Reducing Automotive Fuel Costs

GasCostCutter

Client's Goal:  Reduce the monthly cost of driving

Our Process and Solution: We gathered pains and frustrations in the market and filtered them to identify an opportunity for an electro-mechanical device that would reduce the cost of driving your car.

Results for Client: We developed a low cost (<$1 per car) product that would save consumers an average of $20 per month in gas costs.

 

Increasing Citizen Participation and Transparency in Government

RealGov

Client's Goal:  Increase transparency in government and accountability by allowing the wisdom and experience of the citizens to more easily influence and monitor local government.

Our Process and Solution:  We analyzed appropriate software options and held discussions with dozens of citizens to gather data.  Based on the research, we created the RealGov platform, a wiki similar to Wikipedia, to gather and present information about the performance of officials and offer suggestions for solving local problems.

Results for Client:  Sponsorship of citizen-created government monitoring  and empowerment program.

 

Empowering Children to Teach Other Children

Kids Teaching Kids

Client's Goal:  Increase the ability of children to learn in school and reduce the drop out rate.

Our Process and Solution: We observed children at home after school and created an online tutoring program to provide any child help on any topic in the school curriculum.

Results for Client: The opportunity to sponsor a nationwide children's educational initiative at nearly no cost.

 

Making Web Publishing Easy

Web Publishing Software

Client's Goal:  Increase software sales for on-line publishing software.

Our Process and Solution: We redefined the product to create a new market that could be rapidly expanded globally.

Results for Client: Client had the option of forming a partnership with FedEx/Kinko's.

 

Making Dinner More Convenient

Honey What's for Dinner?

Client's Goal:  Create a solution to the problem of preparing dinner for a family, including menu planning, shopping, and preparation, which was a painfully frustrating and time consuming experience.

Our Process and Solution: Through participation with user groups, we created a program that made the entire process more enjoyable, fast, inexpensive, and convenient, from menu selection through preparation and serving, reducing the time required by 50% and ensuring that the meal was well prepared, fresh and regionally sourced ingredients were easily purchased, and taking advantage of seasonal, promotional, and volume purchases; the cost was within budget.

Results for Client: The opportunity and method to expand their service base significantly.

 

Making Walking in the Dark Safer

No More Slip and Fall

Client's Goal:  Reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents in the elderly while walking in the dark.

Our Process and Solution: After observing a dozen bedrooms and talking with six couples over 70, we developed a simple, inexpensive system to guide their way in the dark when getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom that utilized products developed for commercial aircraft.

Results for Client: The result was an opportunity to contribute to fewer slip and fall accidents and a new product for an established manufacturer.