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New Ventures Consumer Insights

AI Photography
AI tools that generate professional product photography are gaining popularity
Trend - AI companies are creating photography-mimicking tools that generate professional product photos for eCommerce and marketing materials. These photos are positioned as more affordable options to professional photography, without compromising on quality or quantity.

Insight - Newer startups, particularly those with minimal funding, often search for ways to cut operation costs wherever possible. One area that is particularly expensive for most startups is advertising, with everything from strategizing to reachouts to generating marketing materials costing a large sum. In order to cut-down on some of these costs, startups are seeking AI-powered tools that automate and streamline these processes. AI companies are responding with marketing photo generating tools.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage AI technologies to create cost-effective yet high-quality visual content for our marketing needs?
8.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Printed Panel
Researchers are developing 3D printed materials for architectural construction
Trend - Researchers from universities and construction-focused startups are developing new methods or materials for 3D printing in the architectural space. This is leading to brick, wood, and glass solutions for customizable, scalable home home construction with a reduced environmental impact.

Insight - While home construction companies have become quick and efficient at building homes at-scale, particularly when the homes share similar designs, these companies often receive backlash due to the environmental impact of the large gas-powered construction vehicles, the excess materials, and the damage caused to the surrounding area. This has caused companies to invest in solutions for more eco-friendly options that do not compromise on scalability or customization, leading to 3D printed solutions.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage emerging technologies to create eco-friendly, scalable, and customizable solutions in our industry?
6.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Wood-Waste Strong Floor Panels
Wood-Waste Strong Floor Panels
SHoP Architects Develops the SM2ART Nfloor Cassette Panel
Researchers have worked closely with the team at SHoP Architects to create what could be a potential alternative to steel and concrete with the SM2ART Nfloor cassette panel. It is a progressive... MORE
3D-Printed Ceramic Home Facades
3D-Printed Ceramic Home Facades
The Ceramic House in Amsterdam Gets a Ceramic Feature
Rotterdam-based design imprint Studio RAP creates a special facade in Amsterdam dubbed the Ceramic House. The project highlights the unique blend of tradition and innovation as it highlights a... MORE
play_circle_filledLow-Carbon Biomaterial Bricks
Low-Carbon Biomaterial Bricks
Tavs Jorgensen Created Sustainable Extruding Cob Bricks
Researcher Tavs Jorgensen has created a new process that forms cob bricks with the goal of forming low-carbon biomaterial at a more accessible rate. It is used to create bricks that can be stacked... MORE
play_circle_filled3D-Printed Clay Bricks
3D-Printed Clay Bricks
Researchers at UAC in Cairo Developed Customizable Clay Panels for Homes
Researchers at the American University in Cairo (AUC) have developed a 3D-printed clay brick solution aimed at sustainable, eco-friendly construction. This innovative project, a collaboration... MORE
3D-Printed Recycled Glass Bricks
3D-Printed Recycled Glass Bricks
MIT Engineers Created a Solution to Printing Custom Glass Bricks
MIT engineers have developed a new type of reconfigurable masonry using 3D-printed, recycled glass. Leveraging a custom 3D glass printing technology provided by MIT spinoff Evenline, the team has... MORE
Stretchable Display
Electronics brands are creating malleable displays for unique technology
Trend - Brands in the more designer end of the tech spectrum are releasing products with stretchable and malleable displays. These use AMOLED technology and are built in such a way that they can be twisted and bent without breaking or stopping the image from being displayed.

Insight - Businesses and startups with more niche product ideas often run into barriers when trying to bring a concept product to reality. These barriers can include cost, scale, or simply the feasibility of the product in general. Many such products in the technology space are limited due to physical limitations regarding battery sizes or screen sizes, amongst other potential issues. In order to address these concerns, designer tech brands are creating malleable displays for unique product ideas.
Workshop Question - How could your brand leverage emerging malleable display technologies to overcome traditional design limitations and create innovative new experiences for its customers?
7.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Developer Marketplace
Large software companies are offering asset marketplaces for game developers
Trend - Software companies in the gaming space are launching marketplaces designed for game developers. These marketplaces offer assets, such as 3D character models, audio tracks, or maps, to be purchased and licensed for use by other developers, aiming to streamline and decentralize game development.

Insight - Novice game developers could encounter any number of issues when entering the space based on their prior expertise. For example, those with an artistic background may have no trouble drawing their character models and maps, but may struggle with music or 3D animations, while the inverse may be true for another developer. In order to appeal to these developers and alleviate stress where it may arise, gaming software brands are launching marketplaces with licensable assets.
Workshop Question - How could your brand offer a solution to support professionals with varying skillsets via its products or services?
6.5
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Mundane
Millennials are turning to AI tools that automate simple day-to-day tasks
Trend - Tech startups are creating AI-powered apps and companion devices that serve to complete more downsized, simple tasks. These tools do not generate complex creative work or serve as replacements for professional tasks, and instead are used to make regular day-to-day life more efficient.

Insight - Some of the most impressive consumer use cases for generative AI tools relate to creative and professional fields. Tools that can generate lifelike images, videos, stories, or automate workplace tasks took the internet by storm due to their impressive promise. However many consumers believe these creative fields should primarily remain human-created. Brands are catering to these consumers by releasing downsized AI tools that save time in other areas to enable more focus on creative, tasks.
Workshop Question - How could your brand leverage artificial intelligence tools to save time in more repetitive and mundane areas in the workplace?
5.3
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
AI Licensing
Platforms that license and distribute AI-generated conent are gaining popularity
Trend - AI companies are launching platforms that focus on licensing and distributing content generated by artificial intelligence (AI) models. These platforms protect the users of such content, ensuring that the users do not have to worry about legal concerns surrounding the use of AI content.

Insight - As AI-generated content gains popularity in nearly every creative and professional field, consumers who use such content for commercial products, such as advertisements or entertainment media, are increasingly worrying about the gray area zone that AI content currently exists in. In order to appease these consumers and increase the popularity of using AI content in commercial use, companies are launching platforms that handle the legal licensing of such content databases.
Workshop Question - How could your business benefit from licensing or implementing artificial intelligence-generated content?
5.2
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
eCommerce Assistant
Online retailers are using generative AI to create natural-sounding assistants
Trend - Brands with online storefronts are launching assistants powered by generative AI to improve experiences for customers. These assistants can interpret natural language, and have intimate knowledge of the business' product portfolio, enabling them to suggest well-suited products for consumers' needs.

Insight - One of the prevalent barriers that slow the adoption of online shopping is the lack of in-store assistants. Consumers accustomed to interacting with staff members to find the best product for their needs are less likely to shop online, as online shopping requires consumers to do their research and make all decisions themselves. In order to reduce this barrier, and make online shopping feel more natural for such consumers, brands are launching AI-powered online assistants with 24/7 availability.
Workshop Question - How could your brand leverage generative AI models to enhance its customer experience on its online platforms?
8.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Automated eCommerce
Brands are leveraging AI tools to simplify online storefront creation
Trend - Brands with online storefronts are turning to AI-powered tools to streamline the creation and maintenance of these websites. AI tools are being used to write copy, generate photos, recommend products to customers, and generate promotional content. These tools aim to reduce operational costs.

Insight - Each year, more consumers are gravitating toward shopping online rather than in-stores. In part due to the pandemic, this shift caused retailers to place more focus on optimizing their e-commerce storefront experiences. Retailers want to ensure their websites are as frictionless as possible leading to converted sales. To appeal to these retailers, and to offer a potential solution that does not raise operational costs, AI companies and new startups are launching generative tools for storefronts.
Workshop Question - How can we leverage AI tools to enhance our customer experience and reduce operational costs in our online platform?
7.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Camp Coffee
Portable espresso makers are being made with durable designs for outdoor activities
Trend - Brands are making portable espresso makers designed for camping and travel applications. These are durable with long-lasting batteries, often including secondary features such as lights or app connectivity. Portable espresso makers target the traveling on-the-go or outdoorsy adult demographic.

Insight - Many adults today live with busy schedules and only a select amount of free time. As a result, these consumers look to save time and effort in their day wherever possible. For some, this means meal planning and scheduling, while others turn to smart apps and digital solutions to save time and money. Appliance brands and startups are appealing to these consumers, often through crowdfunding, by launching a compact espresso makers designed for portability and reliability,
Workshop Question - How could your brand ensure its products fit with modern consumers' lifestyles?
7.8
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends
Web3 Console
Entertainment brands are launching consoles designed around web3 ecosystems
Trend - Web3 and gaming brands are creating dedicated gaming consoles for cryptocurrency and NFT-integrated games. These consoles connect to players' crypto wallets to streamline withdrawing or using acquired cryptocurrencies on other platforms, thus increasing the attractiveness of web3 gaming.

Insight - The incorporation of web3 elements in video games is polarizing to gamers, with many either fully embracing or rejecting the field. However, some of the barriers that prevent gamers from engaging with web3 features include complexity, volatility, and security concerns. In an attempt to better address these concerns, reduce barriers to entry, and expand the web3 gaming market, brands are designing easy-to-use hardware with embedded security features.
Workshop Question - How could your brand expand its consumer base by making its products or services more accessible to newcomers?
8.1
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness
Patterns
Megatrends