Business Opportunities corner: Hack Detection Service

Following up on a previous post on website hacking (and a bunch of related posts on Internet security) it appears that the different IT departments could use some help in detecting hacks.

Business idea #2 is therefore a "hack detection service". The service carefully examines websites of subscribers on a daily basis. If hacking is found, the subscriber is immediately notified.


Needed resources:

1. Computer(s) with good Internet connection and a web browser
2. A reliable person (or multiple people as the business grows) who goes over subscribers' websites daily
3. A notification system (email/phone call/SMS according to the subscriber's needs)
4. Basic understanding of website hacking and what it looks like
5. Subscribers!

Determining the pricing will require considering operation costs such as Internet fees and salaries. Getting subscribers might require offering a free trial period and publicizing the service at different IT departments. A few free trial periods can then be used to show the value of the service.

Disclaimer: Our ideas are just ideas, not necessarily sound business advice. If this business already exists in Thimphu and we missed it, please let us know! Before rushing to implement the idea, do some research about costs. Create a spreadsheet with the costs and see how much you will need to earn to break even and to make a profit. See if you can survive for a year with no profit and perhaps loss, until the business is more established. The best approach is to consult with organizations that help local entrepreneurs such as the Loden Foundation (see their upcoming crash course on Apr 16-17) or the Youth Development Fund.

Business Opportunities Corner: "Air of Bhutan"

US$9 for air

Can you make money out of air? You certainly CAN. In a recent visit to Turkey, I've noticed these attractively-designed tin cans. The contents? "Air of Istanbul". Nothing more, nothing less. Tourists buy these cans as souvenirs, and they pay the incredible amount of 16 Turkish Liras, which currently convert to about US$9. If you ask me, "Air of Bhutan" sounds (and smells) much better than "Air of Istanbul". Naturally, you won't face any competition from India, China, etc. "Air of Bhutan" can only be manufactured in Bhutan!

So here's the general idea:

• Design a beautiful label with "Air of Bhutan", "Air of the Himalayas", etc. Unfortunately, "Druk Air" is already taken. There might be niche markets for specific locations, such as "Air of Bumthang".  
• Buy the necessary tin canning equipment and materials. Choose and test the material/process: You don't want the cans to crumble/explode when shifting to low/high altitudes.
• Start manufacturing. Make sure that the manufacturing location matches the label and is not done, say, in Jaigaon. Truth in advertising is important. Rinchending is still a possibility, but as a tourist I'd rather see "Packed in the pristine Himalayas", not "Packed in an industrial zone at the foothills of the Himalayas". The good part: Tin contents (air) is still 100% free!
• Set a reasonable price, and distribute to tourist outlets in Bhutan

Once "Air of Bhutan" is a huge hit, you can move on to "Water of Bhutan"...

Disclaimer: Our ideas are just ideas, not necessarily sound business advice. If this business already exists in Bhutan and we missed it, please let us know! Before rushing to implement the idea, do some research about costs. Create a spreadsheet with the costs and see how much you will need to earn to break even and to make a profit. See if you can survive for a year with no profit and perhaps loss, until the business is more established. The best approach is to consult with organizations that help local entrepreneurs such as the Loden Foundation.

Heat no more: fresh pasteurized milk finally available in Thimphu

The rumors circulating in the last couple of weeks are now officially true: we will finally be able to purchase fresh pasteurized milk in Thimphu! The Ministry of Agriculture posted about the inauguration of the mini-plant in Wangchutaba on their website:

"Thimphu city will now have the supply of processed pasteurized milk in 500 ml poly pack. The packed milk is now available for sale at Yoghurt Plant, Chubachu and other retail outlets in Thimphu town. The plant has the capacity of processing 2000 liters per day using the HTST method of pasteurization. It is currently operated by the National Livestock Breeding Programme, Department of Livestock."

Having ready-to-drink fresh milk is a wonderful upgrade. For those who have been buying fresh milk it will save time and expenses for heating the milk. More importantly, it will offer healthier milk! Most Thimphupas buy fresh milk and boil it for safety (to avoid milk-borne illnesses such as tuberculosis, typhoid and diphteria). Boiling makes the milk safe to drink by killing bacteria, but it also removes a lot of its nutritional value (see more here). In contrast, pasteurization which heats the milk at lower temperatures for short durations, only kills bacteria and enzymes but not the vitamins.

For those who have been opting for boxed UHT milk (Zimdra, Amul Taaza, and the like) for shelf life reasons, pasteurized milk offers a better alternative, and it keeps longer than fresh milk (a few days in refrigeration). Moving from imported milk to locally-produced milk is good not only for us consumers (healthier and tastes better), but also for Bhutan's industry. Here's a great chance to support the local daily industry and fight the causes of the Rupee Crunch!

Business Opportunities Corner: Expanding the definition of "momo"

Tired of the usual cheese and beef momos? If you're lucky, you might get hold of the excellent Haapi hoentoe (Haa momos). But what about other fillings? In my last trip to Hyderabad, India, I discovered that Indians have taken the momo concept one step further. After a day of hesitation, I approached the momo stand, took a deep breath and ordered paneer momos and... chocolate momos! Although the thought is shocking, the momos were very tasty. The menu description was quite poetic and contained plenty of repeated letters:

Sinfully rich dark chocolate and cashew crumble swirled into one luscious warrmmm mooooolten mouthfullll - It's to die for!!

 Is this the next business idea for Bhutanese entrepreneurs?

"It's to die for!!"

Business Opportunities Corner: Making Ice-Cubes

"Thimphu is a cold place" is the sentence taught at our schools. Whether summers are getting hotter from year to year or else Thimphupas are becoming more sensitive, there are quite a bunch of shops in Thimphu now selling air-conditioners.

But how about "cooling from within"? A few entrepreneurs have already started offering great services: Sonam Tshoey's ice cream cups, Willy's ice cream parlor, and the cafes offering frozen drinks are some examples.

This brings me to our Ice-Cube Making business opportunity. We volunteered to run a small lemonade stand at the upcoming sports day at a local school to revive the many sweating & thirsty kids. I therefore went in search of ice cubes but nobody seems to know of any such joint.

Business Opportunities Corner: Data Recovery Service

If your hard disk just crashed, you are probably having one of those blissful, blood-pressure-lowering, mantra-inducing Buddhist moments, realizing that indeed nothing is permanent.

Business Opportunities Corner: Key duplication

The topic of youth unemployment has been discussed constantly in every possible medium. Starting a small business can be rewarding and interesting, but it is never easy. Should one open yet-another-shoe-shop? A few individuals with entrepreneurial spirit have recently launched great businesses, such as ShoeVival and Greener Way.