The Startup Ideas Podcast

Greg Isenberg
  • 4.5 (29)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Get your creative juices flowing with The Startup Ideas Podcast. Published twice a week, we bring you free startup ideas to inspire your next venture. Hosted by Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout and former advisor to Reddit and TikTok. Subscribe so you don't miss out. For more startup ideas, we created a database of 30+ startup ideas you can take at https://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas

  1. I got a private lesson on Google's NEW Gemini 3.0 AI Model

    1 HR AGO

    I got a private lesson on Google's NEW Gemini 3.0 AI Model

    Get a private, on-screen walkthrough of Google’s new Gemini 3.0 with Logan Kilpatrick. We vibe-code full apps, games, and product UIs in real time. You’ll see how to go from raw idea to working product in a single prompt, then iterate visually with design, features, and AI workflows. They turn an IdeaBrowser concept into a live talent-matching platform, screenshot-clone the IdeaBrowser UI, wire up a “generate tomorrow’s idea” feature grounded in Google Search, and even add co-founder matching on top. If you’re building with AI or still on the fence, this episode shows what’s now possible with Gemini 3.0 Pro in AI Studio. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – What Gemini 3 is and where it lives (Gemini app, AI Studio, API) 03:03 – Vibe Coding 3D games 09:27 – Vibe Coding an idea from IdeaBrowser 25:02 – Screenshot-cloning the IdeaBrowser UI and regenerating it in Gemini Key Points Gemini 3.0 Pro in AI Studio lets you “vibe code” full apps—UI, logic, and AI features—from natural-language prompts, then iteratively refine them. Games and complex simulations are a stress-test and showcase for the model’s capabilities, not just toys. You can paste an entire business idea (like IdeaBrowser’s generational talent-matching concept) into AI Studio and get a working, multi-screen product with AI-powered workflows. Gemini 3.0 Pro is free to use inside AI Studio up to generous limits, and the API is priced at $2 per million input tokens and $12 per million output tokens under 200K input tokens. Screenshot-driven UI cloning plus “add five more features” prompts are powerful loops for product and UX ideation. You can layer social features like co-founder matching directly on top of idea-discovery products with only a few additional prompts. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND LOGAN ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/OfficialLoganK  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LoganKilpatrickYT  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/logankilpatrick/

  2. Screensharing $90M of Startup Finance Lessons in 32 Minutes

    22 HRS AGO

    Screensharing $90M of Startup Finance Lessons in 32 Minutes

    Master Your Cashflow (Templates Included): https://startup-ideas-pod.link/money-map On this episode, I share my simple financial operating system that helps me run my business. I share actual workflows that have saved one of my portfolio company from an 11-week runway crisis (when they thought they had 8 months), and the templates behind his 13-week cash tracker, Bear/Base/Bull decision framework, and one-page board report. This is a rare look inside the tactics I use to think about cash flow, dilution strategy, and building companies that don't run out of runway by accident. Bank with Brex: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/brex-sip Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: The whiteboard that saved two companies 02:08 – The Financial Rhythm: Daily, weekly, monthly cadence 03:23 – Rule 1: The 13-Week Cash Flow System 06:10 – Rule 2: Cash vs. Accrual 08:14 – Rule 3: Extend Runway 12:13 – Rule 4: Be Exit Ready 15:06 – Rule 5: Cards and Credit 18:01 – Rule 6: Track 5 Weekly Metrics 20:00 – Rule 7: The Monthly One-Pager 21:12 – Rule 8: Tools and Automation 26:11 – Rule 9: Dilution Mindset 27:59 – How to implement: The weekly rhythm in practice 29:31 – Action plan and closing Key Points Your P&L lies about survival—one portfolio company thought they had 8 months of runway but actually had 11 weeks when mapped to real cash flow The Bear/Base/Bull decision framework prevents emotional spending: if two-plus scenarios say no, wait (a $60K conference booth was rejected in bear case, approved two months later in bull case) Acquisitions happen in 48 hours—keep a 10-file data room updated quarterly so you can respond to Tuesday emails with Wednesday meetings Trust doesn't scale, policy does: weekly corporate card reviews caught an $8K personal ad spend in 7 days instead of 30 The system runs itself once built: 15 minutes Monday + 30 minutes Friday + 4 hours/month replaces heroic monthly scrambles Every dollar raised costs ownership forever—cutting $40K/month burn has the same 12-month runway impact as fundraising but with 0% dilution The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

  3. One Startup Idea, One Trend, One News Debate and One Framework

    5D AGO

    One Startup Idea, One Trend, One News Debate and One Framework

    New format, same value. I cover one startup idea, one trend, one news debate, one growth framework, one AI tool, and one product recommendation. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:53 – Startup Idea 05:55 – Trend 08:17 – News Item 12:05 – Product Framework 15:31 – AI Tool 17:00 – Product Recommendation Startup Idea Solo Female Travel Safety Platform The problem: 84% of solo female travelers feel unsafe. No reliable platform answers basic safety questions. The solution: Map-based reviews where verified female travelers rate neighborhoods, hotels, and restaurants on actual safety metrics. Path to $500K ARR: 5,000 members at $30/month Hotel safety certifications at $500/month Lead magnet: Free travel safety quiz Distribution: Facebook groups (400K members), travel influencers, short-form video Trend: Gamification UI: Duolingo did it. Social platforms are built on it. More apps and websites are adding points, badges, leaderboards, and challenges. The opportunity: Launch an agency specializing exclusively in gamification. Start at $10K/month. News Item Ex-Reddit CEO: "AI Startups Have 12-18 Months" Yishan's viral take (20M views): AI apps are flash-in-the-pan cash grabs. Foundational models will crush them. Greg's counter: Great AI wrappers that own workflows, customers, and network effects will build billion-dollar companies. Remember when everyone said Apple would clone every successful app? That didn't happen. Product Framework: 3-Step Creator Growth Playbook for SaaS Attach the right creator (target 120K followers or less for higher response rates) Offer generous affiliates (30-50% lifetime, not 10-20%) Gamify the experience (contests, trips, prizes for top performers) Real example: Goji (apple cider vinegar gummy) hit hundreds of millions using gamified TikTok Shop affiliates. AI Tools: Krea AI: Alternative to Glyph AI. Generate images, video, 3D objects. Features Nodes product for building creative workflows. Mini apps: Virtual try-on, hairstyle generator, object remover, product photo editor. Product Recommendations: La Colombe Cold Brew (Light Roast) - $5-8.49 at Target for multiple servings. Light, smooth, always cold when you need it. Olipop Classic Root Beer - 35 cal, 3g sugar. Better than Diet Coke. 8.5/10. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

  4. Meet the AI Agent Turning Simple Prompts into Viral Content

    NOV 10

    Meet the AI Agent Turning Simple Prompts into Viral Content

    On this episode we dive deep into Glif. This beginner tutorial shows how AI agents on Glif automatically optimize prompts and workflows to create scroll-stopping content. We demo four agents live: Mr. Beast-style thumbnails, miniature documentaries, AI influencer videos, and automated Reddit story content. Total cost: $2. Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro 03:35 – Nano Banana Ultimate 08:53 – Diorama Shorts Creator 15:49 – AI Influencer Generator 23:27 – TikTok Reddit Story Creator 32:28 – Conclusion and Final Thoughts Key Frameworks: The ACP Funnel (Audience → Community → Product) Build businesses in this order: First create an Audience with storytelling/content (use creative AI here), then build a Community with paid memberships or IRL events, then create a Product to sell to them. This gives you the highest probability of success. Modern Social Strategy: 1 Brand + 10 People Old way: 1 brand account on multiple platforms. New way: 1 brand account + 10 different people accounts (real and AI influencers) across platforms. If 1-2 of 10 pop off, you win. Four Demos Shown: Nano Banana Ultimate: Redesigned thumbnail Mr. Beast-style with proper aspect ratios, high contrast, exaggerated expressions—got 3 variants that couldn't be achieved with regular Nano Banana Miniature Documentary Creator: Created 40-second tilt-shift video about Facebook IPO in ~5 minutes using Seadream, WAN 2.2, 11Labs—includes research, script, voiceover, animations, period music, and subtitles (agencies charge thousands; this cost $0.40) AI Influencer Generator: Generated 35-year-old woman in tennis clothing using Quen Realism and OmniHuman—creates realistic talking head videos for brand representative accounts or video ads at zero production cost Reddit Story Automation: Scraped r/SaaS for story about developer building $1M SaaS through Reddit, generated educational 60-second video with voiceover, Pexels stock footage, and subtitles—enables faceless content channels (example cited: 67% of customers from Reddit, zero CAC) Key Insight: AI agents get you 80% there but you still need to be the creative director, push agents to create better scripts, expect to iterate, and manually review for character consistency and details. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

  5. I Ranked Every Vibe Coding App (Cursor vs Claude Code vs Lovable)

    NOV 3

    I Ranked Every Vibe Coding App (Cursor vs Claude Code vs Lovable)

    Micky and I rank the top vibe coding apps in 2025, from Cursor and Claude Code to Lovable, V0, Bolt, Windsurf, and emerging mobile-focused platforms. They break down which tools work best for technical developers versus non-technical builders, discuss the trust and ecosystem factors that matter when choosing a platform, and share hard-won lessons about the mindset shift required to build software with AI assistance. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:11 – Windsurf 03:46 – Cursor 06:33 – Lovable, v0, Bolt 10:17 – Mobile vibe coding: Rork, VibeCode App, Anything 15:04 – Codex 16:52 – Claude Code 18:28 – Replit 20:23 – Chef by Convex 21:39 – Advice for Vibe Coders Key Points Community size and tutorial availability matter as much as technical capability when choosing a vibe coding platform For technical developers, Cursor and Claude Code dominate; for non-technical builders, V0 offers the best balance of power and accessibility Mobile vibe coding platforms (Rourke, Vibe Code App, Anything) represent a new wave of opportunity, especially for consumer apps monetizing through TikTok discovery Non-technical builders need a mindset shift: building real software takes time, testing, and iteration—not five prompts Betting on a platform means betting on the team and founder behind it; follow their vision to choose the right tool The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND MIC ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/rasmickyy  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@rasmic

  6. Vercel CEO Shows His v0 Workflow to Build 10X Faster (& 5 $1M+ AI Startup Ideas)

    OCT 29

    Vercel CEO Shows His v0 Workflow to Build 10X Faster (& 5 $1M+ AI Startup Ideas)

    Guillermo Rauch, CEO of Vercel and creator of Next.js, reveals exactly how he uses V0 to build products, pitch ideas, and ship features at startup speed. In this episode, he opens his personal V0 workflow, walks through the creation of his viral AI camera app (built in one afternoon), and shares a vault of free startup ideas you can build today, including conversational forms, AI opinion tracking, and multi-model research tools. This is a rare look inside how one of the most successful founders thinks about taste, execution, and turning ideas into reality. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:01 – Inside Guillermo's V0 Workflow 10:56 – Startup Idea 1: The AI camera App 19:33 – Advice for building taste and generating ideas 22:56 – Visualizing products in your head before prompting 28:21 – Startup Idea 2: AI Forms 37:34 – v0’s AI SDK 41:55 – Startup Idea 3: Notion-style document tool with promptable blocks 43:53 – Startup Idea 4: LLM Vibes Radar 46:26 – Startup Idea 5: Deepest research Key Points Guillermo uses V0 to prototype, pitch, and refine products—often building functional demos in 15-30 minutes The viral AI camera app was built during a lunch break as proof that Nano Banana is a "GPT-4 moment for image models" Forms are underrated primitives of the internet and ripe for AI disruption through conversational interfaces Always work backwards from the ideal interface, not from technical constraints Fewer pixels are always better—delete until only the essential remains Dedicated tools with their own URL and interface can outcompete "modes" in larger products Links & Resources V0 — https://v0.app V0 Community Templates — https://v0.app/templates AI Camera Demo — https://v0bananacam.vercel.app Vercel AI SDK — https://ai-sdk.dev AI Gateway — https://vercel.com/ai Vercel Template Marketplace — https://vercel.com/templates Next.js — https://nextjs.org The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND GUILLERMO ON SOCIAL v0: https://v0.app X/Twitter: https://x.com/rauchg

  7. Claude Skills: The NEW Way to Build AI Agents (Live Tutorial)

    OCT 27

    Claude Skills: The NEW Way to Build AI Agents (Live Tutorial)

    In this episode, Amir takes us through how to use Claude Skills to build digital employees. We cover practical demos including an A/B testing idea agent, marketing insight analyzer, and a live build of a tweet-to-newsletter converter. You'll learn what Claude Skills actually are, why they represent the biggest leap since sub-agents, and how to build them yourself—even if you've never written a custom AI workflow before. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:05 – What are Claude Projects 02:40 – Sub-agents in Claude Code explained 03:34 – Introducing Claude Skills 05:58 – Context rot and the performance degradation problem 08:01 – Why matter Claude Skills Matter 11:08 – Building a UTM link generator with Artifact Builder 17:41 – Claude Skill Demo: A/B test generator for website optimization 20:32 – Claude Skill Demo: Marketing analytics insights from campaign data 23:40 – Building a Claude Skill: Creating a tweet-to-newsletter converter skill 30:32 – Final Thoughts on Claude Skills 30:58 – Why AI adoption is falling and how better prompting solves it Key Points Claude Skills are automated workflows that apply globally or per-project, pulling context only when relevant to specific tasks Skills solve the "context rot" problem where too much context degrades LLM performance and increases hallucination You can create custom Skills using markdown files with instructions, reference documents, and executable scripts The tweet-to-newsletter converter built live demonstrates Skills' ability to match tone and style with minimal training Poor AI fluency and prompting—not the tools themselves—explain why enterprise AI adoption is declining The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND AMIR ON SOCIAL Humblytics: https://humblytics.com/?via=community  X/Twitter: https://x.com/amirmxt  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@amirmxt

  8. I Documented How a Viral Video Gets Made in 45 Minutes

    OCT 22

    I Documented How a Viral Video Gets Made in 45 Minutes

    Get the Blueprint to create scroll-stopping videos impossibly fast and Roberto's Core Stack: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/video-protocol Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:21 - Roberto’s Recording Setup 05:00 - Script Writing Process 09:55 - Live Recording Video 13:00 - File organization system 16:12 - Editing Workflow 20:37 - Optimizing 23:17 - Incorporating Visuals 30:11 - Creating AI-generated visuals 33:57 - Caption creation and typography techniques 37:32 - Adding SFX and Music 43:17 - The Final Video 46:03 - High-level Strategy Overview 49:11 - Roberto’s Studio Setup Key Points: • Roberto demonstrates his complete workflow from scripting to editing for creating viral short-form videos • He shows his garage studio setup with detailed equipment walkthrough and recording process • The editing process includes audio treatment, visual effects, and strategic pattern interrupts to maintain viewer attention • Roberto explains his approach to AI-generated visuals using tools like Nano Banana and Kling for custom B-roll Roberto’s Core Stack: Software/Apps: Promptor Pro (teleprompter app) OBS (recording software) Adobe Premiere (editing) Magic Bullet (color grading plugin) Downy (video downloader) Screen Studio (screen recording) Apple Notes (scripting) Epidemic Sound & Artlist (music/SFX) Hardware: Canon R5C camera: https://amzn.to/4hi4le4 Mac Studio: https://amzn.to/4ovCJ7O Apple Studio Displays (2): https://amzn.to/4nZeOh5 Apollo Solo (audio interface): https://amzn.to/4niL6Td Samsung T9 4TB SSD: https://amzn.to/47iloIx Amaran lights 150C: https://amzn.to/47yrINg Spotlight with optional gobo: https://amzn.to/4hsrOcS Softbox with honeycomb/grid: https://amzn.to/4qkDvWL Amaran lights F22C: https://amzn.to/4747kUe Teleprompter: https://amzn.to/472yJWx AirPods 3 (as mic option): https://amzn.to/4hk3klL Shure MV7: https://amzn.to/42Q5u6N The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com LCA 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/ Boringmarketing - Vibe Marketing for Companies: boringmarketing.com The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ROBERTO ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/rpnickson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rpn/ Newsletter: https://rpn.beehiiv.com

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Hosts & Guests

4.5
out of 5
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About

Get your creative juices flowing with The Startup Ideas Podcast. Published twice a week, we bring you free startup ideas to inspire your next venture. Hosted by Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout and former advisor to Reddit and TikTok. Subscribe so you don't miss out. For more startup ideas, we created a database of 30+ startup ideas you can take at https://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas

Information

  • Creator
    Greg Isenberg
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    285
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The Startup Ideas Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Startup Ideas Podcast

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