Asses the Market Nav Bar
Assessing the market is an important part of the idea development process. In this section of the Idea Pathway, you will explore the process of defining market opportunities for your product idea. Here are some common questions that should be answered as part of your assessment.

  • What problem will your company/product/service solve?
  • What value does your product/service/technology bring to the market?
  • Who is the expected market for these products and the market size?
  • What product or services will you take sales from?
  • Who will be your competitors or potential competitors?
Market Opportunity
Presenter: Dr. Charles Tomkovick, UW-Eau Claire
Zip Code (25 minutes, 8 seconds)
This video will share with you the elements of a broad overview of the Market Assessment process, including market research, product development and product research. Dr. Tomkovick discusses the elements of Market Opportunity in a broad overview of the Market Assessment process.

* These videos are intended for general guidance only. Since professional advice must always be specific to the circumstances of a particular situation, the information presented here should not be viewed as professional advice on advancing your specific technology or idea.

Market Research
The following tools can help you locate demographic and market information.

Request Demographic Information
Email Request:ec.info@eauclaire-wi.com Ideal for new or existing retail and service businesses. Email the ECA-EDC your business address and we will send you a free demographic report of the surrounding area.

American Factfinder View Website Maintains local and national information on people, housing, business, and government.
Bureau of Economic Analysis View Website Produces closely watched economic statistics that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals.

 Bureau of Labor Analysis View Website Principal fact finding agency for the Federal Government in the broad field of labor statistics.
County Business Patterns – US Census View Website Provides data on the total number of establishments, employment, first quarter and annual payroll, and number of establishments by nine employment-size classes by detailed industry for all counties in the United States.

 US Census - Bureau View Website Leading source of quality data about the nation's people and economy.
US Department of
Workforce Development View Website Provides information on unemployment and labor force trends.

 Wisconsin Entrepreneurs' Network View Website Provides integrated statewide support to entrepreneurs.
Wisconsin Innovation Service Center View Website Conducts technical and market assessments and investigates market expansion opportunities.