The Startup Ideas Podcast

Join me as I chat with Mike Hudack, CEO of Sling Money, as we deep dive into AI startup strategy by discussing frameworks for building AI companies, product development approaches, and go-to-market strategies. The conversation covers practical advice for entrepreneurs considering AI ventures, from choosing between B2B and B2C models to pricing strategies and competition analysis. Hudack shares insights from his experience at Facebook and current venture Sling Money.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:12 - AI agent framework and startup ideas08:19 - Discussion of successful AI companies16:20 - B2B vs B2C strategy19:28 - Product development philosophy25:20 - How to think about Competitors 28:40 - Go-to-market strategies33:46 - Pricing and monetization discussion39:16 - Mark Zuckerberg's Perspective on AIKey Points:• Framework for AI agents: single clear action, instant feedback, bounded decisions, zero friction• Three promising AI companies discussed: Greenlight (fin-crime), Granola (note-taking), Gradient Labs (customer service)• B2C vs B2B strategy: B2C has higher potential but higher risk, B2B offers more predictable outcomes• Product development approach: focus on solving genuine pain points and building with meaning1) On picking AI startup ideas:Look for repetitive, time-consuming tasks that:• Have clear actions• Provide instant feedback• Make bounded decisions• Create zero frictionExamples: Flight booking, restaurant reservations, scheduling2) The most promising AI companies right now:• Green Lite - Automating financial compliance• Granola - AI-powered collaborative note-taking• GradientLabs - Next-gen customer service• Domu - AI debt collection with empathyAll solving specific, manual problems with tight feedback loops.3) Framework for choosing what to build:Run a "regret minimization" exercise:• Imagine yourself 5-10 years in the future• Consider all possible outcomes• Pick something meaningful you'd be proud to work on• Must be excited to wake up for it every day4) On B2B vs B2C products:B2B:• Easier to validate• Clear path to revenue• Lower failure rate• Smaller outcomesB2C:• Bigger potential upside• Harder to get right• Need to catch lightning• More glory (if it works)5) On pricing AI products:Formula:(Human labor cost saved + Emotional damage prevented) × (20-50% discount) = Your pricePro tip: You CAN raise prices later if you build something people truly love.6) Go-to-market strategy for AI products:• Build in public• Create early waitlists• Find your core believers• Let them help shape the product• Focus on native content for your audience's platform7) On competition:Don't be afraid to copy primitives (basic features everyone needs)BUT:• Stay true to your vision• Keep a mental tab on competitors• Don't get sucked into being reactive• Maintain consistent narrativeMost important lesson: Build something YOU deeply care about. The most successful products come from genuine passion, not just market opportunity.Notable Quotes:"We don't make services to make money, we make money to make better services." - Mike Hudack (citing Walt Disney/Facebook)"If you build a thing which is beautiful and people love and has a place in their lives, you can charge more for it later." - Mike HudackWant more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideasLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.co/FIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND MIKE ON SOCIALMike’s Website: https://hudack.com/X/Twitter: https://x.com/mhudackLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mhudack/Sling Money: https://sling.money/

Join me as I chat with Jonathan Courtney, Co-Founder and CEO of AJ&Smart, as we dive deep into various lead generation strategies. Jonathan shares his strategies and frameworks for building a client pipeline without having a large online following. 00:00 - Intro03:13 - The Dream 100 Strategy11:01 - The Canvas Strategy (for reaching out)18:12 - Go Where Your Audience Lives27:21 - The Power of Strategic Gifting36:33 - Content Creation (if you choose to)40:47 - Key Mindset Shift around Content Creation1) The Dream 100 Strategy:• Make a list of 100 people/orgs who already talk to your target audience• Research their platforms, reach, content• Focus on building relationships with them• Can start with just 10-20 namesExample: Web design agency targeting founders? Start with podcast hosts, community leaders2) The Canvas Strategy (for reaching out):• Don't just ask for favors• Focus on providing extreme value first• Make thoughtful, detailed pitches• Show you've done your homework• Be patient and play the long game3) Go Where Your Audience Lives:• Join paid communities ($149/mo is nothing if you land 1 client)• Lurk in Reddit threads• Answer Quora questions in detail• Participate in Discord servers• Be the MOST valuable memberNo promotion, just pure value.4) The Power of Strategic Gifting:• Doesn't need to be expensive ($5-50 can work)• Make it personal and meaningful• Think long-term relationship building• One mentor landed a huge deal with a $50k guitar gift• Small gestures = big memories5) Content Creation (if you choose to):• Focus on MASSIVE value over production quality• Create 5+ hour detailed tutorials• Answer common questions exhaustively• "Low quality, high effort" is the new formula• Example: mastering . com's 11-hour tutorials6) Key Mindset Shift:Stop obsessing over:• Social media metrics• Personal branding• Complex marketing funnelsStart focusing on:• High-leverage relationships• Direct value creation• Being present where your audience is7) The ROI is INSANE:• Single partnerships can generate millions• One webinar can outperform months of ads• Relationship-based leads convert better• More sustainable than viral marketing• Less stressful than being an "influencer"Pro Tip: Review your Dream 100 list every quarter. Most businesses forget this and focus on low-leverage tasks instead.Links Mentioned: The Dream 100 Google Sheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a7d1GSZoJq_pT2Ptbvc9HsZWPxNsQDhRcUvT6d1V2Jw/edit?gid=0#gid=0The Canvas Strategy Ep: https://youtu.be/fr5xG_bTV44Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideasLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.coFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/JicecreamLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/AJ&Smart: https://ajsmart.com/

Join me as I chat with Zach Yadegari, Co-Founder of Cal AI, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for building and scaling viral AI Apps. Learn his step-by-step formula creating viral apps. 00:00 - Intro01:40 - Concept Behind Dr. AI and App Feature Overview05:37 - Designing the User Experience08:42 - Inspiration and Primitives in App Design11:10 - User Experience and Simplicity16:05 - Gamification and User Engagement17:26 - Shareability and Marketing Potential20:07 - History Feature and User Retention21:14 - Symptoms Quiz Design23:58 - Incorporating Sources and References24:39 - Chatbot Functionality25:33 - Marketing Strategy and Influencer Outreach28:34 - Prompting for AI Responses33:15 - Go-to-Market Strategy Discussion37:14 - Identifying Target Influencers41:04 - Pricing Structure and Revenue Models1) The Core App Features:• Skin scan for diagnosis• Symptoms quiz• Medical chatbot• History trackingKey insight: Keep it SIMPLE. Basic features done well better than complex features done poorly.2) UX Design Strategy:- Start with basic wireframes• Copy "primitives" from successful apps• Design for influencer marketing• Put app name on key screens• Make results instantly digestiblePro tip: Design screens thinking about how influencers will showcase them in content.3) Growth Strategy:Target audience = concerned parentsBest channels:• Mom influencers• Family content creators• Parenting communitiesLook for creators with 250k+ views/videoBudget: $4-5k per 1M views4)Monetization Structure:Weekly pricing model works best:• $4-7/week• No free trial initially• A/B test different prices• Optimize for repeat usersStrategy: People will delete/resubscribe when needed5) Technical Implementation:- Use ChatGPT API with custom prompts• Bypass medical disclaimers creatively• Build clear diagnosis displays• Include danger levels (1-5)• Add sources for credibility6) Marketing Angles:- Target anxious parents• Focus on peace of mind• Show quick diagnosis stories• Emphasize "should I see a doctor?" use case• Leverage influencer storytelling7) Key Success Factors:• Heavy disclaimers• Accurate diagnostics• Simple UX• Clear value prop• Strong retention hooksWant more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideasLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.coFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND ZACH ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/zach_yadegari

In this episode, I am joined by Dan Shipper, co-Founder and CEO of Every, as we explore a wide range of AI startup ideas and business opportunitiesTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:12 - Startup Idea 1: Advanced Voice Notes 08:59 - Startup Idea 2: N of 1: Personalized Data Science Marketplace 16:12 - Startup Idea 3: Great Books Reimagined28:28 - Trend to Watch: Voice-First Products 34:33 - Distribution Strategy for AI Apps1) Advanced Voice Notes Imagine voice notes you can actually talk to!- Record your thoughts while walking• AI creates smart summaries• Team members can "interview" the recording• Get deeper context without endless follow-up questionsThe future of media might be media you can talk to.2) N of 1: Personalized Data Science Marketplace Remember Netflix's $1M algorithm challenge?Now ANYONE can be a data scientist with GPT-4.- Post personal/business datasets• Set bounties for predictions• Perfect for health tracking• New way to do personalized scienceMarket size: Think Kaggle but for everyone.3) Great Books Reimagined Classic literature is valuable but hard to digest.The opportunity:• AI-powered modern translations• Format classics for specific audiences• Create multimedia versions• Add interactive elementsTwo markets:- Students (massive TAM)- Business intellectuals (high willingness to pay)4) The Luxury AI Paradox Key insight: As AI makes things cheaper, human-made becomes luxury.Examples:• Broadway shows• Handmade clothing• Mechanical watchesOpportunity: Look for what AI is making cheap, then create premium human-made alternatives.5) Voice-First Products Huge trend: Kids growing up with voice interfaces (Apple Watch + Siri)Opportunities:• Voice-first travel booking• Conversational commerce• Voice-native discovery enginesTAM: Could capture 1-5% of existing markets just by being voice-first.6) Distribution Strategy for AI Apps Dan's approach:• Build media presence first• Target like-minded audience• Use early adopters for feedback• Start with YouTube → funnel to email• Product-led growth after initial tractionWant more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideasLCA helps Fortune 500s and fast-growing startups build their future - from Warner Music to Fortnite to Dropbox. We turn 'what if' into reality with AI, apps, and next-gen products https://latecheckout.agency/BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.startupempire.coFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND DAN ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/danshipperLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danshipper/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EveryInc/videosEvery: https://every.toSpiral: https://spiral.computer/Sparkle: https://makeitsparkle.co