From android robots that provide in-store assistance to biometric payments, many of the top May 2015 business ideas show that what is thought of as futuristic technology isn't that far away from being implemented on a large scale.
As the Apple Watch is launched across the world, banks, airlines, grocery stores and fashion retailers are jumping at the chance to stay on the cutting edge of wearable payments.
Touchscreens are also proving to be a popular way for brands to encourage product discovery, coupon collection and interaction in a way that includes physical merchandise. A prime example of this is the screen used in-store by Munich Sports, which has a consumer approach with an athletic shoe in hand that they would like to learn more about.
Top 100 Business Ideas in May
From Personable Email Platforms to Android Shop Assistants:
Laura McQuarrie — May 17, 2015 — Business
100
Mobile Bus Boutiques
The Kenzo Fashion Bus Offers Designer Style On the Go
99
The Beach Bar Experience
Trend Hunter Chats with Sabino, Jessica & Lillo About #TheDreamIsland
98
Branded Confectionery Kiosks
This Delicious Nutella Pop-Up in Brazil is the First of Its Kind
97
Female-Only Sneaker Shops
Naked Copenhagen Exclusively Sells Women's Athletic Footwear
96
Interactive Travel Agencies
The Addin Store Has Tourism Displays That Customize to Dream Vacations
95
Experiential Retail Booths
This Dairy Retail Booth Design is an Escape Within the Grocery Aisle
94
Metropolitan Cat Cafes
The Recently Opened Meow Parlour is the First NYC Cat Cafe
93
Complete USB-Sized Computers
The Google and ASUS Chromebit Turns Monitors into Working Computers
92
Authentic Gourmet Grocers
This Specialty Supermarket Boasts Sophisticated Rustic Branding
91
Interactive Pet Shops
The BlueCollar Working Dog Store Has Space for Products and Play
90
Free Vending Machines
Innovative Vending Solutions Encourages People to Tweet for Snacks
89
Website-Inspired Stores
Web-Enabled Retail Displays Update Constantly with Online Content
88
Scholarly Boutique Gyms
The Library Gym is Transforming Training into an Upscale Activity
87
Wine Tasting Strips
Beringer Transforms the Wine Tasting Experience in-Store with Flavored Strips
86
Conical Retail Displays
This Retail Display For Elege is Shaped Like a Toblerone Bar
85
Luxurious Menswear Flagships
The Joseph Abboud Flagship in NYC is the Designer's First
84
Garage-Grown Produce
Vertical Fresh Farms is an Urban Farming Initiative in Buffalo
83
Financial Startup Stats
This Venture Capital Infographic Asks If You Have Enough Money to Begin
82
Eco Bulk Food Kiosks
This New Self-Service Refill System is Housed at London's Planet Organic
81
Appliance-Inspired Merchandising
This Yogurt Shelf Display is Made to Resemble a Microwave
80
Eclectic Menswear Boutiques
This Menswear Retail Hub in Manchester Carries Hard to Find Brands
79
Hybrid Barbershop Cafes
Hurwundeki in London Serves Homemade Food and Affordable Haircuts
78
Revamped Coffee Shops
Modern Coffee Receives an Design Overhaul Courtesy of Arcsine Architecture
77
Live Streamed Razor Unveilings
Gillette Introduces Avengers Razors Online & Offline Simultaneously
76
Mobile Womenswear Boutiques
Fierce Finds Applies the Food Truck Model to Women's Clothing
75
Crafty Retail Partnerships
Four Canadian Etsy Sellers Will Be Getting Exposure in Nordstrom
74
Mobile Florist Services
The Uprooted Flower Truck is a Full-Service Florist on Wheels
73
Small-Batch Supermarkets
This Grocery Store Boasts a Herb Wall and a Soda Fountain
72
Automated Footwear Displays
This Kid's Shoe Store Features an Interactive Retail Display
71
Mobile Juice Bars
This New Boston Juice Bar is Adapting the Food Truck Business Model
70
Elegant Cannabis Dispensaries
This Albuquerque Dispensary Puts a New Spin on Pot Branding
69
Children's Grocery Stores
This Kid's Supermarket in Moscow is Designed for Children
68
Branded Shipping Boxes
Pakible Offers E-Commerce Solutions for Custom Packaging
67
Recyclable Retail Shelving
Trumari's Eco-Friendly Retail Display Solutions are Vibrant and Compact
66
Tech Inventor Startups
Wattage Makes Designing Electronics Possible for Those Untaught in Tech
65
Smart Payment Mugs
Users Can Pay For Their Drinks Using the Environmentally Friendly Coffee Cup
64
Elegant Concept Stores
Bazar Noir is an Eclectic, Well-Curated Concept Shop in Berlin
63
Android Shop Assistants
Shop Robot Aiko Chihira Helps Customers at Mitsukoshi
62
Nationally Inspired Storefronts
Lululemon Edmonton Location Celebrates Canadian Values in Symbols
61
Beautifully Balanced Eateries
iQ Food Co Focuses on Health, Wellness and Thoughtful Design
60
Wearable Banking Apps
The Nationwide Wearable App Shows the Possible Future of Mobile Banking
59
Outfit-Creating Apps
Lovelooks Lets You Arrange New Clothing Combinations and Buy Them in App
58
Aesthetic Retail Makeovers
A New Store in NYC Marks the Beginnings of Banana Republic's Rebrand
57
Illustrious Bookstore Displays
This Clever Bookstore Merchandising is Delightfully Detailed
56
Grungy High-End Boutiques
The New Maison Kitsuné NYC Store Aims to Be Edgy Like Its Location
55
Personable Email Platforms
Crystal Analyzes Messages for Better E-Communication
54
Recording Studio Cafes
The Songbyrd Record Cafe in Washington Has a Recording Booth
53
Interactive Footwear Displays
Munich Sports' Interactive Displays Use RFID Technology
52
Digital Flagship Boutiques
The Newly Launched Lacoste Digital Boutique is Elegant and Pristine
51
Immersive Dairy Displays
Chobani Natural Greek Yogurt Creates an Intimate Space for Consumers
50
Telemedicine Kiosks
Rite Aid's HealthSpot Stations Provide Instant Medical Consultations
49
Biometric Banking Wristbands
This Wearable Payment Device Uses Your Pulse for Authentification
48
Mustard-Tasting Bars
Maille Has Launched a Dijon Mustard-Only Shop in NYC
47
Digital Easter Displays
Harrods and Faberge Team Up for an Interactive Egg Installation
46
Quality Eatery Sound Systems
Oliveto Restaurant Installs Meyer Sound's Concert Hall-Grade Audio
45
Search Engine Store Displays
The Google Store Retail Concept Boasts a Slew of Interactive Elements
44
Cannabis Merchandising Firms
The High Road Design Studio is Aiming to Rebrand Medical Marijuana
43
Artisan Yogurt Boutiques
The Yogurt Culture Company is a Specialty Shop Located in NYC
42
E-Commerce Equity Crowdfunding Sites
Alibaba Competitor JD.com Launched a Crowdfunding Platform
41
Literary Retail Takeovers
The Sonia Rykiel Flagship in Paris Has Been Transformed into a Library
40
Quirky Secondhand Bookstores
This Tokyo Bookstore Combines Minimalist Design and a Love of Font
39
Renovated Retro Drive-Thrus
A Hollywood Starbucks Location Takes Over a 1930s Gas Station
38
Surge Menu Pricing
The Restaurant Industry Considers Charging More During Peak Times
37
Enticing Dairy Stalls
This Dairy Product Display Resembles the Food It Pairs Well With
36
Commercial Art Galleries
Museum as Retail Space is a Contemporary Art Gallery in LA
35
Microfarming Juice Bars
The 'Living Produce Aisle' Grows All Ingredients Inside Its Shop
34
Gourmet Mayo Shops
The Brooklyn Empire Mayonnaise Store is Definitely Niche
33
Diet-Friendly Meal Plans
Blue Apron's Meal Plans Include Those with Dietary Restrictions
32
Golden Flowering Kiosks
The Flowerbomb Rose Explosion is a Perfect Perfume Retail Display
31
Instant Online Shopping
The Amazon Dash Button Lets Prime Members Reorder Products with a Push
30
Native App-Building Tools
The Fuse App Development Platform Will Focus on the Designers' Process
29
Nationwide Concierge Selling Services
The Gone App is Partnering with UPS to Scale Nationally
28
Surreal Mannequin Displays
The Prada Iconoclasts Installations Seeks to Reinvent the Brand
27
Empowering Tech Events
Shopify's Beyond the Code Triumphs Women in Technology
26
Cream Cheese Retail Displays
These Point of Purchase Materials are to be Strategically Placed
25
Alabaster Flagship Stores
Maison Margiela Reveals an All-White Retail Location in Milan
24
Restaurant Crowdfunding Sites
The Equity Crowdfunding Platform Turns Customers Into Investors
23
Novel Device Covers
This Handmade E-Reader Case Collection Resembles Hardbound Book Covers
22
Members-Only Coffee Bars
This North London Coffee Shop Sits Within a Coworking Club
21
Musician-Branded Cannabis
Marley Natural Fine Cannabis is a Marijuana Startup with Major Backing
20
Warm Canned Coffee
HOTSHOT is a System of Portable Heated Java in Aluminum Cans
19
Underground Parcel Deliveries
This UK Company Wants to Deliver Parcels Using Automated Tunnels
18
Digital Distribution Deals
Tencent and Warner Music Group Have Announced a Partnership
17
Global Collaboration Apps
Circa Helps People Keep Time Across Multiple Locations
16
Loyalty App Creators
The Shoutem App Helps Small Businesses Create Their Own Loyalty Apps
15
Two-Sided Payment Platforms
Maxeda's POS System Includes a Screen for Employees and Shoppers
14
Room Rental Rate Tools
Startup Beyond Pricing Provides Automated Pricing for Airbnb Hosts
13
Effortless Reservation Services
Zomato's 'Book' Improves Restaurant Table Reservation Services
12
Sanitizing Touchscreen Stations
Sterilyfe's Touchscreen Kiosk Makes Interactive Marketing Hygienic
11
Department Store Fiestas
The Selfridge's x Mexico Campaign Features 10 Weeks of Festivities
10
Size-Less Online Stores
AbbeyPost Sells Fashions That Are Made to Measure for Every Unique Shape
9
All-Natural Craft Cannabis
The Farm Co is a Boulder Dispensary Stocking Only Pesticide-Free Pot
8
Cinematic Super Hero Razors
Gillette Creates Themed Razors Based on Avengers Age of Ultron Movie
7
Rum Bottle Portraits
Loyalty Gift Packaging Features Clients' Faces Illustrated onto Vessels
6
Awesome Boss Apps
This App is for Managers Looking to Engage and Reward their Team
5
Burrito Delivery Services
A Postmates Partnership Means Chipotle Delivery is Now a Real Thing
4
Crowdsourced Algorithm Databases
Algorithmia is an Open Marketplace for Computer Algorithms
3
Yogurt Food Trucks
Liberte Creates a Fun Out-of-Store Experience That's Great for Summer
2
Skill-Building Toy Shops
Amazon Launched a Store for Featuring Educational and Fun STEM Toys
1
Processed Cheese Displays
These La Vache Qui Rit Displays Accentuate the Brand Mascot's Femininity
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Automated Retail Concepts
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AI Computing Innovations
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Human-Centered AI Wearables
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Fashion-Focused AI Applications
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AI-Powered Inventory Systems
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Virtual Footwear Try-Ons
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AI Merchant Onboarding Tools
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Generative AI Retail Strategies
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AI-First POS Handhelds
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AI-First Shopping Experiences
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AI-Powered Business Platforms
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Mobile Try-On Tours
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AI Shopping Integrations
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Human-Centric Bank Branding Campaigns
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AI-Powered Food Deliveries
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AI-forward home brand visions
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Open-Source AI Models
Google’s Gemma 4 Brings Advanced AI Processing to Personal Devices
Freshness-Focused Perishable Goods Tools
Simbe Recently Enhanced Its Data Analytics Platform
AI Retail Concierge Systems
Puma’s In-Store AI Assistant Offers Multilingual Product Guidance
AI-Powered Shopping Companions
alby Supports Personalized, Conversational Product Discovery
AI-Powered Shopping Features
John Lewis Launches a TikTok Shop Trial
Mobile Beauty Pop-Ups
Henkel’s göt2b Debuts a Citywide Mobile Beauty Experience
AI-Powered Shoppable Runways
Topshop and THG Studios Hosted a Front Row AI Experience
AI-Powered Personalized Shopping Features
Instacart AI Solutions are Optimized for Grocers
Assistive AI-Powered Restaurant Tools
The Fourth iQ 2.0 Platform Targets Restaurant Managers
Agentic Commerce Platforms
Google Introduced an AI-Powered Universal Cart for Smarter Shopping
AI-Powered Shopping Features
Target is Making Seasonal Gifting Easier, Personalized and More Fun
AI Merchant Discovery Ecosystems
Amazon’s Shop Direct is Now Available for Merchants
AI Beauty Apps
Refresh App Combines Hair, Makeup and Styling in One AI Platform
Content-First Shopping Experiences
Gopuff and SpaceXAI Launched Go, a Personal Shopping Genius
AI-Driven Wholesale Platforms
Hypedrop Validates, Designs and Develops Products in Six Weeks
AI Product Marketplaces
AI-enabled Hub Offers A Wide Range Of AI Products Online
AI-Powered independent Grocer Platforms
AppCard Ask Pinky Supports Natural Language Conversations
AI-Powered Pizza Ordering Experiences
This DoorDash Pi Day Experience is Arriving This Month
AI Agent Booking Systems
Fresha, Which Operates in Beauty & Wellness, Signals the Prevalence of AI
Smart Retail Technology Expansions
A2Z Cust2Mate Secures Advertising Agreements with Major Brands
AI-Powered Shopping Tools
Target Partners with ChatGPT to Highlight New AI Shopping Capabilities
Next-Gen Consumer Goods Technologies
Unilever and Google Cloud Partner to Produce Strong Products
AI-Enabled Personalized Retail Experiences
Honeywell Implements an AI-Driven Retail System
Emotionally Intelligent Retailer Platforms
JK Tech Spotlights Its Artificial Intelligence Platform
Proactive AI Assistant Apps
The Poppy App Interprets Data to Help Users Stay on Track
Predictive Artificial Intelligence Tools
Creatable AI Analyzes Social Commerce Data
AI-Powered Grocery Apps
Tre'dish's Transparent Pricing Offers Real-Time, Geo-Targeted Comparisons
Personalized AI Shopping Features
Meta Launches Meta AI Shopping Research Experimental Tool
Behavior-Based Smart Homes
Google Home automations adapt to routines, moods, and behaviors
Community-Centric E-Commerce Initiatives
MyCommunity.Today Delivers Accessible Digital Tools
AI Checkout Kiosks
Retailers Embrace AI Vision To Speed Self-Checkout Lines
Mobile Retail Terminals
Toshiba Launches the TCx M7 for Flexible In-Store Checkout
Personalized Home Shopping Platforms
MAiN Creates a 3D Model from a Single Image Using AI
AI-Powered Shopping Platforms
Daydream Represents an Innovative Approach to Digital Fashion Retail
Swiss-Engineered Virtual Presentation Systems
The ShowCase Caters to the Needs of Luxury Brands
Experience-Enhancing POS Retail Apps
MomentScience Reveals MomentApps
Premiumized Mid-Tier Smartphones
Qualcomm Brings AI and Gaming Upgrades to Affordable Devices
AI-Powered Personal Shoppers
The New Perplexity Shopping Experience is Conversational
Smart Mirror Platforms
loook.ai Helps Brands and Retailers Transform Retail with AR Mirrors
Idea Repository Books
Business Ideas Database Curates Proven Business Opportunities At Scale
Ai-Powered Freshness-Monitoring Grocery Platforms
Afresh Expands Its Service Coverage
AI Productivity Inboxes
Yahoo Mail’s Planner Uses AI to Turn Emails into Actionable Tasks
AI Shopping Assistants
Amazon Alexa Uses AI to Personalize Product Search and Purchases
Future Tech Blogs
Next Horizon Covers AI, Space, Biotechnology And Emerging Technologies
Mobile-First POS Systems
Boot Barn Launches Its Mobile POS Platform
Idea Generation Tools
One Million Ideas Offers Endless Inspiration for Companies and Users
AI-Powered Takeout Voice Assistants
The Just Eat AI Voice Assistant Helps Users Decide What to Eat
Digital Twin Retail Technologies
Hanshow and Microsoft Explore the Store Digital Twin Technology
AI-Optimized Service Features
Grab Introduced an AI-Centric Profit Plan to Drive Growth
Startup Idea Newsletters
Easy Startup Ideas Delivers Business Roadmaps For Aspiring Founders
Social-First Retail Commerce
Shoezone expands TikTok Shop through creator-led shopping
AI-Powered Shopping Ecosystems
Wayfair Partnered With Google on AI Commerce Infrastructure
Immersive Tech Retail Experiences
The Latest Xiaomi Store in London Showcases Tech and Lifestyle
Wacky Design Smartphones
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Tech-Friendly Beach Chairs
PayPal's Tech-Chairs Upgrade the Classic Deckchair with Smart Features
New Tech Product Announcements
Apple Unveiled New Products at a Recent Event
Expanded Tech Marketplaces
Best Buy Unveils a Digital Marketplace with New Possibilities
AI Market Insights
IdeaApe Delivers Fast, AI-Powered Research for Business Validation
AI-Powered Sampling Experiences
Swish is Revolutionizing How Consumers Try New Products
Hybrid Bookstore Apps
Spotify Merged Physical and Digital Book Browsing in One App
Unified Business Platforms
Apple Business Provides a Unified Platform for Managing Devices
AI-Powered Menu Recommendations
SpotOn's Picked for You Feature Helps Restaurants Boost Revenue
Smart Gift Matching
Thoughtful AI-Powered Gift Adviser App Automates Gifting With Smart Reminders
Agent-Optimized Internet Features
aron Levie Introduced Agent-Focused Software
Ritual-Based Mobile Design
ECAL and Google Explored Hardware Inspired by Everyday Habits
AI-Enabled Mapping App Features
Google Maps Tips are Powered by Google Gemini
Device-Optimized App Experiences
Spotify Launches a Redesigned Tablet UI
Expansive AI Product Catalogues
Morrisons and Google Cloud Launch an AI-Powered Product Finder
Branded Android-Based Laptops
The Googlebook is an Evolution of the Chromebook
Grocery Store Accessibility Models
Tesco Enhances Its Self-Service Checkout Experience
Restaurant Texting Order Platforms
Kea AI Text AI Lets Users Ask Questions, Place Orders and More
AI-Powered Try-On Shopping Features
The 'Doppl' App Now Features a Discovery Feed
Spatial Commerce Platforms
Curie Shop Brings Interactive Product Exploration To Sneaker Shopping
Agent-First Computing Devices
Microsoft's Project Solara Builds Hardware Around AI Agents
Social Food Delivery Apps
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Predictive Mobile Advertising Features
T-Mobile Advertising Solutions Unveiled Contextual AI Ads
AI Ordering Assistants
Alexa+ Introduces Conversational Food Ordering
AI-Driven Platform Updates
Yelp Spring Product Release 2026 Introduces the Yelp Assistant
AI-Personalized Streaming Ads
Amazon Customized Prime Video Ads Using Shopping Behavior Data
AI Dropshipping Agents
Doba Pilot Helps Entrepreneurs Operate and Scale Profitable Online Stores
Touchscreen Retail Ordering Systems
These New MicroTouch Products Help to Optimize Ordering
Simplified AI Shopping Tools
Target Focuses on Holiday Shoppers with its New AI-Powered Tools
Physical-World Data Marketing
WPP Uses Google Earth AI to Predict Real-World Consumer Behavior
AI Fashion Assistants
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AI Retail Infrastructure Platforms
Huawei Expands Intelligent Retail Systems Across Europe
Conscious Shopping Assistants
Better Buy Reveals Product Risks And Suggests Healthier Alternatives
Retail AI Assistants
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Retail Beverage Experiences
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Conversational AI Coaches
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Perishable Food Management Platforms
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Personalized Quote Apps
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Empathy-First Loyalty Playbooks
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AI Kitchen Design Platforms
3D Cloud Introduces Conversational Tools for Custom Kitchen Planning
AI Voice Ordering Systems
Casey’s General Stores Uses Conversational AI to Handle Orders
AI-Native Store Research
Vusion and Qualcomm Released the AI-Native Store™ White Paper
Service-Backed Recommerce Platforms
Commonplace Launches Marketplace With Built-In Delivery
AI Commerce Platforms
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Personalized Greeting Card Kiosks
Expressions Launches the Expressions Gift Card Kiosk
Startup Idea Discovery Tools
BuildList Delivers AI-Powered Market Insights For Entrepreneurs
AI-Powered Superapps
Grab Introduces AI Features That Simplify Decisions and Automate Daily Tasks
AI Adoption Insights
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Digital Craft Platforms
The Apple and Design Miami Collaboration Explores Creative Innovation
Strategic Reward-Focused Retail Campaigns
WeShop Launches 'Shopping Starts Here' Campaign
AI-Powered Produce Recognition
Vynamic Smart Vision Identifies Fruits and Veggies at Self-Checkout
Retail Marketing Advancements
Westfield Rise Debuts a Programmatic Targeting Solution For Malls
No-Code App Builders
Open Idea Turns Concepts Into Android Apps Without Writing Code
Conversational Shopping Assistants
Macy’s New Ask Macy’s Chatbot Launches on Gemini
Retail Conversation Marketing Campaigns
Tesco Launches 'Need Anything From Tesco' Platform
Rapid Business Planning
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iPad Vision Self-Checkout Systems
VisioLab Launches Its AI-Powered iPad Checkout Interface
Phone Software Updates
Google Launches March Pixel Drop With New Pixel And Android Features
Agentic Local Stock Finders
Google AI Mode Calls Stores To Locate Items