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Respect for the structured approach at 17, unfortunately you don't see that very often!
The gradual build-up without external capital pressure is strategically correct. Using the competition as the first validation step is clever, many founders scale up before they even know whether anyone will pay.
The 2 hard reality checks from my point of view:
1. no company will give you their sales data.
Not without certified cybersecurity standards! Think ISO 27001, SOC 2 or similar. These are not formalities, they are basic requirements in the B2B data business. Even if your tool is technically brilliant, the first call to the company's IT security officer or data protection officer will end the conversation immediately. These certifications cost a lot of money, time and external audits, it's not a problem you solve on the side.
2. you are entering a market that is already occupied.
Predictive analytics / demand forecasting is not a blank spot on the map. There are established providers such as SAP IBP, Oracle, Relex, o9 Solutions, and dozens of specialized niche providers who have been building exactly the same thing for medium-sized companies for years, with sales teams and reference customers. The question every potential customer will ask is: "Why should I give my sensitive data to an unknown 18-year-old when I can use an established provider with liability and support?"
Sales forecasting is essential for any budget plan and has therefore always been an important topic that has grown significantly in recent years thanks to AI and ML.
No reason to stop, but you need a very clear differentiating advantage. Cheaper alone is not enough in B2B, because when it comes to sensitive data, companies don't go for the cheapest provider, but for the most trustworthy.
Why I still think your project makes sense:
The competition as a learning project. A prototype as technical proof of your skills is very valuable, e.g. for later studies or job applications. But I would recommend that you consider finding a smaller, less regulated entry market now to gain your first real users.
PS: Attack your securities account: No. You currently have hardly any costs, leave the portfolio alone😉
The gradual build-up without external capital pressure is strategically correct. Using the competition as the first validation step is clever, many founders scale up before they even know whether anyone will pay.
The 2 hard reality checks from my point of view:
1. no company will give you their sales data.
Not without certified cybersecurity standards! Think ISO 27001, SOC 2 or similar. These are not formalities, they are basic requirements in the B2B data business. Even if your tool is technically brilliant, the first call to the company's IT security officer or data protection officer will end the conversation immediately. These certifications cost a lot of money, time and external audits, it's not a problem you solve on the side.
2. you are entering a market that is already occupied.
Predictive analytics / demand forecasting is not a blank spot on the map. There are established providers such as SAP IBP, Oracle, Relex, o9 Solutions, and dozens of specialized niche providers who have been building exactly the same thing for medium-sized companies for years, with sales teams and reference customers. The question every potential customer will ask is: "Why should I give my sensitive data to an unknown 18-year-old when I can use an established provider with liability and support?"
Sales forecasting is essential for any budget plan and has therefore always been an important topic that has grown significantly in recent years thanks to AI and ML.
No reason to stop, but you need a very clear differentiating advantage. Cheaper alone is not enough in B2B, because when it comes to sensitive data, companies don't go for the cheapest provider, but for the most trustworthy.
Why I still think your project makes sense:
The competition as a learning project. A prototype as technical proof of your skills is very valuable, e.g. for later studies or job applications. But I would recommend that you consider finding a smaller, less regulated entry market now to gain your first real users.
PS: Attack your securities account: No. You currently have hardly any costs, leave the portfolio alone😉
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@TomTurboInvest Top detailed and structured. I fully agree
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@GeldGenie Thanks for the feedback! PS: I am professionally involved in purchasing and supply chain. As a PL I have already implemented several IT solutions. With every new potential tool, the first thing is the "Information Security Check". Nobody wants to see their valuable data leaked anywhere or made available to a competitor. Like everywhere else, data is digital gold today 😉
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@TomTurboInvest Tech & Transformation Consulting hier 😊👍
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@GeldGenie I've been "transforming" our Group for what feels like 10 years, one transformation follows the next 🤪😅 The Group just 🤷♂️
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@TomTurboInvest hi, thank you very much for your detailed feedback. I had some points on my screen, others I will have to look at again.
Especially the cybersecurity point, for example. Do you think it's realistic to set something up as a lone fighter? It sounds very complicated, because I think you have to deal with German bureaucracy every time 😮💨
If you were to do it, where would you start? Which niche do you think is currently underserved in this area?
My idea was to approach a supplier in my home village or a larger bakery chain through the competition and ask them for work. I would sort out the rest later...
Especially the cybersecurity point, for example. Do you think it's realistic to set something up as a lone fighter? It sounds very complicated, because I think you have to deal with German bureaucracy every time 😮💨
If you were to do it, where would you start? Which niche do you think is currently underserved in this area?
My idea was to approach a supplier in my home village or a larger bakery chain through the competition and ask them for work. I would sort out the rest later...
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@Klein-Anleger On the cybersecurity question: As a lone fighter, you won't be able to achieve ISO 27001 certification - it's not realistically possible. But here's the good news: you don't have to.
Your instinct with the bakery or local supplier is actually the smartest idea and, in my opinion, exactly the right first step. Why? Because a small family business or a regional bakery chain doesn't have an IT security officer who will stop your project. They make decisions based on trust, not on certificates. This is your window.
This also solves the data problem pragmatically: start with anonymized or aggregated data. Don't let them give you raw customer data, but only sales figures per week/month, which is much less critical legally and massively lowers the inhibition threshold.
On the niche question: The underserved area is precisely these small and medium-sized businesses. Bakeries, butchers, regional drinks retailers, small suppliers. The large providers such as SAP start at prices that are completely unrealistic for these companies. There is a real gap right there, but only if you keep it extremely simple and cheap. But is this niche even interested? I'm not the right person to judge that.
And on the point of 'I'll sort out the rest later': that's actually the right attitude for phase 1. You don't need a perfect product now, you need a real user to tell you what they really need. Everything else is theory.
In short: go to the bakery. Seriously. 🥐
Your instinct with the bakery or local supplier is actually the smartest idea and, in my opinion, exactly the right first step. Why? Because a small family business or a regional bakery chain doesn't have an IT security officer who will stop your project. They make decisions based on trust, not on certificates. This is your window.
This also solves the data problem pragmatically: start with anonymized or aggregated data. Don't let them give you raw customer data, but only sales figures per week/month, which is much less critical legally and massively lowers the inhibition threshold.
On the niche question: The underserved area is precisely these small and medium-sized businesses. Bakeries, butchers, regional drinks retailers, small suppliers. The large providers such as SAP start at prices that are completely unrealistic for these companies. There is a real gap right there, but only if you keep it extremely simple and cheap. But is this niche even interested? I'm not the right person to judge that.
And on the point of 'I'll sort out the rest later': that's actually the right attitude for phase 1. You don't need a perfect product now, you need a real user to tell you what they really need. Everything else is theory.
In short: go to the bakery. Seriously. 🥐
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@TomTurboInvest 🤝 Thank you, I will report back!
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@Klein-Anleger I also think that it makes sense to present your idea to individual small companies and build a solution on their behalf.
If you solve a specific problem for the company, you will have a foothold the quickest and you may be able to find a niche for a platform in the industry for a specific company size.
If you solve a specific problem for the company, you will have a foothold the quickest and you may be able to find a niche for a platform in the industry for a specific company size.
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@Klein-Anleger Good luck! Nobody starts a business and is lucky. Hard work is only described as luck from the outside.
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@Wealth-Accelerator I will give it a try. I'm also flexible and I can still adapt something if I get feedback that the company would rather have a different focus, for example...
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