At myDigitalStartup.net, We continue to scan the landscape for innovative ideas and innovations coming from the world of startups. Earlier this year, we published a series of research topics on “Top 25 Digital Startup ideas and technologies for 2017”
Continuing the research, we review some of the emerging technologies that move beyond ecommerce. Phrases like “Moonshot ideas” are gaining mindshare among entrepreneurs looking for the next idea that will propel their venture into a Unicorn.
The ideas going ‘off the beaten track’ include unique Fintech models, open source programming languages, media and innovations in business models leveraging technologies.
Speed and Agility
Faster execution is the name of the game. In a recent “Masters of Scale” podcast, LinkedIn’s founder Reid Hoffman discusses agility with Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg who claims how “Imperfect is Perfect”
“If you’re Steve Jobs, you can wait for your product to be perfect. But there are almost no Steve Jobs’ in the world. For the rest of us, If you’re not embarrassed by your first product release, you’ve released it too late. Imperfect is perfect. Why? Because your assumptions about what people want are never exactly right. Most entrepreneurs create great products through a tight feedback loop with real customers using a real product. So don’t fear imperfections; they won’t make or break your company. What will make or break you is speed. And no one knows this better than Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg. He shares the origin story of his famous mantra, “move fast and break things” and how this ethos applied as Facebook evolved from student project to tech giant.”
Businesses, even traditional brick-and-mortar businesses are depending on digitalization, digital marketing, innovations coming from the cyber world. Here are some interesting digital startups, ideas and technologies to watch for:
1. AI and machine learning startups
Large companies have been investing resources in making tech smarter and better at predicting things using AI. Google’s Sundar Pichai has directed the initiatives to be “AI first.” Likewise, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple and other tech majors are spending billions in research in the field of AI, robotics and automation, which is “creating a larger talent pool” of AI-savvy workers. Such an ecosystem of talented workforce with access to tools and technologies may foster innovation at a much quicker pace.
2. Chatbot startups
Chatbots are automated services that interact with and offer information to humans, especially consumers, through a chat interface using AI techniques. “Thanks to AI, we’ve seen chatbots take center stage in 2016, and as we break into 2017, we expect this trend to spur even more innovation, specifically in the enterprise,” says Ashu Garg, general partner at Foundation Capital, a Silicon Valley venture capital firm.
3. Cyber security startups
The recent outbreak of Wannacry malware that hit the corporate world brought Cybersecurity to the forefront (yet again). Technology analysts and researchers expect a continued growth in the cyber security in 2017.
4. AR, VR, Innovative wearable’s
In the aftermath of the Pokémon Go phenomenon, augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)continues to be on many entrepreneur’s radar screens. Similarly, the breakout hit Spectacles from Snap, the company behind Snapchat is breathing new life into the wearable’s category.
5. Intelligent things
“Intelligent things” are at the intersection of AI and IoT and are among Gartner’s top 10 strategic trends for 2017. According to Gartner, the internet of intelligent things goes “beyond the execution of rigid programming models,” exploiting AI and machine learning “to deliver advanced behaviors and interact more naturally with their surroundings and with people.” Gartner also anticipates a shift from stand-alone intelligent things to a collaborative intelligent things model.”
You may send us a note with an update on innovations from your startups or if you agree or disagree with this brief analysis.
Research assisted by Suhani jain, who is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Engineering at Mody University, Lakshmangarh.