23A- Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

23A- Your Venture’s Unfair Advantage

1.     Market Awareness-

VRIN: As a former student who has had experience with Gainesville apartment complexes for 4 years I have valuable market awareness and experience. This is valuable because I can use this information to determine what our clients really want as well as what will attract their attention in amenities, offerings and marketing. This is quite valuable, because there are not many apartment complexes that are run by young individuals. However, there are still many that hire students as employees and consultants to help with these questions.

2.     Advertising expertise-

            VRIN: I have an advertising degree meaning I can position the company in a unique and very competitive way that many people wouldn’t think of without paying for advertising. While many people have advertising degrees, it is unique in this field and gives me an advantage over my competitors that they cannot replicate without paying someone or paying for a degree that takes several years to get.

3.     Refuse to fail

            VRIN: I am dedicated and competitive, meaning I will work on this until I succeed. I will adapt, change or adjust anything I must. This is unique because many people do not have this mentality. Frequently they will give up or quit if it appears they are failing or not doing well. This is an inimitable skill because it is something you are born with. People cannot tell themselves they refuse to fail. Either they do or they don’t from the start.  

4.     Good at sales

            VRIN: I have developed a skill for sales, convincing people to purchase products that can be applied to nearly anything. This is not a unique skill. This can also be replicated relatively easily.

5.     Good at making connections

            VRIN: Networking and making connections can create a strategic advantage for me when trying to make deals with partner companies and learning about the industry. This is not an easy skill to replicate but many people have it. While it is hard to learn how to network well and is more of a personality trait that can not be bought or emulated, it is a common trait that many people possess making it less valuable and unique.

6.     Young enough for a higher risk tolerance

            VRIN: Being so young while starting this business means I can take more chances and risks than older investors or business owners. I have no dependents and am only responsible for supporting myself. This is unique as most people my age do not take on business ventures as large as this one. There is no way to replicate this advantage unless more younger people began businesses similar to mine which is unlikely.

7.     Young enough to grow a business for many years

            VRIN As someone who is so young. I have the opportunity to grow and shape this business over many years. Most businesses change hands and leadership several times throughout their life however I could grow and run the business myself for a very long time if I start at a young age. The uniqueness and value of this asset is the same as number seven.

8.     Trustworthy

            VRIN: I am a trustworthy person and businessman and it shows in my work and relationships. This convinces customers to do buy from me and businesses to work with me. This is not a unique skill. This can also be replicated relatively easily.

9.     Friendly and personable

            VRIN: I am able to make meaningful relationships with people in the work place which strengthens connections, brand loyalty and so on. This is not an easy skill to replicate but many people have it.

10.  Able to work

            VRIN: I am an extremely hard worker and have no other distractions. I live alone and have no dependents. Most people starting businesses have other things in their lives that distract their focus occasionally unlike me. This is unique and extremely hard to replicate. It is nearly impossible to avoid all obligations and devote your time to a business unless you do not have any obligations in general.

Our top resource is our market awareness. Having recently been a student who experienced the insufficiencies of student housing in Gainesville, I know first hand what the main stressors, annoyances and insufficiencies of the market. While it is easy for business owners to hire a student for advice, their gut intuition will be different than the students and they will likely go with their gut over the student opinion. Additionally, as the face of the company, we gain social credibility by being run by a former student who experienced the hardships these consumers are looking to avoid which increases their likelihood to sign with us.