How Amazon is funding new prospective business, and how you can too

Bookstore, grocer, television provider, personal assistant, and now: inventor! Jeez, good thing business cards are phasing out, otherwise Amazon would be running seriously low on space.

Amazon recently launched a program called Build It, in which several new Alexa-compatible innovations are available for pre-order. If the product reaches its pre-order goal within 30 days, Amazon will move forward with production. It is literally the inverse of “if you build it, they will come.” Think Kickstarter, but there are only a few items to invest in, and Amazon is the only entrepreneur crowdsourcing. #SoExclusive

The program seems pretty cool, or as Amazon says “low risk, high reward, and a whole lot of fun.” Is it just me, or does anyone else get nervous when a multibillion dollar company starts throwing around the word “fun”? Already Amazon has enough hands raised to move forward with the Smart Sticky Note Printer, which is expected to ship this summer.

Now Amazon has not yet said whether it will allow third-party inventors in on the “whole lot of fun.” In the meantime, JungleScout has some great ways that you can finance your business without Build It, because not everyone can count on winning the science fair.

If you need ideas on what products to sell, here are some things I am personally hoping get built:

  1. Smart Laundry Hamper. This hamper monitors how much dirty laundry is accruing along with the severity of smell, and then cross-references your calendar to recommend the optimal time to throw in a load. I’m not saying I’ll do it, but at least I’ll know exactly how lazy I am!
  2. Smart Purse. Smart Purse attaches each of your belongings to a dedicated spot along the inside walls of your bag. Simply say “Alexa, pass me X” and the requested item will launch out of your bag and into your waiting hand. Note, testing did not go well with knives.
  3. Smart Toilet Paper Dispenser. This dispenser discreetly assesses the damage of each bathroom visit, and then produces a recommended amount of biodegradable toilet paper for you to clean up after yourself. In a competition, this product would probably take #1 and #2!

Needless to say, you’re welcome in advance.

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About the Author

Sam Merriweather

Sam Merriweather is a California native, but has been loving East Coast life for over a decade (we don't get it either). After crushing 7 years in the corporate marketing world, she turned a side hustle of improvising, acting, and writing into a full time job. When she's not doing any of those funny things, you can find her meticulously building a charcuterie board, worshipping her air fryer, or cleaning up a spill...open containers are hard.

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