Case Study Title: $$AI$-$Powered Market Research for a Sustainable Caf$$

Background

Meet$$Alex$,$ an environmental scientist who recently returned from Japan, where he was inspired by the country$$s eco$-$conscious lifestyle and minimalist caf$$ culture. Moved by this experience, Alex is now eager to launch a$$sustainable caf$$ that blends$$Japanese design aesthetics and practices$$with local cultural elements in his hometown. His concept revolves around sustainability, community engagement, and education about eco$-$friendly living.

With a strong vision in mind, Alex must now translate his idea into a viable$$business model$$and create a data$-$driven$$marketing plan. He intends to leverage$$AI$-$powered tools$$to:

Estimate the potential$$market size$$for his concept.

Identify and profile$$key customer demographics.

Analyze current$$market trends, such as interest in sustainability, organic food, minimalist spaces, or Japanese cultural themes.

This case provides an opportunity to explore how entrepreneurs like Alex can incorporate$$modern AI tools into traditional business planning processes.

Student Tasks and Report Guidelines

You are required to act as a business consultant to Alex and prepare a detailed report to support his business launch. Your report should be divided into two major sections:

Part $1$: Business Model and Planning

Briefly describe Alex$$s business idea and how it fits into current entrepreneurial trends.

Outline a basic$$business model$$using a framework such as the$$Business Model Canvas$($e$.$g$.,$ value proposition, customer segments, key partners, revenue streams, etc.$).$

Discuss how AI tools $($such as ChatGPT, market intelligence platforms, or data visualization tools$)$ can support business model planning.

Part $2$: Market Research and Marketing Plan

Conduct market research using AI tools and include the following:

Market Size Estimation: Provide a rough estimate of the local or regional market size for sustainable caf$$s$.$

Key Demographics: Identify customer segments most likely to be interested in the caf$($e$.$g$.,$ age, income level, lifestyle$).$

Trend Analysis: Use AI tools to analyze emerging trends in the food service industry, sustainability practices, or cultural influences.

Competitor Insights: Use online tools to gather information on similar businesses in the area.

You$$must include the exact prompts you used with any AI tools$($e$.$g$.,$ ChatGPT$)$ and summarize the insights you received. Reflect on how these insights influenced your business and marketing recommendations.