- Carolin Maney
- Athens, GA
- United States
This conversation is closed. Start a new conversation
or join one »
A forum for people to drop their business ideas that others, seeking to start businesses can then develop
There are business ideas that hit us like lightning bolts from time to time. When I get some of those ideas, I think, " If I weren't in school, I would have loved to start that as a business but given my the limits of time, networking and financial resources, I can't. But, just because I don't have the time or resources or the will to pitch the idea formally to an affluent group of people, should a potentially innovative idea go to waste?
I think it would be great if TED could start an IDEA BANK as a branch-website where individuals who have no qualms about intellectual property rights can drop there ideas as an open source that others can then develop. It could function in a way similar to a blood bank or a sperm bank. Entrepreneurs in search of ideas could use the idea bank as a resource from which they can borrow ideas to create, improve, or innovate their businesses. There could even be a way of keeping track of which ideas have been adopted, and which ones have been partially adopted and so on.
A lot of great, creative, business ideas that are out there never get realized. There are also a large number of individuals who have the time and the resources to start new and creative businesses.If the individuals who have these great ideas are not going to pursue or develop their ideas, then why not let someone else realize it, and make the world a slightly better and creative place to be?
If any of you is aware of such a website, please do let me know. If you'd like to build a website, I would love to be part of the endeavor in terms of fleshing out the details of this project.
Javier Ogarrio
@Mikael,
What part of Brazil are you from? We are supposed to have some sort presentation in Sao Paulo by the end of May.
ZX Style 10+
You want to produce it, but you don't have the time yet.
A guy from Ford takes a peek at the forum and produces this car.
Now its like someone else stole your baby!
I do agree some ideas are there for others to execute, that is what ted talks are about.
But business idea's are different!
Mikael Soares 500+
There are some people applying for this kind of ideia in the open innovation field. The most complete one I've found is InnoCentive, but it still working more in the "market's challenges" sites.
https://www.innocentive.com/
Or as you will see, it is more likely a "market pull" than an "idea push".
There is a new ideia that I really loved and its really simillar with what you thought about, but unfortunelly its a brazilian project only and the website is in portuguese. Anyway you can still check this at http://synapseshub.com/
This is one case that is more likely an "idea push" case, where ideas can connect and make things happen.
Carolin Maney
Synapses Hub does seem to capture the idea (from what I gather from the video). It would be great if someone could create an English version of the website.
G. Malcolm Browm
We are trying to improve the Football headgear on our fields.
Any TED sters want to help..?
ZX Style 10+
Because anybody on the internet can read your forum and steal the idea.
How are you gonna protect and stop this stealing?
Carolin Maney
One of the earlier comments mentioned the same issue. I am sure there could be a way of protecting intellectual property if this idea were to be implemented.
Mikael Soares 500+
Sometimes you just don't won't to do it or you just don't have the opportunities, the time or the right tools. What if someone who have it, grab the ideia and make it happen?
What is worst anyway: a protected good ideia that none is working at or an unprotected good ideia that someone stole and made it happen?
Ideas are to make happen, not to have protect. They must be spread.
Javier Ogarrio
Carolin Maney
I would love to try our the platform and give you feedback!
Mikael Soares 500+
Could you share with us the name or your platform? Is anything online yet?
By the way, where in Latin America you want to launch it? I'm from Brazil and I also got interest on it.
Thank you and good luck on it!
greg dahlen 20+
Arthur Viente
Carolin Maney
While I agree that it is important to remain involved, in some cases, the person who initially had the idea may not want to remain involved for any number of reasons. So, perhaps, we could have a system that allows the patrons to choose how they would like to see their idea take off, the amount of involvement they prefer, and so on. For such patrons, the website should provide greater security for their intellectual property.
For the patrons who would rather put their idea in a public domain pool, and move on with their life without necessarily being involved, that could be an option too.
What do you think?
Zdenek Smith 100+
The important part of any start up business is how one executes on idea. Initial idea (business plan) will evolve based on obstacles, new facts, new relationships, more ideas and new opportunities that will come along the way.
Many people have ideas and they will demand a large stake in a company just for the idea without seriously committing to spend the time and money to executing it. It even seems more important to have the right people at the beginning to execute any idea than having the best idea ever with no one being able to act on it.
It is interesting that different people (entrepreneurs, scientists) come up with similar ideas about the same time.
Another interesting observation is that people and competition don't necessary pay attention to ideas until an idea is successfully executed. Worrying about someone stealing idea too early can be counter-productive.
Of course, exceptions apply esp. you have valid patent, formula and other intellectual asset.
However I do encourage you to try this system and see what happens =)
Good luck!
Carolin Maney
However, as I responded to Mike, it is imperative that the patrons of the website have the choice of how much protection they would like for their idea.
Mark Kurtz 10+
The reverse mentioned here is close to what TED is. Maybe the better suggestion could be to tweak TED a bit to open a door (optional page) for business dreamers only. Viable?
Carolin Maney
Thank you for your insight. The second part of the your response is exactly what I meant. I was hoping that perhaps TED could begin a "branch website" that allows for business dreamers. Developing mentoring, partnering, creativity and confidence could be part of the project. It could be like the best of TED and LinkedIn in one place. And, as I responded to Arthur, such a website should be able to be flexible in terms of the security it provides for the ideas on the platform depending on the preferences of the patrons.
Tanner Bingham
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Carolin Maney
I am yet to find a website that go along the lines of what I have in mind. Could you, perhaps, share the websites you found? I could browse them and confirm if the website(s) to which you are referring captures the idea. I think I may have been unclear in the original post. So, I have clarified and developed the idea a little further in the replies to the other comments to my posts. I would also greatly appreciate it if you could direct me to the TED conversation with the similar recommendation, if it's not too much trouble.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Fritzie Reisner 100+
george lockwood 20+
Carolin Maney