The Startup Ideas Podcast

• The $1,000/Day boring business anyone can start tomorrow (Sweaty Startup Playbook)

  Join me as I chat with Nick Huber to discusses how "boring" businesses like storage, lawn care, and service companies often create more reliable paths to wealth than tech startups. He shares his personal journey from a college storage business that sold for $1.75 million to purchasing and improving self-storage facilities worth millions. The conversation explores various low-tech business opportunities with high profit potential and minimal competition.00:00 - Intro02:08 - Nick's Sweaty Startup journey05:20 - Self-storage facility investments and returns07:31 - Examples of profitable service businesses13:13 - Sweaty Startup Idea: Night Nurse Marketplace18:49 - Value of a Good Domain Names22:25 - The AI + Sweaty Startups OpportunityKey Points• Nick Huber shares his journey building "boring" but profitable businesses, including Storage Squad and self-storage facilities• Sweaty startups (service-based local businesses) often have less competition and higher success rates than tech startups• Simple marketing tactics like sidewalk chalk, bandit signs, and local networking can be highly effective for service businesses• Domain names are valuable digital real estate worth investing in for business credibility and growth1) The WEALTHY people in your town aren't tech foundersThey own boring businesses:• Underground utilities• Surveying companies• HVAC businesses• Real estate developmentWhile everyone's dreaming of being the next Elon, these folks are quietly building wealth.2) Nick's first million came from... college student storage! He built Storage Squad with:• $1500 Craigslist cargo van• $2200 box truck• SIDEWALK CHALK as his only marketingGrew to $2.2M in revenue, sold for $1.75M in 2020.No tech, no VC money, just hustle.3) Self-storage facilities = GOLD MINES Nick bought a neglected facility for $625K with:• 40,000+ square feet• 180+ units• Only making $4K/monthAnother facility they bought for $1.5M now generates $40K/month and is worth $4.5M!4) "Sweaty startups" are EVERYWHERE making serious money:• Lawn care: $100K+ working 9 months/year• Mobile detailing: $17K revenue/$10K profit PER MONTH• High-end transportation: Consistent 6-figure income• Tree removal: $3K for 4 hours of work (2 people)All with minimal startup costs!5) The DOMAIN NAME lesson that most miss:Nick paid $450K for [Somewhere.com](http://somewhere.com/) and says it's already delivered MORE value than that."People will spend millions on physical real estate but balk at a few thousand for digital real estate - the home of your business."6) The COMPETITION ADVANTAGE of sweaty startups:Would you rather compete against:• Stanford CS grad with $20M in VC fundingOR• Local business owner who doesn't answer phones on Monday afternoons?Choose your competition wisely!7) BEST BUSINESS IDEA from the pod: Night Nurse Marketplace• Domain available for $13K (or $1,100/month lease-to-own)• Target new parents needing overnight baby care• Build directory + blog with AI• Charge $1K finder's fee to match families with nurses$20K+ monthly potential!8) The AI + SWEATY STARTUP opportunity:The best AI companies might start as sweaty startups first.Build the customer base and trust with a service business, THEN layer in tech and AI solutions.This is how you build something valuable without competing with 1000 other AI startups.Notable Quotes:"The wealthy people that I know, the ones with giant beach houses in the outer banks and private jets at the local airport, almost all of them did something boring." - Nick Huber"Do you want to compete against LeBron James or a fifth grade girl in basketball? I play against the fifth grade girl every time because my odds of having a win and making money are higher." - Nick HuberLCA 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 NICK ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/sweatystartupNick’s New book: https://www.sweatystartupbook.comSweaty Startup Ideas: http://Sweatystartup.com/ideasBolt Storage: http://boltstorage.comSomewhere: http://somewhere.com

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  30:47
• I built a team of AI Agents that grow my business 24/7 (full demo)

  Use agents https://www.lindy.ai/greg (thanks to Flo for hooking us up with 50% off and you can get started for free)Join me as I chat with Flo Crivello, founder of Lindy AI, where he demonstrates how to build AI agents that can automate various business processes without coding. The conversation showcases practical applications including meeting recording, scheduling, recruitment, competitive analysis, and customer support. Crivello emphasizes that there's currently a significant gap between what's technically possible with AI agents and what most businesses are implementing.Built your first AI Agent with Lindy: https://www.gregisenberg.com/ai-agentsTimestamps:00:00 - Intro02:08 - Demo 1: Meeting Notes04:41 - Demo 2: YouTube comment scraping06:49 - Meeting Notes Continued08:27 - Demo 3: Outbound Phone Calling10:16 - Demo 4: Meeting Prep10:25 - Agent Swarms Explained11:25 - Meeting Prep Continued13:31 - Demo 5: Meeting Scheduler15:04 - How to start using Lindy15:52 - Live Building of a Recruitment Agent17:57 - When should you loop in a human18:37 - Building of a Recruitment Agent continued 20:34 - Demo 6: Sales Prospecting 22:44 - Why start using AI Agents26:00 - Overview of template categories and use cases28:52 - Demo 7: Elon Lindy30:12 - Demo 8: Competitive Analysis32:58 - Demo 9: CRM and Networking Manager34:50 - Final ThoughtsKey Points:• Lindy is a no-code platform for building AI agents that can automate business processes• Users can create their first agent in 10 minutes and automate significant portions of their business• The platform features "Agent Swarms" that can handle multiple tasks in parallel with greater reliability• Lindy offers thousands of integrations with various platforms and services1) Meeting Assistant AgentsThe most universal use case for AI agents? Meeting management!Lindy can:• Record and transcribe your meetings• Create searchable notes in Google Docs• Organize notes by person (incredible for context)Flo: "I just had to dig up Google Docs and send him everything we've ever talked about with this person."2) The Agent vs Workflow DifferenceUnlike Zapier which connects isolated steps, Lindy creates TRUE AGENTS that:• Understand context between steps• Can recover from mistakes• Let you speak to them in natural language• Don't need every step configuredThe magic? You're basically telling an AI to execute a sequence of connected actions.3)  Agent Swarms = GAME CHANGERThis new feature lets you deploy multiple agents simultaneously!• Send personalized outreach to hundreds of leads• Research multiple people in parallel• Execute tasks reliably without losing coherenceThink Agent Smith in The Matrix - your agent duplicates itself to handle massive workloads FAST.4)  Real-World Examples That Blew My MindFlo's Lindy made a restaurant reservation BY PHONE The hilarious part? The restaurant was using an AI receptionist!"It's already happening - AI agents are working together in the wild"His AI also schedules meetings, preps him for calls, and manages his network.5) Building a Recruiter Agent LIVEIn just 2 minutes, Flo built a recruiting agent that:• Takes job criteria• Searches for matching candidates• Researches them on Perplexity• Sends personalized outreach emailsAll with human approval built in when needed!"There's a huge gap between what's possible and what people are actually doing."6) The "Elon Lindy" = Middle Management KillerThis agent:• Calls every team member weekly• Asks what they accomplished• Compiles everything into a report for the CEOOne customer deployed this to 1000+ employees, essentially "replacing the middle management layer"!7) Competitive Intelligence on AutopilotFlo's competitive tracker:• Wakes up monthly• Monitors competitors from a spreadsheet• Tracks employee count, traffic, funding, etc.• Sends reports on who's pulling ahead8) The MASSIVE Opportunity Right Now"There is a HUGE arbitrage between what's possible and what people are actually doing."Companies exploiting this gap are EXPLODING:• One AI ad generator hit $5M ARR in months with just 8 people• Small teams can now operate like they have 30-50 peopleLCA 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 FLO ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/AltimorLindy: https://www.lindy.ai

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  36:12
• The AI Gold Rush Has Officially Started

  Join me as I chat with Riley Brown to explore various opportunities in AI, from image generation to rebuilding essential software tools, while debating the future of content creation, customer support automation, and the concept of "vibe coding/marketing." Timestamps:00:00 - Intro02:05 - ChatGPT 4.0 image generation capabilities07:30 - Rebuilding calendars, inboxes and CRMs11:02 - Component Animation Library12:59 - The "spaghetti video" and AI video progression19:41 - Customer support automation22:01 - The biggest trap for founders24:43 - Sketching is the future of AI building26:15 - Build Consumer AI Mobile Apps 27:42 - AI Market Dynamics29:01 - Rebuilding traditional products with AI advantages30:51 - AI tools and AI Agents will be cheaper than humans31:56 - Vibe Marketing is a huge opportunity35:41 - AI will replace the homepage36:56 - AI's impact on education and entrepreneurshipKey Points:• ChatGPT 4.0's image generation capabilities will birth thousands of vertical software businesses• Calendars, inboxes, and CRMs will be completely rebuilt with AI within three years• AI-generated video has progressed dramatically and will transform content creation• Most customer support will be fully automated within 36 months, including complex issues• Mobile-first AI apps represent the next wave of $100M+ consumer applications1) ChatGPT 4.0 ImageGen is as REVOLUTIONARY as the original ChatGPT launchIt will birth 1000+ vertical software businesses worth $1-100M each.Riley: "It's incredible for generating gradients, components, character sprite sheets..."The window to build these businesses is NOW.2) Every calendar, inbox, and CRM will be COMPLETELY REBUILT in the next 3 yearsNot just AI-enhanced — fully rethought from scratch.We're talking about a $700B+ industry transformation.Look at Micro HQ approach: turning email into a smart dashboard with intelligence baked in.3) The "Will Smith eating spaghetti" video evolution shows how FAST AI video is advancing739 days ago: Hilariously bad AI videoToday: Nearly perfect realismIn another 739 days? Full movies created with prompts, perfect dialogue, and integrated music.The content creation landscape is about to be UNRECOGNIZABLE.4) Most customer support will be fully automated within 36 monthsNot just basic tier-one tickets — we're talking complex, multi-step resolutions that currently require senior staff.The days of frustrating support calls may finally be ending as AI gets better at solving our problems instantly.5) "The worst thing that can happen to your startup is mediocre success"Enough to keep you going, but not enough to change your life.Many founders get trapped in routines with projects they aren't passionate about.The key? Pivot to something that excites you to wake up every day.6) The SKETCHING economy is the real AI revolutionWhen anyone can turn rough sketches into production-ready designs, taste and ideation become the only scarce resources.Greg's insight: "I've been sketching more myself... if I sketch a thumbnail and throw it into GPT-4.0, I might get twice the engagement.”7) Consumer mobile is BACK in full swingWe went from:• Desktop-first apps (Facebook)• Mobile-first apps (Instagram)• Now AI-first mobile apps (Cal AI)The next wave of $100M+ apps will start mobile-first with AI baked in from day one.8) AI is creating winner-take-most markets OVERNIGHTThe window to establish yourself as the go-to solution in a specific vertical?9) AI will kill the homepage as we know itInterfaces will be replaced by entry points that change based on who you are, what you need, and when you show up.Just as ads became hyper-personalized, websites and apps will adapt to each visitor in real-time.10) Schools won't be disrupted by AI — they'll be DISINTERMEDIATEDSmart teens will skip formal education to build audiences and run experiments.Kids say they want to be creators, but creators are becoming entrepreneurs.Entrepreneurship is becoming the safest "job" in an AI-powered world.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/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 RILEY ON SOCIALVibe Code App: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/vibecode/id6742912146X/Twitter: https://x.com/rileybrown_aiInstagram: https://x.com/rileybrown_ai

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  42:11
• How he validated Kettle and Fire with just $50 (Now a $100M Company)

  Join me as I chat with Justin Mares, Founder of Kettle and Fire, as he explains his methodical approach to validating Kettle and Fire before fully launching it in 2014-2015. He created a basic landing page with a PayPal checkout to test if people would pay $29.99 for bone broth, achieving a 30% conversion rate despite having no actual product. The conversation highlights how modern AI tools have dramatically lowered barriers to entry for entrepreneurs testing new business ideasTimestamps:• 00:00 - Intro• 01:05 - The Scale of Kettle and Fire• 01:20 - The Initial Idea and Inspiration• 02:16 - Validating Market Demand• 04:03 - Addressing Skepticism on Market Research• 06:00 - Testing Pricing and Demand• 08:48 - Bing Ads and Early Revenue• 12:22 - Leveraging AI for Business Today• 13:42 - Finding Passion-Driven Problems• 15:28 - Identifying Trends and Tools• 20:15 - ChatGPT 4o for Initial Product DesignKey Points• Justin shares how he validated and launched Kettle and Fire, now a nine-figure bone broth business• He used a minimal landing page, Fiverr logo, and Bing ads to test market demand before creating the product• The validation process focused on identifying if enough people wanted the product and if they would pay enough1) The "Day Zero" validation strategy that worked:Justin wanted bone broth for his own health but couldn't find it online. Before creating anything, he asked two critical questions:• How many people actually want this?• Will they pay enough to make it a viable business?Smart validation = less risk.2) Finding your TRUE market size:Justin didn't rely on gut feeling. He went where his potential customers hung out:• Paleo forums• CrossFit communities• Reddit threads• Mark's Daily AppleHe found FANATIC engagement around bone broth recipes, sourcing, and benefits3) The Google Trends hack Justin checked macro trends to confirm his micro observations.He wasn't looking to build a 9-figure business at 24 - just wanted to make $10K/month with his brother.Simple math: A few thousand customers spending a few hundred dollars a year = viable business.4) The $15 MVP that ACTUALLY validated demand:• $9.99 domain ([bonebroths.com](http://bonebroths.com/))• $5 logo from Fiverr• Basic landing page on UnbounceNo product. No fancy design. Just a simple page highlighting benefits that his target audience cared about:- Healing leaky gut- Convenience- Organic ingredients5) The GENIUS pricing strategy:Justin priced at $29.99 for 16oz - 6X MORE than grocery store broth!His thinking: "If people will pay this much for a product they've never tasted from a sketchy landing page, they REALLY want it."High price = strong signal of demand.6) The checkout flow was HILARIOUSLY janky:"Order Now" button → Justin's personal PayPalThat's it. That was the entire checkout.And guess what? PEOPLE STILL BOUGHT IT! After spending just $100 on Bing ads (yes, Bing!), he made nearly $500 in revenue.7) The honest follow-up that built trust:After validating demand, Justin emailed every customer:"We don't have the product yet. I can either refund you in full or give you 50% off when we ship in a few weeks."Most chose the discount, giving him runway to actually create the product.8) From validation to execution:It took 8 months to figure out production and scaling.But because he KNEW people wanted it and would pay for it, he had the confidence to push through the hard parts.9) How would he do it TODAY with AI tools?• Better landing pages using tools like Bolt.new• Sentiment analysis across Reddit/Twitter• AI-generated product designs (as shown in the podcast)10) The bigger lesson for aspiring founders:Focus on problems YOU care deeply about.The best ideas come from the frontier where you're already spending your time.11) AI is LEVELING the playing field:One person with strong conviction + AI tools can now build products that previously required entire teams.12) Want to find YOUR startup idea?Justin's advice:• Find a problem that lights you up• Circle that problem until you find interesting solutions• Validate with real customers willing to pay• Use AI to accelerate everythingLCA 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 JUSTIN ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/jwmaresHis Blog: https://justinmares.com/

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  25:33
• ChatGPT 4o Image Generation replaces your $10,000 Ad Agency (Expert Demo)

  Join me as I chat with Jacob Posel where he explains his viral method for creating professional ads using ChatGPT 4o and reference images. Jacob demonstrates that effective ad creation with AI relies more on providing quality inspiration images than complex prompting. The episode includes four example ads and two live demonstrations, showcasing how marketers can experiment with different audiences and styles at scale to improve conversion rates.Timestamps:• 00:00 - Intro• 02:01 - Best practices and the importance of inspiration images• 05:52 - Using Reference Images vs. No Reference • 09:07 - Exploring Sora for Prompt Inspiration• 13:33 - Another example of reference image + product image• 16:20 - More Ad Examples (Ridge Wallet)• 18:14 - More Ad Examples (Replit)• 19:12 - Where to find Ad inspiration• 20:00 - Live Ad Creation for LCA• 33:37 - Ad Concept Development for LCA• 37:37 - Finalizing the Ad and Next StepsKey Points:• Jacob Posel demonstrates how to create high-quality ads in minutes using ChatGPT, focusing on using reference images rather than complex prompts• The process involves providing inspiration ads and product images to ChatGPT, which can then generate customized, conversion-ready advertisements• Using well-known brands requires less specific prompting as the AI already understands them, while lesser-known products need more reference images• The speakers demonstrate live ad creation for Late Checkout Agency (LCA), showing the iterative process and prompt refinement techniques1) The Secret to Great AI-Generated AdsForget complex prompting - the REAL magic is in your reference images!Jacob revealed: "The important thing in creating good ads are the inspiration images and product images that you provide."ChatGPT understands intent better than other AI image tools.2) The Simple FrameworkHere's the basic formula Jacob uses:• Find an inspiration ad you like• Add your product image• Give simple instructions• Let ChatGPT work its magicThe model is SMART enough to understand what you want without elaborate prompts.3) When to Use Reference Images vs. When Not ToKEY INSIGHT: ChatGPT already knows popular brands!"It knows Nike, Adidas, Ridge wallets really well," Jacob explains.For well-known brands: Simple prompts work fineFor newer/smaller brands: ALWAYS provide reference imagesThis saves you tons of time!4) Pro Tip: Where to Find Ad InspirationJacob's go-to sources for ad inspiration:• Creative OS• Foreplay• IconThese tools pull from Meta's ad library and make it searchable.Finding the right reference ad is HALF the battle!5) The Hidden Goldmine Nobody's Talking AboutALPHA ALERT: Check out Sora's explore page!"This is a piece of alpha that people do not know about right now," Jacob revealed.It shows you the EXACT prompts people used for successful images.Perfect for learning how to prompt effectively!6) Crucial Prompting TipsIf your first attempt isn't perfect:• DON'T continue in the same chat• Start a fresh conversation• Make adjustments to your prompt there"You generally get through a cycle of worse and worse rather than improving" if you keep going in the same chat.7) Real-World Example: The LCA AdWe created a luxury-style ad for Greg’s innovation agency in real-time!Process:1. Screenshot website elements2. Find vintage Rolex ad as inspiration3. Simple prompt explaining the brand vibe4. Iterate in a NEW chat for improvementsTook less than 10 minutes! 8) The Future of AdvertisingThis technology enables:• Personalized ads at scale• Rapid response to trending moments• Testing different audiences/demographics• Experimenting with creative directionsAs Jacob puts it: "The ad is the targeting" - and now you can do it at SCALE.Notable Quotes:"Marketers have this saying nowadays that the ad is the targeting and this is just a way that you can actually do it at scale." - Jacob Posel"The important thing I found in creating good ads are actually the inspiration images and the product images that you provide." - Jacob PoselLCA 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 JACOB ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/jacob_posel

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  42:20

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