Venture Concept No. 1

Opportunity

               

                Currently, there are two restaurants (individual buildings, not chains) that classify themselves as ‘healthy fast food’ and they are both located in the Bay Area of California. Costco is giving away money to just about anyone that wants to start an organic farm to keep up with the steep increase in demand over the past several years. Our streets are lined with fast food restaurants that sell cheap, low-quality, and often genetically-modified fare and we as a society are becoming educated on the subject. Globally, sixty-eight countries have completely banned genetically-modified crops, as they are being linked by numerous establishments (including the World Health Organization) with a host of health problems, including the dramatic rise in both digestive diseases (Celiac disease, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) and cancer. Patrons of these restaurants are not being served food; they are being served food-like products that are created in laboratories for less than what it costs to create the same product from real food. Is it that difficult to imagine that, during the rise of Monsanto GMO crops in the past thirty years, the ‘food’ that we are eating is the problem? This class has focused us on a target demographic for our product or business and I chose the young family with kids on the go or the student. These two made the most sense, as they both seek quick meals that are nutritional. However, when asked who has this need for healthy, organic food and what is the nature of the need for a widespread restaurant that sells delicious, organic, and affordable food, I would happily say that the answers to those questions are EVERY LIVING PERSON and the nature of this need is simple; the market is begging for this restaurant, as over six-hundred McDonald’s will close this year alone due to plummeting profits. I believe that multiple organic fast food chains will ultimately replace McDonald’s (and similar restaurants), as fast food and drive-thrus are simply an ingrained part of our culture now. Someone is going to take this market from these staples of American society and I believe that I can be one of those people.

Innovation

               

                As a society, we have become disconnected from our food. For the majority of human existence, you ate what you could grow, find, or kill. Due to advances in both agriculture and civilization as a whole, the majority of people on this on this planet have no idea where their food is coming from. Today’s world could use a dose of the past in many different aspects of life, but our diet has to be near the top. The food we eat three times a day to nourish and sustain us has got to become a priority if we are to continue to advance as a culture. Fast food restaurants are absolutely everywhere, including multiple establishments on the campus of our school. These restaurants sell us cheap food because they created cheaply. Currently, there is no major, national chain that supplies are country with completely organic, local food that is of the highest quality possible. I plan on selling fast food that is sourced only from local and organic farmers or co-ops, as it is the only thing conscionable for me to sell to you and your families. I want to see the demand for this market to be realized and I want to aid in the long and healthy lives of my customers!

Venture Concept

                 Consumers are making their demands clear with regards to organic food over the past decade, with sales tripling from $14B in 2005 to $42B in 2014. The internet has become the most valuable source of knowledge in human history and we are utilizing this information in our everyday lives as we are driving more electric cars than ever before and more green energy is being produced than ever before. Until recently, 100% of our food was organic. Your great-grandparents knew organic food simply as food. The people of this world are unwilling to continue on in the dark and this dramatic increase in organic food demand proves this to be true. Traditional fast food will always be cheaper than what I am offering and there will likely be some residual demand for it. However, when deciding whether you would like to save a few dollars by opting non-organic, it is important to also consider what increased medical conditions will cost you in the long run. A fundamental lack of foresight has placed our civilization on the brink of collapse from debt, environmental devastation, and ongoing military conflicts. We have already started to change and the economic impact of those that want to see the world be made into a better place is being felt from Uncle Jim’s Worm Farm to Tesla Motors and I seek to join them. This business will be organized as a standard fast food chains are today; an owner, several rotating mangers, numerous dining room employees, as well as the kitchen staff. Fast food chains can have anywhere from 15-30 employees and my restaurants will be no different.

The three minor elements

                     I believe my most important resource is the combination of the market demand for restaurants like this and the continuing demise of traditional, unhealthy fast food restaurants. I think it is fairly easy to see that these restaurants are on the horizon, as restaurants that boast healthy ingredients (like Zoe’s Kitchen) have been expanding massively and will continue to do so. I think that my passion to see this idea through is also another of my strengths. 

                    Once a proof-of-concept around this business model is established, I want to expand my ability to aid others by involving a major non-profit to assist me in helping homeless veterans get back on their feet with jobs, shelter, and healthy food for them and their families. I think that we could help each other, as I believe the homeless are ideal candidates to help in the growing of food that is also in high demand. Involving a partner, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) would be less about a potential financial contribution and more about establishing credibility with vets through name recognition and availability.

          In five or ten years, I would love to be on my way to taking McDonald’s market share for fast food. I think someone is going to do it and I think that person could be me.