As a cyclist, I can relate to the problem being tackled here, but am somewhat bemused that public money is being spent on it.

There are few things more frustrating for cyclists than red lights, especially when riders have built up a good speed only to have to apply the brakes and lose all that momentum. To make things easier Dutch operation Springlab has designed a new system called “Flo”, which is being tested out in the city of Utrecht and has been set up to work alongside the city’s cycling lanes.

It works by using speed cameras placed 100 metres before each set of traffic lights, and calculates whether or not the cyclist should change speed to hit the green light. It uses animal pictures to inform a cyclist if they should change speed, so a rabbit means speed up, a turtle means slow down, a cow means cyclists are hitting the red light no matter what, and a simple thumbs up indicates the cyclist is doing the right speed.

I can’t see this coming to a UK road anytime soon but it is evidence of the growth in popularity of cycling and how seriously it’s being taken. There’s little doubt that there’s serious money to be made for anyone who can come up with products or services to make cycling more fun, less hassle, or safer.

springlab.nl/flo-en

I think most people have seen the video of the United Airlines passenger being dragged off a plane a couple of weeks ago after the plane was overbooked. What a lot of people don’t realise is that many airlines routinely overbook flights as a matter of policy, because they know that a certain percentage of passengers won’t turn up. If all the passengers do turn up, the solution is usually a little different though, and it throws up an interesting money making opportunity.

Airlines routinely pay passengers to be bumped from flights when everyone turns up, and some savvy individuals are cashing in by booking themselves onto flights where there is a better than average chance of getting bumped, and then pocketing the ‘bribe’. They book themselves the cheapest flight on a qualifying flight and then ask to be listed for bumping at check in. Rewards can be huge. I just read about one American family of four who got themselves bumped from three flights over a single weekend, pocketing $11,000 in the process.

Here’s some more information, if this interests you:

http://www.johnnyjet.com/why-you-want-to-get-bumped-off-your-next-flight-and-how-to-do-it/

There are many older people who need, or want, to work, but don’t have the opportunity to do so. That was the problem which the founders of Wooln set out to solve. They set up a company selling accessories that showcase New York women’s fantastic knitting skills. Made from sustainable alpaca, cashmere and merino wool, each Wooln piece comes with a story. A tag attached to the item tells the customer who knitted it and some information about her life.

This looks like a great win-win situation. The company  get an enthusiastic and committed workforce and a ready-made marketing story, and the older workers  get some much needed employment.

If there some way you could utilise the skills and enthusiasm of older workers in your business, so that everyone benefits?

http://www.wooln-ny.com/

In Melbourne, Australia, Children’s charity Plan International worked with mapping company Crowdspot to create the Free To Be map.  Free To Be asked women to share their experiences of living and working in the city, pinpointing places on the map where they felt safe, happy or unsafe. The goal of the project was to gather data on sexual harassment and make the city a safer place for women and girls.

The information is being shared with the police service, public transport officials, bar owners, architects, the city council and others.

This seems like a valuable idea and resource for any major city. I’m not sure how you might monetise it, but company sponsorship and advertising seem the most obvious routes.

It’s no secret that many men lose their hair and aren’t happy about it. It’s not a subject I know about personally (!) but there are all manner of potential solutions to the problem – everything from surgical transplants through to lotions and potions and nutritional supplements. And then there are wigs or hairpieces, which have something of a joke image. I just read about one company that are attempting to change that.

Quiff & Co was founded by Ant & Stevie, a young couple based in Surrey,  After many years of seeing family and friends dealing with hair loss, trying everything on the market,  nothing seemed to deliver a full perfect head of hair.

That led them to develop a range of hair replacement systems aimed at the sort of people who wouldn’t normally be seen dead wearing a wig – young men.  The products on the site look very impressive. I’m unlikely to be a convert, but anyone that can change the image of wigs for men is likely to build a huge business. Perhaps a market to monitor.

https://www.wearequiff.com/