Forming an Opportunity Belief

1.     I have a belief that there are no great, healthy alternatives to pasta!

2.     Healthy eating has definitely become more of a trend/lifestyle in the past decade, especially among millennials. With that the creation of vegetable noodles (like zucchini noodles, sweet potato noodles, etc.) have risen! Another popular alternative is whole wheat pasta. While both of these have some benefits over regular pasta, I don’t think they satisfy most people. In my opinion, vegetable noodles are extremely healthy, but in no way resemble pasta. They just taste like pieces of vegetables. Whole-wheat pasta on the other hand, is very similar to regular pasta, however the nutrition facts only slightly differ from regular pasta (higher fiber and lower carbohydrates by only a couple grams). I would say I’m about 60% positive this opportunity exists because perhaps I’m just too picky with my pastas since its my favorite food, however I have discussed this issue with my roommates.

3.     Female young and mature adults

4.     Iteration No 1.

Me: What is the exact nature of the need? Do you think there is an issue with finding healthy replacements of pasta?

Interviewee 1: Yes, because pasta is bad, and I wish there were more alternatives

Me: When did you become aware of this need? Do you want healthy pasta all the time, or just sometimes?

Interviewee 1: Once in a while. I don’t eat pasta that often.

Me: How long have you had this need of healthier pasta?

Interviewee 1: I would say when I started cooking my own food in college, so like 2 years now.

Me: When did you first become aware that you wanted healthier pasta? Why?

Interviewee 1: In 8th grade I was sent to a fat doctor so that’s when I stopped eating pasta. If there were better tasting alternatives than like vegetable noodles, then I would eat it more.

Me: How are you currently addressing your need for healthier pasta? And are you satisfied with this solution?

Interviewee 1: Zucchini noodles. No, it doesn’t taste like pasta

Iteration No 2.

Me: What is the exact nature of the need? Do you think there is an issue with finding healthy replacements of pasta?

Interviewee 2: Yes, I have pasta once every while but I feel guilty so I would like more choices.

Me: When did you become aware of this need? Do you want healthy pasta all the time, or just sometimes?

Interviewee 2: I don’t remember the last time I ate pasta, but that’s mainly because of the health factors.

Me: How long have you had this need of healthier pasta?

Interviewee 2: Since the age of 18, when puberty hit, and I started filling out.

Me: When did you first become aware that you wanted healthier pasta? Why?

Interviewee 2: Well in high school is when zoodles [zucchini noodles] and stuff started becoming popular, but I didn’t really think about it until college because that’s when I started cooking for myself.

Me: How are you currently addressing your need for healthier pasta? And are you satisfied with this solution?

Interviewee 2: Edamame noodles. Yeah they are pretty good.

Iteration No 3.

Me: What is the exact nature of the need? Do you think there is an issue with finding healthy replacements of pasta?

Interviewee 3: Yes, I grew up in an Italian family, so we eat pasta all the time. Now that I’m in college, I love to cook with pasta, but I want healthier versions.

Me: When did you become aware of this need? Do you want healthy pasta all the time, or just sometimes?

Interviewee 3: When I’m eating it, I feel guilty. I wish something else was healthier, but I’m still satisfied with pasta.

Me: How long have you had this need of healthier pasta?

Interviewee 3: Probably since senior year of high school.

Me: When did you first become aware that you wanted healthier pasta? Why?

Interviewee 3: Sophomore year of high school, my mom started looking for replacements for it because my dad developed gluten allergy. It was around then that I started to dabble in different versions of pasta that tended to be healthier because of the trends.

Me: How are you currently addressing your need for healthier pasta? And are you satisfied with this solution?

Interviewee 3: I don’t replace it because nothing is as good. Yeah I guess, it’s not a huge deal.

5.     After interviewing 3 of my (female) roommates, I would say that healthy pasta alternatives is a popular need. While some people like Interviewer 3 eat pasta all the time and won’t let the health factors stop her, other people like Interviewee 2 stopped eating pasta all together. I think if there was a healthy version that tasted super similar to it, it would become very sought after. Definitely around high school/college is when girls start watching their weight, so this would be the target audience. However, I did not get to interview someone in their 40s or 50s. I think healthy pastas would be popular in this age group too because they are cooking for their families.

6.     Repeats above

7.     I actually believe that there is a bigger opportunity than I expected. I think the health benefits of pasta are something that everyone considers, but perhaps it doesn’t bother a ton of people because there aren’t really any solutions right now. If I could make a solution readily available to them, I think the healthy pasta would be off the shelve in no time. I definitely think that entrepreneurs should adapt their opportunities based on customer feedback, because they are essentially telling you what they want and what would be popular. Staying firm doesn’t really make sense to me. That just sounds stubborn, which will get you nowhere.