In this episode, we explore 8 standout startup ideas from Dani Grant’s list of 139. I’ll break down why each idea has potential or pitfalls and share the frameworks and strategies I’d use to grow these businesses.Here are the most interesting ones (with my takes):1) Product Spec Doc SaaS • Google Docs for PMs• Pricing Potential: $20/mo• Partner with PM influencers (e.g. Lenny Rachitsky )• Build MVP, then get creator buy-in• Solid idea, but needs influencer partner to succeed.2) Developer Portfolio Site Builder• Like Format but for devs• $15/mo avg per user, low churn• Start by designing for influencer devs• Build MVP after refining the concept• Great cash flow biz. Niche website builders still work in 2024!3) Blog + Newsletter in a Box • Set up blogs like Fred Wilson’s AVC• Use existing tools (Substack, WordPress)• One-time fee, cold outreach model• Good side hustle. Keep it simple, don't try to be Substack 2.0.4) JSFiddle Meets Twitter • Social code sharing + memes• Devs love to remix and share• Build on existing dev culture• Compelling idea. Devs crave better social tools.5) Shopify for X • No-code marketplace builder• No-code messaging app creator• No-code Instagram clone maker• HUGE potential. The unbundling of Shopify is coming!6) HQ Trivia for Dating • Live, gameshow-style dating app• Start in NYC or LA• Make it feel like reality TV• Love this. HQ format will make a comeback in new niches.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: http://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas🚀 My FREE 5 day email course to learn how to build a business of the future using the ACP funnel:https://www.communityempire.co/free-course🎯 To build your own portfolio businesses powered by community you might enjoy my membership.You'll get my full course with all my secrets on building businesses, peer-groups to keep you accountable, business ideas every single month and more!Spots are limited.https://www.communityempire.co/📬 Join my free newsletter to get weekly startup insights for free:https://www.gregisenberg.com/70,000+ people are already subscribed.FIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/To improve your rankings your business on Google and using AI for SEO, sign up tohttp://boringmarketing.com/Links Mentioned:Dani’s startup ideas: https://thedani.notion.site/Project-Ideas-b598df2c46ac4969af1ac28553d82411Episode Timestamps: 0:00 Intro02:18 Startup Idea 1: Product Spec Doc SaaS04:17 Startup Idea 2: Developer Portfolio Site Builder08:32 Startup Idea 3: Blog + Newsletter in a Box11:16 Startup Idea 4: Virtual Workspaces12:42 Startup Idea 5: Turntable FM 2.013:44 Startup Idea 6: JSFiddle Meets Twitter14:57 Startup Idea 7: Shopify for X16:17 Startup Idea 8: HQ Trivia for Dating
Full Episode
The next idea, Shopify for X. I think Shopify is an $80 billion company. And when you have an $80 billion company, there's just opportunities to unbundle it. So what's Dani's idea? So she says, there are all these no-code tools. They're either too limited or too complex. What you need is a product-specific tool. Shopify is no-code e-commerce. Then you would also build no-code marketplaces.
This is such a good idea. This is such a good idea. Something like this needs to exist, should exist, will exist. How would I actually go and build something like this? Well, I'd build that. Okay, so a few weeks ago, I had Dani Grant on the podcast. She's someone who I really respect.
Sometimes you meet someone or you're listening to someone's podcast or you're watching them and you just know that this person's got it. They've got the sauce. They know where the world is going. And she had a few ideas that she shared. But afterwards, she sent me a list of 139 different startup ideas. And we never got a chance to go through them.
So I figured I'd hop on here real quick, go through some of these ideas. Some of them are kind of big venture-backed ideas. Some of them are profitable startups. And some of them will just get your creative juices flowing. And I'll tell you how I feel about these ideas. What would I do? How would I start them? And if I just think that they're plain garbage.
Some of these ideas, I might be like, you know what? I wouldn't Maybe it's a good idea, but it's one of those ideas I wouldn't do. Too much work. So without further ado, let's go into Danny Grant's 139 ideas. Let's pick the most interesting ones or the ones that just speak to me. And let's go through this together and see what we got.
All right, so this idea, idea number one, is there a product doc format just for writing product specs? So you can create Jira's inline, you can have common threads inline, et cetera. This is pretty darn good idea. There is Google Docs, of course, but there's nothing specific for product specs.
So I can imagine a Google Docs for product specs for PMs that people would be willing to pay $20 a month for. So I actually think that there's something here. I really like this idea. It's not the simplest idea to do. You have to create software. I don't think really anything like this exists.
I mean, of course you have product templates, but you don't really have a whole experience dedicated to writing product specs. How would I actually go and build something like this? Well, I'd build the MVP, probably outsource it to an agency to get the MVP up. And I'd partner with a creator. I mean, Lenny Richitsky would be the dream.
So Lenny Richitsky, I think at this point, has the biggest podcast and newsletter for product managers. But who are the aspiring Lenny Richitskys? So I'd make a list. I'd go to perplexity.ai. And I'd say, who are the up and coming 20 Lenny Richitskys? And... And I would go and reach out to them. So I think this is a good idea. Pretty straightforward. Software. Catchy name.
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