What are the chances of a tech blog succeeding in an ocean of similar blogs? Minuscule, one would think. But it took the entrepreneurial zeal of this site’s founders to make MakeUseOf.com one of the top rankers in its niche. If someone tells you that you can raise millions by selling pixels, back in 2005, you would have laughed on his face. Alex Tew laughed all the way to the bank when his site – The Million Dollar Homepage became an internet trend.

That’s the thing with ideas. You never know which ones will work. Without crazy ideas we wouldn’t have the airplane or the Frisbee. If you are an enterprising entrepreneur, you probably are in search of the next great big idea.

These eight websites with business ideas might not be your genie’s lamp, but they could light a spark.

Springwise

ideas for a business

Springwise spotters grab ideas for a business from across the world and put it in an ideas database. So, if you can have rocks that can inspire children to write creatively, you also have educational iPad apps that are helping children with special needs. The UK based website is a great resource because it tries to cover nearly 150 countries worldwide for the most promising business ventures, ideas and concepts. The site also has a great newsletter. This site is highly recommended for business inspiration.

Cool Business Ideas

good business ideas

The business blog is all about that – cool ideas for a business. Ideas are curated from around the world, scanned from publications, mined from various industries, and finally presented in a bi-weekly newsletter. You can of course, check out the ideas on the site too under various categories. From an iPhone case that doubles as a wallet to urban farms, you have some really innovative ones.

Trend Watching

good business ideas

This web service/publication watches out for consumer trends across the world. It has a mix of free and paid offerings. The monthly trend briefs are free but the more comprehensive annual reports and the trends database are paid products. Even then a trip through the site gives budding entrepreneur lots of cues to analyze consumer trends. The briefings look compiled and authoritative. For instance, if a trend says that the heaviest use of health or medical related apps is by young adults, you can probably find a germ of a business idea there.

Entrepreneur

good business ideas

The well-known entrepreneur’s blog has a section devoted to business ideas. Currently, the business idea center is listing 969 businesses you can start today. From starting computer classes to becoming a dog walker, you have all sorts of skills on display. There’s a nifty Business Idea Finder too which helps you filter business ideas by startup costs. What’s more you can also browse through the many success stories for inspiration.

PSFK

start up business ideas

This ideas website covers design, digital, marketing, media and technology domains. So, on one hand you have daily ideas being published and on the other you have events around the world (like the PSFK Salons and conferences) where thought leaders thrash out ideas. If you are interested in design innovation, you might like this website as it seems to have a strong leaning towards that.

Business Opportunities

start up business ideas

You can dip into an archive of over 19,000 business ideas if you are running short. The blog on business opportunities and ideas has a simple ideal - to help entrepreneurs find the business that’s right for them. So, you have the business opportunities directory arranged around neat tags, categories, and also chronologically.

Kickstarter

ideas for a business

Kickstarter itself is a great idea to begin with. It is said to be (or claims to be) one of the largest crowdsourced funding platforms in the world. People from around the world help to finance projects in the fields of music, film, art, technology, design, food, publishing and other creative areas via this web service. Click on the Discover Projects link and see what normal people are dreaming of creating. You can get inspired and create your project, and then seek backers. Even a casual glance reveals the rich variety of projects and the crowd funding behind each. Definitely check this out in more depth.

Quirky

Quirky is another web service for some entrepreneurial chutzpah. It all starts with a product idea. You can submit your own or be a part of the community and help to develop someone else’s. Submission fees ($10) apply for your own product idea, but otherwise participation is free. As a community member, you can influence product development by voting and rating ideas.

If you have your own idea, the feedback and help from the community, and Quirky’s own support could help it turn into a marketable product. Quirky says that they bring two brand new consumer products to market each week, by enabling a fluid conversation between a global community and Quirky's expert product design staff. Oh, do read more about getting paid for your product!

So, has the entrepreneurial fire ignited in your belly? If it has, take a few more hints from our previous posts:

Instantly Connect Idea Makers & Entrepreneurs Using OpenInvo

3 Free Tools to Plan and Visualize Your Start-Up Business

10 Awesome & Inspiring Blogs for Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

Also, check out Kiva through which you can help out many smaller entrepreneurs in the developing world.

Do you know any other great websites out there with ideas for a business? Let us know your thoughts on ideas and innovations.

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