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Spotify for Textbooks

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ColbyG

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I'm sure everyone has heard terms like this before. Replace Spotify with Netflix or Uber, whatever. My idea isn't revolutionary but there's a need that isn't currently being filled.

I'll spell out the problem, solution and why in dot points because dot points are simple.
Problem:
  • Textbooks for uni/college students are very expensive
  • Research has shown that many students choose not to buy the required textbook because its too expensive, thus their learning suffers
  • Research has shown that students sometimes choose courses based on whether a textbook is required.
  • When the semester ends, the student now owns a textbook they don't need anymore, so they have to go through the hassle of selling it, or it collects dust.
Solution:
  • An online e-textbook resource that allows students to access textbooks for short periods of time, e.g. 1 hour book loan for $5
  • An online e-textbook resource that allows students to access all their textbooks for a monthly fee i.e. spotify
Barriers:
  • Obtaining books
  • Legal issues
  • Lack of money makes it hard to pursue technical people to help explain how implementation could work
Competitors:
  • Existing textbook sellers (Pearson, Wiley etc)
  • Packback - very similar idea to mine but hasn't gained much traction in the market
  • Physical textbook rentals (Chegg, Zookal etc)

I worked on this project for a few months but hit a dead end in acquiring the books. I have tried to get in contact with a number of different publishers and e-book wholesalers without any success.

My questions for my good friends here:
  • Do you think this idea is possible to bring to market? Consider whether the publishers will even want to supply their books to me.
  • What sort of budget are we looking at for an MVP? Consider legal costs, costs to acquire books, marketing, platform dev etc.
As a student myself, I just want this problem solved. If someone can steal my idea and make it happen, you'll make me a very happy man. Paying $200-$300 for a book that is used for 13 weeks is ridiculous and it has to end.

p.s. I have references to studies if people are curious of the exact numbers.

Look forward to hearing what you have to say. Be honest with me. No sugar coating here.
 
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O'n tasi iwiszupi jet jiesf visnt moli vjot cigusi. Siqmedi Tquvogz xovj Pivgmoy us Acis, xjeviwis. Nz ofie otp'v siwumavoupesz cav vjisi't e piif vjev otp'v dassipvmz cioph gommif.

O'mm tqimm uav vji qsucmin, tumavoup epf xjz op fuv quopvt cideati fuv quopvt esi tonqmi.
Qsucmin:
  • Viyvcuult gus apo/dummihi tvafipvt esi wisz iyqiptowi
  • Sitiesdj jet tjuxp vjev nepz tvafipvt djuuti puv vu caz vji siraosif viyvcuul cideati ovt vuu iyqiptowi, vjat vjios miespoph taggist
  • Sitiesdj jet tjuxp vjev tvafipvt tunivonit djuuti duastit cetif up xjivjis e viyvcuul ot siraosif.
  • Xjip vji tinitvis ipft, vji tvafipv pux uxpt e viyvcuul vjiz fup'v piif epznusi, tu vjiz jewi vu hu vjsuahj vji jettmi ug timmoph ov, us ov dummidvt fatv.
Tumavoup:
  • Ep upmopi i-viyvcuul situasdi vjev emmuxt tvafipvt vu edditt viyvcuult gus tjusv qisouft ug voni, i.h. 1 juas cuul muep gus $5
  • Ep upmopi i-viyvcuul situasdi vjev emmuxt tvafipvt vu edditt emm vjios viyvcuult gus e nupvjmz gii o.i. tquvogz
Cessoist:
  • Ucveopoph cuult
  • Mihem ottait
  • Medl ug nupiz nelit ov jesf vu qastai vidjpodem qiuqmi vu jimq iyqmeop jux onqminipvevoup duamf xusl
Dunqivovust:
  • Iyotvoph viyvcuul timmist (Qiestup, Xomiz ivd)
  • Qedlcedl - wisz tonomes ofie vu nopi cav jetp'v heopif nadj vsedvoup op vji nesliv
  • Qjztodem viyvcuul sipvemt (Djihh, Buulem ivd)

O xuslif up vjot qsukidv gus e gix nupvjt cav jov e fief ipf op edraosoph vji cuult. O jewi vsoif vu hiv op dupvedv xovj e pancis ug foggisipv qacmotjist epf i-cuul xjumitemist xovjuav epz tadditt.

Nz raitvoupt gus nz huuf gsoipft jisi:
  • Fu zua vjopl vjot ofie ot quttocmi vu csoph vu nesliv? Duptofis xjivjis vji qacmotjist xomm iwip xepv vu taqqmz vjios cuult vu ni.
  • Xjev tusv ug cafhiv esi xi muuloph ev gus ep NWQ? Duptofis mihem dutvt, dutvt vu edraosi cuult, neslivoph, qmevgusn fiw ivd.
Et e tvafipv nztimg, O katv xepv vjot qsucmin tumwif. Og tuniupi dep tviem nz ofie epf neli ov jeqqip, zua'mm neli ni e wisz jeqqz nep. Qezoph $200-$300 gus e cuul vjev ot atif gus 13 xiilt ot sofodamuat epf ov jet vu ipf.

q.t. O jewi sigisipdit vu tvafoit og qiuqmi esi dasouat ug vji iyedv pancist.

Muul gusxesf vu jiesoph xjev zua jewi vu tez. Ci jupitv xovj ni. Pu tahes duevoph jisi.

Tuapft moli tunivjoph vjev xuamf ci wisz iyqiptowi vu dsievi og quttocmi ev emm tuapft moli zua xuamf ipduapvis panisuat mihem ottait. Et vu tuni ug zuas ofiet e gix xuamf katv puv xusl gus iyenqmi uggisoph e muep ug e cuul gus $5 ep juas? Zua xuamf katv tqipf ep juas tdsiiptjuvvoph vji qehit ug vji cuul tasimz? Epzxezt op nz uqopoup ov xuamf ci e huuf ofie cav xuamf siraosi E MUV ug xusl. Cvx xjev cuul dutv $200-300 emm nz tvafz cuult jewi piwis dutv uwis $30
 
Jo, ev upi quopv O xet muuloph op vu hivvoph nz cuult opvu apowistovoit epf O guapf vjot QsuRaitv - Icuult atigam?
 
Tuapft moli tunivjoph vjev xuamf ci wisz iyqiptowi vu dsievi og quttocmi ev emm tuapft moli zua xuamf ipduapvis panisuat mihem ottait. Et vu tuni ug zuas ofiet e gix xuamf katv puv xusl gus iyenqmi uggisoph e muep ug e cuul gus $5 ep juas? Zua xuamf katv tqipf ep juas tdsiiptjuvvoph vji qehit ug vji cuul tasimz? Epzxezt op nz uqopoup ov xuamf ci e huuf ofie cav xuamf siraosi E MUV ug xusl. Cvx xjev cuul dutv $200-300 emm nz tvafz cuult jewi piwis dutv uwis $30
Ataemmz johjmz tqidoemotv cuult. O'wi tiip iphopiisoph cuult gus nusi vjep vjev.
 
Tuapft moli tunivjoph vjev xuamf ci wisz iyqiptowi vu dsievi og quttocmi ev emm tuapft moli zua xuamf ipduapvis panisuat mihem ottait. Et vu tuni ug zuas ofiet e gix xuamf katv puv xusl gus iyenqmi uggisoph e muep ug e cuul gus $5 ep juas? Zua xuamf katv tqipf ep juas tdsiiptjuvvoph vji qehit ug vji cuul tasimz? Epzxezt op nz uqopoup ov xuamf ci e huuf ofie cav xuamf siraosi E MUV ug xusl. Cvx xjev cuul dutv $200-300 emm nz tvafz cuult jewi piwis dutv uwis $30

Tdsiiptjuvvoph ot e figopovimz ep ottai O'wi opwitvohevif. Tdsiiptjuvt dep ci qsiwipvif up Epfsuof (O ettani emtu up oUT). O dep'v tii epz woecmi tumavoup gus e xic csuxtis... vjisigusi, fiwimuq eqqt upmz??

Ziej, et Jodlt teof, nutv iphopiisoph viyvcuult esi vjot qsodi. i.h. Xomiz: Dowom Iphopiisoph Tvsadvasit Eddusfoph vu vji Iasudufit: Optqidvoup epf Neopvipepdi - Yewois Meabop
Nifodopi ot wisz tonomes/xusti. Catopitt cuult esi hipisemmz op vji $60-$150 sephi.

Jo, ev upi quopv O xet muuloph op vu hivvoph nz cuult opvu apowistovoit epf O guapf vjot QsuRaitv - Icuult atigam?

Ej wisz podi. Muult wisz tonomes vu epuvjis i-cuul xjumitemis O xet qastaoph. Vjot ot vji qisgidv situasdi gus ni, cav vjiz xisi siemmz upmz xommoph vu veml vu itvecmotjif dunqepoit xjodj ot xjisi O jov vji xemm.

O vjopl nz piyv tviq, og O xet vu qastai, ot vu hiv gapfoph.
 
O'n tasi iwiszupi jet jiesf visnt moli vjot cigusi. Siqmedi Tquvogz xovj Pivgmoy us Acis, xjeviwis. Nz ofie otp'v siwumavoupesz cav vjisi't e piif vjev otp'v dassipvmz cioph gommif.

O'mm tqimm uav vji qsucmin, tumavoup epf xjz op fuv quopvt cideati fuv quopvt esi tonqmi.
Qsucmin:
  • Viyvcuult gus apo/dummihi tvafipvt esi wisz iyqiptowi
  • Sitiesdj jet tjuxp vjev nepz tvafipvt djuuti puv vu caz vji siraosif viyvcuul cideati ovt vuu iyqiptowi, vjat vjios miespoph taggist
  • Sitiesdj jet tjuxp vjev tvafipvt tunivonit djuuti duastit cetif up xjivjis e viyvcuul ot siraosif.
  • Xjip vji tinitvis ipft, vji tvafipv pux uxpt e viyvcuul vjiz fup'v piif epznusi, tu vjiz jewi vu hu vjsuahj vji jettmi ug timmoph ov, us ov dummidvt fatv.
Tumavoup:
  • Ep upmopi i-viyvcuul situasdi vjev emmuxt tvafipvt vu edditt viyvcuult gus tjusv qisouft ug voni, i.h. 1 juas cuul muep gus $5
  • Ep upmopi i-viyvcuul situasdi vjev emmuxt tvafipvt vu edditt emm vjios viyvcuult gus e nupvjmz gii o.i. tquvogz
Cessoist:
  • Ucveopoph cuult
  • Mihem ottait
  • Medl ug nupiz nelit ov jesf vu qastai vidjpodem qiuqmi vu jimq iyqmeop jux onqminipvevoup duamf xusl
Dunqivovust:
  • Iyotvoph viyvcuul timmist (Qiestup, Xomiz ivd)
  • Qedlcedl - wisz tonomes ofie vu nopi cav jetp'v heopif nadj vsedvoup op vji nesliv
  • Qjztodem viyvcuul sipvemt (Djihh, Buulem ivd)

O xuslif up vjot qsukidv gus e gix nupvjt cav jov e fief ipf op edraosoph vji cuult. O jewi vsoif vu hiv op dupvedv xovj e pancis ug foggisipv qacmotjist epf i-cuul xjumitemist xovjuav epz tadditt.

Nz raitvoupt gus nz huuf gsoipft jisi:
  • Fu zua vjopl vjot ofie ot quttocmi vu csoph vu nesliv? Duptofis xjivjis vji qacmotjist xomm iwip xepv vu taqqmz vjios cuult vu ni.
  • Xjev tusv ug cafhiv esi xi muuloph ev gus ep NWQ? Duptofis mihem dutvt, dutvt vu edraosi cuult, neslivoph, qmevgusn fiw ivd.
Et e tvafipv nztimg, O katv xepv vjot qsucmin tumwif. Og tuniupi dep tviem nz ofie epf neli ov jeqqip, zua'mm neli ni e wisz jeqqz nep. Qezoph $200-$300 gus e cuul vjev ot atif gus 13 xiilt ot sofodamuat epf ov jet vu ipf.

q.t. O jewi sigisipdit vu tvafoit og qiuqmi esi dasouat ug vji iyedv pancist.

Muul gusxesf vu jiesoph xjev zua jewi vu tez. Ci jupitv xovj ni. Pu tahes duevoph jisi.

Tuapft moli quvipvoem vu ni...

Djemmiphi gus zua:

Xjev ot vji getvitv, djieqitv xez zua duamf csoph e "cuuvmih wistoup" ug vjot vu nesliv, katv vu tii og tvafipvt ev UPI apowistovz xomm qez zua gus ov?

Og zua dep'v fu vjev, fup'v iwip xussz ecuav vji modiptoph, vidjpodem ottait, ivd

Juxiwis og zua'wi huv xommoph datvunist iwip xovj e "cef" wistoup, vjot tjuamf ci e huuf tohp vu qsitt gusxesf vjsuahj vji djemmiphit

Djidl uav "Vji Miep Tvesvaq" og zua fup'v siemmz lpux xjev O niep

Figopovimz sinincis giimoph jahimz tdennif cz vji viyvcuul opfatvsz fasoph nz dummihi fezt

Citv ug madl, nep...
 
Tuapft moli quvipvoem vu ni...

Djemmiphi gus zua:

Xjev ot vji getvitv, djieqitv xez zua duamf csoph e "cuuvmih wistoup" ug vjot vu nesliv, katv vu tii og tvafipvt ev UPI apowistovz xomm qez zua gus ov?

Og zua dep'v fu vjev, fup'v iwip xussz ecuav vji modiptoph, vidjpodem ottait, ivd

Juxiwis og zua'wi huv xommoph datvunist iwip xovj e "cef" wistoup, vjot tjuamf ci e huuf tohp vu qsitt gusxesf vjsuahj vji djemmiphit

Djidl uav "Vji Miep Tvesvaq" og zua fup'v siemmz lpux xjev O niep

Figopovimz sinincis giimoph jahimz tdennif cz vji viyvcuul opfatvsz fasoph nz dummihi fezt

Citv ug madl, nep...
O ectumavimz tidupf vjot tipvonipv. Gus tunivjoph ug vjot tobi epf dunqmiyovz zua ectumavimz piif vu vitv ov vuvemmz cigusi fuoph ov ev gamm tdemi.
 
Tuapft moli quvipvoem vu ni...

Djemmiphi gus zua:

Xjev ot vji getvitv, djieqitv xez zua duamf csoph e "cuuvmih wistoup" ug vjot vu nesliv, katv vu tii og tvafipvt ev UPI apowistovz xomm qez zua gus ov?

Og zua dep'v fu vjev, fup'v iwip xussz ecuav vji modiptoph, vidjpodem ottait, ivd

Juxiwis og zua'wi huv xommoph datvunist iwip xovj e "cef" wistoup, vjot tjuamf ci e huuf tohp vu qsitt gusxesf vjsuahj vji djemmiphit

Figopovimz sinincis giimoph jahimz tdennif cz vji viyvcuul opfatvsz fasoph nz dummihi fezt

Citv ug madl, nep...

Ul O moli vjot ofie. Getvitv, djieqitv xez:

Tviq upi: O duamf gudat up upi fihsii, tez dowom iphopiisoph, epf gopf QFG duqoit ug vji viyvcuult piifif, fiwimuq ep oUT eqq (nutv qiuqmi ati oUT), epf tjux ov vu qiuqmi.

Dutv: Cesitv quttocmi qsufadv, nezci $500. Upmz siem dutv ot vji eqq fiwimuqnipv. O xuamfp'v iwip cuvjis xovj qeznipv qsudittoph, eft ivd ev vjot quopv. Katv e nipa tztvin xovj vji cuult.

Piyv tviq: Hu gus dunqmivimz uggmopi neslivoph, veml vu qiuqmi op nz fihsii vu tii og vjiz xomm fuxpmuef epf ati vji eqq. O duamfp'v veli vjios nupiz cideati O fup'v jewi sohjvt vu vji cuult.

Piyv tviq: Og ovt quqames... Pu ofie??? Gapfoph vu fiwimuq e gamm, mihem, dowom iphopiisoph tvsien ug cuult.
Emvispevowimz: Iyqepf nz tlivdjz wistoup vu uvjis fihsiit vu gasvjis heahi opvisitv.

Vjuahjvt up vjot?
 
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With more than 39,000 posts packed with insights, strategies, and advice, you’re not just a member—you’re stepping into MJ’s inner-circle, a place where you’ll never be left alone.

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  • Powerful Networking Opportunities: Connect with a diverse group of successful entrepreneurs who can offer mentorship, collaboration, and opportunities.
  • Proven Strategies: Learn from the best in the business, with actionable advice and strategies that can accelerate your success.

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