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 - Intro
02:33 - First Impressions of Polymet
03:57 - Startup Idea: Predicting YouTube Engagement
05:03 - Initial Design Prompt
10:11 - Polymet’s First Design Output: TubePredict
11:04 - UI and Functionality Issues and Debugging
16:08 - Polymet’s Second Design Output
17:44 - Debugging pt 2
20:48 - Prompting v0 
22:30 - v0’s Design Output 
23:41 - Polymet’s Third Design Output
24:49 - Comparing v0 and Polymer and Final Thoughts on Design Outputs
27:36 - Conclusion and Recommendations for AI Design Tools

Key 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 quality

1) 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 generation

2) The design process with Polymet was... interesting.

PROS:
• Named the product "TubePredict" automatically
• Created decent landing page copy
• Saved version history

CONS:
• 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 optimization

But 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 questions

The 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 generation

v0's advantages:
• Slightly more polished visually
• More "glassy" as requested
• Better feedback loop

6) 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 strengths

Just 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/30startupideas

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.co

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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 - Intro
02:50 - The Export Button Theory of AI Opportunity
04:03 - Step 1: Identifying Repetitive Pain Points
08:31 - Step 2: Adding Intelligence to Manual Processes
10:53 - Step 3: Identifying Data Silos that Need Bridging
12:47 - Step 4: Finding Missing Connections Between Tools
14:12 - Step 5: Start Small, Grow Naturally
16:55 - Exploring Additional Manual Buttons for Startup Ideas
19:03 - The QuickBooks Export Gold Mine
20:43 - Your First 30 Days: Getting Started with Your AI SaaS Startup
24:02 - Final Thoughts on AI Startup Opportunities

Key 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 opportunities

1) 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 feature

2) 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 manually

3) 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 prioritization

6) 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 annually

This is just ONE platform with massive opportunity!

9)  Your first 30 days roadmap:

Days 1-5: Select software with high export volume, research communities
Days 6-10: Interview power users about export habits
Days 11-20: Build minimal prototype (using V0, Lovable, Bolt, etc.)
Days 21-30: Get 3-5 PAYING beta users

Notable 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/30startupideas

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.co

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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 - Intro
03:00 - Organic Short Form Content
08:25 - The Power of Fresh Accounts in Influencer Marketing
11:17 - Case Study: MengMengDuck and Influencer Partnerships
18:01 - New Creator Guidelines
25:57 - Order of Virality: Steps to Achieve Success
30:55 - Finding Influencers
36:21 - Outreach Strategies
40:34 - Negotiating with Influencers
44:50 - Content posting strategy
49:15 - Final UGC Tips 
51:52 - SEO Strategy
57:00 -  Paid Ads Playbook
59:53 - David's final advice:
01:02:08 - From $5M to $10M

1) 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 audience

3) 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 style

5) 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-based

NEVER 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 BETTER

Scale 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 Park

Notable 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 Park

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/30startupideas

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND DAVID ON SOCIAL

Jenni AI: https://jenni.ai
X/Twitter: https://x.com/Davidjpark96
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paviddark/

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 - Intro
01:36 - Startup Idea: Hit Me App
04:28 - The Foundation Sprint Overview
05:16 - Step 1: Customer
07:50 - Step 2: Problem
12:25 - Step 3: Capability
15:20 - Step 4: Insight
23:34 - Step 5: Motivation
31:44 - Step 6: Competitors 
38:57 - How to use AI in the Development Process
41:55 - Differentiation Analysis
51:58 - Reviewing Foundation Sprint 

Click Book: https://www.theclickbook.com

Key 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 positioning

1) The Foundation Sprint Framework:
• Start with the basics
• Define clear differentiation
• Map possible product forms
• Test & validate assumptions

Key insight: Most founders skip this critical planning phase! 

2) The Basics Framework includes:

• Customer identification
• Problem definition
• Special capabilities
• Key insights
• Core motivation
• Competitor analysis

Pro 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 blockers

4) 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 distractions
The opportunity: Build tools that REPLACE consumption with creation
This 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." - JC

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jicecream
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/
AJ&Smart: https://ajsmart.com

FIND JAKE ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/jakek
Website: https://jakeknapp.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jake-knapp/

Get Greg’s Deep research research notes: https://www.gregisenberg.com/deep-research-ideas

I 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 research

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:33 - Defining the Startup Prompt
02:29 - Initiating Research with ChatGPT
05:05 - Initiating Research with Perplexity
09:13 -  Perplexity results (Legal Contract AI)
15:44 - ChatGPT results (AI Sales Outreach Assistant)
26:10 - Comparing Perplexity and ChatGPT Outputs
27:55 - Follow-Up Prompts and Further Exploration
31:55 - Perplexity's Follow-Up results
34:43 - ChatGPT's Follow-Up results 
37:07 - Where to get Greg’s Deep research research notes
37:31 - Conclusion: Choosing Between Tools

1) 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: $5K

2) 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 studies

4) BEST STARTUP IDEAS GENERATED:

Legal Contract AI (Perplexity):
• $2.4B market opportunity
• Auto-redline contracts
• Defensible through learning
• Clear path to $5.4M ARR

AI Sales Assistant (ChatGPT):
• Virtual SDR automation
• Network effect moat
• Product-led growth strategy
• $100M+ potential

5) 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 model

6) KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Both tools are INSANELY good
• Perplexity = Fast, concise, free tier
• ChatGPT = Deeper analysis, more context
• Both provide actionable insights
• Worth integrating into workflow

7) PROTIP:
For best results:
• Be specific with constraints
• Ask follow-up questions
• Double-click on interesting areas
• Cross-reference competitor insights

Bottom 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 tools

Conclusion: 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/30startupideas

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

Join us for an engaging conversation with Cody Schneider, Co-Founder and CEO of Swell AI, as we explore a wide range of AI startup ideas and business opportunities with detailed analysis of market opportunities, implementation strategies, and potential revenue models.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and technical setup
01:31 - Startup Idea 1: Lightroom Preset SaaS
04:41 - Startup Idea 2: Domain Portfolio for Lead Gen
10:56 -Startup Idea 3: E-commerce newsletter AI tools
15:19 -Startup Idea 4: High-LTV SaaS Services
20:08 - Startup Idea 5: Productized Service  Agency
28:11 - Startup Idea 6: Dog park bar concept
32:53 - Startup Idea 7: Micro app Studio

Key Points:
• Detailed discussion of an AI-powered Lightroom preset subscription business opportunity
• Analysis of e-commerce newsletter AI tools and market potential
• Exploration of physical business concept: Dog park combined with bar
• Discussion of micro-apps trend and opportunity in riding viral waves

1) Lightroom Preset SaaS

Photographers spend $$$ on presets. Time to disrupt.
• Build AI tool to generate Lightroom presets from sample photos
• Convert XML packets at scale
• $29/month subscription model
• Target Adobe users on FB ads

Infinite margins. Just code.

2) Domain Portfolio for Lead Gen

Law firms do it. Now apply it everywhere.
• Buy 1000+ exact-match domains for niche keywords
• Rank organically (still works!)
• Bundle leads to specific industries
• Sell entire portfolio to PE firms

40k+ per lead in some niches 

3) AI for Ecomm Newsletters

People hate coding email templates.
• AI chat interface for newsletter design
• Product storytelling automation
• Holiday campaign generation
• Template modification without code

Klaviyo users desperate for this.

4) Lalo Agency Play

New CRM taking music industry by storm.
• Help artists build fan lists
• Run targeted merch giveaways
• Geographic targeting for tours
• Less than $1 cost per signup

All major labels switching over 

5) Dog Park Bar Concept

The millennial country club is here.

• Combine dog park + bar
• Add app for daily dog updates
• Target high-income dog owners
• Members-only model potential

4pm is packed every day 

6) Micro AI Apps Studio

Text-behind-image went viral. More coming.

- Build simple, focused AI tools
• Ride viral trends
• Credit pack monetization
• $7/week pricing psychology

Adobe does this. Why not you?

7) High-LTV SaaS Services

Find tools people pay for but barely use.
• Target Klaviyo, HubSpot, Sage
• Build productized service
• Create digital assets/templates
• Add custom plugins

25k+ customer LTV 

Notable Quotes:
"Labels are like a bank. That's all they turned into." - Cody Schneider

"Find trends. That's a very hard thing, I think, for the average person to do. But I think to that point, I think it's gonna get easier and easier to see these trends that are occurring." - Cody Schneider

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/30startupideas

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND CODY ON SOCIAL
Cody’s startup: https://www.swellai.com/
X/Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/5fjdn8d7
LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/28e89f5r

Get the exact system used to build profitable local directories: https://www.gregisenberg.com/directory

The episode features Frey Chu explaining his methodology for building profitable directory websites, using dog parks as a case study. He demonstrates how to identify opportunities through keyword research, validate ideas through social proof, and implement a basic yet effective directory structure. The discussion emphasizes that even simple directory websites can generate significant passive income through various monetization methods, while also serving as a foundation for larger business opportunities.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
03:40 - Examples of Profitable Directories and their traffic
10:35 - Why Build Directories
12:23 - Finding and validating directory ideas
26:44 - Data collection and enrichment
42:21 - WordPress implementation
46:36 - Monetization strategies

Key Points:
• How to identify profitable directory website opportunities using keyword research and competition analysis
• Step-by-step process for validating directory ideas using Reddit and social listening
• Data collection and enrichment techniques for building comprehensive directories
• Simple implementation strategy using WordPress or other CMS platforms
• Monetization strategies including AdSense, affiliate marketing, and potential SaaS opportunities

1) First, find your niche:
• Use Ahrefs "near me" searches
• Look for 30-100K monthly searches
• Target keyword difficulty under 20
• Avoid seasonal/branded keywords
• Find niches with fragmented search intent

2) Validate your idea:
• Check competition on Google
• Look for basic/outdated directories
• Browse Reddit discussions
• Confirm real user pain points
• Set a "bounty" on weak competitors

3) Data Collection Strategy:
• Use Google Maps scraping tools (like Outscraper)
• Focus on exact category matches
• Collect key data points:

- Name, address, phone
- Reviews & ratings
- Hours & location links
- Street view images

4) Data Enrichment 
• Add unique features competitors lack
• Include amenity details (shade, benches, etc)
• Use AI tools to automate enrichment
• Focus on solving specific user problems
• Make data actually USEFUL

5) Building The Directory:
• Start with simple "static pillar pages"
• Target city-specific keywords
• Include:

- Table of contents
- Location details
- Embedded maps
- Reviews
- Internal linking structure

6) Monetization Options 
• Display ads (most passive)
• Affiliate partnerships
• Lead generation
• Data collection/email lists
• Potential SaaS upsell

Notable Quotes

"AdSense has been the closest thing that I've ever experienced to passive income." - Frey Chu
"People are monetizing directories wrong. They're just putting AdSense... The opportunity is actually to build software on top of these directories." - Greg Isenberg

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

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Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
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FIND FREY ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://x.com/freychu
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FreyChu
Frey’s Newsletter: https://shipyourdirectory.kit.com

In this episode, Ayman Al-Abdullah, former CEO of AppSumo, shares his framework for scaling businesses from seven to nine figures. The conversation focuses on the importance of customer retention, strategic hiring, and proper incentive structures. Ayman shares insights from his experience scaling AppSumo from $3M to $84M in revenue, emphasizing the transition from founder to CEO mindset.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and background
02:47 - Discussion of the Nine Steps framework
08:13 - Team building and executive compensation
10:35 - The Reality of Startup Valuations
14:36 - The importance of setting a strong foundation
15:59 - Focus on Retention Before Growth
22:26 - Evaluating Opportunities and Thinking Big
29:47 - Examples of Successful Founders that Ayman admires
31:35 - The Importance of Focus in Business
33:26 - Build Skyscrapers, Not Strip-malls 
36:01 - The importance of being the best in the market
37:54 - Where to double down in your business
40:22 - Testing and Investing in Business Strategies
42:05 - Identifying Bottlenecks in Your Business
44:39 - Finding Your Zone of Genius

Key Points:
• The "Nine Steps to Nine Figures" framework divides business growth into three phases: startup, scale-up, and grow-up
• Focus on retention and customer loyalty before aggressive growth
• Use the "Test Then Invest" framework with 80% resources on core business and 20% on experiments
• Structure executive compensation with a 50-50 split between top-line and bottom-line metrics

1) The "Nine Steps to Nine Figures" Framework:

Breaks down into 3 phases:
• Startup (Product Market Fit)
• Scale-up (Company Creation)
• Grow-up (Legacy Protection)

Most founders get this wrong from day 1...

2) RETENTION over GROWTH 

"Building a business without focusing on retention is like building a skyscraper on sand"

Every 3% increase in net revenue retention = DOUBLES company valuation

Stop chasing growth before you nail retention!

3) The 80/20 Marketing Rule:

• 80% of resources on proven channels
• 20% on experimental channels

Real example: AppSumo tested switching from credits to cash payments for referrals → Became 8-figure revenue channel

4) The Shield vs Sword Framework for Decision Making:

Rate every opportunity 1-5 on:
• Impact (Sword)
• Effort (Shield)

Only pursue 8+/10 total score opportunities
Ignore the rest - they're distractions

5) On Building Your Executive Team:

Two core functions:
• Sales (CRO)
• Delivery (COO)

Pro tip: Hire first in YOUR zone of genius
Why? You'll know what excellence looks like

6) The Triple, Triple, Double, Double Path to $100M:

Year 1: $3M → $9M
Year 2: $9M → $27M
Year 3: $27M → $54M
Year 4: $54M → $108M

This is how you hit 9-figures in 5 years 

7) REVOLUTIONARY Compensation Framework:

Forget traditional equity!
Instead:
• Set total comp package
• Let employees choose cash vs equity split
• Makes equity REAL by forcing skin in the game

8) CEO Evolution:

"The founder is the hardest working person
The CEO should be the laziest"

Your job: Think 3-5 quarters ahead while your team executes

 Key Takeaway:
Focus on retention first
Build processes before hiring
Think in 5-year blocks
Execute with intention

Notable Quotes:
"Product market fit is when it feels like you're wearing a meat suit in a dog park - you just have more leads than you know what to do with." - Ayman
"Every 3% increase in net revenue retention doubles a company's valuation." - Ayman

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND AYMAN ON SOCIAL

Ayman’s Website: https://aymanalabdullah.com
X/Twitter: https://x.com/aymanalabdul
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aalab003/

Greg's step-by-step guide to building a startup using AI workflows: https://www.gregisenberg.com/ai-startup

In this episode, Omar Choudhry, a serial entrepreneur, shares the exact prompting sequences he uses to combine multiple AI tools to create products people actually want to buy. Watch us build a custom avatar business live. You'll learn the exact process: from crafting the perfect prompts in ChatGPT, to generating images in Leonardo AI, to animating with Kling AI, all the way to automated fulfillment with Printful. This isn't theory - it's a complete blueprint you can copy today.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and overview
04:22 - Technical, Audience, and Cultural Shifts
10:12 - Explanation of sequential prompting
14:15 - How to create an AI Avatar using ChatGPT and Leonardo AI
26:18 - Startup Idea 1: Custom AI Greeting Cards
36:43 - Teenie Tales MVP showcase
43:10 - How to animate AI Avatar’s using Kling AI 
52:50 - Startup Idea 2: Personalized AI Sticker’s

Key Points:
• Detailed walkthrough of creating AI avatars using sequential prompting across multiple AI tools
• Exploration of business opportunities in personalized greeting cards and educational materials
• Discussion of automated workflows combining ChatGPT, Leonardo AI, and Kling AI
• Integration strategies with print-on-demand services like Printful for physical products

1) The Big Shift in Business Models:

Traditional path:
• Raising VC $$$
• Years to launch
• Large teams
• Office space needed

New AI-First path:
• Build instantly
• Low cost
• Zero employees
• Remote-first

2) The Sequential Prompting Framework 

Omar's genius method:
• Use ChatGPT to create prompts
• Feed prompts to specialized AI tools
• Chain outputs together
• Build user-friendly frontend

Example flow:
ChatGPT → Leonardo AI → Kling AI → 11Labs

3) Business Idea #1: AI-First Greeting Cards 

The $400M Moonpig-killer:
• Upload photos → Get AI avatars
• Generate personalized scenes
• Add animation & voice
• Print physical cards

Monetization:
• $7-10 per card
• $10-15 monthly subs
• Gift upsells

4) Business Idea #2: Educational AI Stickers 

Target market: Schools & Teachers

The product:
• Custom teacher avatars
• Personalized student stickers
• Achievement celebrations
• Classroom decorations

Distribution:
• Direct mail to principals
• School district partnerships

5) The Technical Stack 

Tools needed:
• ChatGPT for prompts
• Leonardo AI for images
• Remove.bg for backgrounds
• Printful API for fulfillment
• Zapier/Make for automation

CAC potential: $15/customer

6) Marketing Strategy 

Guerrilla tactics:
• Find faculty directories
• Create custom samples
• Direct mail campaigns
• Social media DM outreach
• Leverage virality in schools

Pro Tip: Start manual, perfect the process, then automate!

7) BONUS INSIGHT 

The real opportunity isn't just in the tools - it's in the UX layer on top.

Build specific solutions for specific problems.
Create branded experiences.
Make it dead simple to use.

The tools are commodities. The experience is the moat.

Notable Quotes:
"We're building full workflows today using AI avatars. I'm going to have a ton of business ideas that you can start immediately with zero employees." - Omar

"By the end of this episode, you'll be able to assemble an AI SaaS product that can literally print you cash." - Omar

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND OMAR ON SOCIAL

5 Day Sprint - Build with AI: https://www.skool.com/5-day-sprint/about
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omarchoudhry/
X/Twitter: https://x.com/OmarChoudhry
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omarchoudhry/?originalSubdomain=uk

In this episode, Sari Azout, Founder and CEO of Sublime,  explores various startup ideas and business concepts. The discussion centers on the evolving nature of startups in the AI era, emphasizing the importance of focusing on specific, well-defined problems rather than broad solutions. Sari shares multiple business ideas, from parental control services to creative tools, while discussing the philosophy behind building successful products in today's market.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and setup
00:57 - Startup Idea 1: DrScreenTime
06:39 - Startup Idea 2: Business-in-a-box ideas
13:34 - What becomes scarce in an AGI world? 
14:38 - Founders and Their Approaches
16:10 - Akio Morita Simplicity Principle 
17:01 - Startup Idea 3: Podshot 
22:10 - Discussion on micro-startups 
25:53 - Testing Ideas and Positioning
29:03 -  Feedback and Intuition
33:04 - Startup Idea 4: Meme generator 

Key Points:
• Discussion of several innovative startup ideas including "DrScreenTime" (parental control franchise), PodShot, and meme generator 
• Exploration of business-in-a-box concepts and the future of trades/crafts
• Analysis of micro-startups vs. traditional startup approaches

1) The "Franchise for Parental Controls" Idea 

Parents are desperate for help managing screen time. Current solutions = messy.

Opportunity: In-home screen time consultants who:

- Set up controls
- Create family rules
- Recommend apps/tools

Revenue model:
• $2K setup fee
• Recurring affiliate revenue
• Think "Dr. Screen Time" 

2) The "Business in a Box" Trend 

Big insight: What becomes scarce in an AI world?
Answer: People doing things with their hands!

Opportunity: Modern craft business franchise
• Partner with local artists
• Supply chain + education
• Target: offline-first experiences
• Status = disconnecting from screens

3) The Trade School Revolution 

Huge opportunity in modernizing trade education:
• Lambda School model for trades
• Zero upfront tuition
• Revenue share after job placement
• Bundle with business tools/marketing
• Focus: plumbing, electrical, etc.

Why? Trades becoming MORE valuable in AI era

4) The Micro-Startup Strategy 

Modern startup playbook:

1. Have a 10-year vision
2. Unbundle into micro-products
3. Start with easiest/viral pieces
4. Build distribution first

Key insight: "Nobody searches for an inspiration engine"

5) Product Development Philosophy 

Two types of founders:
• Artists (creative vision driven)
• Scientists (iteration driven)

Choose your path but stick to it.

Sari’s 2024 goal: "Take less feedback, trust intuition more"

6) The Meme Generator Opportunity 

Final killer idea: Long-form to meme converter
• Input: articles, presentations, links
• Output: culturally relevant memes
• Train on curated meme library
• Potential $10M+ SaaS business

Why? No idea goes mainstream without memes 

Key Takeaway:

2024 startup strategy:

1. Build close to OR far from AI
2. Focus on what becomes scarce
3. Start micro, think macro
4. Distribution not Product

Notable Quotes:
"No idea will become mainstream if it's not captured in a meme." - Sari Azout
"Screenshots are the new bookmarks." - Greg

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.co

FIND ME ON SOCIAL

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND SARI ON SOCIAL

Sublime: https://sublime.app
X/Twitter: https://x.com/sariazout
Substack: https://sublimeinternet.substack.com