5 under-the-radar trends (+ our business ideas)

Key Concepts:

• Hearing Loss & Rehabilitation
• Regulation Inflections (FAA & Drones, Psilocybin Decriminalization)
• EVTOL (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing) Aircraft
• Psychedelics & Mental Health
• Job Market Trends (AI Impact, Fastest Growing Jobs)
• Pay Transparency Laws
• Biomimicry & Nature-Inspired Technology
• Animal Senses & "An Immense World"
• Galapagos Islands & Darwin's Evolution Theory

1. Hearing Loss: A Growing Market

• The Stat: Nearly 2.5 billion people are expected to experience hearing loss by 2050, with over 700 million requiring rehabilitation.
• Normalization: Hearing aids are projected to become as common as reading glasses.
• Cultural Shift: Earplugs are becoming more accepted in loud environments like SoulCycle classes, where Apple Watches now warn of potential hearing damage.
• Market Opportunity: The hearing aid space is ripe for disruption, as current products are often expensive, have poor user experiences (e.g., bad apps), and lack a "cool" factor.
• Example: Loop earplugs, selling for $50, are marketed for events like concerts and the Super Bowl, emphasizing style and discreetness.
• Health Implications: Untreated hearing loss significantly increases the risk of dementia, potentially due to brain atrophy and social isolation.
• Regulation Inflection: Over-the-counter availability of hearing aids since 2022 is expanding access.

2. FAA Regulation Inflections: Drones and EVTOLs

• Drones Beyond Line of Sight: The FAA's approval for companies to fly drones beyond line of sight enables drone delivery services (e.g., Zipline, Amazon).
• EVTOLs: A New Category of Aircraft: The FAA's approval of electric vertical takeoff and landing (EVTOL) companies marks the first new aircraft category in nearly 80 years.
• Companies: Joby Aviation and Archer are examples of companies in the EVTOL space, with Archer having deals with United.
• Urban Mobility: EVTOLs are designed for intra-city transport, similar to cars, potentially reshaping urban infrastructure and businesses.
• Real-World Application: Some companies are deploying drones to respond to 911 calls, providing faster situational awareness for law enforcement.
• Second-Order Effects: Drone delivery at scale could revolutionize packaging, reducing the need for heavy padding.
• Autonomy: Wimo already accounts for 20% of Uber rides in Austin, indicating rapid adoption of autonomous vehicles.
• Business Opportunities: New businesses will emerge to support autonomous vehicles, such as cleaning services, LiDAR maintenance, and customer support.

3. Psychedelics: Decriminalization and Emerging Opportunities

• Decriminalization Trend: Psilocybin has been decriminalized in Oregon (2020) and other states/cities, with further legislation pending.
• Current Applications: Psychedelic retreats are gaining popularity, particularly for veterans with PTSD.
• Future Potential: Psychedelics could be used at lower doses to aid in major life decisions (e.g., career changes, family planning).
• Specialized Guidance: There's an opportunity for psychedelic guides specializing in specific areas like career or family planning.
• Therapy Expansion: Similar to how therapy has expanded beyond crisis intervention, psychedelics could be used preventatively or for personal growth.

4. Job Market Trends and AI Impact

• Fastest Growing Jobs: Data scientists, security analysts, wind turbine service technicians, solar panel installers, and nurses are among the fastest-growing jobs.
• Climate-Related Jobs: The climate installation and operations space offers significant opportunities, such as solar panel cleaning.
• Accountant Shortage: Accounting firms are struggling to hire enough accountants, creating a demand for AI-powered solutions.
• Nursing Shortage: A shortage of nurses, particularly travel nurses, has led to the rise of companies like Trusted Health (potentially a unicorn) that facilitate nurse placement.
• AI Application: AI should be applied to industries with talent shortages, as companies are more likely to adopt AI tools without fear of layoffs.

5. Pay Transparency and Salary Aggregation

• Pay Transparency Laws: Over a dozen states have pay transparency laws, requiring companies to disclose salary ranges in job postings.
• Market Opportunity: There's an opportunity to create a "Glassdoor for open salaries" by scraping salary data from job postings and aggregating it in a meaningful way.
• Limitations: Current pay transparency laws primarily cover base pay, not bonuses or equity.
• Example: A16Z lists a salary range of $216,000-$252,000 for a fund assistant controller position.

6. Biomimicry and Nature-Inspired Technology

• "An Immense World" by Ed Yong: This book explores how different animals perceive the world through unique senses and adaptations.
• Nature as Inspiration: Technology can learn from nature, as seen in examples like Velcro (inspired by burrs), bullet trains (inspired by kingfisher beaks), and airplane wings (inspired by birds).
• AskNature.org: This website provides resources for exploring how animals produce color, how technology is inspired by natural design, and more.
• Example: The African darter's water-resistant feather could inspire new materials for clothing or other applications.
• Galapagos Islands: Darwin's observations of finches and other species on the Galapagos Islands led to his theory of evolution.
• Lava Lizards: Different species of lava lizards on different islands have evolved unique mating dances, preventing interbreeding.

7. Internet Pipes: A Resource for Trend Discovery

• Purpose: Internet Pipes is a resource (originally a book/course) designed to teach people how to find emerging trends and data online.
• Tools and Techniques: It provides tools and techniques for analyzing data from sources like Amazon, Wikipedia, and Google.
• Digits Database: Internet Pipes includes a database of over 100 stats related to emerging trends.

8. Conclusion

The conversation highlights numerous opportunities arising from technological advancements, regulatory changes, and evolving societal needs. From addressing the growing hearing loss epidemic to leveraging AI in underserved industries and drawing inspiration from the natural world, the discussion provides actionable insights for entrepreneurs and innovators seeking to identify and capitalize on emerging trends. The importance of understanding second-order effects and asking "what if" questions is emphasized throughout, encouraging listeners to think critically about the future and identify unmet needs.