The Startup Ideas Podcast

Greg Isenberg

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. Making $$$ with Sam Altman's Solopreneurship Thesis

    1 DAY AGO

    Making $$$ with Sam Altman's Solopreneurship Thesis

    On this episode I explore Sam Altman's prediction that AI will enable the first one-person billion-dollar company. I outline how this would work through AI agents handling traditional business functions like engineering, design, marketing, and sales, creating an organizational structure where one founder manages multiple AI agents. While technically possible, Isenberg believes this requires perfect conditions and will likely emerge between 2026-2028. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:13 - Sam Altman's $1B Solo Founder Prediction 01:45 - The new path to building a company 06:38 - 5 mega trends enabling solo billion-dollar companies 10:05 - How to get started as a solopreneur 12:13 - Organizational structure with AI agents 17:12 - AI Agent Framework 18:07 - AI Pricing Framework 19:46 - What can be $1B Solo Business 21:46 - Conclusion on feasibility and timeline Key Points: • Sam Altman predicts a one-person billion-dollar company will emerge in the next few years, enabled by AI • AI-first companies can replace traditional team structures with AI agents handling various business functions • The new path to building a company starts with audience building, then "vibe coding" a product, building community, and automating with AI • Five mega trends making this possible: services becoming software, instant distribution, building on existing platforms, trust in small brands, and high-precision ad platforms • The first solo unicorn is predicted to emerge between 2026-2028 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg  Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

  2. How Claude Code Ranked Me FIRST on Google (It's OVER for SEO Agencies)

    4 DAYS AGO

    How Claude Code Ranked Me FIRST on Google (It's OVER for SEO Agencies)

    Join me as I chat with James (The Boring Marketer), where he shares how he partnered with a friend to create a mobile diesel repair service website using Claude Code, achieving top Google rankings almost immediately. He demonstrates a step-by-step process for identifying keywords, conducting SEO audits, and optimizing content for local search. The case study illustrates how AI tools can help entrepreneurs dominate local service markets with minimal technical knowledge. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 04:43 - Website tour and initial results 08:29 - SEO strategy breakdown 11:23 - Technical optimization process 22:40 - Results showing Google rankings 27:56 - Design tips using Figma and Anima 29:04 - Development environment setup Get Your Complete Financial OS at https://www.brex.com/sip Key Points: • James built a website for a local diesel truck repair business using Claude Code in just 4 hours and generated thousands in revenue within 24 hours • Local service businesses represent a significant opportunity because competition is often unsophisticated with outdated websites • Basic SEO optimization using AI tools can quickly outrank established local competitors • The process combines AI-assisted keyword research, technical SEO fixes, and content creation focused on local relevance 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JAMES ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/boringmarketer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jadickerson/

  3. $200K/mo with ONE AI Ad (We tell you HOW)

    30 JUL

    $200K/mo with ONE AI Ad (We tell you HOW)

    Get my in-depth guide for creating scroll-stopping AI Ads with Arcads and Romain's Automations: https://www.gregisenberg.com/arcads Join me as I chat with Romain Torres, founder of Arcads, about how businesses are using AI to create diverse ad content at scale, showing examples of companies making millions monthly through AI-generated ads. The conversation covers techniques for creating winning ads, automating workflows, and identifying profitable niches. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:29 - Demo of Arcads AI 05:19 - Importance of testing multiple ad variations 10:50 - Examples of Successful AI Ad Campaigns 22:42 - Using AI-generated content for organic TikTok growth 25:13 - Visual hooks and creating custom AI actors 29:46 - VO3 integration and extending AI-generated scenes 32:07 - Automating ad creation with Gumloop workflows Create winning ads with AI and Arcads: https://www.arcads.ai/?via=community Try arcads over here: https://arcads.ai/?via=community (i get a small affiliate fee if you use that link, support the channel if you think this product will work for you) Key Points: • AI-generated ads are enabling businesses to create high-volume, diverse creative content that would be prohibitively expensive with traditional methods • Successful advertisers test multiple variations of ads (hooks, actors, situations) to find winning combinations • Tools like Arcade AI allow for creation of realistic UGC-style content and more creative VO3 videos • Automation workflows using tools like Gumloop can scrape winning content from platforms like TikTok and Reddit to inspire new ad creation 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ROMAIN ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/rom1trs Arcads AI: https://www.arcads.ai

  4. This Excel AI Agent Built Me a $1M Financial Dashboard in 10 Minutes  (LIVE Demo)

    29 JUL

    This Excel AI Agent Built Me a $1M Financial Dashboard in 10 Minutes (LIVE Demo)

    Join me as I chat with Nico Christie where he demos Shortcut, an AI-powered spreadsheet tool that functions like "Excel built for the future." Through several live demos, he shows how the platform can create financial models, update existing spreadsheets with new data, and build custom analysis tools using simple natural language prompts. The product aims to make Excel-based work significantly faster while maintaining transparency about data sources and calculations. Timestamps 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Overview of Shortcut 02:08 - First Demo: How Shortcut works with Existing Excel files 04:44 - Different User Types Who Benefit From Shortcut 08:50 - How to Prompt Shortcut Effectively 11:20 - The benefits of Using Shortcut 13:42 - How Shortcut handles data verification and transparency 17:03 - Best Use Cases for Shortcut 19:03 - Obvious ideas and market opportunity 22:23 -Building a Utilization Model for Agencies 34:59 - Greg's Custom Utilization Rate Dashboard Demo 39:29 - Who should try Shortcut Checkout: https://www.tryshortcut.ai Key Points: • Shortcut is an AI-powered alternative to Excel that allows users to create and modify spreadsheets using natural language prompts • The tool can perform complex financial modeling tasks in minutes that would take hours in traditional Excel • Shortcut provides transparency by showing data sources and allowing users to trace where information comes from • The platform serves both Excel experts (making them faster) and non-experts (making complex spreadsheet tasks accessible. 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND NICO ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/nicochristie Shortcut: https://www.tryshortcut.ai

  5. Can You Make $10K/Month MicroSaaS? (The Truth)

    28 JUL

    Can You Make $10K/Month MicroSaaS? (The Truth)

    On today’s episode I share a comprehensive guide to building micro SaaS businesses, which are niche-focused software products that can be developed by individuals or small teams. I explain the difference between traditional SaaS and micro SaaS, share real examples of successful businesses generating $20K-40K monthly revenue, and outline a step-by-step playbook for validating ideas, building MVPs, and growing through audience building and SEO. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:08 - What is a MicroSaaS? 02:25 - Examples of successful micro SaaS businesses 05:35 - Growth flywheel explanation 07:57 - User journey and funnel metrics 12:06 - Building in public strategy 18:28 - MicroSaaS Frameworks 21:58 - MicroSaaS Ideas 1: PermitSync 25:33 - MicroSaaS Ideas 2: PodScriptor 28:52 - MicroSaaS Ideas 3: SpecSheet 32:30 - MicroSaaS Ideas 4: CartSaver 33:58 - MicroSaaS Ideas 5: GrantGuru Get Your Complete Financial OS at https://www.brex.com/sip Key Points: • Micro SaaS businesses focus on niche markets with specific products, typically built by solo founders or small teams • Successful micro SaaS businesses can generate $10K-50K monthly profit with 80-90% margins • Growth comes from building an audience first, identifying pain points, creating solutions, and reinvesting revenue • Pricing strategies typically include free trials converting to monthly subscriptions or usage-based models 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

  6. Stole an Idea, Built It in 12 Hours, Sold for $15K in 8 Days (Exact Playbook)

    25 JUL

    Stole an Idea, Built It in 12 Hours, Sold for $15K in 8 Days (Exact Playbook)

    Join me as I chat with Josh Pigford, who took an idea from Idea Browser, built a tool called NameSnag for finding expired domains, and sold it for $15,000 within eight days. The conversation explores Josh's rapid development process, including how he leveraged AI tools like Claude for naming and coding, created branding, and used Twitter to build momentum and find customers. Josh emphasizes the importance of shipping quickly rather than aiming for perfection. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:26 - NameSnag Backstory 04:44 - Explanation of domain acquisition strategy 13:29 - Branding NameSnag 19:12 - Building Hype through Building in Public 29:28 - Biggest Takeaways from Josh's story 30:58 - What Josh would have done differently 33:17 - Q&A about selling side projects Key Points: • Josh saw a viral tweet about an AI tool for finding expired domains and decided to build it • He publicly committed to building the project on Twitter, which created accountability • He named the product "NameSnag" and secured both .com and .ai domains • Josh documented his entire build process on Twitter, generating interest and early customers • He sold the project for $15,000 just 8 days after starting it 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 - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JOSH ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/Shpigford Personal Website: https://joshpigford.com

  7. 6 One-Person AI Businesses That Will Make You $60,000/mo (FULL Playbook)

    23 JUL

    6 One-Person AI Businesses That Will Make You $60,000/mo (FULL Playbook)

    Join me as I chat with Cody Schneider discusses why productized services using AI tools are superior to traditional AI automation agencies, offering five specific business ideas that can generate $40K - 80K monthly within six months. Each idea leverages AI tools to create scalable, recurring revenue streams while providing measurable value to clients. The conversation highlights acquisition strategies, pricing models, and specific AI tools that entrepreneurs can use to implement these services. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:34 - Why Productized Services 03:29 - Med Spa AI Marketing Service 13:50 - AI Ads for Beauty E-Commerce Brands 21:33 - SMMA for nutrition coaches 25:04 - Link Magnets for Webinars 29:34 - Data Analytics AI Agency 32:32 - Voice AI Agents and Future Trends Key Points: • AI automation agencies often struggle with sustainability, while productized services offer recurring revenue and better scalability • Med Spa marketing services using AI-generated content and Google Maps optimization can generate $2-3K monthly per client • Facebook ads for beauty e-commerce brands is a high-value opportunity due to constant need for fresh creative content • Social media management for nutrition coaches represents an underserved market with significant revenue potential • Data analytics services for SMBs can leverage AI tools to provide insights from existing business data 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: http://boringmarketing.com/ The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: http://thevibemarketer.com/ Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND CODY ON SOCIAL Cody’s startup: https://www.graphed.com/ X/Twitter: https://x.com/codyschneiderxx Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@codyschneiderx

    41 min
  8. 5 New Tools from Google AI to make money/be productive (INSANITY)

    21 JUL

    5 New Tools from Google AI to make money/be productive (INSANITY)

    Join me as I chat with Josh Woodward, VP of Google Labs & Gemini, as he showcases Google's latest AI products and their capabilities. The conversation covers Gemini's advanced features including personalized context integration and video generation, Flow's AI filmmaking capabilities, Notebook LM's research and knowledge exploration tools, Stitch's UI design automation, and Project Mariner's autonomous web task execution. Throughout the demonstration, Josh highlights how these tools can empower both professionals and individuals to create high-quality content and automate tasks. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:57 - Gemini app features and capabilities 06:53 - Video generation with Gemini 13:53 - Flow AI filmmaking tool demonstration 21:17 - Notebook LM research and knowledge exploration 26:47 - Stitch UI design tool overview 31:04 - Project Mariner autonomous web agent demo Checkout Google’s AI Product Suite: https://labs.google Key Points: • Josh Woodward demonstrates five Google AI products: Gemini, Flow, Notebook LM, Stitch, and Project Mariner • Gemini features include scheduled actions, personalized context, and video generation capabilities • Flow is an AI filmmaking tool that allows users to create and edit high-quality videos with simple prompts • Project Mariner enables AI agents to perform web-based tasks autonomously with human oversight 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: http://boringmarketing.com/ The Vibe Marketer - Join the Community and Learn: http://thevibemarketer.com/ Startup Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses https://www.skool.com/startupempire/about FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JOSH ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/joshwoodward LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshwoodward/

    39 min

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

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