Sis, Here’s How You Can Break into the Tech Industry: Top 12 Tech Startup Ideas

The tech industry is booming right now – and it’s not going to slow down anytime soon. If you’re looking to break into tech, starting a niche business may be the solution.

Big or small, starting a business can mean high earning potential; but remember high reward = high risk. For every successful technology startup, there are more that failed to overcome  the “valley of death.” 

If you’re looking to start a business, you need to start with a strong minimum viable product (MVP), a valuable network, and plan for if (when) things go awry. 

To jump into the tech industry you don’t have to be the next Facebook – in this article, we will cover the top 12 niches to start a business in.

The Top 12 Tech Startup Ideas  

Tech businesses provide services related to the growing field as a whole. Your startup may involve physical tech products like BeautyStack, develop VR programs like Praxis Labs, or provide cyber security services like AGB. 

There are no rules when it comes to starting a business in the tech space. You can start small and grow, or search for seed investments for a big launch.

• Web development

• Extended reality – AR & VR

• Customer Experience Management, CXM

• Content Automation

• Artificial Intelligence

• Internet of Things, IoT

• 3D printing

• E-commerce

• E-books

• Fitness Tech

• Mobile Application Development

• Cybersecurity

Let’s start with a skill that never goes out of style.

Web development

Web development impacts how your audience perceives and experiences your brand, which creates trust & loyalty. At this point, any business should have a professional and functional website.

Web development is beginner-friendly, and if you are looking to jump into the tech industry with no experience, there are plenty of beginner web development courses available.

A comprehensive website build should include:

• SEO optimization
• UX design
• Clear copywriting
• Clean design + branding

A website is how your business presents itself online. A mom & pop company that has a great reputation in their community might not have the same appearance online. Without a website and online presence, it is almost impossible for a company to scale.

By setting yourself apart from developers who only build websites based on aesthetics, you will set your business up for success in this growing market.

Extended reality – AR & VR

Augmented reality (AR) & virtual reality (VR) have been at the forefront of the tech industry for the last couple of years, even more so with the launch of Meta.

Both AR and VR technologies will become more prevalent in the consumer space. 

A startup in the AR & VR space can include:

• Content developer
• User experience (UX) designer
• Designer, animator, or sound artist specializing in AR & VR
• Videography
• Sales
• Platform development
• Product design

Customer experience management, or CXM 

Customer experience management platforms like Zendesk are going to rise as more and more businesses move online. 

A CXM allows companies to track all touchpoints a customer has with a business. CXM software not only provides a better customer experience, it also improves targeting – as users will gain a better understanding of their customer’s profile, preferences, and path.

Content automation 

Yes! We here at Black Women Talk Tech love us some good content automation and as we scale, content is king over here. So, creating a marketing plan with you in mind is always at the top of our list. That’s why having someone like you to create software for content automation is AMAZING! We are thanking you in advance for the brilliance you shared in helping us build our community. 

Content automation software should:

• Post cross-platform
• Provide user engagement performance cross-platform
• Promote media cross-platform

Sis, this is your time to take up space in the tech industry. With AR & VR on a rise in popularity with gaming consoles like Oculus or community platforms like Metaverse. This technology will continue to surge in the coming years and we want to see more of us leading the charge. 

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is an umbrella term encompassing technology in: 

• machine learning ( also referred to as ML)
• computer vision
• natural language processing 

and more. AI has been around for a while, but as the technology becomes more sophisticated it also becomes more prevalent in an average consumer’s lifestyle. AI can be used for any service from customer management to home automation. 

Internet of Things

Internet of Things, or IoT, are everyday objects with embedded computing technologies such as: 

• smart home security systems
• wearable technology 
• ulta-high speed internet – 5G

and more. After gaining traction in 2010, IoT has played a role in shaping today’s security systems and products, where less is more. For example:

• Smart eyeglasses
• Smart TV
• Ring

This is just the start of products created and now we are waiting to see what you have in store for the future with IoT. Share with us below some products you are enjoying now that are not listed above. 

3D printing

Did someone say 3D? When we hear 3D, we think about those colored glasses in the movie theater. Oh my goodness! Those were the best daddy-daughter dates a girl could ask for. Was anyone else ducking and dodging when the magic of cinema felt a little too real? 

Let us know down in the comment section.

Ok, back to business.

3D printing has been prevalent in fabrication labs (FAB)  and hackerspaces and is now becoming more accessible. 3D printing machines are now a technology that is affordable to buy as an individual. 

With a model, these printers can build a three-dimensional object with the use of various materials of filament. 

3D printing has allowed us to ideate + prototype products faster and can be used for fast production.

A business in the 3D printing industry can include:

• CAD design
• 3D printer rentals 
• 3D modeling 
• 3D printed item production
• Machine repairs

E-commerce

Let’s talk about E-commerce. We know we’re not the only ones staying up till 2 am to make purchases and regretting them later, right?  That’s why E-commerce is a $500 billion industry and we helped them get there – don’t feel ashamed. And yes, you heard me correctly: a $500 billion industry.

With that said, the opportunities are endless and if you love to shop when you know you shouldn’t…you might as well create the next Shopify or Amazon. Or if that’s not your ministry how about these:

• Dropshipping
• Custom design production
• Product sales 
• Consulting
• Product management
• Platform development

New products also mean new problems. As Amazon stores become more popular, so does Amazon marketing. Shopify sites require niche coding skills that many web developers don’t focus on. Rather than tackle the giants, look for whitespace where the e-commerce industry can be optimized or improved upon.

E-books

Online publishing is only going to grow in the next year. This tactic has made it more accessible for indie artists and writers to share their work with an audience. The big bookstores like Books-a-Million or Barnes and Noble both utilize e-book sales, and Amazon’s Kindle is basically driving the industry.

An e-book company can look like:

• E-book design
• E-book publishing 
• E-book sales
• Digital reader apps 

E-books can also be used as a method to market brands and reach a greater audience.

Fitness tech

After a year of lockdown, fitness tech has never seen a greater leap. From Peloton to Tonal to smartwatches, smart fitness tech has exponentially grown in popularity.

As gyms close or people continue to social distance, there is a greater need for fitness varieties.

Fitness tech opportunities:

• App coding
• Product design
• Virtual coaching

Mobile application development

Software engineers and developers are some of the most in-demand positions. Everyone wants to make the next big app – but not everyone can code. The way the technical world is developing, every business might even need an app (think back to the time when having a website was rare).

If you want to crack into the tech industry without reinventing the wheel with a whole new idea or concept, mobile app development may be the place for you.

Businesses in app development can be:

• Independent developers
• White label services
• In-house developing company
• App consulting 

There are an endless amount of app ideas – and no shortage of entrepreneurs looking to pay someone to make them happen. 

Cybersecurity

As more of the world moves online, cyberattacks are becoming more prevalent. The need for cybersecurity or IT consultants is greater than ever and here’s where you can start:

• Consulting
• Tech setup
• Cybersecurity testing

Cybersecurity consultants help businesses evaluate their current security systems and offer applicable advice on how to better protect their company online. The key to a returning customer is trust, as data breaches continue to show up in the news, consumers are going to be warier about who they trust with their information.

Final Thoughts

Joining the tech industry is for you and now is the time to start. You don’t have to be the next Facebook or Apple. Every one of these large companies have small problems that you can provide the solution for. 

That’s the key:  you are the solution. 

Now, establish your plan, create your MVP and focus on your market problem to create the tech solution the industry is desperately waiting for. Some of the best tech ideas failed because they didn’t effectively establish a need + MVP – Google Glass anyone? – but with these plays, that won’t be you!

That’s our download for now, but stay tuned for more educational content from Black Women Talk Tech. What do you want to know more about? What topics are most helpful for you? Let us know in the comments! In the meantime, be sure to check out our course on Udemy to continue the conversation on ways to get into the tech ecosystem: Tech 101: Introduction to Working in Tech.