Startups are the most promising niche in modern business. Their popularity can be easily explained. A startup is a novelty, something unknown until now, so it usually promises something interesting for consumers and profitable for entrepreneurs. However, despite the enormous opportunities, many aspiring businessmen fail. What holds them back? The explanation is simple: poorly thought-out organization and incorrect market assessment. Without delving into the specifics of how startups operate, let’s explore the trends of the modern world to understand which ideas are capable of capturing customer attention.

A Bit of History: When Did the First Startups Appear

Many believe that the term "startup" emerged recently, but in fact, the first projects appeared as early as the 1830s in America. At that time, the production of locomotives was actively developing: more than a hundred enterprises were working on new machines, but as a result of technological progress, only four factories remain today after 190 years.

As technology advanced, the demand for various novelties began to grow, and new startups started to emerge. Enterprising and far-sighted businesspeople launched new productions of machines, switches, phones, computers, and televisions, and the most fortunate and skilled became leaders, outlasting their competitors or pushing them to the background.

Every 10 to 15 years, new larger trends emerged, giving rise to technological startups. In fact, each generation had its own startups.

By the end of the 20th century, when the spread of internet companies began to accelerate, the term "startup" finally emerged. It referred to a project that brought substantial profits to its owner while providing unique and relevant services to consumers. The first major crash of "internet dot-coms" occurred at the end of 1999 and 2000. But this did not dampen investors' enthusiasm. This boom led to the rise of giants like Google, Facebook, Amazon, YouTube, Skype, LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and many other companies without which modern business and life are unimaginable. Up until 2009, investors were eager to invest in startups, but in 2009, the flow of investments sharply dwindled. The reason was simple: companies were not paying off. Many projects simply collapsed, some lasted a little longer but turned out to be unprofitable, and only a few remained afloat.

Nevertheless, in America, although internet startups faded into oblivion, internet stores and everything related to e-commerce continue to thrive. If you sell something tangible—electronics, gadgets, clothing, cosmetics, sports goods, or cosmetics—you will find both investors and customers. Of course, this does not apply to mass-produced items, but to original, high-quality, and recognizable products.

What is the Secret of a Successful Startup

The ability to be in the right place at the right time is one of the keys to success. However, it is foolish to rely solely on luck; it is important to utilize your analytical skills, common sense, and consumer demand. Considering how quickly the world is changing, you need to keep an eye on trends to create a promising startup.

For example, in Silicon Valley, where new successful companies are constantly emerging, three areas are currently developing particularly actively: biotechnology, energy, and robotics.

Biotechnology is a trend whose popularity is explained by the vast prospects of development. There is at least 20 years of work in this field, and given the speed of scientific advancement, even more. The fact is that the rapid technical revolution has led to the emergence of a plethora of electronic gadgets in our lives, but the field of biotechnology is just beginning to take shape.

Despite all of humanity's achievements and the claims that we are the pinnacle of evolution, striving to develop and explore space, we still live like Neanderthals. We have to go to the store for groceries, we cook over fire (on a stove), and any whims of the weather—floods, droughts, insect invasions—can create a serious food shortage.

In general, science is advancing, but humans remain as fragile and vulnerable beings as they were at the dawn of their existence. The development of biotechnology may address these problems in the future.

Biotechnology in Medicine

Despite all medical breakthroughs, new drugs, innovative treatment methods, and advanced equipment, we still have to fight against diseases. The diagnostic system is imperfect, and predicting the onset of a disease is virtually impossible, except for detecting it at an early stage. What about treatment? Even the most modern and effective drugs have side effects, and often lead to other diseases that also need to be treated. In general, it’s a vicious circle with no way out.

Using Biotechnology Solves Several Problems at Once:

• Preventing diseases at their formation stage. DNA diagnostics will allow identifying risks before they become real.
• Creating donor organs. People will not have to wait for suitable organs for transplantation; they can be grown artificially or 3D printed, tailored specifically to the client.
• Drugs without side effects: each medication will be developed individually, without causing side effects.
• Rapid identification and destruction of viruses causing epidemics. Previously, the development of antiviral vaccines took months, and their production and distribution also took months. Now, modern technologies allow synthesizing antivirals tailored to the virus affecting a patient within a couple of hours right in the hospital.

Solving the Problem of World Hunger

It is believed that humanity has reached a level of development where we can ensure a food surplus and not fear hunger. Partially, this is true. Breeders have managed to improve numerous products, eradicate pests, enhance yields, mechanize land cultivation, and so on. But all these efforts are nothing in the face of weather disasters.

According to scientists' predictions, in just 5-10 years, there will no longer be enough food on Earth for everyone. Global warming, worsening ecology—which, by the way, humans are actively contributing to—decreasing arable land, soil depletion, and natural disasters are all leading to a decrease in food supply, rising costs, and an increasing number of people on the planet who can hardly afford to eat well.

Experiments with biotechnology will ensure uninterrupted food supplies and even allow people to produce everything necessary at home using a 3D food printer. Think this is science fiction? Not at all; such technologies already exist, though they require further development. In the next decade, up to 80% of all food products will be produced not by agriculture but directly in biotechnological factories.

Fighting Waste

Modern humanity can certainly boast of numerous achievements, but none of them can overshadow the fact that we daily pollute the planet with tons of garbage. Mountains of waste are growing at such a pace that, according to modest estimates, in just 100 years, Earth will turn into a giant dump, and all plants and animals will simply perish. And people will have a tough time, too.

The pollution of the world's oceans has reached terrifying proportions. One large garbage patch alone occupies several million square kilometers…

Existing waste recycling plants are unable to cope with the flow of waste, but if investments are made in the development of biotechnology, projects can be developed that will free the Earth from garbage and bring fame and profit to their inventor. Scientists are already working on ideas to rid us of waste:

• Edible or biodegradable packaging for products;
• Biodegradable waste;
• Advanced water purification technologies;
• A system for restoring land poisoned by waste;
• Cleaning systems to neutralize harmful substances.

This is just the tip of the iceberg; when you think about it, the application of biotechnology is far broader, and all of it is incredibly in demand.

Biotechnology and Energy

Electricity is the force that gives life to virtually all inventions, so biotechnology is also in demand in this sphere. No matter how modern and functional our devices are, just a few hours without electricity will turn them into meaningless pieces of plastic and metal. If biotechnology is used correctly, we can obtain fundamentally different sources of electricity that are not related to burning fossil fuels.

Robotics: A Trend for the Future

No matter how fantastical it sounds, robotics will soon change the world. There are so many opportunities in this field that it’s not necessary to become a leader; it’s enough to find your niche and work on it.

The demand for robotics is easy to explain. New technologies will help solve the problems of unemployment and low-skilled labor, as well as the shortage of specialists in all professions, from medicine to space exploration. With the right approach, it’s possible to create a future where people are freed from dirty and hard labor while still earning a decent living.

• Labor shortage. Just a decade ago, China was battling overpopulation, but now the "One Family, One Child" program has led to a new generation unable to fill all the job vacancies. For the first time in its history, China is facing a labor shortage and an aging population. The U.S. and Europe are also lacking skilled workers, yet there is a huge influx of illegal immigrants—cheap labor willing to work for pennies but unable to perform complex tasks.
• Shortage of healthcare and social workers. Additionally, in many developed countries, life expectancy has significantly increased, creating a need for more hospitals and nursing homes, resulting in numerous vacancies for volunteers, social, and healthcare workers.
• Military sector. The military has also found itself in new circumstances. The life of a soldier has become the highest value, so new technologies must be used to minimize risks. In the U.S. Army, by the end of 2020, there will be approximately 10 robots for every soldier.
• Rescue operations. Regular earthquakes, floods, and other natural disasters claim hundreds of lives, with the cause of death often being not the disaster itself but the delayed aid. Rescuers simply cannot physically clear debris and restore water and electricity supply quickly, and lost hours lead to more casualties. Robots will be able to quickly and efficiently locate and assist victims.
• Space exploration. No human can withstand the loads that robots can easily handle. While humans will still control the research, no one will have to sacrifice their health and lives for new discoveries. Robots will be the first to travel to Mars and begin building a new home for humanity.

Now imagine what will happen when robots appear in these fields. Medical professionals, military personnel, rescuers, researchers, and analysts will all replace humans, eliminating the risk of error and the human factor. Nano-robots will explore the human body for viruses, tireless emergency responders will quickly clear debris, and robotic workers will flawlessly perform mechanical tasks without tiring or getting distracted.

Many will ask: what will happen to humans? Will robots push us out? In fact, this situation will be similar to that of cars or computers. New technologies will partially replace people, leading to the disappearance of several professions that have lost their relevance. But at the same time, millions of new jobs will emerge in the robotics sector. Even automated processes require human oversight and maintenance. Gradually, robots will become reliable and indispensable assistants, just like smartphones and laptops today—only managing them will be easier and more convenient.

That’s why robotics and startups focused on developing technologies are a successful area to channel efforts. With numerous opportunities, there’s a vast field for action, and it's quite difficult to find competitors in this space.

You have a real chance to launch a truly successful startup. You can start it in America, receiving financial support from both the government and from business angels or private investors. The key is to thoroughly study the market, analyze customer needs, and create a clear business plan. If you believe you have a viable idea, we can help bring it to life. Our specialists have decades of successfully implemented projects and experience in resolving bureaucratic issues in any state in America.

Do you want to change the world and stay a step ahead of your competitors? Contact us, and you will see that success is just a matter of time.