Namrah Khalid Khan ME-1228 0

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ASSIGNMENT

By:

Namrah Khalid Khan (ME-1228)

Submitted to:

Mr. Muhammad Usman

Department of Engineering Sciences

Pakistan Navy Engineering College (PNEC)

National University of Science & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

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 Namrah Khalid Khan ME-1228 1

Engineering Entrepreneurship: Bowzo

(March 2017)
Namrah Khalid Khan1
1
National University of Sciences and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering National University of Sciences and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan

Terms—Bowing, Bowzo, Product Development, Startups

I. INTRODUCTION

T HIS PAPER illustrates the birth of an idea and shows how

that idea can be realized into a marketable product. It deals
with engineering design and development issues and
market for a low cost, easy to use device and thus the design
engineering and manufacturing priorities were set.

highlights the importance of developing good market

strategies including market research. V. SUPPORT SYSTEM

II. BACKGROUND A. Moral

Jim Oswald worked for 25 years for Rolls Royce
specializing in heat exchangers. Then, wanting to start his own
business, he quit his job and attached himself with Coventry
University’s Vison Works. The Vision Works provides
accommodation, telecommunications and computer facilities,
plus, perhaps most importantly, mentoring and coaching
services for startup businesses. Over there, he met Larry
Treanor. Larry was planning the launch of a multimedia
design business but he had also been a professional musician
and violin teacher. During a discussion about product ideas
Larry revealed his thoughts about a device for helping novice
violin players to learn faster and play more accurately by
‘bowing’ straight from the moment of the first lesson.
Vision Works provided a specialist support programme for
small to medium sized enterprises. This included a
comprehensive range of services featuring marketing advice,
product design and innovation processes as well as financial
management and technology transfer.
B. Monetary
Both Larry and Jim depended on savings from their long
successful careers for product development. It was a
partnership.
VI. ISSUES

III. THE IDEA Following issues occurred in product development [1]:

 Styling and design values: The first handmade

The idea was to design and manufacture a simple device that
controls the bowing technique by helping the student keep the
bow straight at all times. The device fixes to the neck of the
violin and offers precise control to students developing their
bowing technique.
IV. MARKET
It took one year for Larry and Jim to come up with a
prototype. Market research revealed some interesting facts:
more than half a million new violins are bought throughout the
world/year. Almost another half a million second hand violins
are bought too, leading to lots of lessons for many students
keen to learn fast. The most suitable route to market was
identified as via the traditional wholesaler/distributor to
retailer network. Initial research indicated that there was a
prototype was certainly functional but needed more
work. Soon a more aesthetic shape was created that
added a great deal to the presentation and packaging
of the product
 Durability: New materials were tested and the best of
a number of options selected, we will have to wait
until the launch to know more on this point.
 Manufacturing options: Low volumes could be laser
cut but high volumes needed a more appropriate
technique for cutting and forming. Which would be
best at launch?
 Production costs: How fast would sales grow and
what would be an acceptable pricing structure for
customer and distribution chain alike?

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 Namrah Khalid Khan ME-1228 2

VII. RESULTS

The excellent teamwork involving the inventor,

musicians, design engineers and marketers had resulted in
preproduction prototypes that worked well in field testing. The
formal product launch was in early 2006. Seed capital had
been secured on the back of this positive market research
finding. The device is called “Bowzo” [2] and is still quite
popular in the music market. The business has its own website
and considerable social media presence.

VIII. CONCLUSION

Following lessons can be learnt from this cases study[3]:

 The inventor in Larry was awakened after meeting

the entrepreneur in Jim, and a new position for Jim,
the inventor/engineer. Hence, stay awake for new
opportunities by not always being yourself.
 Build a wider team to bring in new thinking on
product development issues you might be too close
to the opportunity to see its full potential.
 Engineers and entrepreneurs are interchangeable
when they each see the market need clearly.

IX. REFERENCES

[1] "Bowzo," Bowzo, 15 02 2006. [Online]. Available:

www.bowzo.com. [Accessed 23 03 2017].
[2] "heacademy," 10 08 2004. [Online]. Available:
https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/4-mini-case-
studies.pdf. [Accessed 23 03 2017].
[3] "Caswell," 01 01 2007. [Online]. Available:
https://www.caswells-strings.co.uk/product/bowzo-
bowing-aid/. [Accessed 23 03 2017].