Assignment 23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

Assignment 23A – Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1. Fundraising Experience: In high-school I helped raise thousands of dollars for different organizations and mission trips. 
• Valuable: the ability to raise money is valuable as companies need money to work
• Rare: not very rare as most people have this capability
• Inimitable: this capability is somewhat imitable but there are differences to the style of fundraising
• Non-Substitutable: I could hire someone to raise money for non-profit but this would cost me more money that I don't have
2. Uniqueness of the Venture/Lack of Competitors: there aren't companies in my knowledge that work directly with restaurants to help reduce their food waste and feed others. 
• Valuable: I think that this is very valuable as my company would stand out
• Rare: I think a company like this is rare as many may not be willing to start and own a non-profit because unlike a business, your successes are not marked by monetary value
• Inimitable: Service is currently unique but someone else could come up with the idea in the future
• Non-Substitutable: I could come up with other services that are similar and would function the same 
3. Human Capital: I am able to relate and connect with people easily
• Valuable: I think the ability to understand people is valuable
• Rare: it is not necessarily rare as people can learn and develop this ability although it can be difficult 
• Inimitable: I think that my own ability is unique but people can learn to do this
• Non-Substitutable: You could hire someone to help with relations but this costs money and it is less personal for your customers
4. Social Capital: I am a student at UF and have connects and friends in different industries and majors that would be willing to support my venture
• Valuable: This is a valuable source as those people with different information and knowledge will offer different perspectives and advice
• Rare: This is not rare as most UF students have this
• Inimitable: it is inimitable as most UF students have this
• Non-Substitutable: Everyones social capital is unique 
5. Social Capital: I have connections and contacts to numerous restaurants in Miami and shelters that would allow me to connect with them and try to get them to have my service and supply food
• Valuable: I think that this is a very valuable source
• Rare: It can be rare unless other companies also reach out to the restaurants
• Inimitable: I think it is unless it is used by other companies
• Non-Substitutable: this resource can only be substituted by different restaurants
6. Capabilities: I have the ability to communicate well and express my ideas. I also speak both Spanish and English so this will allow me to reach a broader audience
• Valuable: I think that being able to communicate with more people is valuable
• Rare: many people can speak more than one language
• Inimitable: anyone that speaks more than one language
• Non-Substitutable: you cannot copy or substitute this unless you hire someone to communicate with other people in society for you
7. Engineering Background in Solving Problems: My engineering background helps me analyze and understand problems and find solutions with a different perspective
• Valuable: I think that this is valuable because I can approach problems differently
• Rare: As an entrepreneur I think it is rare but there are other people out there interested in entrepreneurship that have majors in engineering
• Inimitable: anyone majoring in engineering could have this skill
• Non-Substitutable:This cannot be replaced by any other major
8. Support of Current Organizations: There are many organizations that are fighting hunger and trying to reduce food was and I feel as through these organizations with connections would support my efforts. 
• Valuable: This is valuable because I can get the support of many organizations who are already fighting for this cause
• Rare: It is not rare because there are many organizations 
• Inimitable: This cannot be copied unless another organization is fighting for the same changes 
• Non-Substitutable: I could not get the same amount of support and connections from other organizations
9. Publicity: sustainability and world hunger are topics that media and the younger generation are trying to address. I think that most new ways to be sustainable and end world hunger would gains support form the public and media outlets. 
• Valuable: Media is a valuable source as it reaches the most people
• Rare: Media coverage can be rare
• Inimitable: Media coverage and publicity can be had by anyone with a product or service
• Non-Substitutable: I could try and emulate this coverage but it is difficult 
10. Public Relation Experience: I have experience making connections and talking to people in my community and understanding their needs and wants
• Valuable: i think that this is a very valuable resource as it is what helps entrepreneurs come up with solutions to problems
• Rare: People with public relation experience can also have this as a resource
• Inimitable: my experience is my own so it is unique
• Non-Substitutable: Communication and relations experience cannot be substituted for anything else

I think that my top resource is my connections with companies that would support my venture. Because my company would be a non-profit, support from established organizations would help me put my name out there and ensure that we get the funding we need.