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Alright, all you entreprenuers out there. You think you can manage a fictional department, gang or division successfully? Think just because you got the proverbial "C" average in school that you automatically qualify for start-up success? Got the hunger for winning of a recent immigrant and the command of the English language all in one? Some technology at your fingertips too? Hmmm, this could get interesting.

I could use another challenge in life and after 18 years of working for someone else, perhaps it's my turn to run the show. Feel the same or like to help out? Thus this thread.

What are some hot markets now and projected to be in the near future?
So far I have: senior care and services, nursing, any commodities-related services (!), alternative healthcare, security services, troubled youth assistance.

What are some things we'd just love to do? Besides sit on our behinds and play EVE all day, not much. j/k I'm sure technology has something to do with what we really like, and between Elith's rock climbing and DM's night life we can come up with some things we'd love to do for a living.

Please post your thoughts on a really cool, fun, profitable start-up! 8)

Rapid Prototyping is taking off in a big way. These are machines that are essentially 3d printers.

Until recently these machines have been expensive and limited to fairly weak plastics. They have also been the preserve of design and development bureaus and the parts are usually expensive enough to put most casually interested people off.

A few breakthroughs have changed this.

You can now buy machines capable of working in ABS (fairly hard, durable plastic) for under $30000. This puts it within reach of gaming and modelmaking shops. I had considered buying one of these and approaching CCP about making ship models for them. Before i got a decent financial plan sorted out they had come up with the idea themselves and outsourced at least the prototype versions (see dev blog with kestrel model). I am still considering it.

Also there are new generations of machines out there capable of making fully dense parts in metal or even ceramic. Fully dense means that they are a true solid, and not a sintered product which is made up of fused powder and can have air gaps. Starting prices for these machines are in the $250000 plus range and they have really long build times.

The big advantage to these machines is that, even though the build times are slow, you do not need to go to the expense of having a die casting jig, or a machining jig manufactured and set up. For small production runs of limited parts these machines are really starting to shine.

What ever the case, always remember: It's not the idea that matters, but the implementation.

I've been thinking about getting into the property managment business. Residential property that is. A house near mine got repossesed, and i went to look at it the second week it was for sale... a guy had just bought it and was planing on sinking $20,000 into repairs, then rent it. He owns 15 houses he is collecting rent on. While its not a great monthly deposit in his bank... he plans on retiring and cashing out big. There is a house near the University that has been for sale for 8-9 months. Its covered with ivy, brick, and neads plumbing. I'm thinking about buying it, or homes like it that are near the University ie prime rentable houses, that are being sold for a lot less then thier worth due loan default, or condemnation from the city. Usually you can buy a home for 30,000-80,000++ below its worth in these cases.

Shazam, my uncle did the same thing up here in Connecticut by UConn about ten years ago, and he made off like a bandit. Before he retired a few years ago, he expanded to places like Newport, RI, and up in Maine. As you said, he'd buy a house at a great discount, dump money into it for repairs, and either sell it or rent it out, turning a pretty quick profit. Another venture that took him far was watching for houses that go up for foreclosure. The only problems with those types of real estate is that although you get a great deal on the house, sometimes the back taxes you have to pay back can bring the price of the house to where it would be otherwise.