The Startup Ideas Podcast

• My honest review of AI Product Designer backed by Y-Combinator (v0 Users Need to See This)

  In this episode, I tests Polymet AI, an AI product designer tool, by creating a YouTube analytics prediction SaaS concept inspired by a viral tweet about predicting tweet performance. I compares Polymet AI with V0, noting that while Polymet required multiple prompts and offered less feedback during the design process, both tools ultimately produced usable designs. I concludes that different AI tools have different strengths, and using multiple tools in combination might yield the best results.Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro02:33 - First Impressions of Polymet03:57 - Startup Idea: Predicting YouTube Engagement05:03 - Initial Design Prompt10:11 - Polymet’s First Design Output: TubePredict11:04 - UI and Functionality Issues and Debugging16:08 - Polymet’s Second Design Output17:44 - Debugging pt 220:48 - Prompting v0 22:30 - v0’s Design Output 23:41 - Polymet’s Third Design Output24:49 - Comparing v0 and Polymer and Final Thoughts on Design Outputs27:36 - Conclusion and Recommendations for AI Design ToolsKey Points• I tests Polymet AI a new AI product designer tool that claims to help non-designers create production-ready designs• I compares Polymet AI with v0, a similar tool he's used before, by designing a YouTube analytics prediction tool• Both tools produced functional designs, but with different user experiences and output quality1) First impressions of Polymet AI:• Clean interface similar to ChatGPT• Includes voice input (huge plus!)• Image upload capability for reference designs• Credit-based system (250 free credits to start)• 50 credits per page generation2) The design process with Polymet was... interesting.PROS:• Named the product "TubePredict" automatically• Created decent landing page copy• Saved version historyCONS:• Slow generation (2+ minutes)• No progress indicator (frustrating!)• Initial designs missed the mark completely 3) After 3 attempts with increasingly specific prompts, Polymet finally delivered:• Clean, modern interface• Detailed A/B testing dashboard• Statistical confidence indicators• AI suggestions for optimizationBut the communication was ONE-WAY. No feedback loop!4) Meanwhile, v0 showed its strengths:• Real-time reasoning as it designed• Conversational approach ("I'll create a SaaS that...")• Faster FEELING process (transparency helps!)• Ability to ask clarifying questionsThe difference in experience was NIGHT and DAY.5) The final designs were surprisingly similar in quality!Polymet's strengths:• More detailed product features• Hover states built in• Actual code generationv0's advantages:• Slightly more polished visually• More "glassy" as requested• Better feedback loop6) MAJOR INSIGHT: The future isn't about finding ONE perfect AI design tool.It's about using MULTIPLE tools strategically:• Generate initial concepts in one• Refine in another• Mix and match their strengthsJust like we do with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.7) The REAL lesson? Knowing design terminology matters!When I specifically requested "glassmorphism" instead of just saying "glassy," both tools performed MUCH better.The more precise your design vocabulary, the better your AI design results.8) Would I recommend these tools? YES - but with expectations in check.Two years ago this would have been MIND-BLOWING.Today, our standards are higher.But for quick prototyping or inspiration, both tools deliver value in different ways.Notable Quotes:"Two years ago, if I would have seen this, I would have been like, 'Oh my God, everything has changed.' And now our bar for all these AI products is so high that the output needs to be incredible for you to really use it in your workflow.""How do you get the most out of them is just you use all of them, you realize what's best for each individual product... There's these nuances that make these products better."Want 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/

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  30:43
• How I find $130K/month AI SaaS Opportunities hiding in plain sight

  In this episode I share my exact framework for identifying profitable AI SaaS business opportunities by focusing on manual workflows that could be automated. We focus on export buttons and other manual processes in enterprise software as indicators of workflow breakdowns that AI could solve. The framework breaks down to solving niche problems, charging immediately for solutions, and focusing on quantifiable ROI.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:50 - The Export Button Theory of AI Opportunity04:03 - Step 1: Identifying Repetitive Pain Points08:31 - Step 2: Adding Intelligence to Manual Processes10:53 - Step 3: Identifying Data Silos that Need Bridging12:47 - Step 4: Finding Missing Connections Between Tools14:12 - Step 5: Start Small, Grow Naturally16:55 - Exploring Additional Manual Buttons for Startup Ideas19:03 - The QuickBooks Export Gold Mine20:43 - Your First 30 Days: Getting Started with Your AI SaaS Startup24:02 - Final Thoughts on AI Startup OpportunitiesKey Points:• The "Export Button Theory" - Every export button in software represents a business opportunity worth $10,000-30,000/month• Five-step framework for finding AI SaaS opportunities• Manual buttons in software (like "generate report," "schedule meeting," "upload CSV") represent AI automation opportunities1) The Export Button Theory of AI Opportunity Every time a user clicks "export" in software, they're signaling:• A workflow breakdown• Manual labor that could be automated• A potential $10-30K/month feature2) The 5-step framework for finding these opportunities:Step 1: Identify repetitive pain points Watch how people use enterprise software daily:• Exporting data to reformat it (Salesforce → Excel → PowerPoint)• Copying between tools (Jira → Slack)• Building the same reports weekly• Maintaining spreadsheets manually3) Step 2: Add intelligence to manual processes Every manual task is an LLM opportunity:• Turn Stripe exports into AI-powered revenue analysis ($50-100K MRR)• Convert CRM data into AI-formatted presentations ($80-120K MRR)• Generate sentiment trends from support tickets ($30-70K MRR)4) Step 3: Bridge data silos Look for phrases like:"I need to pull this data every week""I wish I could see this alongside that""We keep this in a separate spreadsheet"5) Step 4: Find missing connections between tools Watch for "I wish these two things worked together":• HR system + Payroll → AI opportunity: automatic sync with anomaly detection• CRM + Marketing automation → AI opportunity: bi-directional sync with AI prioritization6) Step 5: Start small, grow naturally The MOST successful AI SaaS businesses:• Pick a specific niche big players ignore• Focus on ONE painful workflow• Make it 10x better with AI• Let AI suggest next actions• Charge immediately (if solving real pain, people will pay day one) 7) Beyond the export button, look for these manual buttons in software:• "Generate Report" → AI opportunity: automatic insight generation ($2.5B market)• "Schedule Meeting" → AI opportunity: context-aware scheduling ($1.8B market)• "Upload CSV" → AI opportunity: intelligent data processing ($3.2B market)8) The QuickBooks goldmine • 250M financial reports exported annually• Each export = 45-90 mins of manual work• Value of time: $75-150 per export• Total addressable market: $12-18B annuallyThis is just ONE platform with massive opportunity!9)  Your first 30 days roadmap:Days 1-5: Select software with high export volume, research communitiesDays 6-10: Interview power users about export habitsDays 11-20: Build minimal prototype (using V0, Lovable, Bolt, etc.)Days 21-30: Get 3-5 PAYING beta usersNotable Quotes:"Every export button in software represents a business opportunity. When a user clicks export, what are they saying to us? They're basically saying this software doesn't do what I need to, so I'm taking my data elsewhere to do manual work.""The best AI opportunities aren't where everyone is looking. They're hiding in these mundane, repetitive tasks that knowledge workers are doing every single day."Want 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/

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  26:11
• I Built a $10M AI Startup as a College Dropout (Exact Strategy That Worked)

  David Park, founder of Jenny AI, details his step-by-step approach to building a profitable AI startup that reached $10 million in annual recurring revenue. He emphasizes starting with organic short-form content and influencer marketing before moving to SEO and paid advertising. Park attributes much of Jenny AI's success to finding viral content formats that could be repeated with variations, working with the right influencers regardless of follower count, and focusing on retention metrics as the company scaled.Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro03:00 - Organic Short Form Content08:25 - The Power of Fresh Accounts in Influencer Marketing11:17 - Case Study: MengMengDuck and Influencer Partnerships18:01 - New Creator Guidelines25:57 - Order of Virality: Steps to Achieve Success30:55 - Finding Influencers36:21 - Outreach Strategies40:34 - Negotiating with Influencers44:50 - Content posting strategy49:15 - Final UGC Tips 51:52 - SEO Strategy57:00 -  Paid Ads Playbook59:53 - David's final advice:01:02:08 - From $5M to $10M1) ORGANIC SHORT-FORM CONTENT David's shocking truth: Fresh accounts with 1 follower can OUTPERFORM accounts with millions!The algorithm rewards quality, not history.2) The "Fresh Account" Strategy:• Create new accounts specifically for your product• Find creators to be the face of these accounts• Pay them to create consistent content• Focus on hooks that resonate with your audience3) The Viral Series Formula Find ONE format that works, then repeat it with slight variations.Example: "POV: You have an essay due" videos for Jenny AI generated 300M+ views and $500K+ in revenue!4) INFLUENCER MARKETING Don't waste time with mega-influencers charging $20K per post.Instead:• Find creators whose audience matches your users• Create a new account with them as the face• Pay for consistent content (not one-offs)• Let them maintain their authentic style5) How to find the RIGHT influencers:• Ask your users which creators they follow• Create a "scout" account that only follows relevant creators• Let the algorithm suggest similar accounts• Look for creators with high engagement (not just followers)6) Outreach hack that WORKS:Send money via Venmo to influencers you want to work with!They'll get a push notification and respond out of curiosity.7) Negotiation strategy:• Start by asking for their HIGHEST price point (all features)• Remove elements you don't need to lower the price• Negotiate bulk deals (20% off for multiple videos)• Split payment between upfront and performance-basedNEVER pay based on follower count - that's outdated!8) Content posting strategy:• Post 1+ videos DAILY to test different hooks• Trust creators to maintain their authentic style• Create systems that let influencers work autonomously• Don't be afraid of videos looking like ads - they convert BETTERScale to a video every few hours!9) David's final advice:"I'm a non-technical founder, a college dropout, not from Silicon Valley. If I can build this, YOU CAN TOO." - David Park"The truth? Only 1% of people reading this will implement these strategies for a full year." - David ParkNotable Quotes"We had one video that got 20 million views that had almost a negligible effect on conversions that day for Jenny. It was as if we got zero views, like nothing really happened that day. And yeah, it's just important to create content for people that actually want to convert and want to actually use your product." - David Park"I'm a non-technical person. I'm a non-technical founder doing an AI startup. I am a college dropout. I would not say I'm like one of those cracked people. I'm not from Silicon Valley... and I was able to kind of build this company." - David ParkWant 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 DAVID ON SOCIALJenni AI: https://jenni.aiX/Twitter: https://x.com/Davidjpark96Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paviddark/

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  1:09:21
• My Secret Framework for Building $1M Products

  Today’s episode  features Jake Knapp (creator of the Design Sprint), Jonathan Courtney (Founder and CEO of AJ & Smart). We explore how to evaluate and build successful AI products. They use Jake's Foundation Sprint framework to analyze JC's concept for an app that helps entrepreneurs balance content consumption with creation. The conversation demonstrates how to move from initial idea to clear differentiation strategy, emphasizing the importance of first principles thinking before technical implementation.Timestamps:00:00 - Intro01:36 - Startup Idea: Hit Me App04:28 - The Foundation Sprint Overview05:16 - Step 1: Customer07:50 - Step 2: Problem12:25 - Step 3: Capability15:20 - Step 4: Insight23:34 - Step 5: Motivation31:44 - Step 6: Competitors 38:57 - How to use AI in the Development Process41:55 - Differentiation Analysis51:58 - Reviewing Foundation Sprint Click Book: https://www.theclickbook.comKey Points:• Introduction to the Foundation Sprint framework for evaluating startup ideas• Discussion of building AI wrappers and product differentiation• Exploration of a case study: “Hit Me” - an app for controlling digital consumption• Detailed walkthrough of the basics canvas: customer, problem, capabilities, insights• Analysis of differentiation strategies and competitive positioning1) The Foundation Sprint Framework:• Start with the basics• Define clear differentiation• Map possible product forms• Test & validate assumptionsKey insight: Most founders skip this critical planning phase! 2) The Basics Framework includes:• Customer identification• Problem definition• Special capabilities• Key insights• Core motivation• Competitor analysisPro tip: Write these down BEFORE touching any code!3) Real Example Breakdown:JC pitched his “Hit Me” app idea:• Target: Entrepreneurs (25-40)• Problem: Digital overconsumption• Insight: Consumption vs Creation balance• Motivation: Personal struggle with anxiety• Competition: Self-control & existing blockers4) Key Differentiator Exercise:Plot your product on scales:• Speed (not important)• Intelligence (basic)• Ease of use (very easy)• Price (free)• Focus (targeted)The goal: Find your unique position in the market 5) Major Insight:Most digital wellness apps focus on REMOVING distractionsThe opportunity: Build tools that REPLACE consumption with creationThis is the kind of differentiation that makes marketing easy! 6) Framework Benefits:• Clarifies fuzzy ideas• Forces first principles thinking• Reveals hidden opportunities• Saves time & resources• Prevents building "Homer's Car" Notable Quotes:"It's hard to build when your hands are on fire." - Greg"If you don't have clear differentiation, you need to be a god tier marketer to sell something." - JCLCA 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.comFIND JAKE ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/jakekWebsite: https://jakeknapp.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-knapp/

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  56:38
• Perplexity vs ChatGPT "Deep Research" For Startup Ideas Shocked Me

  Get Greg’s Deep research research notes: https://www.gregisenberg.com/deep-research-ideasI compare in real-time ChatGPT's and Perplexity's deep research capabilities for developing startup ideas. Both platforms were prompted to generate AI agent business ideas with specific revenue targets ($1M Y1, $3M Y2, $5M Y3). The results showed that Perplexity provided faster, more concise responses, while ChatGPT offered more detailed, comprehensive analysis but took longer to generate responses.Key Points:• Comparison between ChatGPT Pro ($200/month) and Perplexity Deep Research (free/~$20/month) for startup ideation• Both platforms were tested with identical prompts for creating AI-based startup ideas• Comparison of response speed, depth, and quality between the two platforms• Practical demonstration of how to use AI tools for business planning and market researchTimestamps:00:00 - Intro01:33 - Defining the Startup Prompt02:29 - Initiating Research with ChatGPT05:05 - Initiating Research with Perplexity09:13 -  Perplexity results (Legal Contract AI)15:44 - ChatGPT results (AI Sales Outreach Assistant)26:10 - Comparing Perplexity and ChatGPT Outputs27:55 - Follow-Up Prompts and Further Exploration31:55 - Perplexity's Follow-Up results34:43 - ChatGPT's Follow-Up results 37:07 - Where to get Greg’s Deep research research notes37:31 - Conclusion: Choosing Between Tools1) THE SETUP:• Testing ChatGPT Pro ($200/mo) vs Perplexity Deep Research ($20/mo)• Same prompt: Build a defensible AI agent startup• Target: $5M ARR in 3 years• MVP budget: $5K2) PERPLEXITY AI WINS ON SPEED • Completed research in ~2 mins• Analyzed 34+ sources• More concise, actionable insights• Free tier available!3) CHATGPT WINS ON DEPTH • Longer, more detailed analysis• Comprehensive playbooks• Better market context• More examples & case studies4) BEST STARTUP IDEAS GENERATED:Legal Contract AI (Perplexity):• $2.4B market opportunity• Auto-redline contracts• Defensible through learning• Clear path to $5.4M ARRAI Sales Assistant (ChatGPT):• Virtual SDR automation• Network effect moat• Product-led growth strategy• $100M+ potential5) MVP INSIGHTS:For $5K budget:• Use existing APIs (OpenAI/GPT-4)• Start with Chrome extension• Focus on single workflow• Manual fallback for quality• Self-serve freemium model6) KEY TAKEAWAYS:Both tools are INSANELY good• Perplexity = Fast, concise, free tier• ChatGPT = Deeper analysis, more context• Both provide actionable insights• Worth integrating into workflow7) PROTIP:For best results:• Be specific with constraints• Ask follow-up questions• Double-click on interesting areas• Cross-reference competitor insightsBottom line: These AI research tools are an unfair advantage for founders right now.Notable Quotes:"Distribution is the new moat" - Greg"This is an unfair advantage right now" - Greg regarding AI research toolsConclusion: Both platforms demonstrated valuable capabilities, with Perplexity offering speed and efficiency while ChatGPT provided more comprehensive analysis. The video suggests both tools can be effective for startup planning, with the choice depending on user preferences for depth versus speed.Want 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/

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  39:08

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