As per the laws of free market capitalism if a niche in the market is underserved the market will step up and supply to the markets demand.
On Wall st where the author has worked, any market inefficiency is arbitraged away. Where there is profits to be made the market will find them.
I just don't think there's any big viable markets there, it would be nice if the author could identify at least 1 product idea... As she identifies that the allergy problem stretches across all demographics so this is not really a 'unexotic underclass' problem.
The other issue I see here is allot of the b2c opportunities in the tech industry are based on having customers with "disposable income". In theory a struggling single mum probably doesn't/shouldn't have a iPhone.
Finally I'm not sure that the "unexotic underclass being uninteresting is the problem" argument holds water. Again wall street is arguably not that interesting either but they are not crying about a skills shortage.
These issues are government issues. If the government put money into solving these problems im sure the startup community would happily come and help out.
There are ways, of course. As one example, find more inexpensive ways to make goods already marketed to a higher segment. For example, 300 dollar laptops that look better, especially if you can get a few reality TV stars using them and bravo pimping it. Start a brand that is perceived as high end by the middle class, show it to them in conspicuous consumption avenues, and then tread downmarket. You can only do this so many times.
But if I'm looking at a startup, it sure wouldn't be my first market of choice.
The poor already have a more effective, less wasteful way of acquiring these goods. It's called buying used and old, either at a thrift shop or on ebay. Used old laptops are already abundant.
Most poor problems are government problems. The problem is most of the money goes towards bloat and bureaucracy and war than actually providing services for poor people as well as the rich.
As per the laws of free market capitalism if a niche in the market is underserved the market will step up and supply to the markets demand.
On Wall st where the author has worked, any market inefficiency is arbitraged away. Where there is profits to be made the market will find them.
I just don't think there's any big viable markets there, it would be nice if the author could identify at least 1 product idea... As she identifies that the allergy problem stretches across all demographics so this is not really a 'unexotic underclass' problem.
The other issue I see here is allot of the b2c opportunities in the tech industry are based on having customers with "disposable income". In theory a struggling single mum probably doesn't/shouldn't have a iPhone.
Finally I'm not sure that the "unexotic underclass being uninteresting is the problem" argument holds water. Again wall street is arguably not that interesting either but they are not crying about a skills shortage.
These issues are government issues. If the government put money into solving these problems im sure the startup community would happily come and help out.