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Idea Of The Day - Your City is Boring—And You Can Fix It with QR Codes
Needs To Exist
January 10, 2025
GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), dropping daily startup ideas - today one that turns your world into a game board.
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Here’s what we’ve got for you today.
Daily Idea - QRious Treasure Hunt
CES 2025 - Gadgets and A Roadmap
Treasure Hunting Meets Digital Adventure
The One Liner
Turn the real world into your game board.
The 140 character tweet (or X) version
Your city is boring—make it fun. Imagine treasure hunting IRL with digital rewards. Scan QR codes, collect treasures, and flex on your friends.
The Longer Story Version
The Problem
Life feels like a loop. Same coffee shop, same walk, same everything. But what if you could turn the mundane into an adventure?
Traditional treasure hunts? Cool idea but stuck in the past. And geocaching? Fun for the few who know it, but not built for the TikTok generation. The world needs a game that makes exploring your city as addictive as scrolling your phone.
The Idea
Imagine walking down the street, and your phone buzzes. A treasure is nearby. You scan a QR code tucked on a streetlight, and BOOM—digital loot unlocked. Could be points for free coffee, a fun fact about the area, or a rare collectible for bragging rights.
This is next-gen treasure hunting. Real world meets digital game. Explore, collect, and dominate.
The Execution
Here’s how to build it:
Create the Map
Use Google Maps API or Mapbox to make a slick, interactive map where players can see treasure hotspots. These tools allow for real-time geolocation updates and smooth navigation.Drop the Treasures
Generate and manage QR codes with QRCode Monkey or QR.io. These codes will be the key to unlocking treasures and tracking player interactions.Build the Backend
Use Firebase for real-time updates, user authentication, and secure storage of treasure data. If you’re scaling big, add AWS Lambda to handle event triggers, like notifying players when they’re close to a treasure.Deliver Rewards
Partner with local businesses and use tools like Tremendous or Voucherify to integrate real-world rewards seamlessly. Digital points, gift cards, or promo codes can all be handled through these platforms.Gamify It
Add leaderboards, daily challenges, and rare collectibles to keep players engaged. Tie this into the backend with Firebase to ensure everything syncs perfectly.
Why It Matters
Because life shouldn’t be boring. This isn’t just a game; it’s a way to see your city in a whole new light. It’s social, it’s fun, and it gets people moving—literally.
Plus, the business model is strong:
Local Partnerships: Drive foot traffic to small businesses with treasure hunts tied to their locations.
Premium Tiers: Charge for exclusive maps, rare treasure hunts, or ad-free gameplay.
Brand Collaborations: Partner with big names to drop treasures as part of marketing campaigns.
This idea doesn’t just blend gaming and the real world; it creates a new kind of adventure. Build it, and you’ll be the person who turned the world into a playground.
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CES 2025: A Goldmine for Entrepreneurs
CES 2025 has delivered a buffet of jaw-dropping tech and quirky innovations, but let’s cut through the noise. The value of CES isn’t just in gawking at gadgets—it’s in reverse-engineering opportunities. Here’s how entrepreneurs can steal the show and turn CES inspiration into billion-dollar ideas.
AI on your desktop. Nvidia’s Project Digits packs enough power to train massive AI models from your living room. Starting at $3,000, it’s like a Ferrari for AI developers.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Tech is democratizing. The tools that were once exclusive to Google or OpenAI are now hitting the mass market. Build software or services that enable everyday creators to leverage AI—video editors, marketers, writers, or niche industries.
A touchscreen TV that doubles as a wall hook or a tabletop stand. It’s portable, battery-powered, and made for flexibility.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
People crave mobility and adaptability. Can you redesign your product for a more flexible lifestyle? Think modular furniture, portable workspaces, or even subscription-based items people can rent and move around with ease.
Glasses with a private, built-in display for navigation, translation, and more. The key here? The tech is subtle, not screaming “Look, I’m a gadget!”
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Consumers don’t want to look like techies—they want solutions that blend into their lives. Whether it’s wearables, smart home devices, or apps, think understated sophistication. The future is sleek, not loud.
This robovac doesn’t just clean—it picks up socks, tissues, and other obstacles with its robotic arm. Suddenly, your messy floor isn’t a dealbreaker.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Automation isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about solving real-life pain points. Can you create a product that tackles an annoying chore for your audience? People will pay for convenience—especially if it feels futuristic.
A beach umbrella with solar panels that charge your gadgets. Functional, eco-friendly, and a vibe.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Sustainability sells, but convenience closes. Can you combine eco-conscious design with practical utility? Entrepreneurs who marry these two trends—green tech + usability—will dominate the market.
A laptop that expands vertically with the push of a button. It’s perfect for multitaskers who want more screen real estate without carrying an external monitor.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
People love products that adapt to their needs in real-time. What if your service, software, or physical product scaled dynamically for different use cases? Think: tiered pricing models, modular add-ons, or space-saving designs.
An e-ink digital art frame with vibrant colors and a year-long battery life. Designed to turn walls into galleries.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
The "always-on" aesthetic is hot. Consumers want products that seamlessly blend utility with beauty. How can you create something that looks great while also doing something?
A charging dock that swaps your dead phone battery for a fresh one in two seconds. It’s the Red Bull of phone chargers.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Speed is the new luxury. From shipping to customer service, faster = better. Look for bottlenecks in your business and figure out how to “Swippitt” them for your customers.
A cute, fuzzy robot that just sits on your bag. It doesn’t talk, doesn’t move—its whole job is to be adorable.
💡 Entrepreneurial Insight:
Sometimes, function isn’t everything. Emotional value—nostalgia, happiness, or novelty—can be just as powerful. Can you create something that makes people feel good, even if it doesn’t solve a problem? (Hint: the pet rock made millions.)
Final Thought: Don’t Just Watch—Build
CES isn’t just a showcase—it’s a roadmap. Every product is a signal of what people want (or will want soon). Your job? Spot the trends, build the bridge, and get it to market before everyone else.
Biggest takeaway? The future isn’t just techy—it’s human-centered. Build products that make lives easier, faster, or just plain better.
Now, go steal like an artist.
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