I am about as much eager as any one to be thinking about being in business rather than spending my life as a 9 to 5er for the rest of my life.
Since I am in engineering and have some consulting experience I am inclined to think I can own/run/manage a consulting outfit with maybe staffing on the side to keep earning revenue.
If there are ppl outthere who have serious other ideas please share here..
Note: no jokes please.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
electronics/electrical engineering?
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
You don’t like the 9-5 routine, but would rather prefer to be at work literally 24/7? 
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
'Antumul Alona' What is your field of experties?
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
Good thinking ..... i'm not expert in business but here are my two cents:
Those who rightly predict demand of a certain service/product in well-advance than others, they are usually successful, provided they do good job on that. Examples could be Microsoft, Google, YouTube, etc. etc.
Somewhere i read a secret of a successful business is: anything that does a lot with very less effort is likely to succeed.
And ya, u did not specifically mention what kind of technology u r interested in so i cannot be specific either. Having said that, i'd say try to be precise, because that is also a key feature for a successful businessman/woman.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
you may work 24/7 but at least it's all for you and your family rather than some fat cat.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
actually manufacturing with mechanical background.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
Those who rightly predict demand of a certain service/product in well-advance than others, they are usually successful, provided they do good job on that. Examples could be Microsoft, Google, YouTube, etc. etc.
Somewhere i read a secret of a successful business is: anything that does a lot with very less effort is likely to succeed.
And ya, u did not specifically mention what kind of technology u r interested in so i cannot be specific either. Having said that, i'd say learn to be precise, because that is also a key feature for a successful businessman/woman.
I am more skilled in manufacturing but my idea of technology ranges from IT (networking / software) to hard manufacturing on the floor.
I don't know how to define technology any further.
I am looking for ideas...if I had an idea picked I would not be asking for them rather discussing what I picked. For now we can talk about Quality / manufacturing and IT.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
Yes you have to dedicate yourself in the early stages but the goal is to establish an organization that can support itself so I estimate retiring in 10-15 years if I can get started soon..
the other option is to keep being a follower and work till I die from 9 to 5.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
manufacturing, okay..start RoHS related cosulting, huge need out there, additionally help mfrs get ISO certifications. again a big ned out there.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
^ I am not in the UK...
I don' t think it has any value in the US. Thanks for suggesting..
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
really? What makes you say that?
Any and all global companies selling electrical and electronic products in the EU market have to be RoHs compliant. which basically mans they ahve to do a combination of supply chain risk mgmt, lab testing and some sort of ongoing surveillance to provide proof to authorities, as well as their customers..retailers and other manufacturers one step up on the supply chain, that they are RoHs compliant. i.e. they ahve to limit lead, cadmium, nercury, chromium, PBD and PBDE in all electronic and electrical devices (excludng military, industrial control and medical.. which may be impacted in 2009)..and its not that u can take a final product put it through a grinder and then test the material. The rules apply at a homogenous material level..
Industry estimats are that companies woudl spend 3-5% of their revenue on the RoHs and its sister initiative WEEE, including retooling, redesign, testing, surveillance, systems etc etc.
Companies ranging from component manufacturers like Leviton to cable companies like Monster Cable, final product manufactuers like Apple and all HAVE to comply.
EU has not given a specific direction on what it takes to be compliant, companies have to prove thatthey ahve done their due diligence.
Hey, the whole industry has been working frantucally to meet this and then the new article passed by China for companies selling there to meet. the growth of prop65 in CA, and new envirtonmental laws in MA and ME, approx 80 or so bills on a state and federal level … means there is a business. Commerical testing operations such as TUV, Intertec/ETL, SGS. UL, STR etc all have services in that area that were launched within the last 3-4 years max. Software suppliers such s i2 have gone into it from a supply chain mgmt perspective.
Having launched a multi million dollar business for a company which has already done tens of millions in business in this space, I do feel that there is a business for the right person with teh rigth skill set. backgrounds from materials engineering., manufcaturing, supply chain, plastics, electronic/electrical enginerring, risk mgmt etc.
But if you say that there is no value in US, then I guess there is not 
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
Well, I have zero environmental background so i need someone who does ....
I did not know all of what you stated above...so let me investigate further,...
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
its not environment background that is needed but more materials, manufacturing, ee, supply chain mgmt, sourcing, ..all functions have a play. materials testing is part of the equation..
This is a huge field and growing, Check EPA and US Dept of commerce websites for more info. I halped run several joint sessions with USDOC and mfr delegations from other countries, and met EU and China policy makers. I am not an engineer. but n business strategy and was handling the lunch of this business from 2004 to 2005.
Due to my non compete and intellectual property issues I can not be involved in such a thing or offer consultancy or even seminars for 2 years, one year is up this dec.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
**OK here is an Idea from a fellow ME, a while back I had looked into this myself, and that is Car Batteries, with Hybrid Cars becoming popular all around us, you should look into manufacturing batteries for use in Hybrid Cars or even totally Electric Cars, because that is the wave of the future...:) **
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
excellent idea..^
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
although the start up costs and the major energy companies ranging from gasoline companies to eletrical utilities, current battery manufacturers not only make the barriers to entry high, but they also make this ferld a cut throat price sensitive area.
If you know the sourcing practices of major automoble manufacturers, they have been cutting suppliers to
so issues
1) technology standard..are you goign to have something that no one has
2) market penetration/market standards- you may do R&D and develop the technically superior product but if majority of industry has moved in a diff direction, you are SOL, forget some small operation... happened to Sony..a few times actually. first with Betamax and then with their mp3 player etc
3) Cost pressures-Companies in this industry are extemely cost sensitive, so if you will not have the economies of scale and killer supply chain, inventiry mgmt and vendor mgmt practies that these suppliers have, then you are at a huge disadvantage before you even start.
4) Industry relationships- Huge factor, and recently as part of cost conatinmet, aut mfrs have been slashing their supplier lists down. Getting in is not easy.
The idea is good, no issue with the concept, but as you start buikding a business case around it you will see what the issues are.
Now the story is entirely different if you becme some heavily gvt subsiduzed and protected company and of a list of limited domestic suppliers to a country's own production, would be true for nationalised car companies in closed market economies..but as we all know that is rare now.
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
If you know the sourcing practices of major automoble manufacturers, they have been cutting suppliers to
so issues
1) technology standard..are you goign to have something that no one has 2) market penetration/market standards- you may do R&D and develop the technically superior product but if majority of industry has moved in a diff direction, you are SOL, forget some small operation... happened to Sony..a few times actually. first with Betamax and then with their mp3 player etc 3) Cost pressures-Companies in this industry are extemely cost sensitive, so if you will not have the economies of scale and killer supply chain, inventiry mgmt and vendor mgmt practies that these suppliers have, then you are at a huge disadvantage before you even start. 4) Industry relationships- Huge factor, and recently as part of cost conatinmet, aut mfrs have been slashing their supplier lists down. Getting in is not easy.
The idea is good, no issue with the concept, but as you start buikding a business case around it you will see what the issues are.
Now the story is entirely different if you becme some heavily gvt subsiduzed and protected company and of a list of limited domestic suppliers to a country's own production, would be true for nationalised car companies in closed market economies..but as we all know that is rare now.
Fraudz,
Very good analysis, you must be a businessman, MBA are you?... In some other thread you were giving phsycological advice, thought you were a shrink! Pir Sahib is definitely multi faceted if I may take the liberty to say so.
Antumul Alona will need all the help he can get in order to make up his mind as to what and where he is going to invest his whole life.
**Allah grant him success....:) **
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
Very good analysis, you must be a businessman, MBA are you?... In some other thread you were giving phsycological advice, thought you were a shrink! Pir Sahib is definitely multi faceted if I may take the liberty to say so. Antumul Alona will need all the help he can get in order to make up his mind as to what and where he is going to invest his whole life.
**Allah grant him success....:) **
Ameen
Re: Looking for serious new business ideas in Consulting or Tech Industry
SindSagar
You are correct
I am both an MBA and an M-B-A
MBA = Master of Business Administration
M-B-A = Master of Bull**** and Advise