My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Flavor technology will become an increasingly valuable and defensible moat as food and beverage markets expand globally
The Reasoning
Small differences in flavor formulation (0.1% changes) create massive consumer preference differences, and flavor expertise requires years of testing and iteration that can't be easily replicated
What Needs to Be True
- Consumer taste preferences remain diverse and sophisticated
- Food and beverage innovation continues accelerating
- Regulatory environment allows flavor additives
- Global markets continue expanding
Counterargument
AI and molecular gastronomy could democratize flavor creation, making specialized knowledge less valuable
What Would Change This View
AI systems successfully replicating complex flavor profiles, major regulatory restrictions on flavor additives, or consumer shift toward completely natural foods
Implications for Builders
Consider flavor as core competency for food/beverage businesses
Invest in small-batch testing capabilities early
Build relationships with flavor houses
Protect flavor IP aggressively
Example Application
“Food startup spends 50% of R&D budget on flavor optimization rather than nutrition, creating defensible consumer preference advantage.”