October 2024 was a fun, memorable month. I spent several weeks competing for a spot in the Strategy & Operations School organized by Genesis Academy. This education platform was created by Genesis—a Ukrainian co-founding company behind global tech businesses like BetterMe and Headway. The selection process included a math and logic test, a case assignment, and a final interview.
For the case assignment, I had to identify the best niche for a new product in the Personal Fitness and Wellness market and prepare a 20-slide presentation for top management to evaluate the product launch opportunity. Key components of the presentation had to include market assessment, niche selection, geographical analysis, competitor evaluation, risk assessment, and financial projections.
I had one week to complete the assignment.
Using available data from Statista and SensorApp, I researched the personal fitness and wellness app market and analyzed its size, growth rate, and trends. My conclusion was that the meditation and mindfulness niche had the most potential.
Next, I wanted to differentiate my concept from the competition. I saw that the meditation and mindfulness niche had room for growth, but I believed my product would require a strong point of view to be meaningfully different from the rest of the apps. An overview of the market made me think of mindful walking. To further sharpen the idea, I analyzed direct and indirect competition and users’ pain points and identified gaps and opportunities.
The final concept I came up with was “Notice App. Walking That Brings Clarity of Mind.” I wrote two user stories, a value proposition, and a goal statement for this product. I also identified potential risks and challenges associated with launching “Notice” and offered mitigation strategies. Finally, I made revenue forecasts and ROI projections to show the app’s financial viability.
I enjoyed this challenging yet fun assignment, and my case helped me advance to the final stage of the selection process—the interview—placing me among the top 5% of all applicants.