done but don’t know how to get there. But it sounded like there [were] three different services. It might be a good idea to just hone in on one thing and do that one thing well.

Francisco Cervantes

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Tech Genie prototype first draft: Options for site navigation

*Our website is expanding, changing, and adapting to the user feedback we received.*

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The phone experience was best. I might go on the site and there might be something there that I might need, the person on the phone might be able to expand on it a little more.

Maurice Perez, entrepreneur in need of tech help

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Thank you to all of the people who provided feedback on our Tech Genie prototype. Our website is developing to include your feedback and insight.

Before you see where we are going, we'd love to show where we started. Here are a few images of our original prototype.

~AAP

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Welcome to the new free online courses to help you run, grow or join a digital business. Sign up today.

The UK version of Tech Genie (not really, but sort of???)

-LP

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Prototype testing Tech Genie with Francisco. Just look at that excitement!

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Potential ideas for intro video or pitch. TechGenie is here to grant your wishes!! ~AAP

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Sample of a potential ad for Tech Genie. Also, these lamps are hard to draw. ~AAP

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Prototype interview 1: Maurice Perez

Maurice Perez:

What is your startup idea? I'm thinking about selling my t-shirts online. That was one of the projects that I had in mind. There are many other possibilities – looking at seeing whether that would be possible to venture in that area.

What are your next steps: I’d like to take a pulse of what’s out there. What’s hot, what moving, what do people look for.

What resources do you need? I’d need to contact wholesalers, look at the price per t-shirt on a wholesale level. Manufacturing. Where it is going to be manufactured. Eventually contracts with companies that would provide the t-shirt.

I also need to think about setting up everything online, all the payment procedures, how would that be done.

Have you used in tech resources in the past? I’ve done a lot of business with Paypal. I assume there are other companies out there.

PayPal I heard about because I’m on amazon and use paypal as the payment method.

What would you like to get from this resource? Different ways and avenues of starting up a business. Different perspectives for beginners.

Seminars or workshops to strategize as to how the business is gonna be structured, what’s going to be needed, the finances.

PROTOTYPING EXPERIENCE:

Call: Maurice Perez

--> Startup a business

--> Business planning and networking

--> Meetup events

--> 11226

--> List of events

--> “How to start a business in New York City.”

*Maurice can't afford the $250 or $50 entrance to some eventbrite trainings for business startup.

*Location matters

--> What kind of mentorship are you interested in specifically?

"Individuals who are successful and are able to relay the information about their success and kind of be a guide. Given that they are successful."

We will email you to set up a call with a tech mentor. Can I have your email address to send a list of events we found?

“It was helpful in a sense that it allows me to peer and get an idea of what is being offered or what the whole concept is about.” 

WEBSITE:

The learning is where I need to start in order to venture out into other areas.

Build was my second interest.

With the business plan, you definitely need a solid business plan which will open doors and allow you to venture into other areas.

FEEDBACK:

"The phone experience was best. I might go on the site and there might be something there that I might need, the person on the phone might be able to expand on it a little more. The website might still provide the information but not be able to answer the question unless there is a search thing where you can type questions."

"With an individual on the phone it is more intimate. You can ask more questions pertaining to the information you’re trying to illicit."

"When you get to talk to individuals over the phone it is better because you get more detail and a better perspective on what you’re trying to find out."

DESIGN TEAM INSIGHT:

Users don't fit into neat categories. People often want several different types of resources. Learn, Build, and Connect are all interrelated.

Interpersonal is easier to navigate ambiguity and the individual's multiple levels of needs.

Some of the "resource" especially those listed on digital.nyc are not accessible to communities with financial restrictions (ie: events that cost $50 or $250 should be filtered out)

We should make a filter for location, cost, etc. to better adjust to our users.

~AAP

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Throwback to our first presentation back in October!

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WE ARE TECH GENIE, A NEW DIGITAL SERVICE DELIVERING PERSONALIZED ASSISTANCE TO YOU, A DREAMER, AS YOU EMBARK ON TURNING YOUR IDEA FOR A BUSINESS INTO A REALITY.

OUR CITY DEPENDS ON THE RICH IDEAS OF ITS INHABITANTS TO IMPROVE ALL OF OUR LIVES AND WE'RE HERE TO GRANT YOUR WISHES BY ILLUMINATING YOUR PATH.

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This is how we do it.