Business

22 AI Business Ideas for 2024 (backed by data)

📚 Join the #1 community for AI entrepreneurs and connect with 100,000+ members: https://bit.ly/3uRIRB3 📈 We help industry experts, entrepreneurs & developers build and scale their AI Agency: https://bit.ly/skoolmain 🤝 Need AI Solutions Built? Work with me: https://b.link/qv62vqy6 ⚒️ Build AI Agents Without Coding: https://agentivehub.com/ 🚀 Apply to Join My Team at Morningside AI: https://tally.so/r/wbYr52 In this video I share 22 AI Business Ideas for 2024 based off recent community successes and my own AI Agency lead flow. If you want to know how to start an AI Automation Agency as a beginner, starting with one of the offers mentioned in this video is a great way to get started on the right foot. Knowing how to make money with AI in 2024 is a lot easier when you have something to start selling! Community Members (Please Support!) 🫂 Samin Yasar: https://www.youtube.com/@SaminYasar_ https://aianswer.us Brendan Jowett: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzIsviqoJc-VcWqF5Pp8iLw https://inflate.agency Connor Davis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviscon/ https://www.outboxsolutions.com.au/ Other Resources/Links Mentioned 🔗 GPTs Complete Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh2zqaf0Fvg&t=1332s&ab_channel=LiamOttley AI Persona Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOr3don1X-E&ab_channel=LiamOttley Bland AI: https://www.bland.ai/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 1:52 - Community Solutions 2:34 - Community Solution #1 3:36 - Community Solution #2 5:11 - Community Solution #3 8:24 - GPT Solutions 8:52 - GPT Solution #1 10:25 - GPT Solution #2 11:48 - GPT Solution #3 12:24 - GPT Solution #4 12:52 - GPT Solution #5 14:25 - GPT Solution #6 15:40 - AI Agents 16:10 - AI Agent #1 17:26 - AI Agent #2 19:07 - AI Agent #3 20:00 - AI Agent #4 20:19 - AI Agent #5 21:28 - AI Pipelines 22:47 - AI Pipeline Idea #1 23:56 - AI Pipeline Idea #2 25:05 - AI Pipeline Idea #3 25:34 - AI Pipeline Idea #4 26:50 - AI Calling Systems 28:39 - AI Calling System #1 29:34 - AI Calling System #2 29:59 - AI Calling System #3 30:20 - AI Calling System #4 31:04 - Bonus Idea

Best AI Tools for Accountants

We’re pretty sure, these great AI tools will help you in the long run. Let’s have a look at their importance: VIC.AI: AI-powered Accounting Made Effortless! Their advanced algorithms are trained on vast invoice data, eliminating the need for templates or memorization. Accurate from day one, their Autopilot technology seamlessly integrates AI for streamlined invoicing.😇 Indy: AI-Powered Accounting Made Fast and Affordable! Freelancers, businesses, and entrepreneurs can tackle accounting tasks up to 20x faster than traditional software. Create income statements and financial statements in a fraction of the time, all at a lower cost than traditional accountants.🤔 Docyt: AI-Powered Accounting Automation for Faster Decision Making. Digitize financial data, automate workflows, and make faster decisions. Reduce costs and simplify bookkeeping and back-office tasks.😲 Blue Dot is an innovative market leader with a cutting-edge financial platform. Their all-in-one Tax Compliance Platform combines digitization, tax compliance, and automation to analyze employee spend data for VAT, Taxable Employee Benefits, and Corporate Income Tax.🥹 Comment below the names of the AI tools that you use for accounting.👇👇 #aitoolsforaccountants #aitools #ai #technology #upskill #cpa #uscpa #CPAexam #cpajobs #CPAscope #MilesEducation #workintheus #talent #fyp #explore #accounting #accountants #accountancy #cpacoursereview #jobopportunities #CPAplacement #CPAsalary #success #career

Day 1 of building an AI SaaS to $10k mo

#saas #ai #chatgpt #developer #developers #coders #builders #software #softwaredeveloper #softwareengineer #founder #founders #entrepreneur #entrepreneurship #startup #startuplife #startupbusiness #leanstartup

How to Start an AI Business in 2025 - STEP BY STEP

📚 Join the #1 community for AI entrepreneurs and connect with 100,000+ members: https://bit.ly/3uRIRB3 📈 We help industry experts, entrepreneurs & developers build and scale their AI Agency: https://b.link/9kmmllts 🤝 Need AI Solutions Built? Work with me: https://b.link/qv62vqy6 ⚒️ Build AI Agents Without Coding: https://agentivehub.com/ 🚀 Apply to Join My Team at Morningside AI: https://tally.so/r/wbYr52 NOTE ON AI LIAM: AI Liam has been shut down and replaced with a free course that is updated frequently on my Free Skool community. At Morningside we no longer had the bandwidth to continue updating AI Liam with the features and info it needed, so have opted for a free course instead: https://bit.ly/3uRIRB3 I also do weekly Q&As so you can ask me questions directly! I'll see you inside, Liam 💪🏼 Learn How to Start an Online AI Business as a Beginner in 2024 with my complete, step by step guide. Making money with AI and making money with ChatGPT are huge opportunities in the online business space, but knowing whether to start an AI education business, AI Automation Agency, AI consulting business, AI SaaS or become an AI freelancer can be difficult as a beginner. If you're interested in becoming an AI entrepreneur in 2024 and starting your own AI business, this video is the one for you! I cover five different types of AI business ideas that you can start to make money online with AI, and how to get started with each. Other Resources/Links Mentioned 🔗 GPTs Complete Guide: https://youtu.be/Hh2zqaf0Fvg?si=oq5Emaf-co3nXzID Prompt Engineering Beginners Guide: https://youtu.be/ydjRYmM19DY?si=adwasE8fULHzcUYh Prompt Engineering Advanced Guide: https://youtu.be/-XivIt5oSw?si=dmhA1doWEjPI5ni Custom Tooling w/ Relevance AI: https://youtu.be/_sNGuQz-LyY?si=AJAnexuw9kDU30fF Dave's Channel (FOR AI FREELANCERS): https://www.youtube.com/@daveebbelaar Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 3:06 - Why Listen to Me? 6:43 - Chapter 1: Is AI Business Right For You? 7:30 - Is Entrepreneurship Right For You? 11:01 - Do I Need to be a Developer? 12:01 - How Much Time do I Need to Invest? 13:57 - Why Start an AI Business? 19:58 - Chapter 2: 5 Types of AI Businesses 20:32 - AI Business #1 25:17 - AI Business #2 30:33 - AI Business #3 36:37 - AI Business #4 39:27 - AI Business #5 41:34 - How AI Businesses Are Connected 52:52 - Chapter 3: AI Business Core Skills 53:21 - Skill #1 59:52 - Skill #2 1:10:25 - Skill #3 1:22:41 - Skill #4 1:24:50 - Skill #5 1:27:49 - Skill #6 1:29:18 - Chapter 4: Step-by-Step Launch Guide

🔥 AI Agents Will Skyrocket in the Coming Years—Jensen Huang Explains! 🚀#shorts #youtubeshorts #ai

🔔 Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://aientrepreneurs.standout.digital?utm_source=yt 🔔 Subscribe for more tech insights: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjMceG0jS4Lr5ZACzpYjHf In this exciting video, Jensen Huang shares his vision for the future of AI agents over the coming years. As AI continues to evolve, Huang explains how these agents will make massive strides in problem-solving, automation, and innovation, transforming industries worldwide. 🔹 Learn about the future progress of AI agents from NVIDIA’s CEO. 🔹 Discover how AI agents will revolutionize business and technology. 🔹 Explore the advancements AI agents will bring in the coming years. #JensenHuang #NVIDIA #AIAgents #AIProgress #ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfAI #AIRevolution #TechInnovation #Automation #TrendingNow Join 66,000+ AI lovers with 4 free gifts🎁: 100 ChatGPT prompts, AI writer to go viral, "Building A Minimum Viable Business In Record Time" Course AND "4-Hour AI Workweek" course! Click here: https://aientrepreneurs.standout.digital?utm_source=yt ✨Exclusive Freebies and Tools: 📙 (Free Course) The 4 Hour AI Workweek: https://aientrepreneurs.standout.digital?utm_source=yt 📑 Bubble No Code AI Template: https://launchai.pro/?aff=wqp8K 🛠️ #1 AI SEO Tool: https://tryjournalist.com?aff=ge 🐤 Grow on Twitter with AI: http://app.tweethunter.io/?via=george-p 📚 Free Lead Magnets Playbook: https://aientrepreneurs.gumroad.com/l/yndih 👨‍💻 AI UI Design Tool: https://get.uizard.io/affc?offerid=3&aff_id=683 📹 Free YouTube Growth Playbook: https://aientrepreneurs.gumroad.com/l/qbswh ✍️ Free Script Writing Guide: https://aientrepreneurs.gumroad.com/l/yfhxgk 🤖 Free 100 ChatGPT Prompts: https://aientrepreneurs.gumroad.com/l/npyks ✨OUR OTHER SOCIALS: 🎙️ Podcast Deep Dive- https://podcast.standout.digital/ 💻 Check out our blog- https://www.standout.digital/blog/ 🐤 Follow us on Twitter- https://twitter.com/EntrepreneursAI 🤳 Check out our Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/standoutaientrepreneurs 📷 Dive into our TikTok- https://www.tiktok.com/@theaientrepreneurs 👨‍💼 Connect on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/theaientrepreneurs Video credits: @CNET Full video: https://youtu.be/kfe3ajUYSdc?feature=shared Some links may be referral links* Thank you!

5 Best FREE AI Courses for Non-Technical & Technical Beginners 2024 | How to learn AI ML | Learn AI

Install SquareX - https://sqrx.io/ps_yt Top FREE AI Courses #1 AI For Everyone Coursera - https://www.coursera.org/learn/ai-for-everyone#modules #2 - Building Generative AI Skills for Business Professionals (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/paths/building-generative-ai-skills-for-business-professionals #3 - AI for Python programmers. CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with Python - https://www.edx.org/learn/artificial-intelligence/harvard-university-cs50-s-introduction-to-artificial-intelligence-with-python? #4 - Wharton AI for Business Professionals - https://www.coursera.org/specializations/ai-for-business-wharton #5 - Deep learning specialization by Andre - https://www.coursera.org/specializations/deep-learning If you are looking to join our Problem Solving platform & get personalized feedback: https://inquisitiveminds.ai/ Follow me here LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/pavan-sathiraju/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pavan.sathiraju Everyone is talking about why to upskill in AI but nobody is telling you how to learn AI and Machine Learning in 2024. These 5 best AI courses for beginners free 2024 will help you learn AI ML from scratch. This will solve your problem of how to learn AI from scratch and you will be able to use these best ai courses online to advance in your career. These best AI courses online are for both beginners or non-technical folks. In this video, I have included AI courses for non-technical and business folks along with AI course in Python for folks who know tech or programming. How to learn AI from scratch? For this query, we have included the first course that AI for everybody on Coursera. As the title suggests this is an AI Course for beginners to learn AI ML from scratch and have a basic understanding of AI technology. These best AI courses for beginners online can help you a great deal in getting started with AI. This is one of the best AI courses online for free. You can find other free AI courses but if you are just getting started with learning AI and Machine Learning then this is the course for you. Next on the list is related to AI courses for jobs that can be used by business professionals. You can use this course as a business professional to learn how to use AI tools in your job and get things done faster. How to learn AI for beginners? For this, we have included a course from Havard which is an introduction to AI using Python. For technical folks who know Python, this is a good course since it will teach you everything you need to know about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to get started with doing more work in the field. This covers your AI courses for job. The next best ai course for beginners is Wharton AI course for business professionals. This is a great AI course for business professionals who want to learn how to use AI tools. How to learn AI and machine learning from scratch as a business student? This Wharton AI course will help you a lot in that regard. The last best AI course on the list to learn AI and Machine learning from scratch is the Deep Learning course on Coursera. This course is great for both beginners and those with some experience who want to learn more about AI. Hope this video solves your problem of how to learn AI ML. Hope you find this video valuable, see you in the next one. About Me I publish meaningful and valuable content on this channel. My aim is to make business news more accessible and easy to grasp. If you find my videos informative and insightful then make sure to subscribe and leave a comment. I’ll see you in the next video Chapters 0:00 - Intro 2:08 - #1 Course 3:26 - #2 Course 5:56 - #3 Course 7:08 - #4 Course 8:18 - #5 Course 9:35 - Outro

Top 5 AI Tools Every Real Estate Agent Needs

✅ Join my Real Estate Learning Community https://powerunituniversity.com 🚀 RESOURCES ➡️ Weekly Newsletter https://chastinjmiles.com/list ➡️ Podcast Spotify https://bit.ly/3Y6HLvj Apple https://apple.co/473jZEH Google https://bit.ly/3Kcao4R === 🚀 CONNECT WITH ME ➡️ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/chastinjmiles ➡️ Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/powerunitmemberslounge ➡️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chastinjmiles ➡️ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chastinjmiles/ ➡️ Twitter https://twitter.com/chastinjmiles 🏡 Buy or Sell your home https://chastinjmilesteam.com/ === Chastin J. Miles is a licensed TX real estate agent with eXp Realty ➡️ Join Me at eXp https://partnerwithcjm.com #realestate #realtor #realestateagent #realestateinvestor #realestateinvesting #realtorlife #realestatesales #business #businessowner #salestips #sales

How to Get Rich with AI: The Complete Beginner’s Blueprint

🚀 FREE 6 MONTH ROADMAP: https://b.link/fzslezrl 📚 Join the #1 community for AI entrepreneurs and connect with 100,000+ members: https://b.link/dvlv77f6 📈 We help industry experts, entrepreneurs & developers build and scale their AI Agency: https://b.link/bcm31sqg 🤝 Need Al solutions built? Work with me: https://b.link/hmr6o3uz 🛠 Build Al agents without coding: https://b.link/7htw9o3k 🚀 Apply to Join My Team at Morningside AI: https://tally.so/r/wbYr52 Interview w/ Isaiah: https://youtu.be/8EIQy0XJW4w My Plan to Scale Morningside: https://youtu.be/YnhD9pEiMVQ How to Price AI Services: https://youtu.be/1L0ghc5ofLo Discover the complete beginner's blueprint to getting rich with AI, even if you're starting from scratch. In this video, I’ve compiled the exact steps and best strategies that I used to run 5 successful AI businesses. If you want to learn how to start an AI Automation Agency (AAA) or AI business, this video guides you through the essential skills and tools you need to thrive in the AI industry. Timestamps: 0:00 - What We’re Covering 0:59 - Three Parts of This Video 1:43 - Current State of the Economy 3:31 - The AI Landscape 4:12 - Business #1 6:19 - Business #2 8:03 - Business #3 10:15 - Business #4 11:43 - Business #5 13:37 - Where to Start 16:32 - 3 Phases of AI Business 17:13 - Phase #1 18:56 - Phase #2 20:27 - Phase #3 22:42 - 6 Month Plan 24:23 - Final Note

Airtable builds with Amazon Bedrock to transform workflows with generative AI | Amazon Web Services

Airtable, a cloud based low-code platform, enables non-programmers to build next-gen business applications. To democratize AI adoption for non-technical users across organizations, Airtable launched Airtable AI, powered by Amazon Bedrock. Through this partnership, Airtable AI seamlessly incorporates powerful foundation models like Anthropic's Claude and Amazon's Titan on Amazon Bedrock, allowing customers to choose models that best suits their use cases and workflows. Key benefits include a unified API for integrating AWS services, secure hosting of foundation models and data, access to cutting-edge technologies, fostering bottoms-up AI adoption among non-technical teams, and generative AI use cases including content generation, automation actions, and intelligent data Q&A. All this is unified within Airtable's intuitive low-code environment. Learn more at: https://go.aws/3Ta68X4 Subscribe: More AWS videos: https://go.aws/3m5yEMW More AWS events videos: https://go.aws/3ZHq4BK Do you have technical AWS questions? Ask the community of experts on AWS re:Post: https://go.aws/3lPaoPb ABOUT AWS Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the world’s most comprehensive and broadly adopted cloud platform, offering over 200 fully featured services from data centers globally. Millions of customers — including the fastest-growing startups, largest enterprises, and leading government agencies — are using AWS to lower costs, become more agile, and innovate faster. #AmazonBedrock #FoundationModels #generativeAI #AnthropicClaude #AmazonTitan #Airtable #AWS #AmazonWebServices #CloudComputing

6 Best AI Tools For Business [Effortless Business Productivity]

Register at Reply.io now and get a 75% discount on the first four months using promo code ‘ANDY’: https://bit.ly/3SyU56Q. Act fast—this exclusive offer is only valid until December 31, 2023. A discount is available when you subscribe to the annual plan. Don’t miss out! Thanks to Reply io for sponsoring this video. Our sponsors help us grow the channel and keep making better videos for you. Thanks for your support! 00:00 - Intro 00:07 - #1 Reply.io 02:49 - #2 Second Nature 03:47 - #3 People AI 05:05 - #4 Dooly 06:15 - #5 TLDV 07:28 - #6 Rows LINKS ↓ Click Here To Start AI Automation:https://skool.com/aimate/about Get 1-on-1 AI Consulting: https://calendly.com/andyhafell/andy? Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/theaiandy My AI Video Newsletter: https://andyhafell.ck.page/ab4b146797 Worlds #1 AI Discord Server: https://discord.gg/aTSzxrj6XY Follow on Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@andyhafell Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aiandyhafell Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Andyhafell Follow on YouTube Shorts: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkLB_RfEjSZx567JaPcBRlA Email for Business Inquiries: biz@aiandy.ai

What is Vibe Coding, should you Learn It?

Vibe coding is coding with Ai as the Ai creates the boilerplate code for you. But does that mean you don't need to understand coding/development? #vibecoding #aidevelopment 🔥 STEF'S DEVELOPER BOOTCAMP AND MENTORING PROGRAM https://unclestef.com/ 📽️ Get your questions answered, sponsor a video: https://unclestef.com/blog/2025/03/04/sponsored-video-request/ 🎤 Listen to my Uncle Stef podcasts: https://unclestef.com/blog/2024/07/26/uncle-stef-podcast-all-episodes/ 🔥 JOIN STEF'S 'CODER'S CAREER PATHS' NEWSLETTER: https://newsletters.stefanmischook.com/coderscareerpaths_signup 🔥 FREE: LIZARD WIZARD KOMODO - TRANSFORMATIONAL MIND TRAINING: https://newsletters.stefanmischook.com/komodo Channel Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rn8za8aq2v WEB HOST PAYS FOR YOUR WEB DESIGN TRAINING IN 2023: https://www.killersites.com/blog/2020/web-hosting-company-pays-for-your-web-design-training/ POPULAR & EASY CODING COURSES: Full stack web developer course: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/completewebdeveloper Python 3 Foundations & Certification: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/python3foundations&certificationpackage Complete Freelancer: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/complete_freelancer Complete Entrepreneur: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/completewebentrepreneur 🦎 Lizard Wizard Course: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/lizard_wizard 📚 BOOKS TO READ: My Beginners HTML5, CSS3: https://amzn.to/2wKsVTh … Complements Studioweb courses on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (2nd Edition) https://amzn.to/3o5cTbw HeadFirst Design Patterns: https://amzn.to/2LQ0Gdh Java Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (1st Edition) https://amzn.to/3a9nSsZ The Naked Ape: https://amzn.to/3fhS1Lj ✉️ STAY IN CONTACT: Stef's social links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanmischook/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/killersites Stef's business channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdr0ql_B240VBVINAX7Acg 👉 GOOGLE REVIEW: https://g.page/studioWebedu/review?mt Leave a Google review about Stef. MY MOUSE & KEYBOARD: Logitech Keyboard I use: https://amzn.to/38jYDqE Logitech mouse I use: https://amzn.to/2IeVvBj SUPPLEMENTS THAT WORK AMAZING FOR ME: Protein Essentials Beef Gelatine Powder: https://amzn.to/2Pf52vL ... Healed my very bad knee. If you have joint problems, this *could do miracles for you. Webber Naturals 88862 Glucosamine Chondroitin https://amzn.to/3ss9WEa MY CAMERA GEAR: Godox VL150 lights: https://amzn.to/3lhsYZP Sigma 18-35 lens: https://amzn.to/33sRh0T Canon EOS C70 Cinema Camera Thanks! Stef #mentoring #codecourses #unclestef #codingcoach

11 Make.com Automations You NEED To Start Using Every Day (steal these)

🌍 COMMUNITY https://www.skool.com/automatable/about 📝 BLUEPRINTS • New leads automation → https://youtu.be/RGHKaXLPrTk • Automate contracts/invoices → https://youtu.be/hle_HtchLz8 • Automate recruitment → https://youtu.be/_xYJMW5yeUk • Automate lead web scraping & AI lead magnets → https://youtu.be/LLKI_cV7XI4 • Automate AI blog posts → https://youtu.be/FmXt26JY24I • Automate AI social media posting → https://youtu.be/97U8kFkzjYQ • Automate accounting → https://youtu.be/QBuGQaLNFfc • Automate scraping viral content ideas → https://youtu.be/5Wi7fqJwh6s • Automate project management → https://youtu.be/nyoiFHzH1Hw • Automate analytics → https://youtu.be/dRLHT_B-uKg 📚 SUMMARY In this video we walk through the 11 best Make.com automations I use on a daily basis (and you should too). These automations literally changed my life. I went from working 14 hours per day on my business to ultimately replacing my job. There's obviously more to it than just 11, but this is a great start 📺 RELATED VIDEOS • Full crash course on Make.com → https://youtu.be/hinLebdX8aM • Full crash course on Apify & web scraping →https://youtu.be/pKgup8tsPv8 • How I made 507K last year with Bark.com → https://youtu.be/oCaGVACutdE • How I generate 1,000+ blog posts instantly → https://youtu.be/FmXt26JY24I • How I scraped 10,000+ leads & sent lead magnets → https://youtu.be/qwsB72PhM3E 🎯 1:1 CONSULTING Book a time → https://jonocatliff.com/consultation 🚀 AUTOMATION AGENCY Get help with your business → https://www.automatable.co 🔗 LINKS (some of these make me money - thanks in advance!) • Apify → https://jonocatliff.com/apify • Zapier → https://jonocatliff.com/zapier • PandaDoc → https://jonocatliff.com/pandadoc • Make.com → https://jonocatliff.com/make • Go High Level → https://jonocatliff.com/gohighlevel 👋 ABOUT ME Hey everyone, my name is Jono. I run a 7-figure service business that offers DJ, photo, video services (#1 largest in Canada), and spent years figuring out how to automate every part of it (and hired the roles that I couldn't). Conservatively, I used to work 80+ hours per week, before sunrise till long after sunset; missing gatherings, family events and everything in between. Through automation though, I was able to replace my job. My goal is to help share what worked for me, in a dream of helping others find true success with their passion. Please subscribe, like and comment below if you have any questions! Thank you 😊 ⌛ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Intro 1:12 New leads automation 2:50 Automate contracts/invoices 5:12 Automate accounting 7:31 Automate recruitment 9:23 Automate lead web scraping & AI lead magnets 11:42 Automate AI blog posts 13:58 Automate AI social media posting 14:48 Automate scraping viral content ideas 15:44 Automate project management 16:55 Automate analytics 19:01 Automate your database #make #automation #workflowautomation #workflow #automationmastery

the foolproof skillset to get rich in the AI age (can’t lose)

📚 Join the #1 community for AI entrepreneurs and connect with 100,000+ members: https://b.link/r4oasonz 📈 We help industry experts, entrepreneurs & developers build and scale their AI Agency: https://b.link/q94vos9q 🤝 Need AI Solutions Built? Work with me: https://b.link/qv62vqy6 ⚒️ Build AI Agents Without Coding: https://agentivehub.com/ 🚀 Apply to Join My Team at Morningside AI: https://tally.so/r/wbYr52 In this video I cover the essential skills to crush it in the AI-driven future and secure your financial success. I reveal two crucial skills and three opportunities to leverage them, setting you up to be among the winners in the AI age. Whether you want to scale your AI Automation Agency (AAA) or grow your business with AI, this video will help you. Timestamps 0:00 - What We’re Covering 0:28 - Who am I? 0:48 - Current State of AI 4:13 - Skill #1 4:39 - Skill #2 7:30 - Opportunity #1 7:56 - Opportunity #2 8:20 - Opportunity #3

How to Build a $1 Billion AI Business Solo

🤝 Let's connect on Linkedin - https://dripl.ink/8sVkw 🚀 Automation Agency - https://dripl.ink/UCCkG 🛠 TOOLS: AI Coding: Lovable: https://dripl.ink/ZkTnR Bolt: https://dripl.ink/3Z5Fy Replit: https://replit.com/ Automation: Make: https://bit.ly/3BQkcjO Zapier: https://zapier.com/ n8n: https://n8n.io/ Agents: Lindy: https://www.lindy.ai/ n8n: https://n8n.io/ Full Repository: https://bit.ly/4bw2uyI 🚨 SUBSCRIBE TO THE CHANNEL https://bit.ly/wearenocodeyt ➡️ VISIT WeAreNoCode Website: https://www.wearenocode.com #nocode #startups #entrepreneur #saas #AI

5 Genius Ways to Make Money From Home (Using AI)

Check out Fundrise to get started with investing in pre-IPO blue-chip companies that are leading the AI industry: http://fundrise.com/charliechang #fundrisetestimonial #fundrisepartner In this video, I'm going to share 5 genius ways to make money online, using AI (that are all proven). I'll also give you a clear outline and show you exactly how to leverage these new AI opportunities to make money online. ► Daily advice and BTS on my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliechang/ ► Get access to my FREE side hustle courses: https://www.sidehustlemastery.com My favorite business must-haves: 💳 Best business credit cards: https://yourbestcreditcards.com/card-finder/?ccid=2004 🏦 Novo (best business bank): https://startupwise.com/novo 🖥️ Best AI website builder ($3/month using code CHARLIECHANG): https://hostinger.com/charliechang ⚙️ Northwest (best $39 LLC formation service): https://startupwise.com/northwestLLC 🥇 Hire top 1% overseas talent: https://paired.so Whether it's optimizing businesses, doing social media management, or investing in pre-IPO tech companies, there are so many interesting opportunities that are out there for you guys to take advantage of. I highly encourage every aspiring entrepreneur out there to find a way to use AI because this can absolutely change the efficiency and output of your business. If you liked the video, and you want to see more videos on AI and making money, check out my videos: How To Use ChatGPT To Learn ANY Skill Quickly (Tutorial): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYvOTGk7hOA 5 Passive Income Ideas - How I ACTUALLY Make $35K/Week in 2023 https://youtu.be/TVLgIKMOYJ0 I hope you guys found this video helpful, and if you did please share it with a friend or family member who you think could benefit and also LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more videos like this in the future! Thank you for watching and I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day! – Charlie #AI #Money #SideHustle Timeline: 0:00 - Introduction 0:28 - Social Media Management Business 3:11 - AI Optimization Agency 5:41 - Investing in Pre-IPO AI Companies With Fundrise 8:12 - Building an E-commerce Business 10:00 - AI Automated Affiliate Marketing Business 11:12 - Conclusion 11:40 - Outro Disclaimer: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them I may receive a small commission. The retailers and financial services companies pay the commission at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you! In addition, I am not a financial advisor. Charlie Chang does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. The ideas presented in this video are for entertainment purposes only. Please do your own due diligence before making any financial decisions. ► My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliechang/

How To Start A Business Using Only AI

How to Use AI to Start a Business in 2024. ► Shopify Free Trial https://utm.io/uhpKC ► YouTube takes on TikTok Shop with expanded Shopify partnership https://youtube.com/shorts/XdzbDOak9BI?si=eNUZL8AgZK6f0XJg Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Potential with AI! Ever dreamed of starting a business but felt overwhelmed by the complexity? AI is here to revolutionize the way we work! In this video, we'll guide you through the exciting process of launching your own venture using artificial intelligence. Discover how to: Identify profitable niche ideas using AI-powered market research tools Create compelling content with AI-driven writing assistants Design stunning visuals effortlessly using AI design platforms Build and manage your online store without technical expertise Expand your reach by easily adding your products to social media networks like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just starting out, this video will equip you with the knowledge and tools to turn your business dreams into reality. Get ready to harness the power of AI and embark on a successful entrepreneurial journey! –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Watch More Learn with Shopify Video Tutorials: ► How to Connect Your Shopify Store To Your YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/ymD5M8w-drk?si=tLt52iNd0VKrL5eW ► YouTube Shopping Tutorial: The Best Way To Sell Your Shopify Products on YouTube LIVE https://youtu.be/AUtEP7LTNeg?si=imvS2pUTsLvhcZmT ► How To Create Beautiful Presentations With AI https://youtu.be/BZ_ObFC7NVA ► What is Shopify Magic and Shopify Sidekick? (And How To Use It) https://youtu.be/Y7Rlr5gxPp4 ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 1: An Introduction to AI Prompting https://youtu.be/zBaa8Ct2C-k?si=ZshSj72IdgpGrAN5 ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 2: Text-to-Text https://youtu.be/ZlQHPt86h6s ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 3: Text-to-Image https://youtu.be/6RAStep_3OI ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 4: Text to Video https://youtu.be/QgjL0fNTwHc ► How to Sell on Instagram https://youtu.be/cqmUWuA2w2U –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 🔔 Subscribe to @learnwithshopify for more productivity tutorials and tips for entrepreneurs of all stages. Here's what we'll cover in this video: 0:00 Intro 0:48 Idea generation using AI 2:20 How to market research using AI 3:14 Naming your business using AI 4:44 AI Logo Generator 6:10 AI Product Creation 9:48 How to upload products to your website 12:15 How to list your items on Instagram 13:06 How to list your items on YouTube 13:40 How to list your items on TikTok 14:04 Marketing using AI 15:30 Legalization –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 📈 Related Videos: 20 Mobile AI Apps https://youtu.be/OSAFKU8FL44 TikTok Marketing Tutorial (Organic Strategy) https://youtu.be/SeWNUUEtZOY TikTok Marketing Tutorial (Paid Ads) https://youtu.be/RIy9ZN3B5CA Reddit for Business Tutorial https://youtu.be/FcYtZg1uGMA LinkedIn Ads Tutorial https://youtu.be/WMKldiJ8mEw 🔗 Useful Resources: ► 64 Best Small Business Ideas To Start in 2024 https://utm.io/uhpKB ► Free Shopify Business Course https://utm.io/uhpKE ► Join our Shopify community https://utm.io/uhpKC –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– -- TOOLS & RESOURCES – ► Sign Up To Shopify Today https://utm.io/uhpKC ► Shopify Masters Podcast @shopifymasters ► Shopify Podcast https://utm.io/uhlvZ ► 10 Amazing AI Tools For Your Business In 2024 https://youtu.be/TKAO1ykK994 ► 10 ChatGPT Tips & Tricks https://youtu.be/88tVeKj0-7k ► How to make money with Instagram Reels https://youtu.be/U831lmASZRY ► The OFFICIAL Shopify Tutorial - The COMPLETE GUIDE https://youtu.be/ferhOYx1NMo –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– #Shopify #aitools #businesscoaching #businessideas

10 Amazing AI Tools For Your Business You Won't Believe Exist!

10 Amazing AI Tools For Your Business In 2024. FREE Shopify Trial ► https://utm.io/uggJb ► TikTok Marketing Tutorial https://youtu.be/SeWNUUEtZOY ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 1: A Beginner's Guide to AI Prompting https://youtu.be/zBaa8Ct2C-k ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 2: Text-to-Text: https://youtu.be/ZlQHPt86h6s ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 3: https://youtu.be/6RAStep_3OI ► Prompt Engineering Tutorial Part 4: https://youtu.be/QgjL0fNTwHc –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– If you’re a content creator, business owner, or just a regular person trying make work or life easier, you’re gonna love these AI tools. And if you want to find out how AI copied my voice exactly at the beginning of this video then wait for tool number 7 to find out. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– -- TOOLS & RESOURCES – ► The Complete DROPSHIPPING FOR BEGINNERS GUIDE (How-To Tutorial, Trending Products & More!) https://utm.io/ugf9v ► 10 Best Ways To Make Money On Shopify in 2024 (Not just dropshipping!) https://utm.io/ugf9w ► The Complete ChatGPT for Business Guide 🤖 https://utm.io/ugf9x ► 10 ChatGPT Plugins https://utm.io/ugf9y ► Sign Up To Shopify Today https://utm.io/ugfyG ► Pinterest Ads Tutorial for BEGINNERS (Quick & Easy Step-by-Step Guide) https://utm.io/ugf9z ► AI For Business Playlist https://utm.io/ugf9A ► How to build a Shopify Store https://utm.io/ugf9B –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– #shopifytutorialforbeginners #shopify #aitools #ai

How To Start An AI Business In 2025 - STEP BY STEP

I don’t sell to beginners, get my 100% FREE agency course: https://bit.ly/APP-LITE My Favorite Tool: Get The All-in-One AI Sales & Marketing Automation Software: https://bit.ly/JW-GHL ❌ IMPORTANT ❌ : Don't use an ad blocker or chrome extension when clicking on the link, it will block affiliate tracking and you will NOT receive any of my bonuses WHO AM I? Hey, if we haven’t met before, my name is Jason Wardrop and I started and ran my own Real Estate CRM software for 6 years before becoming HighLevel’s #1 Affiliate All-Time! Disclosure: All content on Jason Wardrop’s YouTube channel reflects my own opinions and should NOT be taken as legal advice, financial advice, or investment advice. Please seek out the guidance of professionally trained and licensed individuals before making any decisions. I am an independent entity from HighLevel. I am not an agent or employee of HighLevel and have no authority to make binding contract or represent HighLevel. I receive referral payments from HighLevel. The opinions expressed here are my own and shall NOT be interpreted or considered as representations, guarantees, or statements made by HighLevel Inc or any of its subsidiaries, agents, or assigns. Some links in the description may be affiliate links. Results not guaranteed. #makemoney #makemoneyonline #sidehustle

Vibe Coding and Coder Cry Babies

Vibe coding is a new thing in the Ai and development world, and it is gaining a lot of attention. The new age of development is upon us! 🔥 STEF'S DEVELOPER BOOTCAMP AND MENTORING PROGRAM https://unclestef.com/ 🎤 Listen to my Uncle Stef podcasts: https://unclestef.com/blog/2024/07/26/uncle-stef-podcast-all-episodes/ 🔥 JOIN STEF'S 'CODER'S CAREER PATHS' NEWSLETTER: https://newsletters.stefanmischook.com/coderscareerpaths_signup 🔥 FREE: LIZARD WIZARD KOMODO - TRANSFORMATIONAL MIND TRAINING: https://newsletters.stefanmischook.com/komodo Channel Discord Server: https://discord.gg/rn8za8aq2v WEB HOST PAYS FOR YOUR WEB DESIGN TRAINING IN 2023: https://www.killersites.com/blog/2020/web-hosting-company-pays-for-your-web-design-training/ POPULAR & EASY CODING COURSES: Full stack web developer course: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/completewebdeveloper Python 3 Foundations & Certification: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/python3foundations&certificationpackage Complete Freelancer: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/complete_freelancer Complete Entrepreneur: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/completewebentrepreneur 🦎 Lizard Wizard Course: https://school.studioweb.com/store/course/lizard_wizard 📚 BOOKS TO READ: My Beginners HTML5, CSS3: https://amzn.to/2wKsVTh … Complements Studioweb courses on HTML5, CSS3 and JavaScript. Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (2nd Edition) https://amzn.to/3o5cTbw HeadFirst Design Patterns: https://amzn.to/2LQ0Gdh Java Refactoring: Improving the Design of Existing Code (1st Edition) https://amzn.to/3a9nSsZ The Naked Ape: https://amzn.to/3fhS1Lj ✉️ STAY IN CONTACT: Stef's social links: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stefanmischook/?hl=en Twitter: https://twitter.com/killersites Stef's business channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZdr0ql_B240VBVINAX7Acg 👉 GOOGLE REVIEW: https://g.page/studioWebedu/review?mt Leave a Google review about Stef. MY MOUSE & KEYBOARD: Logitech Keyboard I use: https://amzn.to/38jYDqE Logitech mouse I use: https://amzn.to/2IeVvBj SUPPLEMENTS THAT WORK AMAZING FOR ME: Protein Essentials Beef Gelatine Powder: https://amzn.to/2Pf52vL ... Healed my very bad knee. If you have joint problems, this *could do miracles for you. Webber Naturals 88862 Glucosamine Chondroitin https://amzn.to/3ss9WEa MY CAMERA GEAR: Godox VL150 lights: https://amzn.to/3lhsYZP Sigma 18-35 lens: https://amzn.to/33sRh0T Canon EOS C70 Cinema Camera Thanks! Stef #mentoring #codecourses #unclestef #codingcoach

Workflow Automation with AI and Zapier | CXOTalk #808

#zapier #workflowautomation #workflow #aiautomation The rising significance of enterprise AI presents a unique hurdle: seamlessly integrating AI-based business workflows into operational systems, especially for non-programmers. On CXOTalk episode 808, we explore these issues with Mike Knoop, co-founder of Zapier and the company's AI lead. The conversation with Mike covers the rationale behind integrating AI, the technological advancements AI brings to workflow automation solutions, and its broader impact on business agility. Join the CXOTalk community: www.cxotalk.com/subscribe Read the full transcript: https://www.cxotalk.com/episode/ai-workflows-in-business-a-practical-guide Key points in the discussion include: ► The potential of AI-powered automation to empower more business users with customized workflows. But governance, accuracy, and security are key challenges to consider when implementing AI workflows. ► Initial use cases include generating creative ideas, summarizing unstructured data, and making powerful business process automations easier to build for non-technical users. ► Customer service and marketing are excellent starting points for AI automation. Watch this conversation to gain practical advice on using low-code, no-code tools to automate AI in the enterprise. Mike Knoop is the co-founder and Head of Zapier AI at Zapier. Mike has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Missouri, where his research topic was focused on finite element modeling and optimization. Michael Krigsman is an industry analyst and publisher of CXOTalk. For three decades, he has advised enterprise technology companies on market messaging and positioning strategy. He has written over 1,000 blogs on leadership and digital transformation and created almost 1,000 video interviews with the world’s top business leaders on these topics. His work has been referenced in the media over 1,000 times and in over 50 books. He has presented and moderated panels at numerous industry events around the world.

Ultimate Guide to AI for Businesses

In a confusing contradiction, artificial intelligence is both more accessible, and more intimidating, than ever before. While plenty of free generative AI tools are on the market, it's more difficult to integrate AI in the enterprise. Here, we'll get you started on how AI can boost your business operations and performance, and what to be wary of. Read more: https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/Ultimate-guide-to-artificial-intelligence-in-the-enterprise Subscribe to Eye on Tech: https://www.youtube.com/@EyeonTech Follow us on X: https://www.twitter.com/EyeOnTech_TT Like us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/whatisdotcom/ Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@eyeontech Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/eyeontech_tt/ #enterpriseAI #AIbusiness #generativeai #eyeontech

15 EASY Business Ideas to GET RICH with AI Agents in 2025

Check out the AI Income Ideas Guide by HubSpot Today: https://clickhubspot.com/6rig In 2025, so many companies want to automate their work and they are looking for tools that can help them with that. Imagine earning your first thousand dollars just by helping a business automate its repetitive tasks with AI agents. In this video, I’ve shared 15 business ideas that you can start using AI agents and help companies in different aspects and earn money doing that! You don't need years of technical skills to master this - you just need to understand how to solve real problems with AI. And right now, there's so much opportunity because most people are not even aware of this. Watch the video till the end and take notes 📸 Instagram: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390ig Join MarkitUpX Discord Server: https://discord.gg/fwSpTje4rh CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Introduction 00:49 - Business Idea 1 01:53 - Business Idea 2 03:02 - Business Idea 3 04:40 - Business Idea 4 05:31 - Business Idea 5 06:05 - Business Idea 6 07:38 - Business Idea 7 09:00 - Business Idea 8 10:18 - Business Idea 9 10:52 - Business Idea 10 12:07 - Business Idea 11 13:45 - Business Idea 12 15:55 - Business Idea 13 16:52 - Business Idea 14 17:38 - Business Idea 15 18:42 - Conclusion 😁 About Me: https://bit.ly/aboutishansharma 📱 Twitter: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390twt 📝 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390li 🌟 Please leave a LIKE ❤️ and SUBSCRIBE for more AMAZING content! 🌟 3 Books You Should Read 📈Psychology of Money: https://amzn.to/30wx4bW 👀Subtle Art of Not Giving a F: https://amzn.to/30zwWbP 💼Rework: https://amzn.to/3ALsAuz Tech I use every day 💻MacBook Air M1: https://amzn.to/2YWKPjG 📺LG 29' Ultrawide Monitor: https://amzn.to/3aG0p5p 🎥Sony ZV1: https://amzn.to/3ANqgDb 🎙Blue Yeti Mic: https://amzn.to/2YYbiNN ⽴Tripod Stand: https://amzn.to/3mVUiQc 🔅Ring Light: https://amzn.to/2YQlzLJ 🎧Marshall Major II Headphone: https://amzn.to/3lLhTDQ 🖱Logitech mouse: https://amzn.to/3p8edOC 💺Green Soul Chair: https://amzn.to/3mWIxZP ✨ Tags ✨ ishan sharma,ai agents,ai agents explained,ai agents 2025,ai assistant,get rich with ai agents,make money ai agents,make money online,earn money online,ai agents tutorial,ai agent,ai,ai tools,make money with ai,make money with ai tools,artificial intelligence,deepseek r1,ai agents use cases,ai agents projects,business ideas with low investment,zero investment business ideas,business ideas for students,business ideas for beginners,best business ideas,how to start a business,online business ideas,startup business ideas,ai business ideas,business ideas using ai ✨ Hashtags ✨ #ai #artificialintelligence #businessideas

10 Must-Try AI Tools For Your Business (2025)

Unlock the power of AI with these 10 must-try tools that can transform your business in 2024! 👉 https://bit.ly/4ffsvUV 💥 Use the discount code WB10 for 10% OFF! Whether you're looking to boost productivity, automate tasks, or improve decision-making, this video covers the top AI tools that will give your business a competitive edge. Watch to find out how each tool works and which one suits your business needs the best! 📌 Handy Links 10 Powerful Prompts to Elevate Your ChatGPT Experience https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7aPrXlVRO8 BEST AI Content Generation Tools for Content Creators (2024) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUB5JEJEvI8&t=347s Join the Hostinger Referral Program: https://www.hostinger.com/referral-program Join the Hostinger Affiliate Program: https://www.hostinger.com/affiliates Join our team at Hostinger: https://www.hostinger.com/career ⭐Follow Us⭐ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hostingeracademy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostingeracademy/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hostinger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hostinger/ Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/Hostinger Hostinger Tutorials: https://www.hostinger.com/tutorials Subscribe to our channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/HostingerAcademy/?sub_confirmation=1 🕒 Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction 00:50 - Presentations.ai 01:51 - CoralAI 02:37 - Hostinger Website Builder 04:28 - Zapier 05:22 - Do not pay (AI lawyer) 06:08 - Adobe Firefly 07:05 - Twain 07:46 - ChatGPT 09:05 - ocean.io 09:58 - Autopod _ 🚀10 Must-Try AI Tools For Your Business (2024) Discover the top AI tools that can transform the way you work, boost productivity, and streamline your business operations! 📌 Why These Tools Matter These tools can help you: 👉 Automate time-consuming tasks 👉 Enhance your creative output 👉 Streamline communication and operations 👉 Improve business decision-making 📌 Featured AI Tools Here’s a quick look at the must-try AI tools for 2024: 👉 Gamma – Create stunning presentations with ease. 👉 ChatPDF – Ask questions and get insights from PDFs. 👉 Hostinger Website Builder – Build websites with AI-powered ease. 👉 Zapier – Automate your workflows seamlessly. 👉 Do Not Pay (AI Lawyer) – Get legal advice with AI support. 👉 Adobe Firefly – Create incredible visuals using generative AI. 👉 Twain – AI-driven insights for business decisions. 👉 ChatGPT – Revolutionize how you interact with AI chat. 👉 Ocean.io – Discover leads and grow your business. 👉 Autopod – Automate your podcast editing effortlessly. Watch the full video to dive deeper into how these AI tools can elevate your business in 2024! _ ▶ Want to see more awesome tutorials like this in the future? Consider subscribing 😁 https://www.youtube.com/c/HostingerAcademy/?sub_confirmation=1 Thank you for watching! Let us know in the comments below if you have any questions. Good luck on your online journey. 🚀 #AItoolsforbusiness #AIwebsiteBuilder #HostingerAcademy

AI Tools for Small Business - 7 Ways Small Business Can Use AI Today

Extended 30 Day HighLevel Trial: https://www.gohighlevel.com/philipvandusen So, how can small businesses leverage all the AI tools that are flooding the market? There is so much it’s overwhelming! As small businesses navigate the competitive landscape, AI technologies offer a lifeline, enabling smarter decisions, enhanced customer connections, and expansion into new markets. From revolutionizing content creation with tools like ChatGPT to transforming social media strategies and personalizing email marketing, AI is redefining how small businesses engage with their audience. We’ll dive deep into using AI for marketing automation, competitor insights, local SEO mastery, engaging customers through chatbots, and converting website visitors into loyal customers. With practical insights and our sponsor HighLevel's platform, small businesses can now leverage AI tools to optimize their operations and marketing efforts. Keywords: AI Tools, Small Business, Growth, AI Technologies, Smarter Decisions, Customer Connections, Markets, Content Creation, ChatGPT, Social Media Strategies, Email Marketing, Personalizing, CRM, Marketing Automation, Competitor Insights, Local SEO, Chatbots, Converting Website Visitors, Operations, HighLevel #ai #smallbusiness #marketing WEBSITE https://www.philipvandusen.com BRAND•MUSE NEWSLETTER https://www.philipvandusen.com/muse BONFIRE: The Mastermind Community for Established Creative Pros https://philipvandusen.com/bonfire CREATIVE PROFESSIONAL COACHING https://philipvandusen.com/oneonone BRAND CONSULTING https://philipvandusen.com/brand-consulting BRAND STRATEGY 101 COURSE https://philipvandusen.com/bs101 BRAND DESIGN MASTERS PODCAST https://podcast.branddesignmasters.com/subscribe YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/c/philipvandusen LINKEDIN https://www.linkedin.com/in/philipvandusen/ THREADS https://www.threads.net/@philipvandusen FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/philipvandusen.agency/ INSTAGRAM https://www.instagram.com/philipvandusen/ BRAND DESIGN MASTERS FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/branddesignmasters/ AFFILIATE PARTNERS: Bring Your Own Laptop - Adobe Training with Daniel Scott https://www.byol.me/philip GO HIGHLEVEL: https://www.gohighlevel.com/philipvandusen Tubebuddy https://www.tubebuddy.com/philipvandusen Philip VanDusen is a branding consultant and the owner of a brand strategy and design agency based in New Jersey. Philip is a highly accomplished creative executive and expert in brand strategy, graphic design, marketing and creative management. Philip provides design, branding, marketing, career and business advice to creative professionals, entrepreneurs and companies on building successful brands for themselves and the clients and customers they serve.

10 Best AI Business Ideas 2024

10 Best AI Business Ideas 2024 🔒 Keep Your Digital Life Private and Be Safe Online: https://nordvpn.com/safetyfirst Are you curious about the future of business in the exciting realm of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Look no further! In this captivating video, we unveil the top 10 AI business ideas that are set to revolutionize the entrepreneurial landscape in 2024. From cutting-edge technology to innovative solutions, we delve into the most promising ventures that harness the power of AI to drive success and growth. Discover how AI is reshaping traditional business models and opening up endless possibilities for aspiring entrepreneurs. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a budding visionary, these handpicked AI business ideas offer a gateway to prosperity in the ever-evolving digital age. Join us as we explore groundbreaking concepts that blend creativity with computational intelligence, paving the way for unprecedented innovation and profitability. From automated customer service to personalized marketing strategies, AI is poised to transform every aspect of modern business operations. Dive deep into the realm of AI-powered startups and witness firsthand how these groundbreaking ideas are shaping the future of commerce. With our expert insights and comprehensive analysis, you'll gain invaluable knowledge to embark on your own AI-driven entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss out on the opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and capitalize on the transformative potential of AI in business. Join us as we unveil the 10 best AI business ideas for 2024 and embark on a journey towards success in the dynamic world of artificial intelligence. Subscribe now and stay tuned for more cutting-edge content that empowers you to thrive in the digital economy of tomorrow! #ai #artificialintelligence #aibusiness Subscribe for more! Welcome to AI Uncovered, your ultimate destination for exploring the fascinating world of artificial intelligence! Our channel delves deep into the latest AI trends and technology, providing insights into cutting-edge AI tools, AI news, and breakthroughs in artificial general intelligence (AGI). We simplify complex concepts, making AI explained in a way that is accessible to everyone. At AI Uncovered, we're passionate about uncovering the most captivating stories in AI, including the marvels of ChatGPT and advancements by organizations like OpenAI. Our content spans a wide range of topics, from science news and AI innovations to in-depth discussions on the ethical implications of artificial intelligence. Our mission is to enlighten, inspire, and inform our audience about the rapidly evolving technology landscape. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a professional seeking to stay ahead of AI trends, or someone curious about the future of artificial intelligence, AI Uncovered is the perfect place to expand your knowledge. Join us as we uncover the secrets behind AI tools and their potential to revolutionize our world. Subscribe to AI Uncovered and stay tuned for enlightening content that bridges the gap between AI novices and experts, covering AI news, AGI, ChatGPT, OpenAI, artificial intelligence, and more. Together, let's explore the limitless possibilities of technology and AI. Disclaimer: Some links included in this description might be affiliate links. If you purchase a product or service through the links that we provide, we may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge for you. Thank you for supporting AI Uncovered so we can continue to provide you with free, high-quality content. _ 🌟 Contact: ai.uncovered.ai@gmail.com

How to use Copy.ai | Best AI writing software for small business (Copy.ai tutorial)

In this AI writing software tutorial, I share how to use Copy AI to save your business time and money in 2023. AI writing software or AI writing assistance is growing at an exponential rate. One of the most popular AI tools that leverage Open AI is Copy AI. Rather than spending hours manually creating written content for blogs, social media, emails, reports and more, you can leverage the support of AI. AI allows you to create unique and personalised content in minutes. With the support of Copy AI, you can multiply the speed of your writing activities and process. 👉 Get started with Copy AI here (My favourite AI writer) ➜ https://www.copy.ai/?via=stewart-gauld *(This Copy AI link is an affiliate link, which means we will get a commission if you upgrade to a paid plan (with no extra cost to you) through this link, and this helps support our channel so we thank you in advance!) ► Looking for a simple, understandable and actionable road map for setting up your small business online? Start here and get our all-in-one small business playbook 📚: 👉 https://godigitalnow.store/products/go-digital-now-the-ultimate-small-business-playbook-ebook ► Here are some relevant resources to help you in your business journey with AI: Check out our top 6 AI writing software here: https://stewartgauld.com/best-ai-writing-software/ Read my complete Copy AI review article here: https://stewartgauld.com/copy-ai-review/ Learn how to use ChatGPT for business here: https://youtu.be/d8RnjRshcE8 Read about my top 11 AI tools for small businesses: https://stewartgauld.com/best-ai-tools/ ► Today we navigate through the below chapters for this Copy AI tutorial: 0:00 Intro 01:37 Getting started 02:36 Copy AI pricing 03:22 Copy AI dashboard 03:58 Templates 04:36 Chat by Copy AI 04:59 Prompt ideas and templates 06:08 Content editor 06:58 How to create a blog with AI 10:06 Optimize with chat AI 10:57 Copy AI tools 11:38 Managing projects 12:04 How to use templates 13:34 Outro ► Are you interested in joining our small business community? Join us to receive actionable tips, tutorials and tools to grow your small business online (Subscribe to our email list) or join our exclusive community here: https://mailchi.mp/71ac3fcdbfdf/stewart-gauld Let me know if you found this Copy AI tutorial helpful. Also, if you require any help or support, make sure to get in touch with us today. Thanks for watching and enjoy! #AI #AIwritingsoftware #copyai

10 AI Tools To Run Your Business from A to Z

Top 10 AI Tools for business needs. ✅ FREE Shopify Trial ► https://bit.ly/3HP9YQm -- FIRST DAY TO FIRST SALE FREE COURSE -- Sign up HERE: https://bit.ly/3VJFiWP -- FREE DOWNLOADS -- ► List Of Business Ideas https://bit.ly/42eLKYa ► Buyer Persona Template https://bit.ly/3VH7J7y ► Market Research Competitor Analysis https://bit.ly/3B53VUf ► Value Proposition Template https://bit.ly/44BVhdn ► Brand Essential Worksheet https://bit.ly/42gm11m ► Brand Positioning Analysis https://bit.ly/3LHXr2y ► Product Development Worksheet https://bit.ly/3HKzEhh ► Product Costing Calculator https://bit.ly/3B543mH ► Product Pricing Calculator https://bit.ly/42eMaxI ► Ecommerce Copywriting Template https://bit.ly/3nxo2rb -- FREE SHOPIFY TRIAL -- Build your business using a FREE trial of Shopify , one platform with all the ecommerce features you need to start, run, and grow your business. ► https://bit.ly/3HP9YQm –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– #aiforbusiness #shopify #ai

How To Sell AI To Local Businesses (And Make $9k Per Month)

I don’t sell to beginners, get my 100% FREE agency course: https://bit.ly/APP-LITE My Favorite Tool: Get The All-in-One AI Sales & Marketing Automation Software: https://bit.ly/JW-GHL ❌ IMPORTANT ❌ : Don't use an ad blocker or chrome extension when clicking on the link, it will block affiliate tracking and you will NOT receive any of my bonuses WHO AM I? Hey, if we haven’t met before, my name is Jason Wardrop and I started and ran my own Real Estate CRM software for 6 years before becoming HighLevel’s #1 Affiliate All-Time! Disclosure: All content on Jason Wardrop’s YouTube channel reflects my own opinions and should NOT be taken as legal advice, financial advice, or investment advice. Please seek out the guidance of professionally trained and licensed individuals before making any decisions. I am an independent entity from HighLevel. I am not an agent or employee of HighLevel and have no authority to make binding contract or represent HighLevel. I receive referral payments from HighLevel. The opinions expressed here are my own and shall NOT be interpreted or considered as representations, guarantees, or statements made by HighLevel Inc or any of its subsidiaries, agents, or assigns. Some links in the description may be affiliate links. Results not guaranteed. #makemoney #makemoneyonline #sidehustle

5 (Real) AI Agent Business Ideas For 2025

Get full access to my software portfolio - for a single one-time purchase. 📦 https://simonl.ink/founderstack In this video: 00:00 Intro 01:03 AI Agent Workflows 04:06 Knowledge-based AI chatbots 07:49 Custom (LoRA) AI models 09:57 Vibing (games, marketing, design) 11:53 AI Automation Agency 13:04 Extra: AI for internal operations Watch next: https://youtu.be/4RwMnSfqEOg #aiagents #saas #monetization

AI Will Help you EARN CRORES! CRAZY BUSINESS IDEA! 🤑 | Ishan Sharma #shorts

📸 Instagram: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390ig Join MarkitUpX Discord Server: https://discord.gg/fwSpTje4rh 😁 About Me: https://bit.ly/aboutishansharma 📱 Twitter: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390twt 📝 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390li 🌟 Please leave a LIKE ❤️ and SUBSCRIBE for more AMAZING content! 🌟 3 Books You Should Read 📈Psychology of Money: https://amzn.to/30wx4bW 👀Subtle Art of Not Giving a F: https://amzn.to/30zwWbP 💼Rework: https://amzn.to/3ALsAuz Tech I use every day 💻MacBook Air M1: https://amzn.to/2YWKPjG 📺LG 29' Ultrawide Monitor: https://amzn.to/3aG0p5p 🎥Sony ZV1: https://amzn.to/3ANqgDb 🎙Blue Yeti Mic: https://amzn.to/2YYbiNN ⽴Tripod Stand: https://amzn.to/3mVUiQc 🔅Ring Light: https://amzn.to/2YQlzLJ 🎧Marshall Major II Headphone: https://amzn.to/3lLhTDQ 🖱Logitech mouse: https://amzn.to/3p8edOC 💺Green Soul Chair: https://amzn.to/3mWIxZP ✨ Tags ✨ ishan sharma,THIS Will Help You EARN CRORES!,make money online,make money online 2023,ai tools for photo editing,ai tools for photos,earn money online,ishan sharma motivation,ishan sharma speech,ai tools,ai tools to earn money,money making apps,ai apps to make money,photo generator ai,ai photo generator,ai photo generator free,using ai tools,how to earn money using ai,best app store apps,app store,ishan sharma freelance,how to sell anything ✨ Hashtags ✨ #makemoneyonline #ai #growth

The only video you need to Master N8N + AI agents (For complete beginners)

Serious about Implementing AI? Shortcut your Path HERE, and connect with +300 entrepreneurs on the same mission: https://www.skool.com/scrapes This is a comprehensive 4hr course with all the secrets I've learned from 8 months of building out N8N workflows for my clients (over 100+ workflows!). During this course we'll cover everything you need to shortcut your journey into building automations with N8N, AI Agents & workflow automation! 🛠️ Links (affiliate) • n8n: https://n8n.partnerlinks.io/scrapesai 📧 Curated roundups of real-world AI implementations 📧 https://scrapes-ai.kit.com/b6b1a73dfd Want more? https://www.youtube.com/@simonscrapes?sub_confirmation=1 🚧 Looking for custom built AI agents for your business? 🚧 https://automake.io 💬 Share in the comments what you learnt during the video! 0:00:00 - Course Overview 0:04:12 - SECTION 1 - Getting started 0:09:57 - 1.1. Setting up N8N 0:15:10 - 1.2. Building blocks of N8N 0:16:52 - 1.3. The N8N Canvas 0:19:02 - 1.4. Triggers & Actions 0:24:55 - 1.5. Connect nodes 0:30:09 - 1.6. Visualising Data 0:32:13 - 1.7. JSON vs Table vs Schema 0:35:12 - 1.8. Mastering Static Data 0:38:10 - 1.9. Dynamic Data 0:43:21 - 1.10. Referencing Nodes (Foolproof) 0:47:05 - 1.11. Pinning Data 0:49:26 - 1.12. Simple Retry Logic 0:52:15 - 1.13. Node Naming 0:57:38 - SECTION 2 - Building Your First Automation with Data From Your Business 0:58:45 - 2.1. Planning Your Workflow 1:02:05 - 2.2. Monitoring Your Gmail 1:04:15 - 2.3. Setting up Google Credentials 1:09:01 - 2.4. Manipulating Data with Set 1:13:11 - 2.5. Data Format Comparison (HTML, Markdown) 1:15:55 - 2.6. Your First Automation 1:20:46 - 2.7. Building an Invoice Parsing System & Tackling File Formats 1:30:42 - 2.8. Cleaning Data with Code Node 1:39:19 - 2.9. Conditionals (IF) 1:44:24 - 2.10. Multiple Inputs 1:46:04 - 2.11. Merging Data 1:50:03 - 2.12. Memory Management 1:51:15 - 2.13. Large Data Sets (Loops) 1:54:52 - 2.14. Rounding Up Our Automation 1:55:16 - SECTION 3 - Agentic Workflows & AI Agents 1:56:07 - 3.1. Agentic vs Non-Agentic Workflows 1:59:28 - 3.2. Agentic Examples You Might Use 2:05:16 - 3.3. N8N AI Nodes 2:12:55 - 3.4. AI Agents - So What Are They? 2:20:42 - 3.5. AI Agents - What Business Use Do They Have? 2:25:05 - 3.6. Setting Up AI in Our Workflow 2:27:58 - 3.7. Prompting for Beginners 2:33:29 - 3.8. Openrouter for AI Models 2:39:10 - 3.9. Getting Consistent Outputs 2:45:53 - 3.10. Rounding Up Your Invoice Parsing Workflow 2:46:49 - 3.11. Mapping Back to Your Database 2:54:00 - SECTION 4 - Data From Outside Your Business 2:59:10 - 4.1. Connecting to an API with N8N 3:01:29 - 4.2. Reading API Docs Made Easy 3:04:24 - 4.3. API Authorisation 3:06:50 - 4.4. POST Request - PDFco 3:12:47 - 4.5. Uploading Our Files via API 3:22:18 - 4.6. Completing Our API Uploads 3:25:37 - 4.7. Connect to ANY API in 2 mins 3:29:30 - 4.8. Push Data Back to Our Table 3:35:03 - SECTION 5 - Making Your Life Easy & Scalable 3:37:27 - 5.1. Naming Workflows & Tagging 3:38:43 - 5.2. Workflow Separation 3:41:11 - 5.3. Modular Design 3:48:12 - 5.4. Error Handling 3:52:31 - 5.5. Debugging (easy Mode!) 3:53:31 - 5.6. Community Nodes 3:56:31 - 5.7. N8N Template Library 3:59:14 - 5.8. Getting Help #N8N #n8ntutorial #N8NBeginner

DO THIS To Get RICH With AI in 2025

Ishan Sharma: DO THIS To Get RICH With AI in 2025 How AI is CHANGING the Startup World! 🤯 Sam Altman, CEO of Open AI, predicts how one person could build a billion dollar startup, only using AI tools and software. It is crazy to think that the next billion dollar company might just be yours or mine with our AI toolset. This is a glimpse from the podcast where me and Saheli discussed freelancing, how to master personal branding as a beginner, how to talk with clients and much more. 📸 Instagram: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390ig Join MarkitUpX Discord Server: https://discord.gg/fwSpTje4rh 😁 About Me: https://bit.ly/aboutishansharma 📱 Twitter: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390twt 📝 LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/ishansharma7390li 🌟 Please leave a LIKE ❤️ and SUBSCRIBE for more AMAZING content! 🌟 3 Books You Should Read 📈Psychology of Money: https://amzn.to/30wx4bW 👀Subtle Art of Not Giving a F: https://amzn.to/30zwWbP 💼Rework: https://amzn.to/3ALsAuz Tech I use every day 💻MacBook Air M1: https://amzn.to/2YWKPjG 📺LG 29' Ultrawide Monitor: https://amzn.to/3aG0p5p 🎥Sony ZV1: https://amzn.to/3ANqgDb 🎙Blue Yeti Mic: https://amzn.to/2YYbiNN ⽴Tripod Stand: https://amzn.to/3mVUiQc 🔅Ring Light: https://amzn.to/2YQlzLJ 🎧Marshall Major II Headphone: https://amzn.to/3lLhTDQ 🖱Logitech mouse: https://amzn.to/3p8edOC 💺Green Soul Chair: https://amzn.to/3mWIxZP ✨ Tags ✨ ishan sharma,DO THIS To Get RICH With AI in 2025,ai agent,ai agents,low investment business ideas,business ideas with low investment,zero investment business ideas,best business ideas 2024,business ideas for students,business ideas for beginners,best business ideas,how to start a business,online business ideas,new business ideas 2024,startup business ideas,money,ai business ideas,business ideas using ai,ai,artificial intelligence,chatgpt,bard,gemini,google ✨ Hashtags ✨ #business #businessideas #ai

How I'd Learn AI in 2025 (if I could start over)

Here's the roadmap that I would follow to learn artificial intelligence (AI). 📚 Get the FREE roadmap here ➡️ https://bit.ly/data-alchemy Already got tech skills and want to start as a freelancer? 🛠️ Let me show you how: https://www.datalumina.com/data-freelancer?utmsource=youtube&utmmedium=video&utmcampaign=youtubevideotraffic&utmcontent=How%20I%27d%20Learn%20AI%20in%202024%20%28if%20I%20could%20start%20over%29 ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 00:34 Why learn AI? 01:28 Code vs. Low/No-code approach 02:27 Misunderstandings about AI 03:27 Ask yourself this question 04:19 What makes this approach different 05:42 Step 1: Set up your environment 06:54 Step 2: Learn Python and key libraries 08:02 Step 3: Learn Git and GitHub Basics 08:35 Step 4: Work on projects and portfolio 13:12 Step 5: Specialize and share knowledge 14:31 Step 6: Continue to learn and upskill 15:39 Step 7: Monetize your skills 16:53: What is Data Alchemy? 🛠️ Explore ProjectPro https://bit.ly/3q837w8 👋🏻 About Me Hey there! I'm Dave, an AI Engineer and the founder of Datalumina, where our mission is to facilitate entrepreneurial and technological proficiency in professionals and businesses. Through my videos here on this channel, my posts on LinkedIn, and courses on Skool, I share practical strategies and tools to navigate the complexities of data, artificial intelligence, and entrepreneurship. ✔️ How I manage my business and dev projects https://try.web.clickup.com/datalumina 📥 Datalumina's Newsletter https://www.datalumina.com/newsletter #ai #roadmap #datalumina 📌 Video Description In this video, Dave shares a comprehensive and actionable roadmap for anyone looking to start their journey into the exciting world of artificial intelligence (AI) in 2024. Whether you're a complete beginner or someone looking to pivot your career towards AI, this video lays out a step-by-step guide that demystifies the process of learning AI from the ground up. Dave highlights the significance of AI in today's tech landscape and addresses common misconceptions that newcomers might have. With a focus on practical learning, the video emphasizes the importance of choosing between a code-centric or a low/no-code approach, making AI accessible to a broader audience. Dave's unique approach involves asking a critical question that shapes the learning path, ensuring that viewers embark on a journey tailored to their goals and interests. The roadmap detailed in the video covers essential steps such as setting up your learning environment, mastering Python and key libraries crucial for AI, understanding the basics of Git and GitHub, and the importance of working on projects to build a strong portfolio. Dave also talks about the importance of specialization and the continuous process of learning and upskilling in fields like generative AI, large language models, chatbots, and machine learning. Furthermore, Dave shares insights on how to monetize your AI skills, turning your passion into a profession. The video concludes with an introduction to Data Alchemy, a concept that encapsulates the transformative power of AI knowledge. For those eager to dive into the AI world, Dave offers a free roadmap accessible through the link provided in the video description. This invaluable resource serves as a compass for navigating the complexities of AI learning, making it an essential watch for anyone interested in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and related technologies.

USING AI + REMIX to Create Designs for Print on Demand. Easy Prompts in Leonardo.AI

Remix in Leonardo AI. #Printondemand #onlinebusiness #passiveincome 💻 VIDEOS TO WATCH 🔥 16 TShirt Design Tips: https://youtu.be/jhijPXUM6dQ 🔥 RedBubble Sales Faster: https://youtu.be/L0ie56PBLGU 🔥 Leonardo AI Tool: https://youtu.be/mw5Au6DloZI My FREE Digital Downloads (including Tier 10 Help Sheet & Monthly Upload/Sales Tracker) 👉 https://www.detourshirts.com/collections/downloads 💰 PRINT ON DEMAND SITES I USE ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ MERCH BY AMAZON: https://merch.amazon.com/landing TEEPUBLIC: http://tee.pub/lic/detourshirts (referral link) REDBUBBLE: https://www.redbubble.com/ CAFEPRESS: https://www.cafepress.com/ ZAZZLE: https://www.zazzle.com/ THREADLESS: https://www.threadless.com/artist-shops/signup/default/features SPREADSHIRT: https://www.spreadshirt.com/ SOCIETY 6: https://society6.com/ DESIGN BY HUMANS: https://www.designbyhumans.com/ TEESPRING: https://teespring.com/ DISPLATE: https://displate.com/ 🛠️ PRINT ON DEMAND TOOLS I'VE MENTIONED ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Kittl: https://bit.ly/42Xac0B Vexels: https://www.vexels.com/detour-shirts/?ref=junaduncan2 Pretty Merch Pro: https://ps.carbon6.io/4qnue9hvz6pw Merch Informer (Coupon Code DetourShirts): https://merchinformer.com/933.html Placeit: https://1.envato.market/PPda6 DS Amazon QuickView: https://bit.ly/3hkxDsx Affinity Designer: https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/designer/ Repper: https://repper.app/?via=detourshirts Creative Market (for Fonts and Textures): https://creativemarket.com/users/DetourShirts/collections?u=DetourShirts MyFonts.com (for Fonts): https://www.dpbolvw.net/click-2381184-13915248 Creative Fabrica: https://www.creativefabrica.com/promo/8322/0P1016-AFGHIJKLMNO/ref/1113172 Stefan Kunz Procreate FREE Procreate Course: https://courses.stefankunz.com/p/procreate-free-trial?affcode=527238_68xbwon Stefan Kunz FREE 3D Course: https://courses.stefankunz.com/p/3d-masterclass-free-trial?affcode=527238_68xbwoni All Sunsets (for Vintage Sunsets): https://allsunsets.com/?wpam_id=18 RedBubble Tag Generator: https://automation.merchtitans.com/tools/redbubble-tag-generator 100 Scaleable T-Shirt Quotes for POD (US): https://gumroad.com/a/456717427/ffSgH 100 Scaleable T-Shirt Quotes for POD (Germany): https://gumroad.com/a/456717427/yNEGPC Canva: https://partner.canva.com/detourshirts 🧡 TEAM ORANGE STUFF ON AMAZON ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Funko Pop! 10” Thing: https://amzn.to/3IBx0eY Funko Pop! 10” Charizard: https://amzn.to/3XjYdae Orange Lined Journal: https://amzn.to/3GwQNcP Orange EnerGel Pens: https://amzn.to/3GV3xLD Orange Stance Socks: https://amzn.to/3vTCdXX 🎥 EQUIPMENT I USE TO MAKE MY VIDEOS & DESIGNS ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Logitech BRIO Ultra HD Webcam: https://amzn.to/3xSyt8r Neewer 700W Light Kit: https://amzn.to/3kxx4Au Rode VideoMic Pro+: https://amzn.to/3eyCabJ On-Stage Tripod Mic Boom Stand: https://amzn.to/3wIB97n 👪 MY SOCIAL MEDIA ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/c/DetourShirts INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/detourshirts/ 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 FOLLOW DETOUR SHIRTS ON FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/detourshirts2005 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 DETOUR SHIRTS FACEBOOK GROUP https://www.facebook.com/groups/606597416437763 👨‍👨‍👧‍👧 FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER https://twitter.com/detourshirts 👋 About this channel: My name is Juna. I am a graphic designer and t-shirt designer. I've been selling t-shirts online since 2005. I started selling with Merch by Amazon in 2017. I am currently a tier 100,000 seller on Merch by Amazon. I also sell products on RedBubble, TeePublic, CafePress, Zazzle, Spreadshirt, Threadless, Society 6, Design by Humans and more. My channel is all about helping you design and sell t-shirts online. Let me know how I can help. The information shared on my YouTube channel & resources made available is for educational, informational purposes.

How to use AI to make extra money

FREE Courses from LURN == https://www.Lurn.com/getfreecourses ============================================ How to use AI to make extra money ============================================ 👇Subscribe To The Channel By Clicking Below!👇 https://www.youtube.com/user/aniksingalcom?sub_confirmation=1 CHECK OUT THESE TOP TRENDING PLAYLISTS NOW! Fighting Entrepreneur - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9nsNOu3gIE&list=PLEmF7qw7SECK1hy5U5nodHoCg7ANzXukz Master Copywriting With Anik Singal - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjOAWP1DKAk&list=PLEmF7qw7SECKouq97MqF5zFi1Xb-VFyMY&index=2&t=0s Facebook Advertising Strategies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMQh6zA3HUY&list=PLEmF7qw7SECJUULNlnAGHvcegeQbIAHZp How To Become A Better Entrepreneur - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEmF7qw7SECKVlP2eOsF_XpYBYhlTGAVU ============================================ “Lead Fighter” — That’s the title Anik Singal gives himself as a high-energy, trailblazing Entrepreneur. Anik got his start in the online scene back in 2003 from his college dorm room. Ever since then he’s gone on to build 6 successful companies, launched 22 top brands, generated over $250 Million in sales, and taught over 250,000 students worldwide - how to start, grow, and scale a successful online business. As the founder of Lurn, Inc., Anik Singal’s passion is in creating dynamic online classroom environments that teach people how to enhance their business, financial, and personal lives. Anik Singal has become a go-to authority in the areas of... ✅Digital Publishing. ✅Event-Based Marketing. ✅Product Launches. ✅Email Marketing. Anik has been voted one of the Top 3 Young Entrepreneurs by BusinessWeek Magazine. In addition, his company earned the prestigious Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Companies in America two years in a row. All of Anik’s experiences have made him the person he is today… From struggling for 18 months when he first started, then successfully building his business to over $10 Million a year. Then losing it all and falling to $1.7 Million in debt and almost declaring bankruptcy. Bouncing back and generating over $10 million in 16 months, paying back all of his debt and he hasn’t looked back since. He’s worked with and has been endorsed by some of the most influential Entrepreneurs of our time... Including Robert Kiyosaki, Les Brown, Daymond John, Bob Proctor, Grant Cardone, and many more. Anik is a dreamer. A thinker. A fighter. Most importantly, Anik is a teacher. His immediate goal is empowering 1 Million Entrepreneurs to live the life of their dreams by the end of 2019. ============================================ CONNECT WITH ANIK ON SOCIAL MEDIA YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCinyEr-Fly9Yp1zMFxD0cQ?viewas=subscriber Anik Singal Blog: https://lurn.com/blog/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aniksingal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anik/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lurn-inc/ Podcast: https://podcast.lurnworkshop.com iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fighting-entrepreneur/id1446089516?mt=2 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0HbielkIU1f88Bv4VuMHmh?si=Q1ujyoiMRF2LlHdBgTdAzw Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/thefightingentrepreneur Google Play: https://play.google.com/music/listen#/ps/Irckjhwglqgjnbia5t3zpyj4xcq #AnikSingal #Lurn #LurnNation ============================================ Join Lurn Nation: https://lurn.com/ Lurn is the Transformational home for modern entrepreneurs. We have 60+ training courses and programs to help you reach your business goals - join our community today!

What Will Happen to Marketing in the Age of AI? | Jessica Apotheker | TED

Generative AI is poised to transform the workplace, but we still need human brains for new ideas, says marketing expert Jessica Apotheker. She explores how marketers can find their niche in the world of AI based on their preference for data or creativity, offering a pragmatic and hopeful look at the future of business. If you love watching TED Talks like this one, become a TED Member to support our mission of spreading ideas: https://ted.com/membership Follow TED! Twitter: https://twitter.com/TEDTalks Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ted Facebook: https://facebook.com/TED LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ted-conferences TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tedtoks The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world's leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit https://TED.com to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Watch more: https://go.ted.com/jessicaapotheker https://youtu.be/3MwMII8n1qM TED's videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with our TED Talks Usage Policy: https://www.ted.com/about/our-organization/our-policies-terms/ted-talks-usage-policy. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), please submit a Media Request at https://media-requests.ted.com #TED #TEDTalks #marketing

How To Build a FAST Website Using AI (Step-by-Step)

Get up to 75% off your hosting (only $2.99/mo) + 3 months FREE with Hostinger: https://www.hostinger.com/charliechang/ ^Use code CHARLIECHANG for an exclusive discount! In this video, I go over a full step-by-step guide on how to build a website using AI! I'll be showing you how to easily create a professional website using Hostinger's new AI website builder, which anyone can do without any coding or design skills. You can literally build the foundation for your website in just a few minutes. We'll also talk about how you can incorporate other tools like ChatGPT and MidJourney into the process. Free stuff 💰: ► Get up to 12 Free Stocks on WeBull when you deposit just $0.01 (valued up to $30,600): https://a.webull.com/i/CharlieChang ► Join my FREE newsletter: https://www.hustleclub.co/ Be sure to watch the entire video because we'll be covering everything you need to know, from customizing your website's design and adding content, to personalizing your website to fit your brand's identity. Their drag-and-drop interface allows you to easily arrange elements on the page and create a visually stunning website without needing any technical expertise. There are also a ton of other tools like their AI logo maker, AI writer, and even a heatmap where you can analyze where the attention will go on your website. Overall, I highly recommend using Hostinger because I've been using them for years, and it's by far the most affordable way that you can build a website in 2023. Again, you can help support the channel AND get the best exclusive deal on hosting by using this link and putting in code CHARLIECHANG at checkout: https://www.hostinger.com/charliechang I am passionate about teaching website building because I really think it's an essential skill to have. I have been building websites for over 20 years and think it's crucial for anyone that wants to start a business, or even anyone in general. If you want to learn more about building websites for your business, be sure to check out my other videos on this channel on those topics: How to Make a Website using ChatGPT 2023 (Full Tutorial): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJyfhD5CUiM ChatGPT Tutorial: How to Use Chat GPT For Beginners 2023: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaf_jCnA6mc I hope you guys found this video helpful, and if you did please SHARE it with a friend or family member who you think could benefit and also LIKE and subscribe for more videos like this in the future! Thank you so much for watching, and happy website building! -Charlie #AI #WEBSITE #TUTORIAL Timeline: 0:00 - Intro 0:27 - Web Hosting 2:18 - How To Use the AI Website Builder 3:40 - Customizing Your Website 7:18 - AI Tools 8:38 - Using ChatGPT 9:51 - Using Midjourney 10:48 - Conclusion Disclaimer: Some of the links above may be affiliate links, which means that if you click on them I may receive a small commission. The retailers and financial services companies pay the commission at no cost to you, and this helps to support our channel and keep our videos free. Thank you! In addition, I am not a financial advisor. Charlie Chang does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. The ideas presented in this video are for entertainment purposes only. Please do your own due diligence before making any financial decisions. ► My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/charliechang

How I run a $13,900/MONTH faceless Instagram theme page [FULL COURSE]

How to create viral motivational videos for Instagram theme pages. Step-By-Step Document 👉 https://go.howtoai.pro/motivational Pre-monetized YouTube accounts with 1,000 subscribers & 4,000 watch hours ✅ https://tikaccounts.com/products/youtube ⭐️ Apply to work with me 1-on-1: https://apply.facelesslaunchpad.com/ 👉 100% FREE community: https://whop.com/howtoai/ 👉 More YouTube Automation videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwcK9-wSIWXHbhznPFFwgXlB1vr-HCkJR 👉 Newsletter about the latest AI news: https://www.dailyaiedge.com/subscribe This video will show you everything related to creating YouTube Shorts automation videos in the animal niche. If you want to start a faceless Shorts channel, watch this video. 🚨 ALL TOOL LINKS ARE IN THE STEP-BY-STEP DOCUMENT AT THE TOP OF THE DESCRIPTION 🚨 🔗 LINKS 🔗 📢 100% FREE Discord community: https://whop.com/howtoai/ 🚀 Viral TikTok Background Footage: https://howtoai.pro/products/viral-tiktok-gameplay 🔥 Trending Sound Effects Pack: https://howtoai.pro/products/trending-tiktok-sound-effects ✉️ Email newsletter on how to leverage AI (100% free): https://www.dailyaiedge.com/subscribe Welcome to howtoai, your ultimate destination for learning how to use AI tools like ChatGPT and Midjourney. Our channel provides high-quality tutorials and guides covering topics such as natural language processing, machine learning, and computer vision. Our goal is to make complex AI concepts easy to understand and accessible to all, whether you're a beginner or an experienced user. For extra clarification, this video will show you how to start a faceless Instagram theme page to make money online. I will teach you how to use certain AI tools to make money online, and most importantly, get good results running a faceless Instagram account. So if you want to start an Instagram theme page business, watch this video. Sponsorships or other business inquiries? Email us at: partnerships@howtoai.pro #howtomakemoneyonline #instagramreels

How to start a business with AI

How to Use AI to Start a Business in 2024 (No Experience Required). #startyourbusiness

He makes $750 a day 'Vibe Coding' Apps (using Replit, ChatGPT, Upwork)

Billy Howell shares his strategy for making money by building and selling custom web applications using AI tools like Replit. He demonstrates the process by finding projects on Upwork, creating a product requirements document with ChatGPT, and using Replit to automatically generate a functional web application. Billy explains that this approach is less risky than building SaaS products because it validates demand before significant development work. Timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:19 - Searching for App Ideas on Upwork 11:04 - Using ChatGPT for PRD Creation 12:22 - Why choose Replit for Development 15:15 - Building Prototype with Replit 19:53 - Areas of Concern when building with AI coders 23:30 - Earning Potential on Upwork 27:55 - The process for selling these Apps 32:03 - Comparing Different Business Models 35:40 - Huge opportunity: Unbundling SaaS 37:44 - Testing App 39:39 - How to standout on Upwork 40:35 - Integrating v0 UI to Replit Key Points • Billy Howell explains his method of "vibe coding" - using AI tools like Replit to quickly build and sell custom web applications • The process involves finding clients on Upwork who need solutions, creating a prototype, and selling it before building the complete app • Billy demonstrates how to use Repl.it with AI assistance to rapidly build a case management system for a nonprofit • The approach focuses on creating simple CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) applications rather than complex systems 1) The "Sell First, Build Later" Framework Billy's #1 rule: Find someone to BUY your app BEFORE you build it. Most developers get this backward - they build something cool then struggle to find users. The secret? Don't market. SELL. How? Look for people ALREADY trying to pay for solutions 2) Upwork Gold Mining Strategy Billy's exact process: • Search Upwork for jobs mentioning expensive SaaS tools (Airtable, HubSpot, etc) • Look for simple CRUD apps (data entry, visualization) • Build a quick prototype in Repl.it • Send a Loom video demo to potential clients His first sale? $750 replacing an Airtable solution! 3) The Vibe Coding Tech Stack Billy's weapons of choice: • Replit for rapid prototyping (zero setup friction!) • ChatGPT to format requirements into PRDs • V0 for beautiful UI mockups • ShadCN components for clean interfaces The magic combo: Feed requirements to Replit + "build me this app" = working prototype in MINUTES. 4) What to Avoid When Vibe Coding Not all projects are created equal! Watch out for: • Payment processing (risky) • DocuSign integrations (complex) • Calendar functionality (AI struggles with time zones) • Anything changing data in other apps Start with simple CRUD apps that store and display information. 5) The Real Money-Making Model Billy's approach isn't just about one-off projects: • Initial build: $750-2,500 • Charge for hosting • Recurring revenue from feature requests • Get referrals to similar businesses One recent client is now reselling his solution to other companies in the same industry! 6) Why This Beats Building a SaaS Building a traditional SaaS = "nightmare money pit" according to Billy. With vibe coding consulting: • De-risk by getting paid upfront • Learn across multiple projects • No marketing costs • Discover validated problems • Build a portfolio of solutions Six figures on Upwork is VERY doable. 7) The 60-Second Sales Pitch Billy's exact closing technique: • Find job posting • Make mockup in V0 or Replit • Record 1-minute Loom: "I'm Billy, I make apps. I know you wanted Airtable, but I made this custom for you." • Personalize with company name • Send and repeat Simple. Effective. PROFITABLE. The future of coding isn't about knowing every framework—it's about SOLVING PROBLEMS quickly. Anyone can do this with the right tools and approach. Notable Quotes: "The number one thing is how to sell an app that you've built... And the secret is not to market. It's just to sell it." - Billy Howell "We start, we need to find someone to buy the app before we build it. That's where most people get this wrong, is they build something and then try to sell it or try to get users." - Billy Howell 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 BILLY ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/billyjhowell Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@billyjhowell

The Massive Opportunity in Building AI Businesses | Alex Hormozi

📚 Join the #1 community for AI entrepreneurs and connect with 100,000+ members: https://bit.ly/3uRIRB3 📈 We help industry experts, entrepreneurs & developers build and scale their AI Agency: https://bit.ly/skoolmain 🤝 Need AI Solutions Built? Work with me: https://b.link/qv62vqy6 ⚒️ Build AI Agents Without Coding: https://agentivehub.com/ 🚀 Apply to Join My Team at Morningside AI: https://tally.so/r/wbYr52 Alex Hormozi and I sat down for a chat about how to start an AI business in 2023. Alex shared his advice for people wanting to start an AI Automation Agency, including how to sell emerging technology like AI, the importance of a good development team as an AI entrepreneur and his thoughts on AI businesses and startups that he's seeing at Acquisition.com. Alex Hormozi also gave his thoughts on the huge opportunity for entrepreneurs to help businesses integrate AI into their businesses or "AI-ify" them, including exactly how he'd go about it himself. This call was an exclusive interview for my AAA Accelerator members who were able to watch this conversation LIVE. Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - AI Automation Agencies Explained 5:13 - How To Sell Emerging Tech 6:23 - The Opportunity Of AI Automation 10:00 - Choosing The Right Business Partner 11:14 - What Problems To Solve In An Industry 12:06 - Where AAA Might Falter or Excel 14:32 - The Importance Of Development Resources 19:17 - How Important Is Downtime As An Entrepreneur?

7 AI Tools to save you time, money & run your business

Powerful AI productivity tools that can help you run your business. -- FREE SHOPIFY TRIAL -- Build your business using a FREE trial of Shopify , one platform with all the ecommerce features you need to start, run, and grow your business. ► https://bit.ly/3NeGcaQ -- FREE SHOPIFY COURSE -- First Day to First Sale https://bit.ly/3oMGoF3 #shorts

This AI powered logo generator is used by over 20 million startups

Fast and easy way to create your business logo with this powerful AI tool. Will you try it? -- FREE SHOPIFY TRIAL -- Build your business using a FREE trial of Shopify , one platform with all the ecommerce features you need to start, run, and grow your business. ► https://bit.ly/3C5Zf10 -- FREE SHOPIFY COURSE -- First Day to First Sale https://bit.ly/3MJg7iR #shorts

GenAI for Executives & Business Leaders: An Introduction

AI is disrupting every aspect of business and daily life. Author Arthur C. Clarke famously said that “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” But artificial intelligence (AI) is not magic. It’s math and science, and it’s going to touch every aspect of our lives.

Exploring PPC and Other Online Business Ideas: Strategies, Market Insights, and AI Integrationl

I'm interested in starting an online PPC business and would appreciate any advice on how to begin. Where can I find comprehensive resources to learn the required skills? Are there any reports that provide insights into market sectors and the level of competition within them? What is the profit potential in this field? Which PPC platforms (e.g., Google, Yahoo) are best suited for different market areas? I've noticed many companies in my country achieving significant profits in this industry, and I'm eager to study it thoroughly to pursue similar success. I'm also curious about how AI can be effectively applied in PPC. I have a background in physics and computer science and extensive experience as an algorithm developer, primarily using Python for image processing. I'm open to exploring other online business ideas as well, so any additional suggestions or recommendations would be highly appreciated.

Getting datasets to train AI to find a business opportunity and develop growth strategy

Listened to a podcast about training AI on competitive, consumer and market datasets to find the right segments for business opportunities. One example they used was feeding it case studies of companies that have become unicorns - building out their marketing and sales strategies so the AI can find 'rules'. I'm launching a telehealth clinic but I want to develop the optimal strategy for the right first customer segment, how we evolve as a platform (e.g. become more like gymshark or more health orientated) and what the marketing strategy should be. Therefore, I need a bunch of datasets such as consumer demographics and awareness, competitive offering and performance and growth lessons from benchmark companies and their strategies. How could I find such data sets? How could I put this together? Is there a scrappy version I could put together through scraping? I'm wary of feeding it shit data and getting shit back so would love some guidance.

How do I, as a Data Scientist, get familiar with the business knowledge and jargon I need to start my AI startup and sell my product?

Here’s my situation: I'm a Data Scientist working on an MVP, almost ready to launch, called Attendify. It simplifies the attendance process in schools—no more teachers calling out names and sending records to principals. Instead, teachers create an account, upload student images, and start a live camera feed, all through the app. The app detects students using deep learning, stores everything in a database, and automates the process. Plus, I plan to add features based on school needs and pitch it directly to them. Now, I’m looking to establish a proper AI startup with a website and digital presence, but I'm lacking in business knowledge, especially the lingo like "B2B" and other terms. My goal is to be a sole founder with an online workforce. Can anyone recommend a cost-effective course (maybe on Coursera) that covers the basics I need to know to effectively talk with clients and understand the business side of things? Attendify is just one of them, I might create more in the future so I'm going towards SaaS side I was thinking about Entrepreneurship Specialization by University of Pennsylvania on Coursera if anyone got any feedback on it

How to start online business in 7 days ?

Easy to do now. There are several tips that I can give you to start your own digital business. 1) Solve your own problem. If you use the Internet, you know that there are a lot of problems that need to be solved. But focus on your problem first. Once you can figure it out and solve your problem. You can move on to solving people's problems. Ideally, to use tools and technology you know. If you don't know, use NO-CODE tools to build it. For example, if you need to create a website, use landing page builder. If you want to automate your own work, like booking meetings, use Zapier to automate tasks. If you want to create a game, sure, use AI Tools to solve it. I don't care what you will use. Use whatever you want. All I want from you is to solve that problem. 2) After solving your own problem. You can focus on people's problems. Because if you can't solve your own shit, why do you want to solve others problems? Remember that always. If you need to build e-commerce, use Shopify. If you need to build a directory, use directory builder. If you need to build landing pages, use landing page builders. Rule of thumb: Niche, Niche, Niche. Try to focus on a specific niche, solve their problem, and make money on it. Then only thinking about exploring new opportunities. You can use No-Code builders or AI tools or hire developers or hire agencies to do it. It depends on your choice. If you are good at coding, build on your own or delegate to a developer or agency. If you have enough time, use AI Tools to build your own thing. If you want to solve a common problem but with a different perspective, yeah, sure, use No-Code builders for that. 3) Digital business works exactly the same as offline business with one difference. You can move a lot faster, build a lot faster, risk a lot faster, fail a lot faster, earn a lot faster, sell a lot faster, and scale a lot faster. In one week, you can build e-commerce. In the second week, you can build SaaS. In the third week, you can build an AI agent. In the fourth week, you can build your own channel on social media. 4) It gives more power. With great power comes great responsibility. From day one, invest in SEO, social media presence, traffic, and acquiring customers. Don't focus on tech stuff. Don't focus on tools. Focus on the real problem: • Traffic • Marketing • Sales • Conversion rate

Solo technical founders, has not having a business cofounder even screwed you up? "I will not promote"

I’m creating an AI startup; a reinforcement learning model designed to do a certain thing in a big field. I’ve basically developed code for a prototype (I hope to start training in two weeks) I do believe YC advice for taking a cofounder, but risk of getting a bad one is too high. In my life I also haven't met people with my grit, at least from my countries, so I'll have to "date down", I guess. At least in technical sense. So, has not having a business cofounder actually screwed anyone up badly?  (Looking at people who are doing ventures with $20m+ potential/real ARR,)

Looking for business partner with technical AI knowledge

Hi all, Posted on here a few times now about my idea (you can read this on my profile). After planning out the details of the process, I can see that it may just be best for me to seek a business partner with has existing AI knowledge. I’m looking for a more technical person who can provide recommendations on AI tools for businesses based on the current processes in order to be more efficient and productive. This is a chance for you to work for yourself and get the money you deserve for your work. No interaction with the client needed and I will do all the sales aspects. Looking for someone UK-based and I am 23 for reference with a consulting and BA background. Please reach out if this interests you :)

I am considering starting a SaaS business that automates the creation of long-form SEO-optimized blog posts. Is this something you would find useful, as a business owner?

Trying to gauge the general interest level, from other entrepreneurs/business owners. The idea is, a tool that automates the process of creating long-form SEO optimized blog posts to promote your business -- perhaps creating entire batches of such posts, all from just one button click. Like if you could just describe your business, click a button, and BAM, it just outputs like an entire month's worth of absolutely fire SEO-optimized long-form blog posts? That would be super fucking convenient. Yes you can use ChatGPT for this, but the character limits make it so it can only output very short posts. Otherwise it requires first asking for an outline, then getting the different sections piecemeal and pasting it all together yourself. Still super time-consuming to do it that way. A GPT-based solution could probably automate the process I've hit upon in my own SEO blog-posting workflow -- where I output not just finished long-form blog posts, but also convert them into SEO-optimized HTML code so you can just paste it into your blog post website and have all the header tags etc set up for optimal SEO/keyword ranking purposes. Biggest counter-argument I make against this is, there are undoubtedly lots of companies already offering this. Doesn't mean I can't make money doing it. I just don't like entering super crowded marketplaces. Other main argument I have is, if I used my OpenAI account for this, there's the risk of some malicious/idiot user firing prompts that violate the OpenAI ToS and get me banned. I COULD have them input their own OpenAI API tokens, but that just adds adoption/usage barriers that would make it way harder to market/acquire initial customers. I guess I could sanitize the user inputs as a pre-processing step to block any obscene prompts or anything like that, but still, it's a risk. Let me know your thoughts on this idea. ASSUMING it worked effectively -- and made it very easy for you to just describe your business offerings / value propositions / target market(s), then get genuinely useful long-form SEO-optimized blog posts, is this something you'd be willing to pay for? If so, what dollar amount, to you, would seem reasonable? It would probably just be hosted on a website. Then you'd just copy the outputted final result for use as needed on your website. That would be the simplest way to do it. Technically it could function as like, a plugin for specific websites that maybe auto-posts them for you too -- it would be simpler, on my end, to start out doing this on a standalone website. (Might also make it easier to allow users to try it out, on first visit.) One last point -- MAYBE it would have an optional intermediate step, where it would first output the planned outline for the blog post, allowing you to pop in, quickly modify that, add your own thoughts / valuable ideas (to help make the blog post more unique, truly useful for readers, more your own) -- THEN you could finalize it and hit submit. Again, that's the workflow I've hit upon in my own semi-automated blog-posting workflow, and it's led to some pretty useful long-form content that isn't just, boring garbage, but contains lots of genuinely useful ideas that I would include in my own uniquely-created blog posts on the subject. But instead of me taking the time to write it, I just kinda toss in a few quickly typed out ideas to expand upon, and ChatGPT does the rest. Imagine that kind of optional / customizable workflow, but the rest of it is fully automated. OR you could just get the fully automated blog posts with no revisions on your part. Thanks!

Seeking advice from every type of business owner - if you have a moment & an opinion please chime in.

Hello everyone. I haven't started selling yet and wanted to get some insight from the community I'm trying to serve (that makes the most sense to me). So over the past couple months I've gotten into AI & Automation. I got a HighLevel account and went to town learning new things. I learned how to make automations and workflows that make running a business easier (my dad has been letting me use his concrete business as a guinea pig). I also learned how to build and train AI Chat Assistants. I want to start a service based business that uses AI & workflows to automate some of the customer service tasks & lead generation for business. What I'm seeking advice about are as follows: NICHE SELECTION: Part of me thinks I shouldn't niche down in the beginning and just take whoever comes and niche down once I find an industry I'm comfortable with. Another side thinks I should choose one. What is your opinion on niche selection in the beginning? PRICING: I know that pricing largely depends on the value I bring to the client, but I've seen people doing the same or similar things as I want to do and charging vastly different prices. From $300- $2,000. While I think these solutions could absolutely help companies get and retain new business and reduce some of the workload of their staff -- I'm not comfortable charging a high price until I've got enough experience and data to justify that. ​ THESE ARE THE SERVICES I'M THINKING OF OFFERING: Customer Service Chat Assistant. This will be on the website as a "Live Chat". It also connects to Facebook Messenger & Google Business Chat. I'd train the chat assistant on everything related to the company; pertinent info (NAP, company mission, industry background), contact info, services / products / pricing, FAQs, current specials &/or discount codes (this can be changed monthly), how to handle upset clients, etc. It can also connect to a calendar like Google or Calendly so customers can make an appointment or schedule a call directly from the conversation. Missed Call Follow Up. If you're familiar with the platform HighLevel it's commonly called "Missed Call Text Back". The idea is that when a call is missed a text message is automatically fired to the prospect's phone saying something along the lines of "Hey this is \\\\\\ from \\\\\\\_. How can I help you?" and the business owner is alerted to the missed call via text notification. People have said they see a lot of success for their clients with this alone due to the instant follow up. I see a lot of people charging $300 /m. for this. My issues with this are: 1). The text fires automatically when the call is missed, but if the business owner isn't available to actually follow up and keep texting after the customer texts back, they will look inconsistent and bothersome. 2). Without context a prospect may wonder why you didn't answer when they called, but texted them instead. So my answer to these problems are #3. SMS Answering Service. It is essentially taking 2 + 1 and combining them. The missed call text goes out to the prospect, but with context on why they're being texted (because no one is available to take the call at the moment) and IF the prospect responds, a Customer Service Chat Assistant will take over the conversation with the goal of answering their questions and either getting them on the phone with the company via a call back OR helping them schedule an appointment. This offers a more consistent solution than just a text to the business owner / team & the prospect is contacted and helped (hopefully) before they have a chance to start calling a competitor. Lead Nurture / Lead Qualifying Sales Funnel. This one is more than just AI & automation. It's a full funnel. It can be for either Facebook or Google. The process is AD -> Landing Page -> AI Text Message Convo -> Booking/Schedule Call/ Appointment. Typically the ad will offer a lead magnet which they will claim on the LP by giving their information. After the form is submitted, they get a text message and begin a conversation with the AI. It can be trained to just walk them through a booking process, nurture a sale by answering questions and handling objections or to qualify leads. Lead qualification via text works well if you want to weed out who is serious versus who is curious. To be clear; I'd be making the ad, landing page & training the AI -- all parts of the funnel. For whichever service a few things are universal: \- All conversations; no matter what platform they're had on, all go to one inbox which is pretty helpful to see them all in one place. \- When scheduling / booking these can also collect payment. \- Tags can be added to keep track of how they came into the business and where they are in a sales pipeline. There are a lot of fun things I can do with these automations and I'm excited about learning more everyday. I'd really like to know what you think these services could be worth to a business. If you do reply please tell me what type of business you're in so I have an idea of what industries I should be looking towards. Thank you for any response I get as I know this was a long read! SN: I currently do digital marketing & web design as a freelancer.

Could you guys help me fill up my research form to help me with better business research insights ?

hello everyone! I’m working on a new iOS app idea that uses AI to create custom automation templates for Make.com, based on your business struggles or time-wasting tasks. Example: You type “I waste too much time scheduling meetings” → boom, it gives you a plug-and-play Make.com automation. No coding needed. I made a short survey (3–5 mins) to see if this concept actually helps people or if I’m just building in a vacuum 😅 Would love your honest thoughts — and I’ll share the results with anyone who opts in! Here’s the link: 👉 https://forms.gle/kZf2LkRbre46KYKZ7 Big thanks in advance to anyone who takes a minute to help! 🙏

Seeking Your Feedback: SeedHustle and Your Small Business Journey✨

Hello, everyone, I'm one of the co-founder of SeedHustle, and I wanted to have an authentic discussion with you about our recent developments. SeedHustle is a project dear to us, with the aim of simplifying the often complex process of connecting startups with venture capitalists. 🌟 Why did we embark on this journey? Well, we've been in your shoes, experiencing the frustration of the never-ending search for the right VC partner and the challenges of establishing meaningful connections. This shared experience led to the creation of (https://seedhustle.ai/ ) . So, what's the deal with SeedHustle? It's our effort to streamline the process of finding the ideal VC match. You provide us with your company details, and our AI system goes to work, suggesting potential VCs and explaining why they might be a good fit based on their past investments and backgrounds. We also provide real-time data on their funds. We're currently in the private beta phase and want to extend an invitation to join our Discord community. It's a space where founders can share their stories and possibly make introductions to VCs. As founders who thrive on AI challenges, we believe this could be a game-changer. 👂 I'm here to have an open dialogue. Is there anything you'd like to discuss? Whether it's SeedHustle, our journey, or your own small business experiences, we're all ears. Here are a few conversation starters: \-Does SeedHustle align with your small business journey? \-Do you have any suggestions for how we can improve our platform? \-Is there anything about what we're doing that's unclear or not quite resonating with you? Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, so please feel free to reach out. Thank you for being a part of this journey, and we hope to see you in our Discord community for a chat! 😊🚀

AI for Business Consultancy

Good morning folks, I am doing some research on the impact of AI on business consultancy. I want to initially try out existing models to first learn how to improve my datasets before diving into building my own model. I'm specifically looking for ideas about parameters or metrics that I should be covering for a small cafe business. Since I'm coming from a CS background, my knowledge of the restaurant/cafe industry is pretty limited, so I thought I'd reach out to this community for some guidance. What kind of parameters should I be considering besides the obvious ones like customer and sale data, Inventory information, etc. Pricing strategy analysis? I'm really open to any suggestions! I appreciate any help or direction you all could provide. Just trying to get my bearings in this space before going too deep down any particular path. Thanks in advance!

In this post, share your small business experience, successes, failures, AMAS, and lessons learned. Week of March 10, 2025

This post welcomes and is dedicated to: Your business successes Small business anecdotes Lessons learned Unfortunate events Unofficial AMAs Links to outstanding educational materials (with explanations and/or an extract of the content) In this post, share your small business experience, successes, failures, AMAs, and lessons learned. Week of December 9, 2019 /r/smallbusiness is one of a very few subs where people can ask questions about operating their small business. To let that happen the main sub is dedicated to answering questions about subscriber's own small businesses. Many people also want to talk about things which are not specific questions about their own business. We don't want to disappoint those subscribers and provide this post as a place to share that content without overwhelming specific and often less popular simple questions. This isn't a license to spam the thread. Business promotion and free giveaways are welcome only in the Promote Your Business thread. Thinly-veiled website or video promoting posts will be removed as blogspam. Discussion of this policy and the purpose of the sub is welcome at https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/comments/ana6hg/psawelcometorsmallbusinesswearededicated_to/

Optimizing your business with AI

Everyone's talking about it...it can be a threatening or it can be an advantage, but either way, if you don't anticipate it, you're going to be left in the dust. I opened my sports management business nearly 2 years ago and things have been going really well. The clientele is growing, the revenue and projects are doubling every quarter, and headcount is tripling this year. That being said...as the owner and founder of the business, I'm looking for resources to learn more about streamlining operations and admin. I believe that understanding capabilities, the lynch pins, the applications, and the tools to unleash AI are going to be instrumental to how i grow the business to scale...does anyone have any knowledge or nudges about where I can dig into this? Traditional educational courses? Resources or AI integration businesses? Consultants? Thanks in advance for any and all your suggestions!

Implementing AI features on your business website

Hi, with AI making headlines recently, I am wondering ways that different business owners have thought to improve their websites using AI (aside from generating content). What AI tools do you think would add value to your website?

Small business teaching and implementing ai

Purely a question as a "poll" and will not accept business if interested on this platform. My name is anonymous. Question: I want to teach people, seniors, and small businesses to use chatgpt/other ai tools. Ideally it would be a small profit venture by charging per support ticket and prompt engineering sessions. Is this a bad idea? I know people who know and do not know chatgpt, those who do use it but only at a basic level. I feel even if I charge a few dollars but empower people I could reach several thousand and make a living?

How To Build An AI-Driven Business That Doesn't Suck In 2024 (My Take).

Hi everyone, this is for those of you wanting a full run through of the formula that scaled our business to around the $100,000 /m mark in less than 18 months. Why am I doing this? Since we started hitting the larger numbers I've been given considerable time back in my day as we elevate ourselves out of scrappy start-up land and have hired a full team. I've always wanted to take this time and pour it into educating others that are following the same path. There's nothing I've loved more in life (at the ripe age of 28) than connecting with other entrepreneurs that are obsessed with the game. Firstly, I want to tell you that this is absolutely possible. The main traits you need are: ➡️ Resilience to work hard around your normal life. ➡️ The willingness to put yourself outside of your comfort zone. ➡️ The awareness to place yourself in a fast-growing market with a great offering. Secondly, I want to tell you that you are probably structuring your day and your approach wrong. Here's why: ➡️ Your operations are the back-bone of your business. When correctly organised you should be in a pattern of understanding a new task, systemising it then automating it. If you do this you will build your business like you would build a lego house. ➡️ You should be setting goals that filter down into daily actions, that are being recorded and tracked so you can improve weekly. ➡️ You should start to get a good grip of cloud software like Hubspot, Trello, Notion & Slack for the various levers you need to pull inside your business. I'm seriously passionate about this and I've recorded my first Youtube video that breaks down our entire front-end and back-end funnel for our business - if you're looking for some no-nonsense education I'd equally love some feedback. You can check out the video here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6Mq9Xu9EK8 Apart from that, please ask me anything. I'm the Managing Director of doja, a team of 9 based in the UK with a team of 5 offshore. I'd love to connect with other entrepreneurs either ahead of me or following a similar path. I can answer questions on Strategy, R&D, Product, Marketing, Lead Generation, Business Development, Commerical, Onboard & Delivery funnels, as well as extensive knowledge about what's breaking through with the latest technology for small businesses.

What Problem Holds You Back? (testing a hypothesis about business solutions)

I have a hypothesis about solving small business challenges that I'd like to test with real entrepreneurs' perspectives. I believe that the most valuable application of AI isn't in chatbots or SaaS automations, but in enhancing how we solve real-world business problems through better analysis and solution design. Please note that I have no particular product or service to sell or promote, just a hunch to test. The Process: You share your specific business challenge (questions below) I'll use AI to analyze your situation and generate additional solution possibilities you may not have considered You tell me how viable or useful these AI-generated suggestions are for your real-world situation This feedback helps validate whether AI can truly add value to business problem-solving Please share: What ONE problem, bottleneck, or challenge is currently the BIGGEST headache holding back your business? How long has it been an issue? How much do the known alternatives to fix it cost? Which of those alternatives are you leaning towards using and why... or do you have a new or different idea you want to try? Your insights will help validate or disprove whether AI-enhanced problem-solving can genuinely help small business owners tackle their actual challenges. I plan to document this research (likely in a book), whether the results support my hypothesis or not. I'm looking for raw, honest responses - no sugar coating needed. Your real-world experience is what matters here. After I provide AI-generated solutions, please share your honest, subjective feedback about: How practical these suggestions are [0,10] What the AI might be missing about real-world implementation Whether any suggestions offer genuinely new perspectives you hadn't considered Thank you for helping me test this out.

Impact of AI on business valuation?

I see many businesses thinking and experimenting with how AI can help improve their business processes. I seem to find far fewer thinking about how AI could impact or even demolish their actual product. I’ve been thinking about this a lot as (thankfully?) I sold my 15 year old business last year. We have teams of specialists that create digital content in narrow but very high value topic areas. Our value has been the ability of our team of experts to distill and explain the impact of the topic. Now, just a few months later, we’ve shown how three specialist AI systems can basically do the same for near zero cost. Our business and model is highly threatened. Anyone else worried about AI on their product, and thereby the value of their business, and perhaps even looking at exiting while the value is high? And yes, I do expect AI will also create new opportunities to create value. Already thinking of ideas…!

80+ Social Media Updates Related to Business Marketing That Occurred in last 5 months

Tiktok expanded its caption limits from 100 to 500 Characters. Reddit Updates Search tools, Now you can search User Comments. “Comment search is here”. Pinterest Announces New Partnership with WooCommerce to Expand Product Listings. Google’s launched ‘multisearch’ feature that lets you search using text and image at the same time. Etsy sellers went on strike after platform increases transaction fees. Reddit launched $1 million fund to support various projects going on platform. Instagram is updating its ranking algorithm to put more focus on Original Content LinkedIn Added New tools In creator mode: improved content analytics and Updates profile video Options. Tiktok launched its own gif library “Effect House”. Instagram Updates Reels editing tools adding reordering clips feature. Google Search got a new label to direct people to original news sources YouTube launches new Profile Rings for Stories and Live. Snapchat launched YouTube Link stickers to make video sharing easier! Messenger adds new shortcuts, including a slack like @everyone feature. Pinterest Expands it’s Creator funds program to help more Underrepresented creators. Reddit brings back r/place after 5 years. Google Adds New Seller Performance Badges, New Pricing Insights for eCommerce Brands. Meta and Google agrees to New Data Transfer agreement to keep Instagram and Facebook running in EU. Twitter tests New Interactive Ad types to boost its promotional Appeal. Instagram removed In-stream Ads from its Advertising Options. Tiktok launched new program “CAP” to help creative agencies reach its audience. Twitch shuts down its desktop app. Meta launched the ability to add “share to Reels” feature to third Party Apps. TikTok Adds New ‘Background Player’ Option for Live-Streams. Twitter rolls out ALT badge and improved image description. Fast, A Checkout Startup with $15 billion valuation shuts down after spending all the funds raised in 2021. Wordpress announced new pricing with more traffic and storage limits after receiving backlash from the community. Sales force upgrades marketing field services and sales tools with AI. Dropbox shop launches in open beta to allow creators to sell digital content. Tiktok is the most downloaded app in Quarter 1 of 2022. WhatsApp announced launch of ‘Communities’ - more structured group chats with admin controls. Tiktok expands testing a private dislike button for comments. Twitter acquired “Openback” A notification app to improve timeline and relevance of push notifications YouTube and Tiktok added New options for Automated Captions, Improving Accessibility. A new social media App “Be Real” is trending across the internet grabbing Gen-Zs attention to try the app. WhatsApp got permission to expand payment services to its Indian user base of 100 Million. YouTube Shorts now allows creators to splice in long-form videos. You can use long form video audios and clips for YT shorts. New Snapchat feature ‘Dynamic Stories’ uses a publisher’s RSS feed to automatically create Stories posts. Zoom launches AI-powered features aimed at sales teams. Tiktok started testing who viewed your profile feature. Ogilvy Announced they will no longer work with who edit their bodies and faces for ads. If you don’t know “Oglivy” is the most successful advertising agency of the decade. YouTube Launches New ‘Search Insights’ for all creators. Snapchat Added 13 million new users in Q1 2022 more than both Twitter and Facebook. Google is Introduced new options to reject tracking cookies in Europe after receiving fines from violating EU data laws. Sony & Microsoft are planning to integrate Ads into their gaming platforms Xbox and PlayStation. YouTube Adds new Shorts Shelf to Trending Tab to show Top Shorts in an alternative section. Instagram started testing a reels template feature which enables creators to copy formats from other reels. Google Tests “What People Are Saying” Search Results. Twitter Launches New Test of Promotions for Third Party Tools Within the App. Instagram is changing how hashtags work by experimenting removing Recents tab from hashtags section. Google Adds New Publisher Verification Badges to Extension Listings in the Google Web Store Amazon AWS launches $30M accelerator program aimed at minority founders. Meta launched more fundraising options for Instagram Reels in 30 countries. Brave Search and DuckDuckGo will no longer support Google AMP due to privacy issues. Instagram is working on a pinned post feature and will officially launch in next few months. Meta: You can now add Music to your Facebook comments Twitter tests new closed caption button to switch on captions in Video Clip Elon Musk Bought Twitter $44 Billion and Company is set to go private. Google now lets you request the removal of personal contact information from search results YouTube reveals that Ads between YT Shorts are being tested with selective brands. LinkedInis rolling out a new website link feature. Google Reduces Visibility Of Business Edits With Color Changes To Profile Updates. Instagram expands testing of 90 second Reels. Microsoft Advertising now offers incentive features like cash-back and adding stock images from your website. Facebook & Pinterest are growing again despite all the hype around slow growth of both platform in last quarter. Google Added 9 new Ad policies to prevent misleading ads taking place. Tiktok Introduces Third-party cookies to its Pixel. (like Facebook Pixel) Twitter reportedly overcounted number of daily active users for last 3 years. Google launched Media CDN to compete on content delivery. YouTube expands Thank You Monetisation tool to all eligible creators. Twitch is looking to expand their cut from streamers earnings from 30 to 50% and also thinks of boosting Ads. Snapchat launches a $230 flying drone camera and new e-commerce integrations in Snap Summit 2022. YouTube Expands its ‘Pre-Publish Checks’ Tool to the Mobile App Google Search Console’s URL parameter tool is officially removed for a time period. Twitter creators can now get paid through Cryptocurrency on Twitter with Stripe. Jellysmack- One of the Influencer marketing agency acquires YouTube analytics tool Google & Microsoft Ads brought more revenue in last quarter- 22% Gains! WhatsApp is working on a paid subscription for multi-phone and tablet chatting. Instagram users now spend 20% of their time in the reels section. Google tests new Color for clicked search results by you. Now Clicked results are in Purple. Twitter: Elon plans to remove employees and focus more on influencers for twitter’s growth + new monetisation ideas were shared. YouTube revenue falls as more users spend time on shorts tab than consuming long form content. Drop 👋 to receive June Updates!

Seeking Feedback: Offering Free Customer Support Automation Setup for Small Business Owners

Hello Redditors, I run a small online digital business solo and found myself spending a lot of time handling repetitive customer support tasks. To reduce my time spent on these tasks, improve response times, and increase customer satisfaction, I built a small customer support automation tool that connects my Gmail account with OpenAI agents. This tool knows my business well, can reply to questions about my products, and provides common-sense responses. It also integrates with Stripe and my order processing system, allowing it to fetch order details and process refunds automatically. Impressively, my setup has automated 95% of customer inquiries, providing immediate resolutions and consistently impressing my customers. I'm now considering turning this automation into a SaaS product, but first, I want to understand if there is a demand for it and identify the most common needs of small business owners. To gather insights, I would like to offer a free service to set up this customer support automation for a few small business owners. If you're interested, please post a comment or send me a DM with a summary of your business, your existing customer support system, and your customer support volume. Your feedback and experience will be invaluable in shaping this product. Looking forward to hearing from you!

As a Business Owner, what are your technology challenges?

Premise: I've spent way too long in IT (as a developer) and worked primarily with technical clients for past 17+ years. I am a bit in a bubble. Lately I've been considering pivoting from freelancing into a different kind of business and need some feedback from SMB community. So I would like to hear from non-technical business owners. If you consider yourself non-technical owner what are some challenges you face with modern day technology (including AI, social media, digital advertising)? For example (some areas non-technical owners have challenges), 👉 digital marketing, social media, content, etc? 👉 Or more in terms of operations, inventory tracking, customer management is manual? 👉 /Or does it feel like you have a lot of manual tasks that should have been automated, but you just don't know how or don't know if possible? 👉 Perhaps you're using frankenstein-system of documents, email attachments, spreadsheets, written notes that lack organization? 👉 Or you're not marketing your business online? Obviously solution would have a price tag, but if it reduces overhead costs or increase ROI, why wouldn't you? Some ideas, but feel free to throw in more. I have not figured out my current offer nor service, just doing my market research. Thank you for feedback 🙏

Seeking advice from every type of business owner - if you have a moment & an opinion please chime in.

Hello everyone. I haven't started selling yet and wanted to get some insight from the community I'm trying to serve (that makes the most sense to me). So over the past couple months I've gotten into AI & Automation. I got a HighLevel account and went to town learning new things. I learned how to make automations and workflows that make running a business easier (my dad has been letting me use his concrete business as a guinea pig). I also learned how to build and train AI Chat Assistants. I want to start a service based business that uses AI & workflows to automate some of the customer service tasks & lead generation for business. What I'm seeking advice about are as follows: NICHE SELECTION: Part of me thinks I shouldn't niche down in the beginning and just take whoever comes and niche down once I find an industry I'm comfortable with. Another side thinks I should choose one. What is your opinion on niche selection in the beginning? PRICING: I know that pricing largely depends on the value I bring to the client, but I've seen people doing the same or similar things as I want to do and charging vastly different prices. From $300- $2,000. While I think these solutions could absolutely help companies get and retain new business and reduce some of the workload of their staff -- I'm not comfortable charging a high price until I've got enough experience and data to justify that. ​ THESE ARE THE SERVICES I'M THINKING OF OFFERING: Customer Service Chat Assistant. This will be on the website as a "Live Chat". It also connects to Facebook Messenger & Google Business Chat. I'd train the chat assistant on everything related to the company; pertinent info (NAP, company mission, industry background), contact info, services / products / pricing, FAQs, current specials &/or discount codes (this can be changed monthly), how to handle upset clients, etc. It can also connect to a calendar like Google or Calendly so customers can make an appointment or schedule a call directly from the conversation. Missed Call Follow Up. If you're familiar with the platform HighLevel it's commonly called "Missed Call Text Back". The idea is that when a call is missed a text message is automatically fired to the prospect's phone saying something along the lines of "Hey this is \\\\\\ from \\\\\\\_. How can I help you?" and the business owner is alerted to the missed call via text notification. People have said they see a lot of success for their clients with this alone due to the instant follow up. I see a lot of people charging $300 /m. for this. My issues with this are: 1). The text fires automatically when the call is missed, but if the business owner isn't available to actually follow up and keep texting after the customer texts back, they will look inconsistent and bothersome. 2). Without context a prospect may wonder why you didn't answer when they called, but texted them instead. So my answer to these problems are #3. SMS Answering Service. It is essentially taking 2 + 1 and combining them. The missed call text goes out to the prospect, but with context on why they're being texted (because no one is available to take the call at the moment) and IF the prospect responds, a Customer Service Chat Assistant will take over the conversation with the goal of answering their questions and either getting them on the phone with the company via a call back OR helping them schedule an appointment. This offers a more consistent solution than just a text to the business owner / team & the prospect is contacted and helped (hopefully) before they have a chance to start calling a competitor. Lead Nurture / Lead Qualifying Sales Funnel. This one is more than just AI & automation. It's a full funnel. It can be for either Facebook or Google. The process is AD -> Landing Page -> AI Text Message Convo -> Booking/Schedule Call/ Appointment. Typically the ad will offer a lead magnet which they will claim on the LP by giving their information. After the form is submitted, they get a text message and begin a conversation with the AI. It can be trained to just walk them through a booking process, nurture a sale by answering questions and handling objections or to qualify leads. Lead qualification via text works well if you want to weed out who is serious versus who is curious. To be clear; I'd be making the ad, landing page & training the AI -- all parts of the funnel. For whichever service a few things are universal: \- All conversations; no matter what platform they're had on, all go to one inbox which is pretty helpful to see them all in one place. \- When scheduling / booking these can also collect payment. \- Tags can be added to keep track of how they came into the business and where they are in a sales pipeline. There are a lot of fun things I can do with these automations and I'm excited about learning more everyday. I'd really like to know what you think these services could be worth to a business. If you do reply please tell me what type of business you're in so I have an idea of what industries I should be looking towards. Thank you for any response I get as I know this was a long read! SN: I currently do digital marketing & web design as a freelancer.

Seeking Feedback on My Business Idea – SaaS + Lead Generation for Small Businesses

Edit: TL;DR I’m Sarvesh, a digital marketer with 10 years of experience in paid ads. After losing my job last year, I started freelancing and discovered how much small businesses struggle with getting reviews (Google, Yelp, TrustPilot, etc.). My Business Idea – SaaS + Paid Ads Free Plan: Businesses can track & reply to reviews across 40+ platforms in one dashboard. Paid Plan ($99/month): Automates review collection, AI-powered responses, social media posting, and spam detection. Custom Plan: Paid ads to generate leads, offered only to businesses on my paid plan for 3+ months. Goal: SaaS platform attracts users → Some upgrade to paid plan → Best clients get lead-generation help → More leads → More reviews → More organic customers → A profitable business cycle. Need Feedback: Does this idea have potential? How can I get my first beta users? Any features I should add/remove? Would love your thoughts—thanks for reading! 😊 TL: Hi everyone, I’m Sarvesh, and I’m in the process of starting my own business. Since my target audience is small businesses, I’d love to get some input, advice, or critiques from this community. A Little About Me I’ve spent the last 10 years working in paid advertising, helping medium and large businesses generate leads through Facebook and Google Ads. I also have experience running e-commerce campaigns. You can check out my background on LinkedIn: LinkedIn Profile Last year, my second daughter was born, and around the same time, my company shut down all its offices (India & UK), leaving me without a job. I decided to take a break and spend time with my wife and newborn, something I regretted not doing with my first child. By November, I started job hunting again, but in the meantime, I got some freelance work through Reddit, helping small businesses with ads for the first time. For context, in my previous jobs, I managed ad campaigns with daily budgets of £4K–£8K. Working with small businesses was a new challenge, but to my surprise, I was able to generate solid leads for beauty salons, hair salons, and nail salons, helping them grow. What stood out to me was how much impact my work had—unlike my corporate job, where I was just another person in the system, here I felt truly valued. That feeling led me to explore starting my own business. The Problem I Noticed While working with small businesses, I realized that online reviews (Google, Yelp, Trustpilot, etc.) are critical for them, yet many struggle to get them. Customers often don’t leave reviews, and employees are either too shy or don’t prioritize asking for them. This gave me an idea—to build a system that helps businesses get more genuine Google reviews from customers. I developed the system but struggled to find businesses willing to test it, even for free. My target audience is U.S. small businesses, but since I’m based in India, cold emails and Reddit outreach didn’t get much traction. My Business Idea – SaaS + Custom Plans I’m now thinking of pivoting my business model into a SaaS platform with optional paid upgrades. Here’s how it would work: Free Plan (Review Tracking & Management) Businesses can track their reviews across 40+ platforms (Google, Yelp, Facebook, Trustpilot, TripAdvisor, etc.) in one dashboard. They can reply to reviews manually from a single place instead of switching between platforms. This will be completely free forever. Paid Plan ($99/month, Plus SMS/Email Costs) For businesses that struggle to get reviews, they can upgrade to a paid plan that includes: Automated Review Requests – Automatically send review requests via SMS & email. Website Widget – Showcase 4- and 5-star reviews dynamically. Social Media Automation – Automatically post positive reviews on Facebook/Instagram. AI-Powered Responses – AI can reply to reviews automatically. Spam Detection – The system will notify businesses of suspicious reviews (but won’t take direct action). Custom Plan (Lead Generation via Paid Ads) I will personally manage paid ad campaigns to generate leads. Pricing depends on the niche, budget, and contract duration. Money-Back Guarantee – If I don’t deliver results, I refund the month’s fee. Small businesses can’t afford wasted ad spend, and I want to ensure I provide real value. Limited spots per month to maintain quality and avoid burnout. How Everything Ties Together The SaaS platform serves as a lead generation tool for my custom plans: Businesses use the free plan to track their reviews. Some upgrade to the paid plan to automate and improve reviews. A select few, after 3 months on the paid plan, can join my custom plan for paid ads to generate more leads. More leads → More reviews → Better Google Maps ranking → More organic customers → A more profitable business. Would Love Your Feedback! What do you think about this approach? Do you see potential for this business to take off? Any features I should add or remove? Any suggestions on how I can get my first beta users to test the SaaS platform? What about pricing? Do you think $99 is good pricing? I know this is a long post, but I really appreciate anyone taking the time to read and share their thoughts. Thanks in advance!

ChatGPT for business automation (incredible new AI)

Hey fellow small business owners! I'm curious to know how you would use ChatGPT or other AI automation tools to improve your business. For those who are not aware, recently a new chat AI was made available to the public by OpenAI, called ChatGPT. (same company that did Dall-E) In a tweet Elon Musk wrote that "ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI." It allows anyone (regardless of tech skill) to simply type commands and it will spit out answers. It can also create actual working code. For example most tasks you do in a browser can be automated with a Python script, but it takes time and coding knowledge to create. With ChatGPT you can just tell it what you want and it will create the code! The impact for businesses is insane: 1) Your entire customer service can be easily replaced by chat bots and probably soon by AI that can speak over the phone (google showcased this in 2018, it already exists). 2) you can have the AI automate your sales process, creating a 1-on-1 conversations, at scale. It can probably also improve and optimize it's closing rate over time as it learns more about your customers. 3) It can be used to train your staff. It's really good for 1on1 instruction and teaching because it will go a the students pace and answer questions (compare that to the usual PowerPoint presentation people use) 4) Since it can create code to automate most tasks a human can do in a browser, you can create for example bots that take customer orders and automatically import them to whatever shipping system you use, send customers tracking info etc. (a lot of this stuff is done with software and APIs, but now anyone can create their own, custom solutions) I feel like we hit an inflection point in 2022 with AI and now we are beginning to see some really useful stuff coming out. Am I crazy or are we about to see a massive shift in how we do things?

Have you automated any part of your small business using AI?

Curious to see what parts of your business have you all automated using AI, personally I have tried it for recruiting and payroll. What about you?

MBA research: how business leaders are using/planning to use AI and process automation to optimise and grow

Hi small business owners and entrepreneuers! (I hope this is the right thread for this) I'm researching for my MBA on how business leaders, keen to modernise their business, are using/planning to use AI and process automation to optimise and grow, and all the challenges that come with this. Would anyone be open for a quick 15-minute call to share your experiences and challenges in this area? Here's my calendly if so: https://calendly.com/tony\_leania/15-minute-meeting-quick-discussion-clone-3 Alternatively, I have a quick 10-question survey: https://urjarkvv3jg.typeform.com/to/Kgfbz33O Your insights are much appreciated! Thanks, Tony

Im starting a small business for AI agents to automate accounts recievables

Hi All, I'm starting a small business to automate accounts receivables. we are trying to figure out our best ICP we were looking at food and bev, logistics, suppliers, but also b2b lenders. Any one have a good idea on how to narrow down your ICP. Should we focus on SMBs with shorter sales cycles or try to lean on lenders which we already have couple?

Seeking Feedback: Offering Free Customer Support Automation Setup for Small Business Owners

Hello Redditors, I run a small online digital business solo and found myself spending a lot of time handling repetitive customer support tasks. To reduce my time spent on these tasks, improve response times, and increase customer satisfaction, I built a small customer support automation tool that connects my Gmail account with OpenAI agents. This tool knows my business well, can reply to questions about my products, and provides common-sense responses. It also integrates with Stripe and my order processing system, allowing it to fetch order details and process refunds automatically. Impressively, my setup has automated 95% of customer inquiries, providing immediate resolutions and consistently impressing my customers. I'm now considering turning this automation into a SaaS product, but first, I want to understand if there is a demand for it and identify the most common needs of small business owners. To gather insights, I would like to offer a free service to set up this customer support automation for a few small business owners. If you're interested, please post a comment or send me a DM with a summary of your business, your existing customer support system, and your customer support volume. Your feedback and experience will be invaluable in shaping this product. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Im starting a small business for AI agents to automate accounts recievables

Hi All, I'm starting a small business to automate accounts receivables. we are trying to figure out our best ICP we were looking at food and bev, logistics, suppliers, but also b2b lenders. Any one have a good idea on how to narrow down your ICP. Should we focus on SMBs with shorter sales cycles or try to lean on lenders which we already have couple?

AI for Business Consultancy

Good morning folks, I am doing some research on the impact of AI on business consultancy. I want to initially try out existing models to first learn how to improve my datasets before diving into building my own model. I'm specifically looking for ideas about parameters or metrics that I should be covering for a small cafe business. Since I'm coming from a CS background, my knowledge of the restaurant/cafe industry is pretty limited, so I thought I'd reach out to this community for some guidance. What kind of parameters should I be considering besides the obvious ones like customer and sale data, Inventory information, etc. Pricing strategy analysis? I'm really open to any suggestions! I appreciate any help or direction you all could provide. Just trying to get my bearings in this space before going too deep down any particular path. Thanks in advance!

As a Business Owner, what are your technology challenges?

Premise: I've spent way too long in IT (as a developer) and worked primarily with technical clients for past 17+ years. I am a bit in a bubble. Lately I've been considering pivoting from freelancing into a different kind of business and need some feedback from SMB community. So I would like to hear from non-technical business owners. If you consider yourself non-technical owner what are some challenges you face with modern day technology (including AI, social media, digital advertising)? For example (some areas non-technical owners have challenges), 👉 digital marketing, social media, content, etc? 👉 Or more in terms of operations, inventory tracking, customer management is manual? 👉 /Or does it feel like you have a lot of manual tasks that should have been automated, but you just don't know how or don't know if possible? 👉 Perhaps you're using frankenstein-system of documents, email attachments, spreadsheets, written notes that lack organization? 👉 Or you're not marketing your business online? Obviously solution would have a price tag, but if it reduces overhead costs or increase ROI, why wouldn't you? Some ideas, but feel free to throw in more. I have not figured out my current offer nor service, just doing my market research. Thank you for feedback 🙏

Small Business Owners: How's AI Working (or Not) for You?

I'm interested in doing some "user research" to hear from the community on how AI fits into the small business landscape. Some SMB owners I talked to felt like "AI is a cool novelty, but it's not transformative". Curious how people here feel about AI, thanks. How are you using (or have used) AI in your business? Seen any ROI boosts? Hit any roadblocks or adoption challenges? What do you wish AI could do for your biz that it doesn't currently? (besides run everything lol)

Looking for feedback on small business communities

Hi folks - I'm working on a new company (I've built and sold two developer tools companies), and instead of building some AI tech I want to build small business communities to help SMB owners. Both my parents ran their own small businesses and I spent my youth working behind a register. I'd love to hear about your experiences interacting with your SMB neighbors, online or off - here's a survey link: https://marketstreet.cc/survey \- and once we get enough results I'll post here with any insights.

ChatGPT for business automation (incredible new AI)

Hey fellow small business owners! I'm curious to know how you would use ChatGPT or other AI automation tools to improve your business. For those who are not aware, recently a new chat AI was made available to the public by OpenAI, called ChatGPT. (same company that did Dall-E) In a tweet Elon Musk wrote that "ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI." It allows anyone (regardless of tech skill) to simply type commands and it will spit out answers. It can also create actual working code. For example most tasks you do in a browser can be automated with a Python script, but it takes time and coding knowledge to create. With ChatGPT you can just tell it what you want and it will create the code! The impact for businesses is insane: 1) Your entire customer service can be easily replaced by chat bots and probably soon by AI that can speak over the phone (google showcased this in 2018, it already exists). 2) you can have the AI automate your sales process, creating a 1-on-1 conversations, at scale. It can probably also improve and optimize it's closing rate over time as it learns more about your customers. 3) It can be used to train your staff. It's really good for 1on1 instruction and teaching because it will go a the students pace and answer questions (compare that to the usual PowerPoint presentation people use) 4) Since it can create code to automate most tasks a human can do in a browser, you can create for example bots that take customer orders and automatically import them to whatever shipping system you use, send customers tracking info etc. (a lot of this stuff is done with software and APIs, but now anyone can create their own, custom solutions) I feel like we hit an inflection point in 2022 with AI and now we are beginning to see some really useful stuff coming out. Am I crazy or are we about to see a massive shift in how we do things?

Let’s Build One Person Business Using 100% AI

AI made it possible for 9-to-5 workers to start a one-person business without quitting their jobs. Full Article https://preview.redd.it/tynb9y6z695d1.png?width=1309&format=png&auto=webp&s=b490d3676a63adcc01faff8c476056cb7d420022 https://i.redd.it/9x3okti0795d1.gif The Opportunities for Starting a Business ○ There are huge opportunities to start your own business by leveraging valuable skills to attract paying audiences. ○ New software and AI platforms make it easier to distribute products/services and automate tasks that were previously time-consuming. Our One Person Book Publication House ○ This article explores building a one-person AI-powered business focused on publishing books. ○ Users input data on a topic, and AI generates a comprehensive book structure and content based on that. ○ The generated content can be formatted, designed, and published digitally or in print easily. Why Read This Article? ○ It presents an innovative AI-powered approach to streamline the book publishing process. ○ It provides technical implementation details using LLM, Python and the Streamlit library as a reference. ○ It highlights AI's potential in automating creative tasks like writing and content creation. Approaching the One Person Business ○ Reflect on areas where you overcame personal struggles and gained valuable skills. ○ Leverage that expertise to build an AI business serving others facing similar obstacles. ○ Use AI tools to create content, automate processes, and efficiently scale your offerings. The Publication Business Idea ○ Focus on writing and publishing small books using AI writing assistants. ○ AI can streamline research, writing drafts, outlines, and ideas across genres. ○ Concentrate efforts on editing, formatting, and marketing while AI handles writing. The Book Generation Process ○ Users input structured topic data like outlines, key points, and references. ○ Advanced AI language models generate flowing book content from that data. ○ Minimal human effort is needed beyond initial inputs and refinement. ○ AI systems automatically handle formatting, design, and publishing. Technical Implementation ○ Includes a Book class to represent a book's hierarchical structure in Python. ○ Functions to generate book structures and section content using AI models. ○ Integrates with a Streamlit app for user input and output. ○ Allows downloading the final book in Markdown format. Closing Thoughts ○ This AI-powered approach makes book writing and publishing more accessible to individuals. ○ AI handles the heavy lifting, with humans providing quality control through editing. ○ It opens up possibilities for innovative knowledge sharing as technology evolves.

Let’s Build One Person Business Using 100% AI

AI made it possible for 9-to-5 workers to start a one-person business without quitting their jobs. Full Article https://preview.redd.it/tynb9y6z695d1.png?width=1309&format=png&auto=webp&s=b490d3676a63adcc01faff8c476056cb7d420022 https://i.redd.it/9x3okti0795d1.gif The Opportunities for Starting a Business ○ There are huge opportunities to start your own business by leveraging valuable skills to attract paying audiences. ○ New software and AI platforms make it easier to distribute products/services and automate tasks that were previously time-consuming. Our One Person Book Publication House ○ This article explores building a one-person AI-powered business focused on publishing books. ○ Users input data on a topic, and AI generates a comprehensive book structure and content based on that. ○ The generated content can be formatted, designed, and published digitally or in print easily. Why Read This Article? ○ It presents an innovative AI-powered approach to streamline the book publishing process. ○ It provides technical implementation details using LLM, Python and the Streamlit library as a reference. ○ It highlights AI's potential in automating creative tasks like writing and content creation. Approaching the One Person Business ○ Reflect on areas where you overcame personal struggles and gained valuable skills. ○ Leverage that expertise to build an AI business serving others facing similar obstacles. ○ Use AI tools to create content, automate processes, and efficiently scale your offerings. The Publication Business Idea ○ Focus on writing and publishing small books using AI writing assistants. ○ AI can streamline research, writing drafts, outlines, and ideas across genres. ○ Concentrate efforts on editing, formatting, and marketing while AI handles writing. The Book Generation Process ○ Users input structured topic data like outlines, key points, and references. ○ Advanced AI language models generate flowing book content from that data. ○ Minimal human effort is needed beyond initial inputs and refinement. ○ AI systems automatically handle formatting, design, and publishing. Technical Implementation ○ Includes a Book class to represent a book's hierarchical structure in Python. ○ Functions to generate book structures and section content using AI models. ○ Integrates with a Streamlit app for user input and output. ○ Allows downloading the final book in Markdown format. Closing Thoughts ○ This AI-powered approach makes book writing and publishing more accessible to individuals. ○ AI handles the heavy lifting, with humans providing quality control through editing. ○ It opens up possibilities for innovative knowledge sharing as technology evolves.

AI For Business Applications (Recommendations)

Hello there community, I was hoping to get some advice/proposals on some up to date books/reading materials pertaining to the title. It’s just a means for me to understand case studies in different sectors (basically attempt to grasp possibilities and limitations of real world applications). Doesn’t have to be business related. Thank you in advance.

Learning AI for Business Leaders

Hello Community, For the better part of 2 months I have been reading up on everything in getting a better understanding of the fundamentals of AI - from history of AI to reading the Google 8’s peer reviewed paper on the advent of transformers. I feel as though I am running in circles at times an not following a guided path approach to learning. I’m 40, work in international development in a leadership role - though I have a background in corporate finance and tech. I’m not an engineer, nor do I have the ambition of such a career pivot. However I do want to learn, be abreast, and know enough about the space when evaluating (and proposing) AI related opportunities - my role now should be a path towards a chief innovation officer for a development agency within the next 3-4 years. My sources have been basically everything I can find from tech blogs, WaPo, financial times, economist, and random internet searches. I have completed IBM’s Fundamental on AI course. However, I feel there no structure in learning as I have been piecemealing from so many different sources. Essentially I care about business cases and being able to confidently talk about AI. And not building and deploying a product. MIT and UPenn have some courses on AI for leaders, however, as the space is moving so fast I’m not confident how current their materials are. My ask: Are there any courses (or learning approaches) you recommend that is less-code and more focus on concept and applications I should do? Is my approach to learning too broad and I should focus on a subset of AI such as ML or specifically GenAI since it seems most applications are currently byproducts of it. Many thanks in advance for any support - truly appreciate it.

AI Courses for Business Leaders

I’m been spending a last few months learning the fundamentals of AI through blog post, podcast and did online short course on intro to AI from IBM and Coursera. And looking to take the “next step” either through a certification program (I don’t care about the cert - but more so learning opportunity) offered through MIT, Penn, etc…they seem like a money grab and not confident I will get what I am looking for through them. Are there better options? Willing to spend money, open to learning online/hybrid through a structured curriculum or patch-work solution online —- just need insight on a path forward. I’m not looking to pivot, but rather learn about the technology, seek opportunities to incorporate elements of it into our organization - and for also, I’m genuinely interested in its potential - from an application/deployment/business perspective. I’m 40yrs, senior leader focusing on innovation and entrepreneurship in emerging economies - pretty tech savvy (though not from a CS background) and looking for a new learning opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and leverage it to our organization’s mission. Many thanks in advance!

Introducing Stratify: Your Ultimate AI Strategy Builder for Business Success

Hello, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my new startup, Stratify! 🔍 What is Stratify? Stratify is an AI Strategy Builder designed to help businesses of all sizes develop, implement, and optimize their strategic plans using cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Whether you're a startup looking to scale or an established company aiming to innovate, Stratify provides the tools and insights you need to stay ahead in today's competitive landscape. 🌟 Key Features: Automated Strategy Development: Leverage AI to analyze market trends, competitor data, and internal metrics to create comprehensive strategic plans tailored to your business goals. Real-Time Analytics & Insights: Monitor your strategy's performance with real-time data dashboards, enabling you to make informed decisions quickly. Scenario Planning: Use AI-driven simulations to forecast different business scenarios and understand potential outcomes, helping you prepare for uncertainties. Collaborative Tools: Facilitate team collaboration with integrated communication features, ensuring everyone is aligned and contributing to the strategy development process. Customizable Templates: Access a library of industry-specific strategy templates that can be customized to fit your unique business needs. 💡 Why Stratify? In today's fast-paced business environment, creating and adapting effective strategies can be challenging. Many companies struggle with data overload, lack of actionable insights, and inefficient planning processes. Stratify addresses these pain points by harnessing the power of AI to streamline strategy building, making it more efficient, data-driven, and adaptable. 🚀 Our Journey So Far: Founded: August 2024 Milestones Achieved: Developed and tested our MVP with a select group of beta users What's Next: Launching our public beta in Q4 2024 Expanding our feature set based on user feedback Growing our team with experts in AI, business strategy, and customer success 🤝 How You Can Help: We’re eager to connect with early adopters, business strategists, and industry experts who can benefit from or contribute to Stratify. Here’s how you can get involved: Join Our Beta Program: Be among the first to experience Stratify and provide valuable feedback. Share Your Insights: Help us refine our features by sharing your business strategy challenges and needs. Spread the Word: If you know someone who could benefit from an AI-driven strategy builder, please share our mission and be an affiliate to earn rewards! 🌐 Learn More: Visit our website at AI-Powered Brand Strategy & Content Creation | Stratify (brandprovoke.com) and follow us for the latest updates and insights. 🙏 Thank You! A heartfelt thank you to the Reddit community for your support and encouragement. We’re excited to embark on this journey and look forward to your feedback and suggestions! Looking forward to your thoughts and questions!

How I Built a $6k/mo Business with Cold Email

I scaled my SaaS to a $6k/mo business in under 6 months completely using cold email. However, the biggest takeaway for me is not a business that’s potentially worth 6-figure. It’s having a glance at the power of cold emails in the age of AI. It’s a rapidly evolving yet highly-effective channel, but no one talks about how to do it properly. Below is the what I needed 3 years ago, when I was stuck with 40 free users on my first app. An app I spent 2 years building into the void. Entrepreneurship is lonely. Especially when you are just starting out. Launching a startup feel like shouting into the dark. You pour your heart out. You think you have the next big idea, but no one cares. You write tweets, write blogs, build features, add tests. You talk to some lukewarm leads on Twitter. You do your big launch on Product Hunt. You might even get your first few sales. But after that, crickets... Then, you try every distribution channel out there. SEO Influencers Facebook ads Affiliates Newsletters Social media PPC Tiktok Press releases The reality is, none of them are that effective for early-stage startups. Because, let's face it, when you're just getting started, you have no clue what your customers truly desire. Without understanding their needs, you cannot create a product that resonates with them. It's as simple as that. So what’s the best distribution channel when you are doing a cold start? Cold emails. I know what you're thinking, but give me 10 seconds to change your mind: When I first heard about cold emailing I was like: “Hell no! I’m a developer, ain’t no way I’m talking to strangers.” That all changed on Jan 1st 2024, when I actually started sending cold emails to grow. Over the period of 6 months, I got over 1,700 users to sign up for my SaaS and grew it to a $6k/mo rapidly growing business. All from cold emails. Mastering Cold Emails = Your Superpower I might not recommend cold emails 3 years ago, but in 2024, I'd go all in with it. It used to be an expensive marketing channel bootstrapped startups can’t afford. You need to hire many assistants, build a list, research the leads, find emails, manage the mailboxes, email the leads, reply to emails, do meetings. follow up, get rejected... You had to hire at least 5 people just to get the ball rolling. The problem? Managing people sucks, and it doesn’t scale. That all changed with AI. Today, GPT-4 outperforms most human assistants. You can build an army of intelligent agents to help you complete tasks that’d previously be impossible without human input. Things that’d take a team of 10 assistants a week can now be done in 30 minutes with AI, at far superior quality with less headaches. You can throw 5000 names with website url at this pipeline and you’ll automatically have 5000 personalized emails ready to fire in 30 minutes. How amazing is that? Beyond being extremely accessible to developers who are already proficient in AI, cold email's got 3 superpowers that no other distribution channels can offer. Superpower 1/3 : You start a conversation with every single user. Every. Single. User. Let that sink in. This is incredibly powerful in the early stages, as it helps you establish rapport, bounce ideas off one another, offer 1:1 support, understand their needs, build personal relationships, and ultimately convert users into long-term fans of your product. From talking to 1000 users at the early stage, I had 20 users asking me to get on a call every week. If they are ready to buy, I do a sales call. If they are not sure, I do a user research call. At one point I even had to limit the number of calls I took to avoid burnout. The depth of the understanding of my customers’ needs is unparalleled. Using this insight, I refined the product to precisely cater to their requirements. Superpower 2/3 : You choose exactly who you talk to Unlike other distribution channels where you at best pick what someone's searching for, with cold emails, you have 100% control over who you talk to. Their company Job title Seniority level Number of employees Technology stack Growth rate Funding stage Product offerings Competitive landscape Social activity (Marital status - well, technically you can, but maybe not this one…) You can dial in this targeting to match your ICP exactly. The result is super low CAC and ultra high conversion rate. For example, My competitors are paying $10 per click for the keyword "HARO agency". I pay $0.19 per email sent, and $1.92 per signup At around $500 LTV, you can see how the first means a non-viable business. And the second means a cash-generating engine. Superpower 3/3 : Complete stealth mode Unlike other channels where competitors can easily reverse engineer or even abuse your marketing strategies, cold email operates in complete stealth mode. Every aspect is concealed from end to end: Your target audience Lead generation methods Number of leads targeted Email content Sales funnel This secrecy explains why there isn't much discussion about it online. Everyone is too focused on keeping their strategies close and reaping the rewards. That's precisely why I've chosen to share my insights on leveraging cold email to grow a successful SaaS business. More founders need to harness this channel to its fullest potential. In addition, I've more or less reached every user within my Total Addressable Market (TAM). So, if any competitor is reading this, don't bother trying to replicate it. The majority of potential users for this AI product are already onboard. To recap, the three superpowers of cold emails: You start a conversation with every single user → Accelerate to PMF You choose exactly who you talk to → Super-low CAC Complete stealth mode → Doesn’t attract competition By combining the three superpowers I helped my SaaS reach product-marketing-fit quickly and scale it to $6k per month while staying fully bootstrapped. I don't believe this was a coincidence. It's a replicable strategy for any startup. The blueprint is actually straightforward: Engage with a handful of customers Validate the idea Engage with numerous customers Scale to $5k/mo and beyond More early-stage founders should leverage cold emails for validation, and as their first distribution channel. And what would it do for you? Update: lots of DM asking about more specifics so I wrote about it here. https://coldstartblueprint.com/p/ai-agent-email-list-building

I created an AI that turns your business ideas into full plans in 30 Minutes

Hey folks, I made AIFounder because a friend was stuck trying to turn his business idea into a solid plan, and I knew I could create a tool that does it faster and better than any consultant. How does it work? You give me the key details of your business idea—just the essentials. My AI gets to work, using industry-specific prompts created by experts, and in 30 minutes you’ve got a personalized business plan in PDF format, ready to go. What do you get? A 100-page plan, tailored just for you. Clear, actionable steps to turn your vision into reality. Market research, brand identity, marketing strategies, sales plans, and more—all customized to your idea. Why AIFounder? It’s like having a professional consultant by your side, but faster and without breaking the bank. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow, my AI-generated plans have already helped entrepreneurs secure funding and move forward with confidence. I’d love to hear what you think, any feedback or questions are welcome. Thanks in advance! 🚀

How to start online business in 7 days ?

Easy to do now. There are several tips that I can give you to start your own digital business. 1) Solve your own problem. If you use the Internet, you know that there are a lot of problems that need to be solved. But focus on your problem first. Once you can figure it out and solve your problem. You can move on to solving people's problems. Ideally, to use tools and technology you know. If you don't know, use NO-CODE tools to build it. For example, if you need to create a website, use landing page builder. If you want to automate your own work, like booking meetings, use Zapier to automate tasks. If you want to create a game, sure, use AI Tools to solve it. I don't care what you will use. Use whatever you want. All I want from you is to solve that problem. 2) After solving your own problem. You can focus on people's problems. Because if you can't solve your own shit, why do you want to solve others problems? Remember that always. If you need to build e-commerce, use Shopify. If you need to build a directory, use directory builder. If you need to build landing pages, use landing page builders. Rule of thumb: Niche, Niche, Niche. Try to focus on a specific niche, solve their problem, and make money on it. Then only thinking about exploring new opportunities. You can use No-Code builders or AI tools or hire developers or hire agencies to do it. It depends on your choice. If you are good at coding, build on your own or delegate to a developer or agency. If you have enough time, use AI Tools to build your own thing. If you want to solve a common problem but with a different perspective, yeah, sure, use No-Code builders for that. 3) Digital business works exactly the same as offline business with one difference. You can move a lot faster, build a lot faster, risk a lot faster, fail a lot faster, earn a lot faster, sell a lot faster, and scale a lot faster. In one week, you can build e-commerce. In the second week, you can build SaaS. In the third week, you can build an AI agent. In the fourth week, you can build your own channel on social media. 4) It gives more power. With great power comes great responsibility. From day one, invest in SEO, social media presence, traffic, and acquiring customers. Don't focus on tech stuff. Don't focus on tools. Focus on the real problem: • Traffic • Marketing • Sales • Conversion rate

100 agency business ideas that requires zero investment in 2025

Social Media Manager (Search "smma business for sale" and get started with Sitefy or humanpdesign company) Content Writing Service SEO Specialist (Search "outsourced seo business Sitefy" and get started) Instagram Growth Expert LinkedIn Lead Outreach Cold Email Specialist Ghostwriter Services YouTube Channel Assistant X/Twitter Writing Service UGC Creator Network Virtual Assistant Provider Podcast Manager Influencer Outreach Service Brand Strategy Consultant Resume & Profile Optimizer Media Outreach Services Newsletter Creation Team Lead Gen Specialist Personal Branding Partner Online Reputation Consultant Script Writer Team Funnel Strategy Helper Landing Page Writer Blog Strategy Consultant Growth Tactics Consultant SaaS User Onboarding Service App Store Optimization (ASO) Chatbot Automation Setup Customer Support Automator TikTok Strategy Specialist Short Video Editing Team Long Video Editing Team Digital Product Launch Help Webinar Setup Specialist Affiliate Setup Services Online Community Builder Facebook Group Specialist Pinterest Marketing Service (Search "digital marketing business for sale Sitefy" and get started quickly) Email List Builder CRM Setup Helper eBook Writing Partner YouTube Thumbnail Designer Pinterest Content Designer Proposal Writing Team Press Release Writer Influencer Deal Manager SaaS Growth Advisor Direct-To-Consumer Marketing Help App Review Booster Fiverr Profile Consultant Upwork Profile Expert Gig Profile Optimizer AI Tools Setup Help Freelance Talent Finder Local Search Optimizer Google Profile Optimizer Online Course Setup Notion Workflow Setup Airtable Consultant Trello/ClickUp Helper Automation Strategy Planner Sales Funnel Assistant WhatsApp Campaign Setup Telegram Channel Helper Blog Publishing Help Email-Based Content Creator Startup Deck Consultant Business Name & Tagline Creator Domain Research Help Reddit Growth Assistant Niche Community Builder Free Resource Strategy Website Audit Consultant Brand Guide Creator Business System Organizer Productivity Coach Reputation Fix Specialist Digital Product Reviewer Micro SaaS Idea Tester Ad Copywriter Email Strategy Consultant Influencer Research Team Onboarding Docs Creator Automation Setup Specialist Freelance Team Coordinator AI Marketing Planner Feedback Collection Setup Social Proof Strategist Giveaway Organizer Pricing Strategy Helper Contract Template Consultant Startup Growth Guide AI Prompt Writer Press Kit Creator Podcast Booking Assistant Inbox Performance Checker Customer Journey Planner Trend Report Analyst Testimonial Request Specialist Digital Declutter Coach Which one sounds like your vibe?

I searched for unexplored AI business opportunities for 2024 and found 8 promising ideas

https://solansync.beehiiv.com/p/8-innovative-ai-business-opportunities-2024-evaluation-resources Entering 2024, the AI landscape presents numerous uncharted business opportunities. Solan Sync, on February 06, 2024, shared an insightful exploration into nine innovative AI business prospects that stand out for their potential market impact and implementation feasibility. Here's a brief overview of each: No-Code AI Chatbot Development Platforms: These platforms enable businesses to create efficient chatbots without coding knowledge, catering to a variety of communication needs and boasting a significant market potential projected at $19.8 billion by 2027. AI-Powered Document Management Systems: Offering a solution to automate data extraction and management, this opportunity targets sectors overwhelmed by paperwork, with a market growth expected to reach $4.4 billion by 2026. Automated AI Customer Support Platforms: AI-driven platforms are transforming customer support by handling inquiries with advanced conversational agents, aiming for a part of the $15.3 billion market by 2027. AI-Driven Content Generation Platforms: Utilizing advanced language models for content creation, this area addresses the high demand for engaging content across digital platforms, with the market projected to hit $12 billion by 2025. AI-Powered Recommendation System APIs: Tailored product recommendations can significantly enhance user experience, tapping into a market anticipated to grow to $6.3 billion by 2027. AI-Enhanced Digital Media Buying Solutions: These platforms optimize advertising strategies using AI, targeting the native advertising market expected to reach $59 billion by 2025. Enterprise-grade Voice-activated AI Assistants: Improving workplace efficiency with voice commands, this segment has a potential market of $1.1 billion by 2026. AI-Enhanced Supply Chain Management Solutions: By applying AI for real-time optimization, this opportunity aims at improving efficiency within the vast data-rich environments of modern supply chains. Each idea is detailed with its overview, target customer segments, key AI functionalities, profitability evaluations, and examples of current pioneers. This exploration not only highlights the vast potential within AI-driven business models but also encourages entrepreneurs and corporations to delve into these promising sectors. The rapid advancement of AI technology and its practical applications suggest these ideas represent just the beginning of what the future holds. Now is the time to leverage AI's capabilities to innovate and enhance products, services, and operations across industries.

AI-Powered Business Analyst Tool Looking for Feedback

Hey r/sideproject! I’m excited to share a project I’ve been working on called Bianalytiq, a next-gen business intelligence platform designed to transform the way businesses interact with data through the power of AI. The Problem: SME companies struggle with data overload and the significant time investment required to generate actionable insights. Traditional data analysis methods are not only slow but often require extensive manual effort and are prone to errors. This makes it difficult for businesses to react quickly to new information and make informed decisions efficiently. Not everybody can write SQL or create/understand data dashboards.... AND - one big opportunity on market - non of the AI tools available on market offer reusable contexts focused on you as a company and your products. The Solution: Bianalytiq aims to solve these issues by automating tedious data analysis tasks and providing real-time insights. Here’s how: Reusable contexts: Let Bianalytiq learn everything about your company, your products, business model etc. - your company is your unique context. Autonomous AI Agents: Deploy AI agents that not only react to queries but proactively analyze data to uncover opportunities, tailored specifically to your business context. Real-Time Insights: With the use of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, our platform delivers immediate, context-rich insights by dynamically accessing and analyzing connected databases and data warehouses. Integration with Existing Tools: Bianalytiq integrates seamlessly with popular tech stacks and communication platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams, making it incredibly user-friendly and reducing the switch cost between applications. Why I’m Here: Before investing significant time and money I want to validate the product first and do pre-sale before releasing the MVP. I’ve developed a landing page for Bianalytiq and would love your feedback on both the service itself and the effectiveness of the landing page. Are the features presented clearly? Does the platform address the pain points you might experience in data analysis and decision-making processes? Here’s the link to the landing page: https://bianalytiq.com/ I appreciate any feedback or questions you have! Whether it's about the UI/UX of the site, the technical aspects of the service, or even the business model, I’m all ears. Your input will be invaluable :) Thanks for checking it out! https://preview.redd.it/t1dvp2q05dzc1.png?width=798&format=png&auto=webp&s=c7365b418abfc4d4260d9a23305ed3398e83c87b

Introducing Stratify: Your Ultimate AI Strategy Builder for Business Success

Hello, I’m thrilled to announce the launch of my new startup, Stratify! 🔍 What is Stratify? Stratify is an AI Strategy Builder designed to help businesses of all sizes develop, implement, and optimize their strategic plans using cutting-edge artificial intelligence. Whether you're a startup looking to scale or an established company aiming to innovate, Stratify provides the tools and insights you need to stay ahead in today's competitive landscape. 🌟 Key Features: Automated Strategy Development: Leverage AI to analyze market trends, competitor data, and internal metrics to create comprehensive strategic plans tailored to your business goals. Real-Time Analytics & Insights: Monitor your strategy's performance with real-time data dashboards, enabling you to make informed decisions quickly. Scenario Planning: Use AI-driven simulations to forecast different business scenarios and understand potential outcomes, helping you prepare for uncertainties. Collaborative Tools: Facilitate team collaboration with integrated communication features, ensuring everyone is aligned and contributing to the strategy development process. Customizable Templates: Access a library of industry-specific strategy templates that can be customized to fit your unique business needs. 💡 Why Stratify? In today's fast-paced business environment, creating and adapting effective strategies can be challenging. Many companies struggle with data overload, lack of actionable insights, and inefficient planning processes. Stratify addresses these pain points by harnessing the power of AI to streamline strategy building, making it more efficient, data-driven, and adaptable. 🚀 Our Journey So Far: Founded: August 2024 Milestones Achieved: Developed and tested our MVP with a select group of beta users What's Next: Launching our public beta in Q4 2024 Expanding our feature set based on user feedback Growing our team with experts in AI, business strategy, and customer success 🤝 How You Can Help: We’re eager to connect with early adopters, business strategists, and industry experts who can benefit from or contribute to Stratify. Here’s how you can get involved: Join Our Beta Program: Be among the first to experience Stratify and provide valuable feedback. Share Your Insights: Help us refine our features by sharing your business strategy challenges and needs. Spread the Word: If you know someone who could benefit from an AI-driven strategy builder, please share our mission and be an affiliate to earn rewards! 🌐 Learn More: Visit our website at AI-Powered Brand Strategy & Content Creation | Stratify (brandprovoke.com) and follow us for the latest updates and insights. 🙏 Thank You! A heartfelt thank you to the Reddit community for your support and encouragement. We’re excited to embark on this journey and look forward to your feedback and suggestions! Looking forward to your thoughts and questions!

I recreated an AI phone calling agent that increased booked calls by 30% for a plumbing business in 30 days

AI has always intrigued me, especially when it comes to automating repetitive tasks and streamlining business operations. Recently, I found a compelling case study about a voice agent that significantly enhanced customer service and lead capture for a plumbing company. Motivated by the potential of this technology, I decided to build a similar system to see how it could be adapted for other industries. I’ve added the case study below along with a number to the demo voice agent I created to see if this is something people would really be interested in. AI technology is advancing rapidly, and I’m excited to dive deeper into this space. Case Study A family-owned plumbing business was facing challenges managing a high volume of customer calls. They were missing potential leads, particularly during after-hours and weekends, which meant lost revenue opportunities. Hiring a dedicated call support team was considered but deemed too expensive and hard to scale. Solution To solve these issues, the company deployed an AI-powered voice agent capable of handling calls autonomously. The system collected essential customer information, identified service needs, and sent real-time alerts to service technicians via SMS. It also had the ability to transfer calls to human agents if necessary, ensuring a seamless experience for customers. Impact The AI voice agent quickly proved its worth by streamlining call management and improving response times. With the AI handling routine inquiries and initial call filtering, the plumbing business saw a noticeable improvement in how quickly they could respond to customer needs. Details The AI-powered voice agent included several advanced features designed to optimize customer service: Answer Calls Anytime: Ensured every call received a friendly and professional response, regardless of the time of day. Spot Emergencies Fast: Quickly identified high-priority issues that required urgent attention. Collect Important Info: Accurately recorded critical customer details to facilitate seamless follow-ups and service scheduling. Send Alerts Right Away: Immediately notified service technicians about emergencies, enabling faster response times. Live Transfers: Live call transfer options when human assistance was needed. Results The AI-powered voice agent delivered measurable improvements across key performance metrics: 100% Call Answer Rate: No missed calls ensured that every customer inquiry was addressed promptly. 5-minute Emergency Response Time: The average response time for urgent calls was reduced significantly. 30% Increase in Lead Capture: The business saw more qualified leads, improving their chances of conversion. 25% Improvement in Resource Efficiency: Better allocation of resources allowed the team to focus on high-priority tasks. By implementing the AI-powered voice agent, the plumbing business enhanced its ability to capture more leads and provide better service to its customers. The improved call handling efficiency helped reduce missed opportunities and boosted overall customer satisfaction. Here’s the number to the demo agent I created: +1 (210) 405-0982 I’d love to hear some honest thoughts on it and which industries you think could benefit the most from this technology.

Acquired our first 10 customer for Trustty Reporter - an AI first Business Intelligence Platform.

Hi All, My co founder and I have built Trustty Reporter (www.trusttyreporter.com).  We spent the last couple of months working on launch our AI powered BI platform and gain our first 10 users. We wanted to reach out the community to get your feedback on the platform and how we can take it to the next level. Below is a brief introduction of the platform: Trustty Reporter – your AI-first business intelligence partner that transforms data into actionable insights in minutes! Imagine turning complex data and documents into easy-to-understand reports with clear recommendations, all at the click of a button. No more BI complexities—Trustty Reporter makes business insights accessible to everyone, from business owners to CXOs. Here’s Why You’ll Love Trustty Reporter: Instant Insight Generation – Convert raw data into insights in just 5-15 minutes. No expertise needed! Easy Reporting Access – Persistent reports that let you track, compare, and build strategies over time. Tailored Solutions for Business Problems – Just describe your challenge, and Trustty Reporter delivers custom insights. Interactive Reports – Dive deeper with a chat interface that offers further clarification and recommendations. By now you would have realized that this aces any traditional BI tools. That aside, it’s better than the likes of ChatGPT and Claude since you don’t have to supply multiple prompts to get context specific insights catering to your business! File Requirements: For Excel files with multiple sheets/tabs: Please save each sheet as a separate file Upload them as individual files for processing File Format: The first row must contain your column headers Remove any empty rows above the headers https://preview.redd.it/olmk6lfmwuzd1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=aa2bbc8edb4a299dbeee67b692cd4acf1704c2be

Where Do You Save Your Business Ideas? I made an AI-powered notepad that does all the research for your business ideas

Coming up with business ideas is fun… until you realize how much research you need to do for each one—market size, competitors, target audience… it’s a lot. So I built AIdea—a notepad where you write down your idea, and the AI does the research for you. Drop in a rough concept, and it comes back with: Pitch deck: Value Prop, pain points, gain points, unique selling points ICP: Demographic info and how to reach them Branding & names: How to brand the idea and various kinds of names for the idea Execution strategies: How to validate the idea, how to build MVP (recommended tech stack), funding route to take etc Monetization strategies: pros and cons for various ways to make money from this idea Market analysis: TAM, SAM, SOM + Market trends related to the idea (with sources) Competitor analysis: competitors description, strengths, weaknesses (with sources) User sentiments: Summaries of reddit posts, quora questions, articles and key points about what people think about concepts related to your ideas (with sources) Here’s the landing page: https://aidea-app.framer.website/ App store link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/aidea-idea-to-startup/id6737747359 It’s still early, so I’d love to hear what you think. Would this save you time? What else would you want it to do? Appreciate any feedback! 🚀

We've released our AI agents marketplace for indie hackers and business users

Hey Reddit! We've done a closed beta of our AI agents marketplace and now we are fully open! Our current features for agent developers: Connect any agent based on Flowise, Chatbotkit, Voker, or custom API Share your agent via link or get it discovered by marketplace users Get paid based on usage through Stripe Connect And the agent users get a single subscription to access all the agents. We are targeting business users mostly and plan to do direct sales to companies to get more corporate usage to the platform. Would be happy to hear your thoughts, which integrations and features would be useful for you, and hear some feedback on the platform. Thanks! pactory.ai

Building an AI-Powered Cold Email Blocker for Business Leaders – Would You Use This?

Hey everyone, I've been working on a side project that I'm really excited about, and I'd love to get some feedback from the community here. I noticed that CEOs, CMOs, CTOs, and other high-level executives often get bombarded with cold emails daily. Sorting through them can be a huge time sink, and sometimes important emails can get lost in the noise. To solve this, I'm developing a browser extension that uses AI to scan incoming emails and block unwanted cold emails before they even reach your inbox. The idea is to save time, reduce inbox clutter, and help business leaders focus on the emails that really matter. Here’s a bit more detail: AI-Powered Filtering: The extension will analyze the content of incoming emails to determine if they're likely cold emails Customizable Settings: Users can adjust the AI prompt to whatever they want to block Seamless Integration: It’ll work directly within your existing email client as a browser extension, so there’s no need to switch apps or platforms. Privacy First: All the processing happens locally, so your email data stays private and secure. I’m still in the development phase, and I'd love to hear your thoughts: Would this be something you'd use or find valuable? Are there any specific features or pain points you'd like to see addressed? Any suggestions on how to improve the concept? Thanks in advance for your feedback! Your insights will be invaluable as I continue to refine this project.

I recreated an AI phone calling agent that increased booked calls by 30% for a plumbing business in 30 days

AI has always intrigued me, especially when it comes to automating repetitive tasks and streamlining business operations. Recently, I found a compelling case study about a voice agent that significantly enhanced customer service and lead capture for a plumbing company. Motivated by the potential of this technology, I decided to build a similar system to see how it could be adapted for other industries. I’ve added the case study below along with a number to the demo voice agent I created to see if this is something people would really be interested in. AI technology is advancing rapidly, and I’m excited to dive deeper into this space. Case Study A family-owned plumbing business was facing challenges managing a high volume of customer calls. They were missing potential leads, particularly during after-hours and weekends, which meant lost revenue opportunities. Hiring a dedicated call support team was considered but deemed too expensive and hard to scale. Solution To solve these issues, the company deployed an AI-powered voice agent capable of handling calls autonomously. The system collected essential customer information, identified service needs, and sent real-time alerts to service technicians via SMS. It also had the ability to transfer calls to human agents if necessary, ensuring a seamless experience for customers. Impact The AI voice agent quickly proved its worth by streamlining call management and improving response times. With the AI handling routine inquiries and initial call filtering, the plumbing business saw a noticeable improvement in how quickly they could respond to customer needs. Details The AI-powered voice agent included several advanced features designed to optimize customer service: Answer Calls Anytime: Ensured every call received a friendly and professional response, regardless of the time of day. Spot Emergencies Fast: Quickly identified high-priority issues that required urgent attention. Collect Important Info: Accurately recorded critical customer details to facilitate seamless follow-ups and service scheduling. Send Alerts Right Away: Immediately notified service technicians about emergencies, enabling faster response times. Live Transfers: Live call transfer options when human assistance was needed. Results The AI-powered voice agent delivered measurable improvements across key performance metrics: 100% Call Answer Rate: No missed calls ensured that every customer inquiry was addressed promptly. 5-minute Emergency Response Time: The average response time for urgent calls was reduced significantly. 30% Increase in Lead Capture: The business saw more qualified leads, improving their chances of conversion. 25% Improvement in Resource Efficiency: Better allocation of resources allowed the team to focus on high-priority tasks. By implementing the AI-powered voice agent, the plumbing business enhanced its ability to capture more leads and provide better service to its customers. The improved call handling efficiency helped reduce missed opportunities and boosted overall customer satisfaction. Here’s the number to the demo agent I created: +1 (210) 405-0982 I’d love to hear some honest thoughts on it and which industries you think could benefit the most from this technology.

Wiuld you use an AI tool that instantly analyzes your business finances? Mainly like an automated Financial Due Diligence?

Would you use such kind of a tool for your business if it is intuitive but also cheaper than a report from an advisory firm? The tool would analyze the performance of your historical financials to provide you a better overview of your business‘ performance and would summarize everything in a well structured and graphically organized report.

[R] "How is AI influencing business strategy?"

"How is AI influencing business strategy?" ...this is the central question of my MBA dissertation. Can you please help me answer it? Five minute academic survey... https://forms.office.com/e/4J3HY0NmMZ Thank you so much for your help! ​

[P] How to Identify Business Processes That Can Be Machine Learning-Enabled

Identifying Business Processes That Can Be Machine Learning-Enabled ➡ What to look for and expect when analyzing workflows for tasks can be automated with Machine Learning https://medium.com/ai%C2%B3-theory-practice-business/identifying-business-processes-that-can-be-ml-enabled-529cbe90aa84

[D] Next big thing in IT is ML/AI. It used to be the Internet. Do you think this would make it harder for amateurs to start a business in IT or would be much the same?

The Internet changed the world and although web development is not an easy task, the Internet helped many young developers without a degree in computer science to make a fortune, for example, Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk. But ML/AI seems definitely harder to enter compared to web development. Frankly, I don't know much about ML/AI (and that's why I am asking you guys). But do you think starting a business with ML as a core product would be hard for an amateur several years later when ML starts to deliver the hype?

[D] if your company is ingesting work emails and chats for AI/ML pipelines, is there concern around sensitive business info getting out?

Edit: to be more specific - around sensitive raw data/metadata being dumped in system logs and accidentally viewed by an insider Hi folks Firstly full disclosure I’m the CEO of DataFog (www.datafog.ai). This is NOT a sales pitch but rather an interest in hearing what the community thinks about the overall issue which I believe will ultimately be solved via an ML-based implementation. My contention is: Generative AI has catalyzed widespread practice of ingesting email and work chat content to power AI training and inference this introduces a risk of content concerning confidential corporate affairs\ that can pass most privacy filters This results in Raw data alluding to sensitive business events flowing in freely for easy accidental unauthorized access by an internal - like MLOps - user My second contention is that the current security tools may not offer adequate coverage for what will be an evolving ongoing need that run of the mill PII redactors can’t account for. Take this statement which might easily be found in the inbox of the C-Suite for one of these two companies under “CiscoAcqPR\_Draft.docx” or the like: Cisco offered $157 in cash for each share of Splunk, representing a 31% premium to the company's last closing price. I myself have run various merger docs and legal filings through some standard PII tools and all of them fail to redact mention of deal terms. ~~A model training on phrases like “ $157 in cash per share” could have negative downstream inferential consequences or~~ if viewed accidentally by someone internally without the right access privileges How’re you all thinking about this problem? Custom recognizers are a common option like what you see with Microsoft Presidio but I’ve heard from some that maintaining those can be a PITA. At big companies this has been solved through internal tooling. \*more than Personally Identifiable Information (PII), HIPAA, or customer transaction data. It’s about those emails the CEO has sent to the Board of Directors in the midst of a corporate crisis, or the email thread between the C-Suite regarding an upcoming Earnings Call, or the market-moving announcement in the works regarding a merger with a competitor. In other words, Non-PII content that still needs to be redacted.

I built a no-code solution for UI-driven AI applications, But I'm lost on the business side - How to market and transform it into a viable business?

Hey everyone! sorry for the "no-code solution for UI-driven AI applications" (counted 3 buzzwords), couldn't find a way to describe it so I asked claude I'm in a bit of a pickle and could use some wisdom from this awesome community. A few months back, I developed a tool that I'm pretty excited about, but I hit a wall and shelved it. Now I'm feeling the itch to dive back in, but I'm struggling with the business side of things. Here's the gist: It's a drag-and-drop UI builder You can define buttons to execute logic and AI behind the scenes (using no-code) It uses the UI built for both input and output The good news: The site is functional and looks pretty slick (except the produced UI from the builder). Most features are implemented, though I still need to polish up the UI blocks and add more workflow nodes. The not-so-good news: I have zero users and no clear monetization strategy. The tool is so versatile that I'm having trouble figuring out how to even approach marketing it effectively. So, I turn to you guys in hopes of finding a direction: Any ideas on potential monetization strategies for a tool like this? How would you approach marketing such a multi-purpose product? Has anyone been in a similar situation? How did you move forward? generally I'd love to hear your thoughts, experiences, or even wild ideas! Thanks in advance for any insights you can share. The site is withui.com you can test it out

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

AI Will Make You Extremely Rich or Kill Your Business in 2024

Preface: I'm a solo-founder in the AI space and previously worked as an ML scientist; the new advancements in AI that I'm seeing are going to impact everyone here. It doesn't matter if you're just starting out, or a bootstrapped brick and mortar founder, or even a VC backed hard tech founder. Last year was when the seeds were laid, and this is the year we'll see them bloom. There will be an onslaught of advancements that take place that are borderline inconceivable due to the nature of exponential progress. This will change every single vertical. I'm making this post because I think AI execution strategy will make or break businesses. Dramatically. Over $50B was put into AI startups in 2023 alone. This figure excludes the hundreds of billions poured into AI from enterprises. So, let's follow the money: ​ 1) AI enterprise software. There's a lot to unpack here and this is what I’m currently working on. AI enterprise software will encompass everything from hyper personalized email outbound to AI cold calls to AI that A/B tests ads on synthetic data to vertical specific software. The impact of the former is relatively self explanatory, so I'll focus on the latter. To illustrate vertical specific AI software, I'll use a simple example in the legal space. Lawyers typically have to comb through thousands of pages of documents. Now, using an LLM + a VDB, an AI can instantly answer all of those questions while surfacing the source and highlighting the specific answer in the contract/document. There are dozens of AI startups for this use case alone. This saves lawyers an immense amount of time and allows them to move faster. Firms that adopt this have a fundamental advantage over law firms that don't adopt this. This was 2023 technology. I'm seeing vertical AI software getting built by my friends in areas from construction, to real estate, to even niche areas like chimney manufacturing. This will exist everywhere. Now, this can be extrapolated much further to be applicable to systems that can do reports and even browse the Internet. This brings me to my next point. ​ 2) AI information aggregation and spread. My gut tells me that this will have a crescendo moment in the future with hardware advancements (Rabbit, Tab, etc.). You won't have to google things because it will be surfaced to you. It's predictive in nature. The people who can get information the fastest will grow their business the fastest. This part is semi-speculative, but due to the nature of LLMs being so expensive to train, I have a strong feeling that large institutions will have access to the \fastest\ and \best\ models that can do this quicker than you and I can. This is why it's important to stay on top. ​ 3) AI content generation This is relevant to running advertisements and any digital marketing aspect of your business. If you can rapidly make content faster than your competitors to put in social media, you will outpace your competitors rapidly. I think most folks are familiar with MidJourney, Stable diffusion, etc. but don't know how to use it. You can generate consistent models for a clothing brand or generate images of a product that you would normally need to hire a professional photographer to take. There's also elevenlabs which is relatively easy to use and can be used to make an MP3 clip as a narration for an ad; this is something I've already done. I'm also still shocked by how many people are unfamiliar with tools like Pika which can do video generation. You could imagine companies having fleets of digital influencers that they control or conjuring up the perfect ad for a specific demographic using a combination of all of the aforementioned tools. ​ In summary, if you feel like I'm being hyperbolic or propagating science fiction fantasies, you're likely already behind. I truly recommend that everyone stays up to date on these advancements as much as possible. If your competitor comes across an AI tool that can increase their ROAS by 5x they can crush you. If your competitor uses a tool that increases the rate at which they receive and aggregate information by 200% (modest estimate) they will crush you. If your competitors have a tool that can reduce their employee size, then they will use it. They'll fire their employees to cut costs and reinvest the money back into their business. It will compound to the point where you're outpaced, and this isn't a level of innovation we've seen since the birth of the industrial revolution. Your customers can get stolen overnight, or you can steal your competition’s customers overnight. TL;DR: This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to scale faster than they could have possibly imagined, but this also comes with the potential for your company to be obliterated. We've never seen advancements that can have this drastic of an impact this quickly. Adoption will happen fast, and first movers will have a disproportionate and compounding advantage. Watch guides, meet with startups, follow the news, and get rich.

My boss taught me how to build a Failed business (15 lessons)

I'm a senior software developer at a three-year-old startup that has been making $0 in revenue. I've been with this startup since its beginning, and it pays me $1200/month. My boss has broken the records of the number of stupid ideas and stupid features that he asked me to implement. He taught me (unintentionally) all the lessons I should NOT do to build a successful business. From bad product ideas, bad business decisions, not listening to your team, not building what target customers want, and falling in love with your bad product. The product we're working on is a desktop program that moves the cursor with your finger using the webcam (gesture recognition). Why in the world would anyone pay money to move the mouse cursor with his finger? No one knows. My boss watched Iron Man (the film) and saw how Tony Starks do gestures in front of his "advanced" computer and thought it was cool so he asked me to build this for him to sell it to enterprises (then pivoted the target customer to schools). Of course, no one bought this software. All the people he meets tell him it is cool but he never hears from them again. No one on the team, except my boss, thinks this software will succeed. He keeps adding irrelevant features to this software just because he "thinks" people will love it. We added 3D object visualizer, ChatGPT integration, and Quizzes. I suggested moving everything to the cloud and focusing only on improving the education industry by providing solutions that help teachers better prepare their lessons and understand where each student lacks by recording lessons, summarizing them for students, generating quizzes using AI, and analyzing the part that each student didn't understand. However, to do that, we need to forget the part of moving the cursor with fingers because it can be done only on Python, not NextJS. He simply replied, "NO, moving the cursor with fingers is COOL". So here are the lessons I learned from my boss to build a failed business: Never listen to your team. Always build what you think is good and never let anyone from your team say it's a bad idea. Fall in love with your business idea. Don't talk to customers. If no one bought your product, it's because they don't understand how cool it is. If a member of your team say it's a bad idea, ignore them, they don't understand how cool your idea is. Always hire interns because they're free labor and give them the most sensitive parts of the work like payments and databases. Make your business dependant on you. Don't let your team do their job the right way, give them orders to do it YOUR way. Hire experts to tell them what to do not to tell you what to do and how to do it. Never do marketing because people will steal your idea. Ask your team "What you think?" but ignore them. If your wife and children think your product is cool then it's cool. Start a business in an industry that you know nothing about but act like you know everything. If no one is buying your product, keep adding irrelevant features that no one asked for. \--- Edit: I didn't mention all the "stupid" ideas I built for him so here you go: Replacing Zoom, Teams, and Meet meetings with meetings in the metaverse. Target customer: Enterprises. An app that lets you scroll through social media without touching your mobile screen (using gesture recognition). We didn't build this because it's technically impossible to continuously use the phone camera outside your own app. He didn't believe me so asked his friend and told him the same thing. A software that controls the computer with gestures (moving cursor, single click, double click, ALT Tab...). Target customers: Enterprises Building a classroom in Decentraland (metaverse) to replace classes through Zoom and Teams He told me to build the startup website but to not make the home page the first page a user lands on when he opens the website. He wants to make the visitor lands on another "almost" empty page and if the user wants to go to the home page he should click on "Home" in the navbar.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

AI Implementation & Learning Experiences in Business - What's Your Story?

AI Implementation & Learning Experiences in Business - What's Your Story? Hey everyone! I'm researching how people are actually learning and implementing AI tools (like ChatGPT, Copilot) in business settings, and I'd love to hear your real experiences. If you're willing to share: 🔹 Learning: How are you learning AI? (self-taught, courses, trial & error?) What's been frustrating about the learning process? Found any particularly good resources? 🔹 Implementation: What's been the biggest challenge in actually using AI at work? Where does implementation usually get stuck? Any unexpected problems you've hit? Would especially love to hear from: People just starting out Those who tried and hit roadblocks Folks who've successfully implemented AI Anyone who attempted and gave up Really just trying to understand the real-world patterns and challenges people are facing. Your experiences (good or bad) could help others avoid the same pitfalls.

Small business owners—have you actually implemented AI yet?

I keep hearing about how AI is supposed to "revolutionize" small businesses, but I’m wondering how much of that is just hype. If you’re running a business, have you actually started using AI in any way? If so, what tools are actually helping you save time or make more money? Or are you in the camp that’s interested in AI but don’t know where to start? Curious to hear what’s working (or not working) for real business owners.

how I built a $6k/mo business with cold email

I scaled my SaaS to a $6k/mo business in under 6 months completely using cold email. However, the biggest takeaway for me is not a business that’s potentially worth 6-figure. It’s having a glance at the power of cold emails in the age of AI. It’s a rapidly evolving yet highly-effective channel, but no one talks about how to do it properly. Below is the what I needed 3 years ago, when I was stuck with 40 free users on my first app. An app I spent 2 years building into the void. Entrepreneurship is lonely. Especially when you are just starting out. Launching a startup feel like shouting into the dark. You pour your heart out. You think you have the next big idea, but no one cares. You write tweets, write blogs, build features, add tests. You talk to some lukewarm leads on Twitter. You do your big launch on Product Hunt. You might even get your first few sales. But after that, crickets... Then, you try every distribution channel out there. SEO Influencers Facebook ads Affiliates Newsletters Social media PPC Tiktok Press releases The reality is, none of them are that effective for early-stage startups. Because, let's face it, when you're just getting started, you have no clue what your customers truly desire. Without understanding their needs, you cannot create a product that resonates with them. It's as simple as that. So what’s the best distribution channel when you are doing a cold start? Cold emails. I know what you're thinking, but give me 10 seconds to change your mind: When I first heard about cold emailing I was like: “Hell no! I’m a developer, ain’t no way I’m talking to strangers.” That all changed on Jan 1st 2024, when I actually started sending cold emails to grow. Over the period of 6 months, I got over 1,700 users to sign up for my SaaS and grew it to a $6k/mo rapidly growing business. All from cold emails. Mastering Cold Emails = Your Superpower I might not recommend cold emails 3 years ago, but in 2024, I'd go all in with it. It used to be an expensive marketing channel bootstrapped startups can’t afford. You need to hire many assistants, build a list, research the leads, find emails, manage the mailboxes, email the leads, reply to emails, do meetings. follow up, get rejected... You had to hire at least 5 people just to get the ball rolling. The problem? Managing people sucks, and it doesn’t scale. That all changed with AI. Today, GPT-4 outperforms most human assistants. You can build an army of intelligent agents to help you complete tasks that’d previously be impossible without human input. Things that’d take a team of 10 assistants a week can now be done in 30 minutes with AI, at far superior quality with less headaches. You can throw 5000 names with website url at this pipeline and you’ll automatically have 5000 personalized emails ready to fire in 30 minutes. How amazing is that? Beyond being extremely accessible to developers who are already proficient in AI, cold email's got 3 superpowers that no other distribution channels can offer. Superpower 1/3 : You start a conversation with every single user. Every. Single. User. Let that sink in. This is incredibly powerful in the early stages, as it helps you establish rapport, bounce ideas off one another, offer 1:1 support, understand their needs, build personal relationships, and ultimately convert users into long-term fans of your product. From talking to 1000 users at the early stage, I had 20 users asking me to get on a call every week. If they are ready to buy, I do a sales call. If they are not sure, I do a user research call. At one point I even had to limit the number of calls I took to avoid burnout. The depth of the understanding of my customers’ needs is unparalleled. Using this insight, I refined the product to precisely cater to their requirements. Superpower 2/3 : You choose exactly who you talk to Unlike other distribution channels where you at best pick what someone's searching for, with cold emails, you have 100% control over who you talk to. Their company Job title Seniority level Number of employees Technology stack Growth rate Funding stage Product offerings Competitive landscape Social activity (Marital status - well, technically you can, but maybe not this one…) You can dial in this targeting to match your ICP exactly. The result is super low CAC and ultra high conversion rate. For example, My competitors are paying $10 per click for the keyword "HARO agency". I pay $0.19 per email sent, and $1.92 per signup At around $500 LTV, you can see how the first means a non-viable business. And the second means a cash-generating engine. Superpower 3/3 : Complete stealth mode Unlike other channels where competitors can easily reverse engineer or even abuse your marketing strategies, cold email operates in complete stealth mode. Every aspect is concealed from end to end: Your target audience Lead generation methods Number of leads targeted Email content Sales funnel This secrecy explains why there isn't much discussion about it online. Everyone is too focused on keeping their strategies close and reaping the rewards. That's precisely why I've chosen to share my insights on leveraging cold email to grow a successful SaaS business. More founders need to harness this channel to its fullest potential. In addition, I've more or less reached every user within my Total Addressable Market (TAM). So, if any competitor is reading this, don't bother trying to replicate it. The majority of potential users for this AI product are already onboard. To recap, the three superpowers of cold emails: You start a conversation with every single user → Accelerate to PMF You choose exactly who you talk to → Super-low CAC Complete stealth mode → Doesn’t attract competition By combining the three superpowers I helped my SaaS reach product-marketing-fit quickly and scale it to $6k per month while staying fully bootstrapped. I don't believe this was a coincidence. It's a replicable strategy for any startup. The blueprint is actually straightforward: Engage with a handful of customers Validate the idea Engage with numerous customers Scale to $5k/mo and beyond More early-stage founders should leverage cold emails for validation, and as their first distribution channel. And what would it do for you? Update: lots of DM asking about more specifics so I wrote about it here. https://coldstartblueprint.com/p/ai-agent-email-list-building

AI Will Make You Extremely Rich or Kill Your Business in 2024

Preface: I'm a solo-founder in the AI space and previously worked as an ML scientist; the new advancements in AI that I'm seeing are going to impact everyone here. It doesn't matter if you're just starting out, or a bootstrapped brick and mortar founder, or even a VC backed hard tech founder. Last year was when the seeds were laid, and this is the year we'll see them bloom. There will be an onslaught of advancements that take place that are borderline inconceivable due to the nature of exponential progress. This will change every single vertical. I'm making this post because I think AI execution strategy will make or break businesses. Dramatically. Over $50B was put into AI startups in 2023 alone. This figure excludes the hundreds of billions poured into AI from enterprises. So, let's follow the money: ​ 1) AI enterprise software. There's a lot to unpack here and this is what I’m currently working on. AI enterprise software will encompass everything from hyper personalized email outbound to AI cold calls to AI that A/B tests ads on synthetic data to vertical specific software. The impact of the former is relatively self explanatory, so I'll focus on the latter. To illustrate vertical specific AI software, I'll use a simple example in the legal space. Lawyers typically have to comb through thousands of pages of documents. Now, using an LLM + a VDB, an AI can instantly answer all of those questions while surfacing the source and highlighting the specific answer in the contract/document. There are dozens of AI startups for this use case alone. This saves lawyers an immense amount of time and allows them to move faster. Firms that adopt this have a fundamental advantage over law firms that don't adopt this. This was 2023 technology. I'm seeing vertical AI software getting built by my friends in areas from construction, to real estate, to even niche areas like chimney manufacturing. This will exist everywhere. Now, this can be extrapolated much further to be applicable to systems that can do reports and even browse the Internet. This brings me to my next point. ​ 2) AI information aggregation and spread. My gut tells me that this will have a crescendo moment in the future with hardware advancements (Rabbit, Tab, etc.). You won't have to google things because it will be surfaced to you. It's predictive in nature. The people who can get information the fastest will grow their business the fastest. This part is semi-speculative, but due to the nature of LLMs being so expensive to train, I have a strong feeling that large institutions will have access to the \fastest\ and \best\ models that can do this quicker than you and I can. This is why it's important to stay on top. ​ 3) AI content generation This is relevant to running advertisements and any digital marketing aspect of your business. If you can rapidly make content faster than your competitors to put in social media, you will outpace your competitors rapidly. I think most folks are familiar with MidJourney, Stable diffusion, etc. but don't know how to use it. You can generate consistent models for a clothing brand or generate images of a product that you would normally need to hire a professional photographer to take. There's also elevenlabs which is relatively easy to use and can be used to make an MP3 clip as a narration for an ad; this is something I've already done. I'm also still shocked by how many people are unfamiliar with tools like Pika which can do video generation. You could imagine companies having fleets of digital influencers that they control or conjuring up the perfect ad for a specific demographic using a combination of all of the aforementioned tools. ​ In summary, if you feel like I'm being hyperbolic or propagating science fiction fantasies, you're likely already behind. I truly recommend that everyone stays up to date on these advancements as much as possible. If your competitor comes across an AI tool that can increase their ROAS by 5x they can crush you. If your competitor uses a tool that increases the rate at which they receive and aggregate information by 200% (modest estimate) they will crush you. If your competitors have a tool that can reduce their employee size, then they will use it. They'll fire their employees to cut costs and reinvest the money back into their business. It will compound to the point where you're outpaced, and this isn't a level of innovation we've seen since the birth of the industrial revolution. Your customers can get stolen overnight, or you can steal your competition’s customers overnight. TL;DR: This is an opportunity for entrepreneurs to scale faster than they could have possibly imagined, but this also comes with the potential for your company to be obliterated. We've never seen advancements that can have this drastic of an impact this quickly. Adoption will happen fast, and first movers will have a disproportionate and compounding advantage. Watch guides, meet with startups, follow the news, and get rich.

100 best ai sustainable business ideas in 2025

AI in Renewable Energy AI-powered smart solar panel optimization Predictive maintenance for wind turbines AI-driven energy storage management AI-based microgrid optimization Smart grid energy forecasting AI-powered water desalination efficiency AI-driven carbon footprint reduction software AI-powered hydropower efficiency monitoring AI for geothermal energy exploration AI-driven green hydrogen production optimization AI in Waste Management & Recycling AI-based waste sorting robots Smart recycling bins with AI recognition AI-powered food waste management AI-driven upcycling marketplace AI-enabled e-waste management solutions AI-powered sustainable packaging optimization AI-driven landfill management systems AI-powered plastic waste tracking and reduction AI-based waste-to-energy conversion AI-driven composting automation AI in Water Conservation AI-powered leak detection and water conservation AI-driven smart irrigation systems AI-based flood prediction and mitigation AI-powered ocean plastic cleanup robots AI-driven rainwater harvesting optimization AI-based groundwater level monitoring AI-powered desalination energy efficiency AI-driven smart water meters AI-powered wastewater treatment optimization AI-based water pollution monitoring AI in Sustainable Agriculture AI-driven precision farming AI-powered vertical farming automation AI-based pest and disease prediction AI-powered livestock health monitoring AI-driven soil health analysis AI-powered regenerative agriculture analytics AI-driven smart greenhouses AI-powered crop rotation optimization AI-based carbon farming solutions AI-powered sustainable aquaculture AI in Transportation & Mobility AI-powered electric vehicle (EV) battery optimization AI-driven smart traffic management AI-powered EV charging station optimization AI-based sustainable urban mobility planning AI-powered drone delivery for carbon reduction AI-driven logistics and supply chain sustainability AI-powered smart public transport systems AI-driven sustainable aviation fuel optimization AI-powered bicycle-sharing optimization AI-driven AI carpooling and ride-sharing efficiency AI in Green Manufacturing AI-powered energy-efficient manufacturing AI-driven supply chain sustainability analytics AI-based material waste reduction AI-powered sustainable fashion production AI-driven predictive demand to reduce overproduction AI-powered eco-friendly textile manufacturing AI-driven 3D printing for sustainable manufacturing AI-powered emission reduction in factories AI-driven green construction material optimization AI-based lifecycle assessment for eco-products AI in Carbon Offsetting & Climate Action AI-powered carbon credit marketplaces AI-driven tree planting optimization AI-based carbon capture efficiency enhancement AI-powered reforestation tracking and monitoring AI-driven climate risk prediction AI-powered environmental compliance software AI-driven sustainable investment analysis AI-based corporate sustainability tracking AI-powered carbon accounting and reporting AI-driven decarbonization roadmaps for businesses AI in Sustainable Smart Cities AI-powered urban energy efficiency monitoring AI-driven AI-powered smart lighting for cities AI-based pollution monitoring and reduction AI-driven green building automation AI-powered smart HVAC energy optimization AI-driven urban tree canopy management AI-powered digital twins for sustainable city planning AI-based urban noise pollution monitoring AI-powered public waste management optimization AI-driven citizen engagement for sustainability AI in Eco-Friendly Consumer Solutions AI-powered sustainable shopping assistant AI-driven personal carbon footprint tracking app AI-powered second-hand marketplace optimization AI-driven sustainable food delivery services AI-powered ethical supply chain transparency AI-driven zero-waste grocery stores AI-powered green subscription services AI-driven sustainable tourism planning AI-powered smart home energy efficiency optimization AI-driven personal finance for sustainability investments AI in Sustainable Healthcare & Well-being AI-powered climate impact on health analytics AI-driven sustainable hospital management AI-based predictive disease outbreak prevention AI-powered mental health solutions for eco-anxiety AI-driven green pharmaceutical production AI-powered sustainable medical waste management AI-based air quality health impact monitoring AI-driven climate-friendly diet and nutrition planning AI-powered fitness and well-being optimization for sustainability AI-driven telemedicine to reduce healthcare emissions These AI-driven sustainable business ideas offer high growth potential while making a positive impact on the planet. Let me know if you want details on a specific idea or need help with implementation strategies!

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

The power of AI chatbots for business efficiency

Let's talk about a game-changer in the world of customer support: AI chatbots. These intelligent virtual assistants are transforming how businesses handle customer inquiries and support tasks. Today, I want to discuss their utility for businesses and a how platforms like Datasavvy.chat, is simplifying the chatbot creation process. AI chatbots are not just another tech trend; they're a fundamental shift in how businesses interact with customers. From addressing FAQs to guiding users through transactions, chatbots can handle a diverse array of tasks efficiently and effectively. AI chatbots offer a myriad of benefits for businesses: 24/7 Availability: Chatbots don't sleep. They provide round-the-clock support, ensuring that customers can get assistance whenever they need it. Efficiency: By automating repetitive tasks, chatbots free up human agents to focus on more complex inquiries, improving overall efficiency and productivity. Scalability: As your business grows, so do the demands on your customer support team. Chatbots can scale effortlessly to handle increased volumes of inquiries without compromising quality. Data Insights: Chatbots can collect valuable data on customer interactions, preferences, and pain points. This data can be leveraged to optimize processes, improve customer satisfaction, and drive business decisions. Consistency: Chatbots deliver consistent responses, ensuring that every customer receives the same level of service regardless of the time or day. In conclusion, AI chatbots are invaluable tools for businesses looking to streamline their customer support operations and enhance the overall customer experience. And platforms like Datasavvy.chat are making it easier than ever for businesses to leverage this technology to their advantage. Are you ready to revolutionize your customer support? Dive into the world of AI chatbots and discover the difference they can make for your business!What are your thoughts on AI chatbots? Have you had any experiences, good or bad, with them in customer support? Let's discuss!

Seeking AI Tools/Advice for Building a Business – Any Recommendations?

Hey all, I’m building a business and want to integrate AI to streamline processes like customer support, marketing, data analysis, and automation. Any recommendations for AI tools you’ve used or found helpful? Looking for advice on what works best, and any potential challenges to be aware of. Thanks in advance!

Only 2 months of cash in the Bank for my business but was able to save it with the help of AI.

Hi there! I’m excited to share something very personal with you. We needed to book at least 2 appointments per day in the next 60 days, or my business would fail. We were already trying two acquisition channels, LinkedIn and email. The problem with these channels was that the positive response rate was very low in both. So I decided to focus on LinkedIn and get the attention of the lead by sending videos directly to them via LinkedIn messages. (You can send videos to your connections on LinkedIn if you use your cell phone.) This wasn’t new, but I added a small twist to get the lead’s attention. All the covers of the videos had a picture of me holding a sign with the person’s name and an interesting phrase. This showed some okay results, but the rest of the video was not personalized. Only the picture on the cover was. I even developed a Chrome extension for this because I thought this would be the answer and that I would book tons of appointments.  But after more trial and outreach, my leads responded, telling me that because the video itself wasn’t personalized for them, they felt like I didn’t put enough effort in, so they would not book a call with me. So after investing time and effort into my “new bright idea” and getting developers to make the Chrome extension, I was back to square one with no results. A few weeks went by, and after researching online, I found an online course from a guy who promised to teach me how to book 30+ appointments per month, guaranteed (at the time, I was making 2 or 3 appointments per week, maximum). He promised that I would only pay if he actually booked appointments for me and even offered to give me money if his course didn’t work for me. I never paid attention to internet gurus, but the offer was actually not bad, so I looked into this guy’s website. I found out he had hundreds of reviews from people who had taken his course and were talking amazing things about it. The more I read, the more excited I got. I booked a call that day and talked to a salesperson. The call was very short, and he promised I would get at least 2 appointments per day, easily. He seemed a bit cocky and told me that I just needed to trust him and the 100+ reviews from people who had taken the course. He didn’t share details, a proposal, or anything. I asked the price, and he told me it was close to $10k. (Not kidding, this was the price.) Then he told me that I would make the money back in no time with the clients I would get following his course, and that if it didn’t work, he would give me the money back. But I needed to follow everything the course said for at least 6 months. I had never paid $10k for anything in my life; it was extremely expensive for me. Also, my salary from my business was not in dollars but in a currency that was worth much less than the dollar. I continued to research more and more, but no other course was close to the number of reviews and promises that this guy had. I got desperate and told myself that I would bet everything on this course. If it worked for so many others, surely it would work for me. I got a loan from the bank and paid for the course. You might read this and think it was the most stupid thing ever, but the reality is that after 2 months in the course (I did the course as fast as I could), I learned a lot. The course was not bad; it was very extensive—probably more than 200 hours or so—and they taught a lot of things. I don’t think it was worth $10k for me, but I can see how for other people it might be worth that. Now, to the question you’re all thinking: did it get me the 2 appointments I needed per day? The answer is no. Here’s the thing: most of the techniques they taught were innovative and disruptive, but the focus was always on personalization, and they didn’t teach any way to automate the personalization. (I think, at the time they made the course, the tools didn’t exist yet.) So they taught how to do everything manually, and it took a lot—a lot of time and effort. And most annoyingly: an incredible amount of time doing operational things. I did get 2 appointments on some days, but it wasn’t consistent, and I didn’t have the time to spend 14 hours a day doing everything manually or the money to hire someone to do this for me. (I needed to also spend time delivering our service to our current clients; otherwise, they would leave.) I told them this, and they were very reasonable. After some negotiation, they gave me part of the money back. (To be fair, there was a lot of value in the course, so asking for the full $10k back would have been excessive because, in the end, it really taught me a lot of things I didn’t know.) So in the end, I spent $10k and 200+ hours on an online course, spent time and effort developing a Chrome extension, and was still not able to hit the meetings I needed. Money in the business was running out, and I needed to do something fast, or I was doomed. After investing time and effort in tools, research, and spending $10k and over 200 hours on a course that didn’t deliver the consistent results I needed, I was at a crossroads. My businesses were running out of money, and I knew I needed to find a solution quickly, or everything I had worked for would collapse. It was during this time of desperation that I started exploring other options. One night, while scrolling through the internet, I stumbled upon a 2024 article about how AI was being used to revolutionize various industries. It wasn’t directly related to appointment booking, but it sparked an idea in my mind. What if I could use AI to automate the personalization process that I had learned in the course? It seemed like a long shot, but I had nothing to lose. I started researching AI tools and technologies—YouTube videos, podcasts, pretty much everything related to AI—desperate to find something that could help me scale my outreach without investing too much time, while still maintaining the personalization that was so important. After a lot of trial and error, I found a few tools that showed promise. All of these tools were extremely new. Some of them had just launched the versions I needed just weeks ago. I can say I researched and tested more than 50 AI startups, experimenting with them, testing different approaches, checking prices (the problem was that most of them were cheap but became very expensive when applying the volume I needed to get results), and gradually refining my process. It wasn’t an overnight success, but for the first time, I felt like I was onto something that could truly work. The idea of combining AI personalization with volume was something new, and it gave me hope that I could finally book the meetings I needed without burning out. One day, I sent a video of myself talking—completely AI-generated—to my family chat group and waited for their response. None of them noticed it wasn’t actually me. At that moment, I said to myself: “Okay, I am ready to test this in the real world and see if it works.” Like everything in life, focus is key. As I mentioned earlier, we were already trying outbound strategies on LinkedIn and email, but I decided to narrow my focus to LinkedIn and specifically to video outreach. My goal was to stand out from the crowd, where most people were using text or sending generic videos. I knew that if my videos were 100% personalized, it would make a strong impression on my leads. I focused on two key metrics during my tests: Time spent on manual personalized outreach vs. AI-generated personalized outreach. Positive reply rate for non-personalized manual outreach vs. AI-generated personalized outreach. I ran a test using a sample of 50 one-minute videos sent to 50 leads, and here are the results: Time Spent to Make the Videos: Manual Process: It took me up to 10 hours to create and send 50 personalized videos. This included looking good on camera, brushing my hair, choosing appropriate clothing, ensuring proper lighting, not messing up the script, using a camera holder, recharging the phone, pausing to drink water, avoiding external sounds, being in an appropriate room, downloading the videos, deleting the videos that were not good, and sending the final ones. On average, it took me at least 12.5 minutes per one-minute video. AI Process: With AI, it took me just 32 seconds to create the exact same one-minute personalized video—without saying a word or recording a second of footage. In total, I could make and send the same 50 personalized videos in just 27 minutes. Result: The AI process was 24 times faster. Completely crazy! Positive Reply Rate: Non-Personalized Script (Manual): Using a good script without personalization (no name, job title, city, company, etc.) resulted in a positive reply rate of 4-6% on LinkedIn, including follow-ups. Personalized Script (AI): Using the same script but adding personalized details like the lead's name, company, city, and job title resulted in a positive reply rate of 15-20%, including follow-ups. Result: AI personalization led to 3x (three times) more replies. The best part was the responses. Almost everyone who replied thanked me for taking the time to research them, congratulated me on my speech, and appreciated the personalization and eloquence of my message.  These metrics were a complete breakthrough for me. I researched online to see if anyone else had done something similar, but I couldn’t find anything close. After achieving these metrics, booking the two appointments I desperately needed became easy. In fact, in the last 10 weeks, I’ve been able to consistently book 3-4 appointments per day. This success allowed me to train someone in my company to handle the process, freeing me up to focus on other aspects of the business and ultimately saving it. With the AI appointment machine we built, I even have free time now—time that I’ve been using to develop a methodology and tech tools that I now teach to others. I named the methodology Clip2Lead as a reference to the first Chrome extension I developed that didn’t work but ended up being the first step toward everything that followed. I’ve condensed everything I learned and throughout my experiences into a simple and short FREE training where I cover the entire AI appointment booking process. This includes how to find leads, create scripts, set up follow-up sequences, generate AI videos, clone your voice, compare non-AI metrics with AI metrics, and even navigate AI safety controls. I also offer Chrome extensions that helped me automate the process even further, so you can spend your time closing deals or focusing on other acquisition channels, while your AI machine for booking appointments runs with minimal effort from you. If you’re interested please get in touch with me and thank you for taking the time to read my personal story.

AI Voice Platform Comparison for Small Business Use Cases

We provide AI voice agent consultation and solutions in Upwork. One of clients’ frequent questions is which platform is best/perfect for their use cases, like lead qualification, AI receptionist, customer support, etc. This post provides our thoughts on this question. Our overall feeling is that the AI agent technology is still not there yet. It seems close but there are many corner cases the AI bot doesn't handle well. Four major players in the AI voice platforms: Bland ($65M funding) Retell ($4.6M funding) Synthflow ($7.4M funding) VAPI ($20M funding) We will only talk about Bland, Retell and VAPI. We firstly tried Synthflow and found the UI was buggy (the prompt editor froze for 20 seconds to 30 seconds when we were editing the prompt). Currently we don't use it anymore. Recommended use cases based on Upwork jobs we delivered: Bland. We recommend Bland for lead qualification as the lead qualification has a strict conversation flow (like asking questions, extracting variables, and making webhook calls). Clients/contractors can draw flow diagrams to build AI voice agents. We also find Bland is not a good fit for a small business with a monthly budget less than 5K. The reason is that common tools (like warm transfer, SMS sending) for AI voice agents are only available to enterprise clients. But warm transfers are critical for small businesses. Retell. We recommend Retell for customer support in contact centers. Retell has the best voice among competitors. One use case we build in Retell is the live translator in the ambulance call center. We tried the same prompt with the same LLM setup in VAPI. We found Retell performs way better than VAPI in terms of the translation quality and reliability. Another common scenario in the customer support domain is to have 3-way merge so that the agent can tell the summary to the transfer number while the caller can hear the conversation. VAPI. We recommend VAPI for AI receptionists and phone answering use cases. We can write a prompt and ask LLM to do the magic if callers ask questions not included in the prompt. We can set up custom tools to trigger automation (like update CRM) and warm transfer to connect to the stakeholders. One feeling we have is that VAPI is way more complicated than the other two platforms. If you don’t have developer experience and have a budget to hire a contractor, it is better to try Retell as Retell has many integrations. If you have any other questions or we miss anything, feel free to comment. We like to explore AI voice agent space together.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

What’s a good business idea that isn’t oversaturated in 2025?

I feel like every niche I look into is already flooded with competition. Dropshipping? Oversaturated. Digital marketing agencies? Everyone and their dog has one. AI tools? Big companies are eating up the space. What are some business ideas that still have room for growth in 2025? Ideally, something with low startup costs but high potential.

Seeking Beta Testers for AI-Powered Business Idea Development Tool

Hi everyone, I’m excited to share that we’re developing a new AI-driven platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in every phase of their business journey. Our tool offers: • Personalized Idea Validation: Tailored feedback to refine your concepts. • Competitor Insights: In-depth analysis to understand your market landscape. • SWOT Analysis: Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. • Actionable Plans: Step-by-step guidance to move your idea forward. • Validation Actions: Concrete steps to test and validate your business assumptions. Currently, we’re in the early stages of development and are seeking enthusiastic entrepreneurs to test the platform and provide invaluable feedback. Your insights will directly influence the tool’s evolution. If you’re interested in participating, please drop a comment below or send me a direct message. We’re eager to collaborate with you and enhance the entrepreneurial journey for all. Thank you!

Seeking Beta Testers for AI-Powered Business Idea Development and Validation Tool

Hi everyone, I'm excited to share that we're developing a new AI-driven platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in every phase of their business journey. Our tool offers: Personalized Idea Validation: Tailored feedback to refine your concepts. Competitor Insights: In-depth analysis to understand your market landscape. SWOT Analysis: Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Actionable Plans: Step-by-step guidance to move your idea forward. Validation Actions: Concrete steps to test and validate your business assumptions. Currently, we're in the early stages of development and are seeking enthusiastic entrepreneurs to test the platform and provide invaluable feedback. Your insights will directly influence the tool's evolution. If you're interested in participating, please drop a comment below or send me a direct message. We're eager to collaborate with you and enhance the entrepreneurial journey for all. Thank you!

AI Voice Platform Comparison for Small Business Use Cases

We provide AI voice agent consultation and solutions in Upwork. One of clients’ frequent questions is which platform is best/perfect for their use cases, like lead qualification, AI receptionist, customer support, etc. This post provides our thoughts on this question. Our overall feeling is that the AI agent technology is still not there yet. It seems close but there are many corner cases the AI bot doesn't handle well. Four major players in the AI voice platforms: Bland ($65M funding) Retell ($4.6M funding) Synthflow ($7.4M funding) VAPI ($20M funding) We will only talk about Bland, Retell and VAPI. We firstly tried Synthflow and found the UI was buggy (the prompt editor froze for 20 seconds to 30 seconds when we were editing the prompt). Currently we don't use it anymore. Recommended use cases based on Upwork jobs we delivered: Bland. We recommend Bland for lead qualification as the lead qualification has a strict conversation flow (like asking questions, extracting variables, and making webhook calls). Clients/contractors can draw flow diagrams to build AI voice agents. We also find Bland is not a good fit for a small business with a monthly budget less than 5K. The reason is that common tools (like warm transfer, SMS sending) for AI voice agents are only available to enterprise clients. But warm transfers are critical for small businesses. Retell. We recommend Retell for customer support in contact centers. Retell has the best voice among competitors. One use case we build in Retell is the live translator in the ambulance call center. We tried the same prompt with the same LLM setup in VAPI. We found Retell performs way better than VAPI in terms of the translation quality and reliability. Another common scenario in the customer support domain is to have 3-way merge so that the agent can tell the summary to the transfer number while the caller can hear the conversation. VAPI. We recommend VAPI for AI receptionists and phone answering use cases. We can write a prompt and ask LLM to do the magic if callers ask questions not included in the prompt. We can set up custom tools to trigger automation (like update CRM) and warm transfer to connect to the stakeholders. One feeling we have is that VAPI is way more complicated than the other two platforms. If you don’t have developer experience and have a budget to hire a contractor, it is better to try Retell as Retell has many integrations. If you have any other questions or we miss anything, feel free to comment. We like to explore AI voice agent space together.

Seeking Beta Testers for AI-Powered Business Idea Development Tool

Hi everyone, I'm excited to share that we're developing a new AI-driven platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in every phase of their business journey. Our tool offers: Personalized Idea Validation: Tailored feedback to refine your concepts. Competitor Insights: In-depth analysis to understand your market landscape. SWOT Analysis: Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Actionable Plans: Step-by-step guidance to move your idea forward. Validation Actions: Concrete steps to test and validate your business assumptions. Currently, we're in the early stages of development and are seeking enthusiastic entrepreneurs to test the platform and provide invaluable feedback. Your insights will directly influence the tool's evolution. If you're interested in participating, please drop a comment below or send me a direct message. We're eager to collaborate with you and enhance the entrepreneurial journey for all. Thank you!

Looking for a business co-founder for my AI startup in manufacturing.

I spent over a decade as a Senior Software Developer building manufacturing optimization products for global enterprises across the Americas and Europe. It’s a million-dollar industry, and I have strong connections with multinational clients. With AI advancements, there’s a huge opportunity to disrupt the market. My plan is to offer locally hosted AI-powered applications with an option for private cloud deployment. I already have 4–5 high-impact use cases, each of which can be built in a month. I’m looking for a business partner—ideally someone with deep expertise in manufacturing and strong connections in Europe, the USA, China, or India. I’ll handle the tech; you drive the business. Beyond optimization, I have additional solid use cases—some aligned with what YC-backed companies are doing. I found a YC company working on something similar, which I can share in DM.

Seeking Beta Testers for AI-Powered Business Development Tool

Hello fellow entrepreneurs, We’re developing an AI-driven platform designed to assist entrepreneurs in various stages of their business journey. Our tool offers: • Personalized Idea Validation: Tailored feedback to refine your concepts. • Competitor Analysis: In-depth insights into your market landscape. • SWOT Analysis: Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. • Actionable Plans: Step-by-step guidance to move your idea forward. Currently, we’re in the development phase and seeking beta testers to provide valuable feedback. Your insights will directly influence the tool’s evolution. What’s in it for you? • Early Access: Be among the first to experience and benefit from our platform. • Direct Impact: Your feedback will shape the final product. • Exclusive Benefits: Active testers may receive extended access or premium features upon official launch. If you’re interested in participating, please comment below or send me a direct message. We’re eager to collaborate with you to enhance the entrepreneurial journey for all. Thank you!

This founder was about to shut down his startup and open a restaurant. He pivoted the business and grew it to $45m ARR in 12 months. What else have you seen grow that fast?

I heard that Jasper scaled to $45m ARR in 12 months...with a team of 8. For context, they are one of the fastest-growing companies ever. Grew from $0 to $45m ARR in 12 months (then raised $125m at a $1.5b valuation). As a fellow founder, their story is really inspiring to me (curious about what others think): In December 2020, Dave Rogenmoser and his co-founders were on the brink of shutting down their business. They'd spent 3+ years building a conversion optimization software called Proof...and it was flatlining. A few weeks prior they had to make the painful decision to let go of half their team. Competition and churn had completely eroded growth. Things were painful. 8 years of work left them with a string of startups that never quite made it: 2 failed software businesses (couldn't make money*) A SMB marketing agency (maxed out at $25k/mo*) An online course company (hard to get big*) The Pivot: In January 2021, they had an idea to use Chat GPT-3, the generative AI model released 6 months earlier, to write high-converting Facebook ads. Within 30 days, they launched the business. With the skeleton crew remaining from the last startup, they scaled the business to $45m ARR and 70,000+ customers without hiring a single new person. Soon after, they raised $125m at a $1.5b valuation. Dave Rogenmoser, CEO at Jasper, had some great one-liners in a few podcasts I listened to on the business. Here are some of his learnings: Right Skill, Wrong Vehicle: He spent 8 years building marketing businesses which gave this team the knowledge and confidence to spend $1m/mo on sales and marketing to scale the business to $45m ARR in year 1. Launch Fast & Iterate Quickly: The team agreed that if the business didn't work in 30 days, they'd shut it down. Dave says, "If you have been working on a problem for more than 18 months and haven't found Product market fit (PMF), odds are you won't...Make the hard pivot."* Ride A Big Wave: Generative AI technology is a new technology that is changing the way we work. But it's not just text. It's images, voice, etc. Identify new customer segments (e.g., Municipalities, Banks, Lawyers, etc.), learn their problems, and apply this novel technology to solve them. What other businesses have you seen scale like this? I've never seen a SaaS business grow that fast. I meet interesting founders 2x per week and share the learnings here.

This founder was about to shut down his business and open a restaurant. He pivoted the business and grew it to $45m ARR in 12 months. What other businesses can scale like this?

I heard that Jasper scaled to $45m ARR in 12 months...with a team of 8. For context, they are one of the fastest-growing companies ever. Grew from $0 to $45m ARR in 12 months (then raised $125m at a $1.5b valuation). As a fellow founder, their story is really inspiring to me (curious about what others think): In December 2020, Dave Rogenmoser and his co-founders were on the brink of shutting down their business. They'd spent 3+ years building a conversion optimization software called Proof...and it was flatlining. A few weeks prior they had to make the painful decision to let go of half their team. Competition and churn had completely eroded growth. Things were painful. 8 years of work left them with a string of startups that never quite made it: 2 failed software businesses (couldn't make money*) A SMB marketing agency (maxed out at $25k/mo*) An online course company (hard to get big*) The Pivot: In January 2021, they had an idea to use Chat GPT-3, the generative AI model released 6 months earlier, to write high-converting Facebook ads. Within 30 days, they launched the business. With the skeleton crew remaining from the last startup, they scaled the business to $45m ARR and 70,000+ customers without hiring a single new person. Soon after, they raised $125m at a $1.5b valuation. Dave Rogenmoser, CEO at Jasper, had some great one-liners in a few podcasts I listened to on the business. Here are some of his learnings: Right Skill, Wrong Vehicle: He spent 8 years building marketing businesses which gave this team the knowledge and confidence to spend $1m/mo on sales and marketing to scale the business to $45m ARR in year 1. Launch Fast & Iterate Quickly: The team agreed that if the business didn't work in 30 days, they'd shut it down. Dave says, "If you have been working on a problem for more than 18 months and haven't found Product market fit (PMF), odds are you won't...Make the hard pivot."* Ride A Big Wave: Generative AI technology is a new technology that is changing the way we work. But it's not just text. It's images, voice, etc. Identify new customer segments (e.g., Municipalities, Banks, Lawyers, etc.), learn their problems, and apply this novel technology to solve them. What other businesses have you seen scale like this? I've never seen a SaaS business grow that fast. I meet interesting founders 2x per week and share the learnings here.

Building Business Development/Sales Pipeline

Hey all! Happy weekend wherever you may be! Wanting to get some advice and insight into a couple areas as mentioned in the title. Background is the following: My Partner and I started our company about in 2021. When we kicked off we were building a control and camera vision system for automating and optimizing indoor vertical farms. We got to early mvp but market was not as big and barrier to entry was high. So we pivoted early 2023 to utilize components of our technology in a wildfire detection and risk analysis platform. Happy to say we are once again at MVP but need to get PMF and pipeline going both with revenue generating clients and pilots/demos. Through this period we’ve kept the lights on by running a consulting service and digital agency. We’ve also pushed out a couple of AI tools to market. Effectively I need to build out a strong pipeline for each vertical and associated sales team. Right now spread too thin trying to conduct sales and business dev on each front. Challenges: Wildfire: Business to Gov relationships so need to build for that. Additionally early stage technology so imo relationships are critical. Additionally need to take advantage of grant funding. Target Markets: Canada, USA, Mediterranean, Northern Europe/Scandavian Countries. Consulting and Agency: Things feel dry… we have a recurring client list but we want to grow this channel exponentially, focusing on RFP’s and med to large company profiles rather then the current SMB. Our current activités are mediocre imo for outreach and connection. AI Tools: I believe these are great opportunities. TLDR 1)sales based assistant as well as 2)central AI aggregation with prompt repository. Business Dev Energy into this is basically focused on digital means. In the process of generating video content to push via ads and online social platforms. Challenge: low engagement right now users signing up but no commitments to purchase. Need to evaluate value offer and feedback on PMF. From the sales team side, effectively need to generate the sales so I can expand the team and grow accordingly. I’m a huge proponent of commission based compensation. Also open to a base salary. However anyone I onboard at this moment would have to be commission cause cash-flow. On that front, what are current commissions structures looking like for people? What’s engaging what’s worth taking a risk what is just a huge no? On the challenges for the product lines any feedback questions and even poking holes is appreciated! Thanks!

How Our AI Tool Helped a Small Business Save 15% on Annual Expenses

I’m the founder of a startup that built an AI-powered tool to analyze and optimize business finances, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). After months of development and testing, I’m pumped to share our solution with you and get your feedback. Here’s what we do, how it works, and the results we’ve seen. The Problem We Solve Managing a company’s finances, especially for an SME, is often a nightmare: forgotten subscriptions, poorly negotiated supplier contracts, invoices with errors… We’ve all been there. Our tool uses AI to automate expense analysis, spot issues, and suggest practical ways to cut costs—without you having to spend hours on it. How It Works (A Bit of Tech Talk) We built our tool on a multi-agent architecture using the CREWAI framework. Here are the main AI agents we’ve got running: Expense Analyst: Digs through your invoices and categorizes your spending. Compliance Auditor: Checks for errors, fraud, or compliance hiccups. Financial Reporter: Generates clear reports with actionable recommendations. Supplier Negotiator: Hunts down cheaper supplier options using the Serper API and offers negotiation strategies. To hook up your company’s data, we use NEEDLE, a RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) system that lets our agents tap into your info in real time. Everything’s locked down in an SQLite database with end-to-end encryption. Real Results We tested the tool with 10 companies, and here’s what we found: Average cost reduction of 12% in three months. Fraud detection: For example, we flagged 5 shady invoices at one company, saving them €3,000. Supplier optimization: For an SME, we found an energy supplier 20% cheaper, saving them €8,000 a year. A real-world case: A consulting firm with 50 employees ran our tool on their SaaS subscriptions. Outcome? They ditched 3 unused subscriptions, renegotiated 2 contracts, and saved 15% on their annual expenses. Challenges We Tackled No sugarcoating here—it wasn’t a walk in the park. The biggest hurdle? Data security. We’re handling sensitive stuff, so we went all in: End-to-end encryption for everything we process. GDPR compliance with strict rules. Role-based access controls to limit who sees what. Another tough one was integrating with existing systems. We’ve already got connectors for QuickBooks, Xero, and SAP, and we’re working on more. Why It’s Different Sure, there are tools like Expensify or Ramp out there, but our multi-agent approach digs deeper. We deliver super-detailed analysis and precise recommendations. And our knack for finding cheaper suppliers in real time? That’s a game-changer for quick savings.I’m the founder of a startup that built an AI-powered tool to analyze and optimize business finances, with a special focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). After months of development and testing, I’m pumped to share our solution with you and get your feedback. Here’s what we do, how it works, and the results we’ve seen. Ask me your technical questions, share your ideas or critiques we’re here to get better! Thanks you for reading this.

I run an AI automation agency (AAA). My honest overview and review of this new business model

I started an AI tools directory in February, and then branched off that to start an AI automation agency (AAA) in June. So far I've come across a lot of unsustainable "ideas" to make money with AI, but at the same time a few diamonds in the rough that aren't fully tapped into yet- especially the AAA model. Thought I'd share this post to shine light into this new business model and share some ways you could potentially start your own agency, or at the very least know who you are dealing with and how to pick and choose when you (inevitably) get bombarded with cold emails from them down the line. Foreword Running an AAA does NOT involve using AI tools directly to generate and sell content directly. That ship has sailed, and unless you are happy with $5 from Fiverr every month or so, it is not a real business model. Cry me a river but generating generic art with AI and slapping it onto a T-shirt to sell on Etsy won't make you a dime. At the same time, the AAA model will NOT require you to have a deep theoretical knowledge of AI, or any academic degree, as we are more so dealing with the practical applications of generative AI and how we can implement these into different workflows and tech-stacks, rather than building AI models from the ground up. Regardless of all that, common sense and a willingness to learn will help (a shit ton), as with anything. Keep in mind - this WILL involve work and motivation as well. The mindset that AI somehow means everything can be done for you on autopilot is not the right way to approach things. The common theme of businesses I've seen who have successfully implemented AI into their operations is the willingess to work with AI in a way that augments their existing operations, rather than flat out replace a worker or team. And this is exactly the train of thought you need when working with AI as a business model. However, as the field is relatively unsaturated and hype surrounding AI is still fresh for enterprises, right now is the prime time to start something new if generative AI interests you at all. With that being said, I'll be going over three of the most successful AI-adjacent businesses I've seen over this past year, in addition to some tips and resources to point you in the right direction. so.. WTF is an AI Automation Agency? The AI automation agency (or as some YouTubers have coined it, the AAA model) at its core involves creating custom AI solutions for businesses. I have over 1500 AI tools listed in my directory, however the feedback I've received from some enterprise users is that ready-made SaaS tools are too generic to meet their specific needs. Combine this with the fact virtually no smaller companies have the time or skills required to develop custom solutions right off the bat, and you have yourself real demand. I would say in practice, the AAA model is quite similar to Wordpress and even web dev agencies, with the major difference being all solutions you develop will incorporate key aspects of AI AND automation. Which brings me to my second point- JUST AI IS NOT ENOUGH. Rather than reducing the amount of time required to complete certain tasks, I've seen many AI agencies make the mistake of recommending and (trying to) sell solutions that more likely than not increase the workload of their clients. For example, if you were to make an internal tool that has AI answer questions based on their knowledge base, but this knowledge base has to be updated manually, this is creating unnecessary work. As such I think one of the key components of building successful AI solutions is incorporating the new (Generative AI/LLMs) with the old (programmtic automation- think Zapier, APIs, etc.). Finally, for this business model to be successful, ideally you should target a niche in which you have already worked and understand pain points and needs. Not only does this make it much easier to get calls booked with prospects, the solutions you build will have much greater value to your clients (meaning you get paid more). A mistake I've seen many AAA operators make (and I blame this on the "Get Rich Quick" YouTubers) is focusing too much on a specific productized service, rather than really understanding the needs of businesses. The former is much done via a SaaS model, but when going the agency route the only thing that makes sense is building custom solutions. This is why I always take a consultant-first approach. You can only build once you understand what they actually need and how certain solutions may impact their operations, workflows, and bottom-line. Basics of How to Get Started Pick a niche. As I mentioned previously, preferably one that you've worked in before. Niches I know of that are actively being bombarded with cold emails include real estate, e-commerce, auto-dealerships, lawyers, and medical offices. There is a reason for this, but I will tell you straight up this business model works well if you target any white-collar service business (internal tools approach) or high volume businesses (customer facing tools approach). Setup your toolbox. If you wanted to start a pressure washing business, you would need a pressure-washer. This is no different. For those without programming knowledge, I've seen two common ways AAA get setup to build- one is having a network of on-call web developers, whether its personal contacts or simply going to Upwork or any talent sourcing agency. The second is having an arsenal of no-code tools. I'll get to this more in a second, but this works beecause at its core, when we are dealing with the practical applications of AI, the code is quite simple, simply put. Start cold sales. Unless you have a network already, this is not a step you can skip. You've already picked a niche, so all you have to do is find the right message. Keep cold emails short, sweet, but enticing- and it will help a lot if you did step 1 correctly and intimately understand who your audience is. I'll be touching base later about how you can leverage AI yourself to help you with outreach and closing. The beauty of gen AI and the AAA model You don't need to be a seasoned web developer to make this business model work. The large majority of solutions that SME clients want is best done using an API for an LLM for the actual AI aspect. The value we create with the solutions we build comes with the conceptual framework and design that not only does what they need it to but integrates smoothly with their existing tech-stack and workflow. The actual implementation is quite straightforward once you understand the high level design and know which tools you are going to use. To give you a sense, even if you plan to build out these apps yourself (say in Python) the large majority of the nitty gritty technical work has already been done for you, especially if you leverage Python libraries and packages that offer high level abstraction for LLM-related functions. For instance, calling GPT can be as little as a single line of code. (And there are no-code tools where these functions are simply an icon on a GUI). Aside from understanding the capabilities and limitations of these tools and frameworks, the only thing that matters is being able to put them in a way that makes sense for what you want to build. Which is why outsourcing and no-code tools both work in our case. Okay... but how TF am I suppposed to actually build out these solutions? Now the fun part. I highly recommend getting familiar with Langchain and LlamaIndex. Both are Python libraires that help a lot with the high-level LLM abstraction I mentioned previously. The two most important aspects include being able to integrate internal data sources/knowledge bases with LLMs, and have LLMs perform autonomous actions. The two most common methods respectively are RAG and output parsing. RAG (retrieval augmented Generation) If you've ever seen a tool that seemingly "trains" GPT on your own data, and wonder how it all works- well I have an answer from you. At a high level, the user query is first being fed to what's called a vector database to run vector search. Vector search basically lets you do semantic search where you are searching data based on meaning. The vector databases then retrieves the most relevant sections of text as it relates to the user query, and this text gets APPENDED to your GPT prompt to provide extra context to the AI. Further, with prompt engineering, you can limit GPT to only generate an answer if it can be found within this extra context, greatly limiting the chance of hallucination (this is where AI makes random shit up). Aside from vector databases, we can also implement RAG with other data sources and retrieval methods, for example SQL databses (via parsing the outputs of LLM's- more on this later). Autonomous Agents via Output Parsing A common need of clients has been having AI actually perform tasks, rather than simply spitting out text. For example, with autonomous agents, we can have an e-commerce chatbot do the work of a basic customer service rep (i.e. look into orders, refunds, shipping). At a high level, what's going on is that the response of the LLM is being used programmtically to determine which API to call. Keeping on with the e-commerce example, if I wanted a chatbot to check shipping status, I could have a LLM response within my app (not shown to the user) with a prompt that outputs a random hash or string, and programmatically I can determine which API call to make based on this hash/string. And using the same fundamental concept as with RAG, I can append the the API response to a final prompt that would spit out the answer for the user. How No Code Tools Can Fit In (With some example solutions you can build) With that being said, you don't necessarily need to do all of the above by coding yourself, with Python libraries or otherwise. However, I will say that having that high level overview will help IMMENSELY when it comes to using no-code tools to do the actual work for you. Regardless, here are a few common solutions you might build for clients as well as some no-code tools you can use to build them out. Ex. Solution 1: AI Chatbots for SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) This involves creating chatbots that handle user queries, lead gen, and so forth with AI, and will use the principles of RAG at heart. After getting the required data from your client (i.e. product catalogues, previous support tickets, FAQ, internal documentation), you upload this into your knowledge base and write a prompt that makes sense for your use case. One no-code tool that does this well is MyAskAI. The beauty of it especially for building external chatbots is the ability to quickly ingest entire websites into your knowledge base via a sitemap, and bulk uploading files. Essentially, they've covered the entire grunt work required to do this manually. Finally, you can create a inline or chat widget on your client's website with a few lines of HTML, or altneratively integrate it with a Slack/Teams chatbot (if you are going for an internal Q&A chatbot approach). Other tools you could use include Botpress and Voiceflow, however these are less for RAG and more for building out complete chatbot flows that may or may not incorporate LLMs. Both apps are essentially GUIs that eliminate the pain and tears and trying to implement complex flows manually, and both natively incoporate AI intents and a knowledge base feature. Ex. Solution 2: Internal Apps Similar to the first example, except we go beyond making just chatbots but tools such as report generation and really any sort of internal tool or automations that may incorporate LLM's. For instance, you can have a tool that automatically generates replies to inbound emails based on your client's knowledge base. Or an automation that does the same thing but for replies to Instagram comments. Another example could be a tool that generates a description and screeenshot based on a URL (useful for directory sites, made one for my own :P). Getting into more advanced implementations of LLMs, we can have tools that can generate entire drafts of reports (think 80+ pages), based not only on data from a knowledge base but also the writing style, format, and author voice of previous reports. One good tool to create content generation panels for your clients would be MindStudio. You can train LLM's via prompt engineering in a structured way with your own data to essentially fine tune them for whatever text you need it to generate. Furthermore, it has a GUI where you can dictate the entire AI flow. You can also upload data sources via multiple formats, including PDF, CSV, and Docx. For automations that require interactions between multiple apps, I recommend the OG zapier/make.com if you want a no-code solution. For instance, for the automatic email reply generator, I can have a trigger such that when an email is received, a custom AI reply is generated by MyAskAI, and finally a draft is created in my email client. Or, for an automation where I can create a social media posts on multiple platforms based on a RSS feed (news feed), I can implement this directly in Zapier with their native GPT action (see screenshot) As for more complex LLM flows that may require multiple layers of LLMs, data sources, and APIs working together to generate a single response i.e. a long form 100 page report, I would recommend tools such as Stack AI or Flowise (open-source alternative) to build these solutions out. Essentially, you get most of the functions and features of Python packages such as Langchain and LlamaIndex in a GUI. See screenshot for an example of a flow How the hell are you supposed to find clients? With all that being said, none of this matters if you can't find anyone to sell to. You will have to do cold sales, one way or the other, especially if you are brand new to the game. And what better way to sell your AI services than with AI itself? If we want to integrate AI into the cold outreach process, first we must identify what it's good at doing, and that's obviously writing a bunch of text, in a short amount of time. Similar to the solutions that an AAA can build for its clients, we can take advantage of the same principles in our own sales processes. How to do outreach Once you've identified your niche and their pain points/opportunities for automation, you want to craft a compelling message in which you can send via cold email and cold calls to get prospects booked on demos/consultations. I won't get into too much detail in terms of exactly how to write emails or calling scripts, as there are millions of resources to help with this, but I will tell you a few key points you want to keep in mind when doing outreach for your AAA. First, you want to keep in mind that many businesses are still hesitant about AI and may not understand what it really is or how it can benefit their operations. However, we can take advantage of how mass media has been reporting on AI this past year- at the very least people are AWARE that sooner or later they may have to implement AI into their businesses to stay competitive. We want to frame our message in a way that introduces generative AI as a technology that can have a direct, tangible, and positive impact on their business. Although it may be hard to quantify, I like to include estimates of man-hours saved or costs saved at least in my final proposals to prospects. Times are TOUGH right now, and money is expensive, so you need to have a compelling reason for businesses to get on board. Once you've gotten your messaging down, you will want to create a list of prospects to contact. Tools you can use to find prospects include Apollo.io, reply.io, zoominfo (expensive af), and Linkedin Sales Navigator. What specific job titles, etc. to target will depend on your niche but for smaller companies this will tend to be the owner. For white collar niches, i.e. law, the professional that will be directly benefiting from the tool (i.e. partners) may be better to contact. And for larger organizations you may want to target business improvement and digital transformation leads/directors- these are the people directly in charge of projects like what you may be proposing. Okay- so you have your message, and your list, and now all it comes down to is getting the good word out. I won't be going into the details of how to send these out, a quick Google search will give you hundreds of resources for cold outreach methods. However, personalization is key and beyond simple dynamic variables you want to make sure you can either personalize your email campaigns directly with AI (SmartWriter.ai is an example of a tool that can do this), or at the very least have the ability to import email messages programmatically. Alternatively, ask ChatGPT to make you a Python Script that can take in a list of emails, scrape info based on their linkedin URL or website, and all pass this onto a GPT prompt that specifies your messaging to generate an email. From there, send away. How tf do I close? Once you've got some prospects booked in on your meetings, you will need to close deals with them to turn them into clients. Call #1: Consultation Tying back to when I mentioned you want to take a consultant-first appraoch, you will want to listen closely to their goals and needs and understand their pain points. This would be the first call, and typically I would provide a high level overview of different solutions we could build to tacke these. It really helps to have a presentation available, so you can graphically demonstrate key points and key technologies. I like to use Plus AI for this, it's basically a Google Slides add-on that can generate slide decks for you. I copy and paste my default company messaging, add some key points for the presentation, and it comes out with pretty decent slides. Call #2: Demo The second call would involve a demo of one of these solutions, and typically I'll quickly prototype it with boilerplate code I already have, otherwise I'll cook something up in a no-code tool. If you have a niche where one type of solution is commonly demanded, it helps to have a general demo set up to be able to handle a larger volume of calls, so you aren't burning yourself out. I'll also elaborate on how the final product would look like in comparison to the demo. Call #3 and Beyond: Once the initial consultation and demo is complete, you will want to alleviate any remaining concerns from your prospects and work with them to reach a final work proposal. It's crucial you lay out exactly what you will be building (in writing) and ensure the prospect understands this. Furthermore, be clear and transparent with timelines and communication methods for the project. In terms of pricing, you want to take this from a value-based approach. The same solution may be worth a lot more to client A than client B. Furthermore, you can create "add-ons" such as monthly maintenance/upgrade packages, training sessions for employeees, and so forth, separate from the initial setup fee you would charge. How you can incorporate AI into marketing your businesses Beyond cold sales, I highly recommend creating a funnel to capture warm leads. For instance, I do this currently with my AI tools directory, which links directly to my AI agency and has consistent branding throughout. Warm leads are much more likely to close (and honestly, much nicer to deal with). However, even without an AI-related website, at the very least you will want to create a presence on social media and the web in general. As with any agency, you will want basic a professional presence. A professional virtual address helps, in addition to a Google Business Profile (GBP) and TrustPilot. a GBP (especially for local SEO) and Trustpilot page also helps improve the looks of your search results immensely. For GBP, I recommend using ProfilePro, which is a chrome extension you can use to automate SEO work for your GBP. Aside from SEO optimzied business descriptions based on your business, it can handle Q/A answers, responses, updates, and service descriptions based on local keywords. Privacy and Legal Concerns of the AAA Model Aside from typical concerns for agencies relating to service contracts, there are a few issues (especially when using no-code tools) that will need to be addressed to run a successful AAA. Most of these surround privacy concerns when working with proprietary data. In your terms with your client, you will want to clearly define hosting providers and any third party tools you will be using to build their solution, and a DPA with these third parties listed as subprocessors if necessary. In addition, you will want to implement best practices like redacting private information from data being used for building solutions. In terms of addressing concerns directly from clients, it helps if you host your solutions on their own servers (not possible with AI tools), and address the fact only ChatGPT queries in the web app, not OpenAI API calls, will be used to train OpenAI's models (as reported by mainstream media). The key here is to be open and transparent with your clients about ALL the tools you are using, where there data will be going, and make sure to get this all in writing. have fun, and keep an open mind Before I finish this post, I just want to reiterate the fact that this is NOT an easy way to make money. Running an AI agency will require hours and hours of dedication and work, and constantly rearranging your schedule to meet prospect and client needs. However, if you are looking for a new business to run, and have a knack for understanding business operations and are genuinely interested in the pracitcal applications of generative AI, then I say go for it. The time is ticking before AAA becomes the new dropshipping or SMMA, and I've a firm believer that those who set foot first and establish themselves in this field will come out top. And remember, while 100 thousand people may read this post, only 2 may actually take initiative and start.

What Are the Top Small Business Trends You Must Know for 2024 ?

Are you excited about the new business horizons in 2024? Well, you should be! The small business landscape is evolving faster than anything right now, and here are the trends you absolutely need to know to keep your business game strong. Sustainable Swag In a world where eco-friendliness is the new black, businesses are carrying the badge of sustainability. From eco-packaging to carbon-neutral practices, customers are giving the side-eye to anything less green. So, if you want to be at the top, consider adopting some planet-friendly practices. Remote Work Revolution Office who? The 9-to-5 grind is getting a makeover, and the dress code is PJs. Remote work is no longer just a trend; it's a lifestyle. So, if your business can embrace the virtual office, you might just find your team doing the hustle and bustle with productivity. Tech-Tastic Ventures The future is now, and it's filled with tech wonders. Augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and all things tech are the new developments in this sector. Businesses incorporating these innovations are riding the digital wave straight to success. Personalization Party No one likes generic. Customers want products and services tailor-made just for them. So, businesses are using data to give customers an experience that feels as customized as a handmade suit. Say goodbye to one-size-fits-all! Community Crusaders In a world full of noise, community is the superhero we all need. Businesses are realizing the power of building a network around their brand. Whether it's through social media, events, or exclusive memberships, creating a community is like having an army of brand advocates. 2024 is the year to unleash your small business swagger. Embrace these trends, adapt with flair, and let your entrepreneurial spirit soar. Remember to sprinkle some personality into your business strategy—people love a brand with a sense of humor and a human touch!

Please rate my business idea aimed at emerging markets

Imagine a single platform that transforms your business operations effortlessly. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for your business. First Steps (Every Business Needs These): Our website builder is your first step online. Just pick what you want, drag it where you need it, and you've got a professional website or online store. No tech skills needed. Perfect for getting your business visible to customers. Our security tool comes next because every business needs protection. It's like a security guard for your files and data, keeping hackers out and making sure you never lose important work. Think of it as insurance for your digital business. Cybersecurity and backups combined. Growing Business Needs: As your team grows, our digital office keeps everyone connected. Email, chat, share files, and track projects in one place. It's like having everyone in the same room, even when working remotely. This becomes essential once you have more than a few people. When paperwork starts piling up, our AI helper steps in. It's like having a smart assistant who learns your business and helps everyone get more done - handling routine tasks, summarizing meetings, and suggesting better ways to work. Scaling Up (For Established Businesses): Once you're handling lots of data, our eco-friendly cloud storage becomes crucial. Your business gets fast, reliable storage while helping the environment. We use servers powered by renewable energy, so you can grow sustainably. Our data transfer tool becomes important when you're working with multiple systems and need to move files around. It's like having a digital moving service that safely carries your files between different cloud services. With 20+ services to connect to cloud to cloud or on prem to cloud, its easy and fast. Advanced Needs: When your business processes get complex, our workflow automation tool helps you set up automatic systems for repetitive tasks. It's like training a robot to handle your routine work while your team focuses on growth. Simple no-code automation when you need it. Everything works on its own, but they're designed to work even better together. And since it's all in one place, you only need one password and one monthly bill. Most businesses save about half their tech costs by switching to our platform. Cost Benefits: Single subscription replaces multiple vendor contracts Reduces IT overhead by 40-60% on average No need for expensive technical specialists Predictable monthly costs Scales pricing with your usage

We just pivoted our entire business to AI and No-Code! AMA!

I'm new to Reddit but keen to understand how this platform works and how the community interacts. I'm an ex-Amazon consultant and I recently sold my logistics company after automating a lot of the processes with no-code and AI, to move into the digital services market to sell Amazon account management, we also raised a 6-figure funding round. It quickly became obvious that we were able to use our no-code learnings to automate the agency business model and we saved about 80% on our costs in comparison to the traditional business model functions. Our clients quickly wanted us to sell in our workflow solutions instead of advertising (lol), so we pivoted the business hard to sell in AI workflows and no-code, and its going extremely well. My social media strategy is quite literally to give away our learnings and value as we believe the market is growing so fast there is space for anyone who's interested in what we're doing. I'm pushing out a video a day that talks to how we are automating specific business functions in businesses that allow us to sell this into businesses. Is there an appitite for this content to be shared here? The content is mainly shortform but I'd be happy to do some longer form explainer videos for anyone that really wants to learn the detail. Let me know, also ask me anything and I'll be happy to knowledge share. Cheers,Dan

Seeking Feedback on Business Idea: AI-Powered Business Partner Matching Platform

Hey everyone, I've been toying with an idea for a new business venture and I'd love to get some feedback and insights from this community. The Idea: I'm considering building a business platform that utilizes AI to match potential business partners. Whether you're a startup looking for a co-founder, a company seeking strategic partnerships, or an investor searching for promising ventures, this platform would help connect you with compatible partners based on your specific needs, goals, and preferences. How It Works: Users would create detailed profiles outlining their business objectives, industry expertise, skills, and what they're looking for in a partner. The AI algorithm would then analyze this data to identify compatible matches, taking into account factors like complementary skill sets, shared values, and mutual goals. The platform would provide users with a curated list of potential partners, along with insights and recommendations to facilitate meaningful connections. Key Features: Comprehensive Profiles: Users can create detailed profiles highlighting their background, experience, and what they bring to the table. AI Matching Algorithm: The platform's AI algorithm would use advanced data analysis techniques to generate accurate partner recommendations. Communication Tools: Built-in messaging and video conferencing tools would enable seamless communication between potential partners. Feedback and Ratings: Users can leave feedback and ratings for their matches, helping to build trust and credibility within the community. Resource Hub: Access to resources, articles, and guides on partnership development, negotiation strategies, and other relevant topics. Why It's Needed: Finding the right business partner can be a daunting task, often relying on personal networks or serendipitous encounters. By harnessing the power of AI, this platform aims to streamline the partner matching process, saving time and increasing the likelihood of finding compatible collaborators. Looking for Feedback: Before diving headfirst into this venture, I wanted to reach out to this community to gather some feedback: Does this idea resonate with you? Why or why not? Are there any existing platforms or services that offer similar functionalities? What features would be essential for you as a user? Any potential challenges or concerns you foresee with this concept? I'm eager to hear your thoughts and suggestions. Thanks in advance for your input!

Business Strategy Trends for 2024

As we gear up for 2024, it's time to gaze into the crystal ball and see what's reshaping the world of business strategy. From cutting-edge technology to how people are shopping, it's all happening. So let's check out the latest trends that are going to dominate the business world! Going Green and Doing Good Yep, you heard it right—being eco-friendly and socially responsible is all the rage. Businesses are jumping on the sustainability train, whether it's by using recycled materials or giving back to the community. It's not just good for the planet—it's good for business too! Tech Takeover From fancy AI to blockchain innovations, businesses are embracing all things digital. It's not just about staying up to date—it's about using technology to make things easier, faster, and way more amazing. Work from Anywhere Who says you have to be stuck in an office all day? Today, businesses are all about flexibility. Whether you're working from home, a coffee shop, or a hammock on the beach, it's all good. Remote work is here to stay, and people are loving the freedom it brings. Treat Yo' Customers Want to stand out in a sea of competition? It's all about making your customers feel special. Whether it's personalized recommendations or killer customer service, businesses are pulling out all the stops to keep folks coming back for more. Roll with the Punches In today's fast-paced world, you've got to be quick on your feet. That's why businesses are ditching rigid plans and embracing agile strategies. It's all about being able to adapt to whatever curveballs the world throws your way. Click, Buy, and Repeat Online shopping is getting bigger. Businesses are getting creative with their online offerings, whether it's through slick new websites, social media shenanigans, or funky new delivery options. The future of shopping is digital! Conclusion: The lowdown on what's shaking up the world of business strategy in 2024. Whether it's going green, embracing tech, or keeping customers happy, there's plenty of excitement on the horizon.

Looking for some business ideas.

I want to start an online business. I have a very good pc. I tried many freelancing services to sell but i failed and i also don’t have any interest in this field like (editing, graphic design etc). Suggest me some business or any service idea which is unique and has large scope. I am interested in AI also and i also developed some simple agents using AI. Like:- Chatbot and Calling agent. Please tell me marketing strategies also with your business ideas. Because i am not good at finding clients online.

Business Idea for new app connecting lonely people (e.g. new arrivals to big city), with local businesses organizing events

I came up with a start-up idea for a tool (website, app or both) where lonely people (e.g. recent arrivals to a new city) can match-up with one another, together with local businesses organizing events. I came up with the idea based on my own experiences of moving to a new place where my local social circle was virtually non-existent. Some people do well in such an environment, but I myself and some people I know/have interacted with seem to really struggle to make friends. The main idea would revolve around garnering the help of local businesses that regularly organize events (or would want to start doing so), together with a tool set up like a matching app (not unlike tinder or bumble). The app would contain the following features: People will be able to create a profile (with photos, interests, etc.) from all over the world, and set a specific geolocation of interest. Companies would be able to create pages with agenda’s and upcoming events. People would be able to list upcoming events they are interested in. Maybe together with some kind of AI-tool that will recommend upcoming events based on past liked events and interests. One could then seek out and reach out to other people planning to go to the same event, and perhaps arrange to go together so they know they won’t end up spending their time at the event alone. The business model would either revolve around subscription costs (e.g. for the companies that use it), commission on tickets purchased at the app for events or perhaps advertisement. I know there would be some competitors out there, however it appears most haven’t gained proper traction. I have also noticed most of the competitors have similar features, but haven’t made this business model their main strategy. Bumble for example, has a BFF-mode but advertises mainly about being a dating app. Businesses use their own websites or facebook/Instagram pages, but rely on people actively following them. Etc. What do you guys think? Honest feedback would really be appreciated, as this is my first start-up idea.

What Are the Top Small Business Trends You Must Know for 2024 ?

Are you excited about the new business horizons in 2024? Well, you should be! The small business landscape is evolving faster than anything right now, and here are the trends you absolutely need to know to keep your business game strong. Sustainable Swag In a world where eco-friendliness is the new black, businesses are carrying the badge of sustainability. From eco-packaging to carbon-neutral practices, customers are giving the side-eye to anything less green. So, if you want to be at the top, consider adopting some planet-friendly practices. Remote Work Revolution Office who? The 9-to-5 grind is getting a makeover, and the dress code is PJs. Remote work is no longer just a trend; it's a lifestyle. So, if your business can embrace the virtual office, you might just find your team doing the hustle and bustle with productivity. Tech-Tastic Ventures The future is now, and it's filled with tech wonders. Augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and all things tech are the new developments in this sector. Businesses incorporating these innovations are riding the digital wave straight to success. Personalization Party No one likes generic. Customers want products and services tailor-made just for them. So, businesses are using data to give customers an experience that feels as customized as a handmade suit. Say goodbye to one-size-fits-all! Community Crusaders In a world full of noise, community is the superhero we all need. Businesses are realizing the power of building a network around their brand. Whether it's through social media, events, or exclusive memberships, creating a community is like having an army of brand advocates. 2024 is the year to unleash your small business swagger. Embrace these trends, adapt with flair, and let your entrepreneurial spirit soar. Remember to sprinkle some personality into your business strategy—people love a brand with a sense of humor and a human touch!

Project to Help Other Business Owners Out There

Researching for a Project to help all (Small) Business Owners out there. Hello Entrepreneurs! I am a student of Computer Science. At the same time, I am a business enthusiast, always looking for ways to form a passive source of income. So I was doing some research in Artificial Intelligence, a subfield of Computer Science, and I came up with a really good idea that can help save time and money for most small business owners and startups out there. But before I indulge into that, I need to do more research on business owners to find if the idea is really feasible or not. I want to stay realistic. Can't be too optimistic, can I. Websites have become life support for most businesses nowdayas. Not having a webiste puts them at a huge disadvantage. So the crux of the idea is integrating AI into web development. My target market includes solo owners/ small business owners and startup because the the type of websites that can be formed with AI suits their needs. AI will be used to understand types and design of all the successful websites out there to form websites that convert So the reason why I am posting over here is that I really really need help from this forum for the research. I have made a Small Google Form. It only consists of small MCQs and 1-2 words answers. If you can fill it up, I will highly appreicate it. It will take 2-4 minutes at most. ​ Thanks in advance!

AI girlfriend (Caryn AI) but for business coaching -- bring your project from 0 to 1 in a sec

over the past few days, I got the AI craze especially after stumbling upon this AI girlfriend called Caryn AI. So I came up with the idea of creating the same AI chatbot but for business advice. "WTF is this???" Imagine having access to 2nd brain of top entrepreneurs like Paul Graham (YC), Ryan Hoover (Product Hunt), Shaan Puri (My 1st Million pod) The end goal would be to let these entrepreneurs own and enrich their second brain with their own personal data, like stuff from WhatsApp, Notion, email, you name it. ​ Ryan Hoover & Shaan's 2nd brain ​ just think about it: having a 24/7 one-on-one chat with top business coaches and getting valuable advice for your own business. Think of questions like: \- how can I make more revenue? \- what's the best marketing strategy for reaching out to users x, y, and z? Would you be interested in engaging with these 2nd brains? And hey, what burning questions would you ask them? Curious to hear your thoughts

I wanna sell access to business ideas extracted from real life problems and discussions

How cool would it be if there was a hub for aspirant entrepreneurs to buy a shortcut for high demand business ideas, or sometimes high demand unsolved business problems? It’s stupid to ask AI to generate business idea, but it’s certainly possible to ask for an analysis over discussions. I built a webscraper that’s fetching over several forums looking for 100% public information, including Reddit, extracting business ideas from people discussing about real life situations, or simply problems. Many entrepreneurs find they niche business ideas by reading Reddit and interpreting what the post and comments mean. So instead of generating business opportunities using AI, I’m extracting them from conversations that people usually suggest to each other and could easily turn into a company or business, but people are busy and end up screwing up in their own solutions and never consider launching them.

We just pivoted our entire business to AI and No-Code! AMA!

I'm new to Reddit but keen to understand how this platform works and how the community interacts. I'm an ex-Amazon consultant and I recently sold my logistics company after automating a lot of the processes with no-code and AI, to move into the digital services market to sell Amazon account management, we also raised a 6-figure funding round. It quickly became obvious that we were able to use our no-code learnings to automate the agency business model and we saved about 80% on our costs in comparison to the traditional business model functions. Our clients quickly wanted us to sell in our workflow solutions instead of advertising (lol), so we pivoted the business hard to sell in AI workflows and no-code, and its going extremely well. My social media strategy is quite literally to give away our learnings and value as we believe the market is growing so fast there is space for anyone who's interested in what we're doing. I'm pushing out a video a day that talks to how we are automating specific business functions in businesses that allow us to sell this into businesses. Is there an appitite for this content to be shared here? The content is mainly shortform but I'd be happy to do some longer form explainer videos for anyone that really wants to learn the detail. Let me know, also ask me anything and I'll be happy to knowledge share. Cheers,Dan

AI ChatBo Business System Digital - Software Bring Yours SALES UP + COSTS DOWN With Digital Systems

Recommend the AI ​​ChatBo Business System from especially for coaches & consultants, e-commerce and retail and build a passive income in the mega-trend of AI & WhatsApp marketing. Your advantages: Lifetime 10 percent recurring commissions for the software licenses. One-off 10% for the service. ​No more losses due to changing browsers and devices thanks to the unique multi-device tracking using hash key technology from our partner Klick-Tip (commissions are 46 percent higher on average). One of the largest companies in the German-speaking region for digital payment processing. Software made and hosted in Germany. Click here to get it now: https://bit.ly/3TXNKm9 Start with a little and let it grow ChatboOne is THE all-in-one solution for marketing and sales and is available in three versions... Base \- reduces your manual effort, improves the overview of your sales campaigns and increases the conversion of your website. Expert \- Automates communication with customers and interested parties, offers campaigns via email and WhatsApp and makes planning your customer appointments easier. Professional \- The complete package including websites and landing pages, member area and affiliate marketing tool. Brilliant for you: no matter where you are with your business, start at the optimal level and let the system grow with you until you reach the professional level. ​ Click here to get it now: https://bit.ly/3TXNKm9 ​

Critique my business ideas

So I have some business ideas that I would like to confront to you in order to have feedback. The point is to give me your completely honest opinion and try to find some potential problems. 1 - Digital marketing automation for green ecommerce stores Marketing has always been a problem for everyone in business more particularly for niche businesses. It's tough for them because people who will buy their product are generally harder to find. Also these products are way more expensive than other so it may be clever for them to focus more on marketing. Since the green and sustainable industry is growing at a very fast rate such as AI, I would like to hear your opinion on the idea of automating marketing for these type of businesses. 2 - AI Mental Health platform The mental health issues will gain more and more importance in the future. We now live in a world that isn't as safe as before and with the rise of social media we can predict that mental health issues will be more frequent especially for young people. PH, Instagram, Tiktok all of these are just bad for everyone and so an AI mental health plateform where people can chat with AI, discuss in anonymous forums and use integrated tools to reduce screen time and manage addiction I think would be a good idea. I haven't really thought about how to make money but as I write I was thinking about either a freemium model or integrate products from stores and kind of get affiliation, getting money when people buy the product. 3 - A car enthusiast website Everyday around 5000 millionaires are created so obviously the high end car industry is growing at a fairly fast rate. My idea would be to create a network where people would pay to ride in a supercar. There would be a map where people would look for cars in their area and chat with the owner basically. 4 - Marketing agency for real estate agents This is self explanatory. Common pain points include managing client communication, nurturing leads, following up on inquiries, and staying top-of-mind with potential buyers and sellers. Effective email automation can help with sending personalized follow-ups, reminders, newsletters, and market updates. It would be a subscription based business basically.

Looking For Tech-Savvy Business Partner

Hi! I'm looking for a business partner to help with one of my product lines or we could create a new product line together. I would like the product to be a digital asset where we can sell it on another website, where the other website brings customers to our product so we don't have to market it at first. Our short-term goal will be to publish a product one month after connecting and then make $1 by the following month. Our 4-month goal will be to generate $2,500 - $7,500 in passive income per year for one product line. I'm not trying to make a lot of money right away, but am looking to setup enough passive income so we can both retire early in a few years. For this year, I wrote down 100's of ideas, tried 30 ideas, have 14 ideas that work, and have only 6 ideas that would be profitable. So I'll bring with me only the best of the best ideas. I'm all about efficiency and doing things in bulk to maximize profit and decrease time spent, using AI to generate text/images/audio but adding on that manual touch to make all digital products high-quality and 5 stars, and using software like Python to automate repetitive processes to create digital products. My main skillset: running a business, project management, creating design and technical documentation, marketing, hiring, budgeting, business analysis, graphic design, software development, app development, web design/development, AI development, databases, data engineering, cloud/Azure, data analysis, and reporting. I know many other skills too and can pick up and learn a new business or technical skill pretty quickly. I also have a friend who's in IT/security/networking/servers if we need to bring him in. A clone of myself would be perfect to connect with, but working with anyone with a different skillset would open up the digital product possibilities. I might put tech-savvy at the top of the list so you could figure out how to create new digital products, while business-savvy might be #2, Other skills might be specific to individual products. If you're interested in working together, then feel free to post below or message me!

Please rate my business idea aimed at emerging markets

Imagine a single platform that transforms your business operations effortlessly. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for your business. First Steps (Every Business Needs These): Our website builder is your first step online. Just pick what you want, drag it where you need it, and you've got a professional website or online store. No tech skills needed. Perfect for getting your business visible to customers. Our security tool comes next because every business needs protection. It's like a security guard for your files and data, keeping hackers out and making sure you never lose important work. Think of it as insurance for your digital business. Cybersecurity and backups combined. Growing Business Needs: As your team grows, our digital office keeps everyone connected. Email, chat, share files, and track projects in one place. It's like having everyone in the same room, even when working remotely. This becomes essential once you have more than a few people. When paperwork starts piling up, our AI helper steps in. It's like having a smart assistant who learns your business and helps everyone get more done - handling routine tasks, summarizing meetings, and suggesting better ways to work. Scaling Up (For Established Businesses): Once you're handling lots of data, our eco-friendly cloud storage becomes crucial. Your business gets fast, reliable storage while helping the environment. We use servers powered by renewable energy, so you can grow sustainably. Our data transfer tool becomes important when you're working with multiple systems and need to move files around. It's like having a digital moving service that safely carries your files between different cloud services. With 20+ services to connect to cloud to cloud or on prem to cloud, its easy and fast. Advanced Needs: When your business processes get complex, our workflow automation tool helps you set up automatic systems for repetitive tasks. It's like training a robot to handle your routine work while your team focuses on growth. Simple no-code automation when you need it. Everything works on its own, but they're designed to work even better together. And since it's all in one place, you only need one password and one monthly bill. Most businesses save about half their tech costs by switching to our platform. Cost Benefits: Single subscription replaces multiple vendor contracts Reduces IT overhead by 40-60% on average No need for expensive technical specialists Predictable monthly costs Scales pricing with your usage

Made 60k mrr for a business by just lead nurturing. Need suggestions and validation.

Apart from the story I need a suggestion and validation here. It's a bit long, skip to tl;dr if you couldn't handle length. A few days ago, I saw a person on Reddit sharing his struggles that, Even after generating a lot of leads from ads of Meta and Google (even with lowest cpc cpa cpl), he was not able to convert them into sales. Out of curiosity I dm'ed him with all fancy services that I offer and expressed that as a agency I would work with him for monthly recurring fee. He suggested for one time consulting fee, I agreed. It was literally a eye opener for me. This guy is in coaching business offering courses for people. His niche was too vague. Courses were on mindset coaching, confidence and public speaking coaching, right attitude coaching, manifestation coaching and all crap shits related to this. At first I thought he was not getting sales because who will pay for all this craps. I openly discussed with him that he has to change what he offers because, if I saw this ad I wouldn't buy this for sure. He then showed me how much money people offering similar service are making . I was literally taken back. He was part of a influencer group (the main guy who encourages these guys to start coaching business, looks like some mlm shit) where people post their succes stories. Literally lot of guys were making above 150k and 200k per month. Even with very basic landing page and average offer They are still winning. Here's where it gets interesting. I tried to clone everything that the top people in this industry are doing in marketing from end to end.( like the same landing page, bonus offers around 50k, exclusive community, free 1 on 1 calls for twice a month).Nothing worked for a month and later surprisingly even the sales started dropping a bit more. I got really confused here. So to do a discovery I went and purchased the competitor course and Man I was literally taken back. Like he has automated everything from end to end. You click the ad, see vsl, you have to fill a form and join a free Skool community where he gives away free stuffs and post success stories of people who took the course. Now every part of this journey you will get a follow up mail and follow up sms. Like after filling the form. after that now if you join and don't purchase the course you will be pampered with email and sms filled with success stories. For sure anybody will be tempted to buy the course. Here is the key take away. He was able to make more sales because he was very successful in nurturing the leads with follow ups after follow ups. Even after you purchased his course he is making passive income from 1 on calls and bonus live webinars. So follow ups will be for 1 on 1 calls and webinars after the course is over. Core point is our guy even after spending 2 to 3k per month on ads was not able to bring huge sales like competitors because he failed the nuture them. Even after making the same offers and the same patterns of marketing as competitors, the sales declined because people thought this is some spam that everyone is doing because the template of the ads was very professional and similar. suprising one is people fall for basic templates thinking it's a underrated one. so what we did here is we integrated a few softwares into one and set up all same webinars, automated email and sms follow ups, ad managers for stats, launched him a free LMS platform where without any additional fees so he can uploaded unlimited courses, skool like community and add product's like Shopify ( he was selling few merchandise with his brand name on) where he can add unlimited products with connection to all payment gateway, integrated with crm with unlimited contacts, workflow and lead nurturing with calender syncing for 1 on 1 calls. But these are a bit old school, what we did was even better. integrated a conversational ai with all of his sales platforms and gave a nocode automation builder with ai for the workflow. we also set him up with a ai voice agent that's automatically calls and markets for his course and also replies for queries when called. we also set up him a dedicated afflitate manager portal with automated commissions. Though he didn't cross 100k Mark, He did a great number after this. He was struggling with 6k sales, now he has reached somewhere mid of 45k to 50k mrr. Max he hit was 61.8k. I see this a big difference.So one small thing, nurturing the lead can bring you immense sales. To set up all of this it costs around 1.2k monthly for me with all the bills. ( I know there are few free for Individual user platforms out there, but It gets very costly when you switch to their premium plans. with heavy volumes you would require more than premium they offer.) I offered him like 3k per month to work as a agency for him who takes care of all these stuffs. He declined and offered for one time set up fee stating that he will pay 1.2k directly. The one time fee was also a bit low, though I agreed since this was a learning for me. what happened next after that is, he referred me to a few other people in the same niche. But the problem is they are not interested in spending 1 to 2 k in bills for software. They requested that if, will I be able to provide the saas alone for less than 500 dollars with one time set up fee. I haven't responded yet since I have to take an enterprise plan for all the software used and pay full advance price for billings. Then to break even that I have to make minimum 50 or odd users for that. let's grantly say 100 users with all other future costs. So here's what I'm planning to do. I'm planning to offer this as saas for let's say 239 dollars per month. with may or may not one time set up fee. ( I checked the entire internet, there is no single person offering at this price point for unlimited. Also one can easily start their marketing agency with this.) The suggestion and validation that I need here is 1.are you going through the same struggles or faced these struggles? would you be interested to buy at 239 dollars per month? let's say you're from a different niche, Did the features I told were okay for you or you need something specific for your industry that you will be interested in buying? please answer in comments and if you will purchase for this price let me know in comments/dms. I will take that into account and if the response rate is above 100 queries, then will integrate this and sell for that price. (ps: If you see this post on similar subs, please bear cause I'm trying to get suggestions from different POV) tl;dr - lead nurturing can massively boost sales *I made a software integration for a client for a 1.2k per month billing and here I want to know if more than 100 people are interested so that I will make this into my own saas and sell it for like a cheap price of 239 dollars per month TIA.

Looking For Tech-Savvy Business Partner

Hi! I'm looking for a business partner to help with one of my product lines or we could create a new product line together. I would like the product to be a digital asset where we can sell it on another website, where the other website brings customers to our product so we don't have to market it at first. Our short-term goal will be to publish a product one month after connecting and then make $1 by the following month. Our 4-month goal will be to generate $2,500 - $7,500 in passive income per year for one product line. I'm not trying to make a lot of money right away, but am looking to setup enough passive income so we can both retire early in a few years. For this year, I wrote down 100's of ideas, tried 30 ideas, have 14 ideas that work, and have only 6 ideas that would be profitable. So I'll bring with me only the best of the best ideas. I'm all about efficiency and doing things in bulk to maximize profit and decrease time spent, using AI to generate text/images/audio but adding on that manual touch to make all digital products high-quality and 5 stars, and using software like Python to automate repetitive processes to create digital products. My main skillset: running a business, project management, creating design and technical documentation, marketing, hiring, budgeting, business analysis, graphic design, software development, app development, web design/development, AI development, databases, data engineering, cloud/Azure, data analysis, and reporting. I know many other skills too and can pick up and learn a new business or technical skill pretty quickly. I also have a friend who's in IT/security/networking/servers if we need to bring him in. A clone of myself would be perfect to connect with, but working with anyone with a different skillset would open up the digital product possibilities. I might put tech-savvy at the top of the list so you could figure out how to create new digital products, while business-savvy might be #2, Other skills might be specific to individual products. If you're interested in working together, then feel free to post below or message me!

Looking For A Business Partner

Hey everyone, I am looking for a person with adequate skills and experience in automating workflows using AI tools like Zapier, Make and n8n. If AI Automation is something that intrigues you and if you want to start a service based business in this niche, drop me a DM and let's connect! Thanks

Please rate my business idea aimed at emerging markets

Imagine a single platform that transforms your business operations effortlessly. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for your business. First Steps (Every Business Needs These): Our website builder is your first step online. Just pick what you want, drag it where you need it, and you've got a professional website or online store. No tech skills needed. Perfect for getting your business visible to customers. Our security tool comes next because every business needs protection. It's like a security guard for your files and data, keeping hackers out and making sure you never lose important work. Think of it as insurance for your digital business. Cybersecurity and backups combined. Growing Business Needs: As your team grows, our digital office keeps everyone connected. Email, chat, share files, and track projects in one place. It's like having everyone in the same room, even when working remotely. This becomes essential once you have more than a few people. When paperwork starts piling up, our AI helper steps in. It's like having a smart assistant who learns your business and helps everyone get more done - handling routine tasks, summarizing meetings, and suggesting better ways to work. Scaling Up (For Established Businesses): Once you're handling lots of data, our eco-friendly cloud storage becomes crucial. Your business gets fast, reliable storage while helping the environment. We use servers powered by renewable energy, so you can grow sustainably. Our data transfer tool becomes important when you're working with multiple systems and need to move files around. It's like having a digital moving service that safely carries your files between different cloud services. With 20+ services to connect to cloud to cloud or on prem to cloud, its easy and fast. Advanced Needs: When your business processes get complex, our workflow automation tool helps you set up automatic systems for repetitive tasks. It's like training a robot to handle your routine work while your team focuses on growth. Simple no-code automation when you need it. Everything works on its own, but they're designed to work even better together. And since it's all in one place, you only need one password and one monthly bill. Most businesses save about half their tech costs by switching to our platform. Cost Benefits: Single subscription replaces multiple vendor contracts Reduces IT overhead by 40-60% on average No need for expensive technical specialists Predictable monthly costs Scales pricing with your usage

Looking For A Business Partner

Hey everyone, I am looking for a person with adequate skills and experience in automating workflows using AI tools like Zapier, Make and n8n. If AI Automation is something that intrigues you and if you want to start a service based business in this niche, drop me a DM and let's connect! Thanks

Seeking Your Feedback: Lifetime AI Chatbot and Automation Marketing Platform - Empowering Small Business Owners

Hey Reddit community! SEEKING FEEDBACK - Before I move forward with a campaign to acquire a commercial unlimited license, I wanted your valuable feedback. My goal is to make technology accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes, and I want to ensure that this product and idea truly resonates with the market. Imagine a game-changing solution: a one-time payment, unlimited, lifetime AI chatbot. It's fully trainable and seamlessly integrated into a robust marketing platform. This integration enables powerful automation triggers like SMS, email, and lead forms, eliminating the need for monthly software subscriptions. I believe small business owners deserve a break from the monthly software payment cycle. With this lifetime AI chatbot and integrated marketing platform, they can focus on growth and customer engagement without worrying about ongoing fees. So, Reddit, I’m turning to you. What are your thoughts on this idea? Do you believe that a one-time payment, unlimited, lifetime AI chatbot with integrated automation triggers is the solution small business owners have been waiting for?

Looking for Investors in Dubai – High-Return AI Business Opportunity

We are launching an advanced AI automation business in Dubai, and we are looking for investors who want to be part of the future. Our AI technology is designed to take and make phone calls, revolutionizing customer service, sales, and business communication. This is an opportunity to invest in cutting-edge AI at an early stage, with fixed returns of 30% per year or 2% per month. To ensure security and transparency, all investments come with a legal agreement and post-dated cheques. AI-driven automation is the future, and businesses are actively looking for smarter, more cost-effective solutions. With the demand growing rapidly, this is your chance to be part of a high-potential venture in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out. Let’s build the future together.

Seeking Your Feedback: Lifetime AI Chatbot and Automation Marketing Platform - Empowering Small Business Owners

Hey Reddit community! SEEKING FEEDBACK - Before I move forward with a campaign to acquire a commercial unlimited license, I wanted your valuable feedback. My goal is to make technology accessible and affordable for businesses of all sizes, and I want to ensure that this product and idea truly resonates with the market. Imagine a game-changing solution: a one-time payment, unlimited, lifetime AI chatbot. It's fully trainable and seamlessly integrated into a robust marketing platform. This integration enables powerful automation triggers like SMS, email, and lead forms, eliminating the need for monthly software subscriptions. I believe small business owners deserve a break from the monthly software payment cycle. With this lifetime AI chatbot and integrated marketing platform, they can focus on growth and customer engagement without worrying about ongoing fees. So internet, I’m turning to you. What are your thoughts on this idea? Do you believe that a one-time payment, unlimited, lifetime AI chatbot with integrated automation triggers is the solution small business owners have been waiting for?

Anyone want AI customer service for your business ?

If you are doing business and having difficulty to attend your customer on time or your customer have so many questions about your business, I would recommend you guys to try having your own AI Customer Service. I can help you guys setup one for free. I can ensure it will be very helpful if you want to attend your customer fast and give them all the information they want to know. Let me know if you want to try it out.

AI girlfriend (Caryn AI) but for business coaching -- bring your project from 0 to 1 in a sec

over the past few days, I got the AI craze especially after stumbling upon this AI girlfriend called Caryn AI. So I came up with the idea of creating the same AI chatbot but for business advice. "WTF is this???" Imagine having access to 2nd brain of top entrepreneurs like Paul Graham (YC), Ryan Hoover (Product Hunt), Shaan Puri (My 1st Million pod) The end goal would be to let these entrepreneurs own and enrich their second brain with their own personal data, like stuff from WhatsApp, Notion, email, you name it. ​ Ryan Hoover & Shaan's 2nd brain ​ just think about it: having a 24/7 one-on-one chat with top business coaches and getting valuable advice for your own business. Think of questions like: \- how can I make more revenue? \- what's the best marketing strategy for reaching out to users x, y, and z? Would you be interested in engaging with these 2nd brains? And hey, what burning questions would you ask them? Curious to hear your thoughts

Looking for business partner with technical AI knowledge

Hi all, Posted on here a few times now about my idea (you can read this on my profile). After planning out the details of the process, I can see that it may just be best for me to seek a business partner with has existing AI knowledge. I’m looking for a more technical person who can provide recommendations on AI tools for businesses based on the current processes in order to be more efficient and productive. Looking for someone UK-based and I am 23 for reference with a consulting and BA background. Please reach out if this interests you :)

CCTV + AI business usecases validation for our platform

Hi all , we are currently a team of two , with periodical help from outside professional network have developed a platform to get cctv feed to cloud servers and analyze said video content and alert users through phone call , sms and whatsapp etc We have worked on a usecase for starters and solving or perfecting the data science model we developed etc Also looking to try our foot with other business usecases I am wondering as to how to discover business usecase that owners would love to pay us as a SaaS product 1). we are thinking of garage car parts theft detection at night time and said alert system , all in real time leveraging existing cctv camera that businesses have 2). Fire detection and alert system with existing CCTV cameras that owners have Is there any market or need for these above solutions . State your opinions with backup data or how much ideally you would pay if you had bought it !

We need Feedback for an App that leverages AI to assess your business ideas

We have developed a tool that utilizes AI (GPT-3) to provide feedback on both business ideas and existing businesses, aiming to simplify the feedback process for everyone. Our primary objective is to assist you in validating your business concepts more efficiently by employing essential business frameworks. However, we are currently facing challenges in ensuring data accuracy when generating reports for small to medium-sized businesses. Nevertheless, we are actively working to resolve these issues, including addressing errors that we encounter from OpenAI. Unfortunately, an account is needed in order to generate a report (we know it's a bummer, but we are trying to avoid spam), but here is a public example of a report. Please write the prompt as a comment and I am happy to run the reports for you and provide the public links, so you don't have to register. We appreciate your time, and we are grateful for your support. Thank you for being awesome! ​ Update: We added industry insights in the report

Looking for Investors in Dubai – High-Return AI Business Opportunity

We are launching an advanced AI automation business in Dubai, and we are looking for investors who want to be part of the future. Our AI technology is designed to take and make phone calls, revolutionizing customer service, sales, and business communication. This is an opportunity to invest in cutting-edge AI at an early stage, with fixed returns of 30% per year or 2% per month. To ensure security and transparency, all investments come with a legal agreement and post-dated cheques. AI-driven automation is the future, and businesses are actively looking for smarter, more cost-effective solutions. With the demand growing rapidly, this is your chance to be part of a high-potential venture in one of the fastest-growing tech sectors. If you’re interested in learning more, feel free to reach out. Let’s build the future together.

Critique my business ideas

So I have some business ideas that I would like to confront to you in order to have feedback. The point is to give me your completely honest opinion and try to find some potential problems. 1 - Digital marketing automation for green ecommerce stores Marketing has always been a problem for everyone in business more particularly for niche businesses. It's tough for them because people who will buy their product are generally harder to find. Also these products are way more expensive than other so it may be clever for them to focus more on marketing. Since the green and sustainable industry is growing at a very fast rate such as AI, I would like to hear your opinion on the idea of automating marketing for these type of businesses. 2 - AI Mental Health platform The mental health issues will gain more and more importance in the future. We now live in a world that isn't as safe as before and with the rise of social media we can predict that mental health issues will be more frequent especially for young people. PH, Instagram, Tiktok all of these are just bad for everyone and so an AI mental health plateform where people can chat with AI, discuss in anonymous forums and use integrated tools to reduce screen time and manage addiction I think would be a good idea. I haven't really thought about how to make money but as I write I was thinking about either a freemium model or integrate products from stores and kind of get affiliation, getting money when people buy the product. 3 - A car enthusiast website Everyday around 5000 millionaires are created so obviously the high end car industry is growing at a fairly fast rate. My idea would be to create a network where people would pay to ride in a supercar. There would be a map where people would look for cars in their area and chat with the owner basically. 4 - Marketing agency for real estate agents This is self explanatory. Common pain points include managing client communication, nurturing leads, following up on inquiries, and staying top-of-mind with potential buyers and sellers. Effective email automation can help with sending personalized follow-ups, reminders, newsletters, and market updates. It would be a subscription based business basically.

Looking for a Business Partner for an AI Stock recommendation SaaS

Hey everyone, I’m a 15-year-old full-stack developer, currently building StockWise, a startup focused on AI-driven stock market insights and analytics. I can handle all engineering, backend, frontend, and AI-related work—but I need a business partner who can take care of the marketing, sales, and user acquisition side of things. So this SaaS is currently in development. Also this I believe this can be both b2c and b2b. Like for b2c - it's the website included, with the recommendations, for individual users, for b2b - we can provide API's. Here is the classic workflow : \-> You can give your preferences, such as your monthly investment capital, if you're expecting short term or long term, and also if there are any specific areas you are more interested like AI, hydrogen fuel related, ev, compaines. \-> Then with this data, we recommend you stocks to buy, analyzing your preferences, looking at market, researching, looking into company's stock history, background, product \-> You will also have a chatbot like interface you can talk to about anything, and it will be personalized \-> Also you can add your portfolio here, and you can get insights based on the market data \-> Also there can be a weekly newsletter, too, if you subscribe to it. I'm much more of a builder, likes to build stuff, is good at it, but not good at the business side of things, that's why I'm really looking for a business partner. If you’re interested in joining as a co-founder or business partner, drop a comment or DM me!, Thanks a lot, Armaan

Looking For A Business Partner

Hey everyone, I am looking for a person with adequate skills and experience in automating workflows using AI tools like Zapier, Make and n8n. If AI Automation is something that intrigues you and if you want to start a service based business in this niche, drop me a DM and let's connect! Thanks

Please rate my business idea aimed at emerging markets

Imagine a single platform that transforms your business operations effortlessly. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife for your business. First Steps (Every Business Needs These): Our website builder is your first step online. Just pick what you want, drag it where you need it, and you've got a professional website or online store. No tech skills needed. Perfect for getting your business visible to customers. Our security tool comes next because every business needs protection. It's like a security guard for your files and data, keeping hackers out and making sure you never lose important work. Think of it as insurance for your digital business. Cybersecurity and backups combined. Growing Business Needs: As your team grows, our digital office keeps everyone connected. Email, chat, share files, and track projects in one place. It's like having everyone in the same room, even when working remotely. This becomes essential once you have more than a few people. When paperwork starts piling up, our AI helper steps in. It's like having a smart assistant who learns your business and helps everyone get more done - handling routine tasks, summarizing meetings, and suggesting better ways to work. Scaling Up (For Established Businesses): Once you're handling lots of data, our eco-friendly cloud storage becomes crucial. Your business gets fast, reliable storage while helping the environment. We use servers powered by renewable energy, so you can grow sustainably. Our data transfer tool becomes important when you're working with multiple systems and need to move files around. It's like having a digital moving service that safely carries your files between different cloud services. With 20+ services to connect to cloud to cloud or on prem to cloud, its easy and fast. Advanced Needs: When your business processes get complex, our workflow automation tool helps you set up automatic systems for repetitive tasks. It's like training a robot to handle your routine work while your team focuses on growth. Simple no-code automation when you need it. Everything works on its own, but they're designed to work even better together. And since it's all in one place, you only need one password and one monthly bill. Most businesses save about half their tech costs by switching to our platform. Cost Benefits: Single subscription replaces multiple vendor contracts Reduces IT overhead by 40-60% on average No need for expensive technical specialists Predictable monthly costs Scales pricing with your usage

Would you use an AI tool that instantly analyzes your business finances? Mainly like a fully automated Financial Due Diligence?

Would you use such kind of a tool for your business if it is intuitive but also cheaper than a report from an advisory firm? The tool would analyze the performance of your historical financials to provide you a better overview of your business‘ performance and would summarize everything in a well structured and graphically organized report.

The Lazy Entrepreneur s Guide to AI 5 Tools to Run Your Business on Autopilot

Want to run your business on autopilot and escape the 24 7 grind AI is the lazy entrepreneur s secret weapon In this video discover five game changing AI tools to automate work save time and boost profits

AI for Small Business A Beginner s Guide

With the recent advancements in AI there s no denying that it s an increasingly powerful and versatile tool that s here to stay Companies of all sizes have used AI in business to a degree for some time now but as its capabilities popularity and access grow many are wondering how to implement AI for their small business

AI for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

Welcome to AI for Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders a platform created to unravel the dynamic rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence and its transformative implications for businesses across sectors and to spotlight YOU

JHU Certificate Program AI for Business Strategy

The JHU Certificate Program in AI for Business Strategy is designed to help business leaders understand the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and its applications in business

Implement AI In Your Business

#shorts Instagram: @imangadzhi Twitter: @GadzhiIman YouTube: Iman Gadzhi

AI Business Ideas for Startups: What’s the Next Big Opportunity? (I will not promote)

AI is reshaping industries, and startups that leverage it right are gaining massive traction. But with so many possibilities, where should new founders focus? Some promising AI startup ideas right now: AI-powered automation – Replacing repetitive tasks in finance, HR, and legal AI chatbots & assistants – Personalized customer support, lead gen, and virtual agents AI-driven analytics – Helping businesses make smarter decisions with real-time insights AI content generation – Scaling marketing, SEO, and creative work effortlessly AI healthcare solutions – Virtual diagnostics, mental health support, and remote monitoring But here’s the challenge—building an AI startup isn’t just about tech, it’s about solving real problems. If you were launching an AI startup today, what problem would you solve?

AI Business Ideas for Startups: What’s the Next Big Opportunity? (I will not promote)

AI is reshaping industries, and startups that leverage it right are gaining massive traction. But with so many possibilities, where should new founders focus? Some promising AI startup ideas right now: AI-powered automation – Replacing repetitive tasks in finance, HR, and legal AI chatbots & assistants – Personalized customer support, lead gen, and virtual agents AI-driven analytics – Helping businesses make smarter decisions with real-time insights AI content generation – Scaling marketing, SEO, and creative work effortlessly AI healthcare solutions – Virtual diagnostics, mental health support, and remote monitoring But here’s the challenge—building an AI startup isn’t just about tech, it’s about solving real problems. If you were launching an AI startup today, what problem would you solve?

Couple people messaged me for Ai agents for their business what is the hype about?

Hey guys hope everyone is well I’m an opportunist seen a post on TikTok about Ai agents and many businesses were interested I did do some outreach some are interested I would like to know your views on these new trends and what your views are? Any of your thoughts on these people on socials promoting Ai agents to scale and automate businesses. Does anyone use one right now and any benefits and disadvantages? Thank you.

thinking about starting a small business for creating personalised podcasts - what do you think?

I have an idea for a consumer app and I'd love to get peoples thoughts... Your favorite podcasters have all the answers you need - but they're buried in hundreds of episodes, scattered across different shows. Let me paint you a picture that every founder and creator knows too well… You're looking for specific advice, like growth tactics for your social sports app. You find a great episode from Greg Isenberg on growth hacking, but while he talks about internet directories, you need strategies for converting online matches into real-world meetups. While it’s interesting, it’s not really what you need. So you close the tab and keep searching... But what if it didn't have to be this way? With PodCraft, AI crafts personalized podcast content just for you. Simply ask for exactly what you need, and get a podcast in seconds in your favorite creator's voice and style, perfectly tailored to your specific needs. No more: Hours wasted searching for the right content Listening to multiple podcasts and articles to get one answer Generic advice that doesn't fit your context Instead move to: Instant access to exactly the content you need One personalized podcast instead of many Content that truly understands you and your business What do you think? Would you use a personalised podcast app like this?

Has anyone successfully implemented AI into their business protocols?

Keep hearing about various ideas and I’m very interested in the possibilities. Thoughts on this?

Drop me your business automation prob, and I will try and answer if technology can someway solve it for you for free.(I do this for a living, mainly automating small business systems. it actually sometimes does not need any tech skills(Hidden secrets most agencies know about)), No strings attached.

I help small to medium businesses solve complicated sometimes boring parts of their businesses using AI/Data and technology. Why am I doing this: Love what I do(that is helping my clients), so Just looking to widen my knowledge of problem space.

(Academic) AI Readiness Survey for Small and Medium Businesses (SMB's) in Food and Beverage Industry. (Everyone 18+, Growing & Managing Small Business in Food and Beverage Industry, Canadian market)

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm conducting a research study on how AI-driven automation and hyper-personalization can enhance customer-centric innovation for small bakeries and food businesses. This survey will help understand and assess the awareness, key challenges, opportunities, and ethical concerns surrounding AI adoption among SMBs in the food and beverage industry. The results will help tailor AI adoption strategies, resources, and training programs. This survey will take about 10-15 minutes, and your responses will remain confidential. This study is also approved by Research Ethics Board (REB) #2024-70. Link: AI Readiness Survey for Small Businesses across Food and Beverage Industry Your insights will contribute to real-world AI adoption strategies, AI toolkits, and experiential learning programs for small businesses. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to drop any comments or questions. We will share the results of the study on this subreddit once we analyze the result. Thank you very much in advance for your time and help!

Looking for feedback on my AI Operations Analyser tool to optimize business operations 🙏

Hi Everyone! I’ve developed an AI tool called Zenith that helps businesses identify inefficiencies in their operations through a 20-minute questionnaire. It provides actionable recommendations and next steps to improve workflows, cut costs, and save time—all without the need for expensive consultants. I’d love to hear your thoughts! What features would you expect from a tool like this? How do you typically identify inefficiencies in your business? Any feedback is greatly appreciated! 🙌

(Academic) AI Readiness Survey for Small and Medium Businesses (SMB's) in Food and Beverage Industry. (Everyone 18+, Growing & Managing Small Business in Food and Beverage Industry, Canadian market)

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm conducting a research study on how AI-driven automation and hyper-personalization can enhance customer-centric innovation for small bakeries and food businesses. This survey will help understand and assess the awareness, key challenges, opportunities, and ethical concerns surrounding AI adoption among SMBs in the food and beverage industry. The results will help tailor AI adoption strategies, resources, and training programs. This survey will take about 10-15 minutes, and your responses will remain confidential. This study is also approved by Research Ethics Board (REB) #2024-70. Link: AI Readiness Survey for Small Businesses across Food and Beverage Industry Your insights will contribute to real-world AI adoption strategies, AI toolkits, and experiential learning programs for small businesses. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to drop any comments or questions. We will share the results of the study on this subreddit once we analyze the result. Thank you very much in advance for your time and help!

(Academic) AI Readiness Survey for Small and Medium Businesses (SMB's) in Food and Beverage Industry. (Everyone 18+, Growing & Managing Small Business in Food and Beverage Industry, Canadian market)

Hi everyone! 👋 I'm conducting a research study on how AI-driven automation and hyper-personalization can enhance customer-centric innovation for small bakeries and food businesses. This survey will help understand and assess the awareness, key challenges, opportunities, and ethical concerns surrounding AI adoption among SMBs in the food and beverage industry. The results will help tailor AI adoption strategies, resources, and training programs. This survey will take about 10-15 minutes, and your responses will remain confidential. This study is also approved by Research Ethics Board (REB) #2024-70. Link: AI Readiness Survey for Small Businesses across Food and Beverage Industry Your insights will contribute to real-world AI adoption strategies, AI toolkits, and experiential learning programs for small businesses. I'd love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to drop any comments or questions. We will share the results of the study on this subreddit once we analyze the result. Thank you very much in advance for your time and help!

Using AI to automate business tasks

I’m developing a product that enables non-programmers to use AI to automate their daily tasks (or use it to do things they currently cannot do). I believe that enabling AI technologies for everyone should be quite helpful and I am looking for some specific use-cases so I can focus on some real pain-points that will help folks out. I’d be happy to hear about some tedious tasks or other things you’d love to be able to automate in your work but are lacking the tools for

Is MIT Sloan's: "AI: Implications for Business Strategy Online Short Course" worth the money?

Hey everyone, I'm a CPA and have no IT background, but since I have some time in October due to a career break, I was thinking about taking this course: https://www.getsmarter.com/products/mit-sloan-artificial-intelligence-implications-for-business-strategy-online-program?focused=true I think it might be an interesting start to become an early follower in this whole AI story in Finance and Audit. I honestly don't see myself coding, and I don't think that's what would be expected from me as a Finance Manager in the future. But... $4,300 is quite a price tag for an online course. But then again, if I want to effectively use it in a next career step, it would probably pay out to have an actual certificate instead of one of the many (certainly very good) free courses. ​ What are your thoughts? Does anyone have experience with this or a similar program?

Revolutionize Your Business with the Power of Generative AI

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, but the emergence of Generative AI represents a paradigm shift unlike any we've seen before. It's not just about automating tasks; it's about augmenting human creativity, intelligence, and problem-solving capabilities. Businesses that understand and harness this transformative technology are poised to gain a significant competitive edge, while those that lag behind risk obsolescence. The Dawn of the AI-Powered Enterprise: The adoption of Generative AI is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity for businesses that want to thrive in the digital age. By embracing this transformative technology, businesses can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and customer engagement. The future belongs to those who can harness the power of AI to create a more intelligent, agile, and customer-centric enterprise. The revolution is here, and it’s powered by Generative AI

Revolutionize Your Business with the Power of Generative AI

The digital landscape is constantly evolving, but the emergence of Generative AI represents a paradigm shift unlike any we've seen before. It's not just about automating tasks; it's about augmenting human creativity, intelligence, and problem-solving capabilities. Businesses that understand and harness this transformative technology are poised to gain a significant competitive edge, while those that lag behind risk obsolescence. The Dawn of the AI-Powered Enterprise: The adoption of Generative AI is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity for businesses that want to thrive in the digital age. By embracing this transformative technology, businesses can unlock new levels of efficiency, innovation, and customer engagement. The future belongs to those who can harness the power of AI to create a more intelligent, agile, and customer-centric enterprise. The revolution is here, and it’s powered by Generative AI

Is MIT Sloan's: "AI: Implications for Business Strategy Online Short Course" worth the money?

Hey everyone, I'm a CPA and have no IT background, but since I have some time in October due to a career break, I was thinking about taking this course: https://www.getsmarter.com/products/mit-sloan-artificial-intelligence-implications-for-business-strategy-online-program?focused=true I think it might be an interesting start to become an early follower in this whole AI story in Finance and Audit. I honestly don't see myself coding, and I don't think that's what would be expected from me as a Finance Manager in the future. But... $4,300 is quite a price tag for an online course. But then again, if I want to effectively use it in a next career step, it would probably pay out to have an actual certificate instead of one of the many (certainly very good) free courses. ​ What are your thoughts? Does anyone have experience with this or a similar program?

Tried every no-code tool under the sun—finally built a fully custom business app in minutes with AI

Hey r/SideProject, After months of trying to piece together no-code tools to fit small businesses’ needs, I kept hitting a wall. Every setup felt like a workaround, never quite matching the way these businesses actually operate. That’s when I realized most SMBs need software that’s built around their specific workflows, not patched together. But developing something custom from scratch? Not realistic for most small businesses in terms of time or cost. So, I set out to create a new approach. Enter Crust AI—a tool where SMB owners just describe what they need, and in 5 minutes, it generates a fully functional app. Crust can even plug into existing data from Airtable, Monday, or Notion, and builds the entire interface on top with no design limitations—completely generated by AI. From client portals to vendor management systems, Crust delivers an end-to-end solution without the dev work. For once, I didn’t need to wrestle with endless integrations and limitations. If you’ve been through the same, check out trycrust.co and let me know your thoughts. Happy to answer questions or hear about your own experiences!

Spent months patching no-code tools—built a full custom business app in 5 minutes with AI

Hey r/SideProject, I’ve spent months trying to patch together off-the-shelf tools and no-code platforms to create software for small businesses, but I kept running into the same problem—they just don’t fit how businesses actually work. That’s when I realized most small businesses need custom software tailored to their unique workflows, but the time and cost of building it from scratch are out of reach for most of them. So I decided to build a solution. Introducing Crust AI—a tool that lets SMB owners describe their exact needs, and in 5 minutes, it generates a fully functional app: client portals, employee hubs, vendor management systems—anything you need to streamline external collaboration. I went from wasting weeks stitching together no-code tools to having a zero-dev solution up and running in minutes. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. If you’ve been in the same boat as me, check out trycrust.co and let me know what you think!

We've built an AI-powered business building platform, and we're looking for entrepreneurs to try out the MVP!

Hey r/sideproject! I'm Felix, co-founder of Buildpad, and we're excited to share our latest project with you. https://reddit.com/link/1eve8n4/video/ahktfda2bgjd1/player Buildpad is an AI-powered (Claude Sonnet 3.5) business-building platform that guides entrepreneurs through every step of creating and growing a business. Here's what makes it unique: Idea validation: Leverage Reddit's API to get real-world data on your ideas through posts, comments and discussions. Structured process: Follow a clear roadmap from idea validation to launch and beyond. Team collaboration: Work with co-founders, all assisted by the same AI. Central context bank: Our AI remembers everything about your project for consistent, informed guidance. We're solving the common problem of entrepreneurs not knowing what to do next, especially during idea generation and validation phases. With Buildpad, you can validate your ideas by searching for relevant keywords across Reddit, helping you understand if people are actually experiencing the problems you're aiming to solve. We're in the MVP stage and looking for early adopters to test the platform and provide feedback. We'd love to hear from you: Does this solution resonate with your entrepreneurial challenges? What features would you find most valuable in a tool like this? Any thoughts or concerns about using AI for startup guidance? If you're interested in trying out Buildpad or have any questions, please comment below or DM me. Thanks for checking it out! buildpad.io

Building in public: v2 of an AI tool to help businesses easily review their business contracts for legal risks

You can check out Cobrief here: https://www.cobrief.app/ It's pretty cheap to begin with at $29.99 / month because the whole point is to cater for the mass SMB market (that can't otherwise afford expensive lawyers or outside counsel). Would any owner/managers on this thread be interested in using this kinda tool to do the initial heavy-lifting rather than (A) Googling or (B) Self-reviewing their contracts? Super keen to hear from you :) PS. Feel free to roast, honest opinions welcome

Is AI The New Business Partner You’ve Been Waiting For?

READ HERE https://ziiziimarketer.com/2025/01/25/ai/

Tried every no-code tool under the sun—finally built a fully custom business app in minutes with AI

Hey r/SideProject, After months of trying to piece together no-code tools to fit small businesses’ needs, I kept hitting a wall. Every setup felt like a workaround, never quite matching the way these businesses actually operate. That’s when I realized most SMBs need software that’s built around their specific workflows, not patched together. But developing something custom from scratch? Not realistic for most small businesses in terms of time or cost. So, I set out to create a new approach. Enter Crust AI—a tool where SMB owners just describe what they need, and in 5 minutes, it generates a fully functional app. Crust can even plug into existing data from Airtable, Monday, or Notion, and builds the entire interface on top with no design limitations—completely generated by AI. From client portals to vendor management systems, Crust delivers an end-to-end solution without the dev work. For once, I didn’t need to wrestle with endless integrations and limitations. If you’ve been through the same, check out trycrust.co and let me know your thoughts. Happy to answer questions or hear about your own experiences!

Building in public: v2 of an AI tool to help businesses easily review their business contracts for legal risks

You can check out Cobrief here: https://www.cobrief.app/ It's pretty cheap to begin with at $29.99 / month because the whole point is to cater for the mass SMB market (that can't otherwise afford expensive lawyers or outside counsel). Would any owner/managers on this thread be interested in using this kinda tool to do the initial heavy-lifting rather than (A) Googling or (B) Self-reviewing their contracts? Super keen to hear from you :) PS. Feel free to roast, honest opinions welcome

Spent months patching no-code tools—built a full custom business app in 5 minutes with AI

Hey r/SideProject, I’ve spent months trying to patch together off-the-shelf tools and no-code platforms to create software for small businesses, but I kept running into the same problem—they just don’t fit how businesses actually work. That’s when I realized most small businesses need custom software tailored to their unique workflows, but the time and cost of building it from scratch are out of reach for most of them. So I decided to build a solution. Introducing Crust AI—a tool that lets SMB owners describe their exact needs, and in 5 minutes, it generates a fully functional app: client portals, employee hubs, vendor management systems—anything you need to streamline external collaboration. I went from wasting weeks stitching together no-code tools to having a zero-dev solution up and running in minutes. I’d love to hear your thoughts on it. If you’ve been in the same boat as me, check out trycrust.co and let me know what you think!

[D] What is the business model for companies using LLMs?

I am wondering about companies that are successfully using LLMs in their product, or attempting to develop products around LLM. It seems like at the moment that there are a number of companies building businesses around creating and selling access to LLM. However, there seems to be a gap between in industry between creating LLMs and using the LLM to do something in the "real world." Essentially, I am curious about companies that are purchasing access to LLM from a company such as OpenAI and then making use of these models in their products. So far, I can think of a few cases where they might use a LLM: Using the output from a LLM in a search result and then placing ads alongside the search (such as Bing's new search) Generating web content (such as BuzzFeed) Improving automated customer support using LLMs---though I don't know of a specific company using LLMs for this yet. Based on the examples I have so far, it seems like the examples are limited to where the LLM's hallucinations are not a major issue and where the output of the LLM can be directly passed back to the human user of a product. I am wondering if there are any other examples of companies successfully using LLMs in their product that anyone can think of.

LLMs are getting much cheaper — business impact? [D]

Saw this out of Stanford. Apologies if it’s been shared here already. We introduce Alpaca 7B, a model fine-tuned from the LLaMA 7B model on 52K instruction-following demonstrations. On our preliminary evaluation of single-turn instruction following, Alpaca behaves qualitatively similarly to OpenAI’s text-davinci-003, while being surprisingly small and easy/cheap to reproduce (<600$). Basically, starting w an open source Meta 7B LLaMa model, they recruited GPT-3.5 to use for self-instruct training (as opposed to RLHF) and were able to produce a model that behaved similar to GPT-3.5. Amazingly, the process only took few weeks and $600 in compute cost. Any thoughts on how such low cost to train/deploy LLMs could affect companies like AMD, Nvidia and Intel etc? This seems like new idiom of AI tech and trying to wrap my head around CPU/GPU demand implications given the apparent orders of magnitude training cost reduction. Link: https://crfm.stanford.edu/2023/03/13/alpaca.html

[N] How Verizon Uses AI For Enhanced Business Decisions with Anil Kumar, Executive Director – Head of AI Industrialization at Verizon - Thursday, December 2, 2021 at 11:30 AM ET

Hi r/MachineLearning! I wanted to share this free webinar with you all. Below are the details from the event website: Featured Speaker: Anil Kumar, Executive Director, Head of AI Industrialization at Verizon. As companies are looking to leverage cognitive technology, and deploying machine learning models, organizations need to make sure they have the correct people, processes, and technology in place to succeed. In this presentation, Anil will share what AI industrialization is and how Verizon is moving from pockets of AI/ML to AI/ML being implemented across the organization. He will also share some of the unique opportunities and challenges that adopting AI across an organization as large as Verizon presents. Agenda: 11:30-12:30pm: Featured Presentation 12:30-13:00pm: Your Q&A and interaction Link for free registration: https://events.cognilytica.com/CLNTQwMHwyNA

A great use-case for OpenAI's ChatGPT that not many people are talking about: planning. This tool can write and schedule an entire business plan, with deliverables, in just a few seconds.

If you're yet to give ChatGPT a try, it's great fun - and could also be really helpful. And feel free to join us at r/AIforEntrepreneurs where we discuss stuff like this.

Payment Gateway for AI generation business / adult store

Hey everyone, I’m currently searching for a reliable payment gateway provider, but I’ve run into a common issue; most companies don’t allow open-source AI generation related businesses or adult related businesses on their platforms. If anyone has successfully found a payment gateway that’s open to working with these kinds of businesses, I’d really appreciate your recommendations. Thanks in advance for your help.

Starting an Business Process Automation Company

I'm into working smarter because admittedly, I'm somewhat lazy. And because of that I came across a lot of tools that really boosts efficiency. I really find myself getting bored the same task iver and over again. That's how this idea was born. I feel like a lot of small businesses needs these tools to keep up with the times and also being more efficient. I'm not talking about AIs, I'm talking about no-code platforms that can connect/integrate other apps/services to one another using webhooks and APIs. What do you guys think about this?

Great business idea but no devs.

I have an idea for the Agile and Project management space. It deals with a tad bit of AI but can work completely without it too. Having worked as both a PM and SM I see some gaps in some of the industries that require them. Currently no tools offer this even big names like Microsoft Projects or Atlassian Jira. I'm like 99% sure if marketed correctly this thing will take off. But I have two problems 1) I am tech savy but cannot code well enough. So I need a full stack dev or a devops team. 2) I do not have the money to pay so the only way I can think of is a commission structure so that when the amount agreed is reached you paid in that manner or become a partner and get paid for life. I prefer second option as that means there will be a vested interest in seeing this succeed

For anyone who hates writing, and or struggles with it. Check out ServiceAI.tech's template for writing to investors. You can search much more than this through on our search engine to help you and your business thrive ! Let me know if this helps

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Just another AI business idea

Hi everyone, I have been tinkering with the idea of creating an AI chatbot for folks to add to their websites (I know, I know... extremely creative on my part.). I wanted to check for feedback from businesses who have hired this type of service in the past and see if you saw value in it. There are a few reasons I'm looking to build it: \* Worldwide client reach \* Low cost to start since I can code the product \* There is momentum given the AI hype \* In my regular job, AI was implemented at the home page and it solves around 40% of customer inquiries. On that last point, I work at a large tech company where I believe there is too much information to sif though before you can find your answer in their website. Most companies would be a lot smaller, so I am not sure if this would be a good opportunity for those cases too. I have coded a chatbot that can be added to people's websites, but I still need to improve the frontend and make the model trainable for each different use-case. I am not working with anyone else, and been able to do everything by myself so far, even though I'm a junior level developer. I appreciate any/all feedback you can give around this.

Roast my business idea

Basically I want to build a clone of Buffer, a tool to streamline the process of building a personal brand on social media. With this tool user will have access to all social media platforms in one dashboard, it will have a calendar view and an ability to schedule posts. There are already quite a few tools like this but I think the social media is not going anywhere so there is room for one more. My niche will be specifically people who build personal brands, who want to become coaches, influencers, models, etc. People who want to create following based on their personality rather than something tangible that they produce. Another key difference is the payment model. Existing services charge crazy amounts for absolutely no reason. I will have AI integrated so I think I will implement token-based pricing model, so people will actually pay only for what they use, no more no less. It will make it highly affordable especially to individuals who are just starting out their social media journey. That's it. Please roast :S

What are your thoughts on this AI-Powered Interest Rate Negotiation Service Business Model?

Value Proposition: Helps homebuyers secure the best mortgage rates through AI-driven negotiation. Saves time and effort by automating communication with multiple lenders. Increases chances of approval at a favorable rate. Customer Segments: First-time homebuyers Homeowners refinancing their mortgages Investors seeking lower interest rates Revenue Streams: Subscription-based model (monthly/one-time fee for AI-powered negotiation) Success-based fee (small percentage of interest savings upon approval) Affiliate commissions from mortgage lenders for closed deals Channels: Website with a step-by-step AI-powered negotiation tool API integration with mortgage marketplaces Email and social media marketing targeting homebuyers Customer Relationships: AI-powered chatbot and live support for users Automated email sequences keeping users informed Personalized mortgage rate tracking & negotiation updates Key Activities: Developing AI models for lender negotiation Automating email and lender response handling Expanding partnerships with mortgage providers Key Resources: AI/ML engineers to refine the negotiation model CRM system for tracking lender-client interactions Email automation and lead generation tools Key Partners: Mortgage lenders willing to negotiate rates AI-powered email automation services Real estate and mortgage brokers Cost Structure: AI model training and maintenance Web platform hosting and development Compliance and legal expenses

Validating my business idea: AI test generator for interactive learning

Of course, I ran some validations before studying to build the product, but it's one thing to offer an idea that could potentially be perfect and another - an actual product with realistic constraints. Here's the tool: my.testudy.io Target audience: students mainly, but also could be parents, teachers, and generally people who study Any suggestions and feedback are much appreciated.

For anyone who hates writing, and or struggles with it. Check out ServiceAI.tech's template for writing to investors. You can search much more than this through on our search engine to help you and your business thrive ! Let me know if this helps

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What are your thoughts on this AI-Powered Interest Rate Negotiation Service Business Model?

Value Proposition: Helps homebuyers secure the best mortgage rates through AI-driven negotiation. Saves time and effort by automating communication with multiple lenders. Increases chances of approval at a favorable rate. Customer Segments: First-time homebuyers Homeowners refinancing their mortgages Investors seeking lower interest rates Revenue Streams: Subscription-based model (monthly/one-time fee for AI-powered negotiation) Success-based fee (small percentage of interest savings upon approval) Affiliate commissions from mortgage lenders for closed deals Channels: Website with a step-by-step AI-powered negotiation tool API integration with mortgage marketplaces Email and social media marketing targeting homebuyers Customer Relationships: AI-powered chatbot and live support for users Automated email sequences keeping users informed Personalized mortgage rate tracking & negotiation updates Key Activities: Developing AI models for lender negotiation Automating email and lender response handling Expanding partnerships with mortgage providers Key Resources: AI/ML engineers to refine the negotiation model CRM system for tracking lender-client interactions Email automation and lead generation tools Key Partners: Mortgage lenders willing to negotiate rates AI-powered email automation services Real estate and mortgage brokers Cost Structure: AI model training and maintenance Web platform hosting and development Compliance and legal expenses

Artificial Intelligence for Business Creating Value with Machine Learning

Learn how to create value with machine learning and artificial intelligence in business

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Best AI tools for business efficiency in 2025

Looking for smart ways to bring AI into the workplace We picked the best AI tools for businesses that improve your productivity and efficiency to the next level

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Looking for help choosing the right AI tools for your SMB We ve got you covered

Nvidia s 500B AI Power Play Your Business Could Cash In BIG

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Artificial Intelligence for Small Business The Complete Guide

A guide to using artificial intelligence in small businesses including use cases and tools

for a LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME, I am testing an AI that builds landing pages, describe your business in the comments or in the DMs and I will send you a figma design + code of your landing page. (feel free to pay whatever amount)

AI Chatbots – Top Business Applications and Frameworks for AI Engineers

My Business Mentor Was Always Busy, So I Built an AI Guide For Every Stage of a Startup

Setting a Generative AI Strategy

In this course, we delve into the potential impact of GenAI on various facets of business with a particular focus on customer value creation and productivity. We’ll review research from leaders in academia and industry to understand emerging thinking on GenAI’s business impact. Imagine a future where GenAI not only drives business growth but also reshapes the very fabric of industry operations. That's the transformative power of GenAI. Guest expert Robert Brenner (University of Illinois) will share his thoughts on what’s coming next and the implications this might have for businesses.

Prompt Engineering for ChatGPT

ChatGPT and other large language models are going to be more important in your life and business than your smartphone, if you use them right. ChatGPT can tutor your child in math, generate a meal plan and recipes, write software applications for your business, help you improve your personal cybersecurity, and that is just in the first hour that you use it. This course will teach you how to be an expert user of these generative AI tools. The course will show amazing examples of how you can tap into these generative AI tools' emergent intelligence and reasoning, how you can use them to be more productive day to day, and give you insight into how they work.

AI for Business: Generation & Prediction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not a new technology, it has been in development for decades. Today, however, AI is in the spotlight as it reshapes the way businesses operate, innovate, and engage with customers. Generative AI stands at the forefront of this transformation. This course demonstrates the foundations and practices of using Generative AI in Business settings.

Getting Started with Automation 360

Automation 360(tm) is the leading cloud-native end-to-end intelligent automation platform used by the world's top enterprises to automate business processes across systems and applications.

Finally Launched My First App Without Any Coding Experience

About Myself I am a structural engineer that are taught to design buildings in the day and I have been dreaming forever to build a SaaS business to get out of the rat race. However, as a structural engineer, coding is definitely not something I am capable of doing (I have some simple knowledge, but its no way close to building an app) The Journey As I've mentioned, I always wanted to build a SaaS business because in my mind the business model is most attractive to me, where you only need to build once and can sell to millions. So I started off searching and exploring on the internet and my first ever "SaaS" was from Wordpress. I am buying plugin from other user and then pluggin into my own Wordpress website. It was a project management tool SaaS. I was so excited about the website and can't even sleep well at night because I'm just so hype about it. But, the reality is because this is my first ever business, I totally didn't realise about the importance of UI UX or my business differentiation, thinking that everyone will be as excited as I am. Then, I went deeper and deeper into the journey (I can write more about this in another post if anyone is interested) and finally landed on Flutterflow to create my first ever app. No Code Journey Thanks to no code builder, I never thought that a non-coder like me can ever create an app and got accepted by the App Store/Play Store. Since that I am using a low-code builder, for any specific requirement that I need that are not covered natively, I will just talk to ChatGPT and boom I pretty much got most of the answer I needed. About The App As someone that always try to keep track of my expenses, I never able to find an app that are simple and interesting enough for me to continue on the journey. I realise that I could have incorporate AI into this journey and hence there go, I created an AI Money Tracker. Let me introduce Rolly: AI Money Tracker - a new AI expense tracker where you can easily record your transactions just by chatting with our bot Rolly and it will automatically record and categorise the transaction into the most suitable category (you can also create any of your own category and it will also take care of it in consideration). I am not sharing the app link here to avoid getting ban, but feel free to search up Rolly: AI Money Tracker on either App Store on Play Store. My Learnings As someone that can't code and never imagine that I could create a production app by myself and publish it on to the App Store and Play Store. Since I am not making any money yet and just at the beginning of my entrepreneur journey, I can't give any substantial advice, all I can say is just my own learnings and feelings. My advice is if you have a dream of building a business, just go for it, don't worry about all the problems that you can think of to convince yourself not making the start at all. From my point of view, as long as you're not giving up everything (eg, putting yourself in huge debt etc), why don't just go for it and you've got nothing much to lose. You'll only lose if you never even get started. And also, I believe that creating an app is always the easiest step out of the entreprenuership journey, marketing and distribution is the key to success. Even though you've spent days and nights on it and it might mean everything to you, the truth is people don't really cares and you'll need to market for it. I am still in journey to learn how to do marketing, content, building a business and everything. I think this is just a very beginning of my journey and hopefully there's more interesting one to share further down the road.

Technical founders - is "bulling" your way through learning right for a startup? [I will not promote]

Sup, This is a question for technical founders. \--a little backstory-- I am starting a company in AI field that creates something nobody has ever done before. 7 months in. \--- How most software companies are created - you have an improvement idea, then you have a thousand or so problems to solve to make that improvement happen, and for each one that you don't know, you go to Stackoverflow or ChatGPT to look for solutions for that problem. Which involves next-to-no upfront preparation because for vast majority of traditional software you can solve it on-the-go - "traditional" software is very easy compared to, say, mechanical, pharma or AI engineering. However, for more advanced disciplines - can you just "Google" it on-the-go? I'm a solo founder, and 8 months in, creating a foundational model, BECAUSE I did not know things upfront, I've wasted at least 3 months doing something which was mostly technically unviable in the first place. Out of 14000 lines of code that I've done (including tests), I had to scrap 10000 recently. Imagine the scale of it. Obviously I didn't even know how ML works when I've started. Major fuck-up. How do you operate in industries which you've done before? How do you determine that it's time to start creating you big technological leaps instead of continuing to learn? Cheers. Edit: No need to push me on business topics. I know how to create value very well. It's only a tech question, and I'm only asking because - well - to deliver my value, I need to do a lot of novel tech.

I fell into the builder's trap and need help getting out

Hi r/startups, First-time technical founder here. Two years ago, I decided to leave the 9-5 grind and build something meaningful. Now, I have (what I believe is) a brilliant technical solution but no clear business case. I’m seeking a cofounder with product and marketing expertise to help pivot my project into a viable business - or start a new one. Details below. About Me 36yo, born in Berlin and moved to San Francisco 8 years ago Master's in Software Engineering with 15 years of experience Worked with early-stage startups in Berlin and a venture studio in SF Spent the past years leading a team of 12 shipping enterprise software The tech I've built An AI engine that makes it easy for developers to automate their workflows. It works with code, issues, PRs and integrates with 3rd party systems like error trackers, wikis, ticketing systems, etc. It takes natural language instructions, fulfills them autonomously and responds with a result. The functionality is served as a platform, with an API and an SDK. On top of it, I've built a CLI and a web application with productivity tools for developers. Who and what I'm looking for My main goal is to leave my current job and build a company around a problem that matters to me, ideally with considerable equity. I’m looking for: A cofounder with product and marketing expertise who sees potential in my tech and can help turn it into a successful business—or someone with a strong business case who needs a technical founder. Mentorship from someone experienced in dev tool startups or as a successful solo founder. I’d love to learn from your journey and would be happy to offer my technical expertise or collaborate on projects in return. Happy to answer any questions or provide more details. Cheers!

Zero To One [Book Review]

If you don't feel like reading - check out the video here ##Introduction The more I read into Peter Thiel's background, the more ridiculous it seems.. He’s been involved in controversies over: Racism, Sexism, and, [Radical Right wing libertarianism.] (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-07-21/the-strange-politics-of-peter-thiel-trump-s-most-unlikely-supporter) He’s built a tech company that helps the NSA spy on the world. He supported Donald Trumps presidential campaign. He’s funding research on immortality And to top it off, he helped bankrupt online media company and blog network Gawker by funding Hulk Hogan’s sex tape lawsuit - after a report of his rumoured Homosexuality rattled his chain… Zero to One clearly reflects his unique attitude and doesn't pull any punches with a genuinely interesting point of view, that has clearly worked in the past, to the tune of almost 3 billion USD. But at times, his infatuation with the All American attitude is a little much…and, quite frankly, he’s not the kind of guy I could sit and have a pint with…without grinding my teeth anyway. The content is adapted from Blake Masters' lecture notes from Thiel's 2012 Stanford Course. This definitely helped keep the book concise and fast paced, at least compared to other books I’ve reviewed. The type of content is also quite varied, with a good spread from completely abstract theories — like the Technology vs. Globalisation concept, where the book get's it's title — to practical examples such as the analysis of personalities in chapter 14, "The Founders Paradox" covering Elvis Presley, Sean Parker, Lady Gaga and Bill Gates to name a few. ###Pros Monopolies To most people a monopoly is a negative thing. But while perfect competition can drive down costs and benefit the consumer - competition is bad for business. In fact, in Thiel's opinion, every startup should aim to be a monopoly or, as he puts it: Monopoly is the condition of every successful business. I like his honesty about it. While I’m not sure about the morality of encouraging monopolies at a large scale, I can see the benefit of thinking that way when developing a startup. When you're small, you can’t afford to compete. The best way to avoid competition is to build something nobody can compete with. The concept is summed up nicely at the end of chapter 3: Tolstoy opens Anna Karenina by observing: ‘All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.’ Business is the opposite. All happy companies are different: each one earns a monopoly by solving a unique problem. All failed companies are the same: they failed to escape competition. Pareto The Pareto Law, which you might remember as the 80/20 rule in Tim Ferris’ The Four Hour Work Week, is often used synonymously with the power law of distribution, and shows up everywhere. Thiel refers to it in his section on The Power Law of Venture Capital. If Tim Ferris recommends identifying and removing the 20% of things that take 80% of your effort - Thiel recommends finding the 20% of investments that make 80% of your return. Anything else is a waste. Soberingly, he also suggests that the Pareto Law means: ...you should not necessarily start your own company, even if you are extraordinarily talented. But to me this seems more like a venture capitalists problem, than an entrepreneurs problem - Personally, I believe there’s far more benefit in starting up your own company that purely profit. ###Cons Man and machine? Content-wise, there is very little to dislike in this book. As long as you accept that the book is written specifically for startups - where anything short of exponential growth is considered a failure - it’s exceptionally on point. However, there are a couple sections dotted throughout the book where opinion and wild speculation began to creep in. Chapter 12 is a good example of this entitled: Man and Machine. It’s a short chapter, 12 pages in total, and Thiel essentially preaches and speculates about the impact of better technology and strong AI. I like to dog ear pages with interesting or useful content so I can come back later, but this entire chapter remains untouched. America, fuck yeah! It would be really difficult for a personality as pungent as Theil's to go entirely unnoticed in a book like this, and indeed it breaks through every now and then. I only had a feint idea of Thiel's personality before I read the book, but having read up on his background, I’m actually surprised the book achieves such a neutral, if pragmatic, tone. Pretty early on in the book however, we are introduced to Thiel's concept of Economic Optimism and quite frankly the whole of chapter 6 should have been printed on star spangled, red white and blue pages. I’m not necessarily against the egotistic American spirit but when Thiel writes, in relation to European Pessimism: the US treasury prints ‘in god we trust’ on the dollar; the ECB might as well print ‘kick the can down the road’ on the euro I can smell the bacon double cheese burgers, with those tiny little American flags from here. Ooh Rah! ###TL;DR (a.k.a: Conclusion) Overall, however, I really did enjoy this book and I can see myself coming back to it. Peter Thiel IS controversial, but he has also been undeniably successful with a career punctuated by bold business decisions. The ideas in the book reflect this mind set well. Yes, he backed Trump, be he also (sadly) backed the winner.

How a founder built a B2B AI startup to serve with 65+ global brands (including Fortune500 companies) (I will not promote)

AI Palette is an AI-driven platform that helps food and beverage companies predict emerging product trends. I had the opportunity recently to sit down with the founder to get his advice on building an AI-first startup, which he'll be going through in this post. (I will not promote) About AI Palette: Co-founders: >!2 (Somsubhra GanChoudhuri, Himanshu Upreti)!!100+!!$12.7M USD!!AI-powered predictive analytics for the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry!!Signed first paying customer in the first year!!65+ global brands, including Cargill, Diageo, Ajinomoto, Symrise, Mondelez, and L’Oréal, use AI Palette!!Every new product launched has secured a paying client within months!!Expanded into Beauty & Personal Care (BPC), onboarding one of India’s largest BPC companies within weeks!!Launched multiple new product lines in the last two years, creating a unified suite for brand innovation!Identify the pain points in your industry for ideas* When I was working in the flavour and fragrance industry, I noticed a major issue CPG companies faced: launching a product took at least one to two years. For instance, if a company decided today to launch a new juice, it wouldn’t hit the market until 2027. This long timeline made it difficult to stay relevant and on top of trends. Another big problem I noticed was that companies relied heavily on market research to determine what products to launch. While this might work for current consumer preferences, it was highly inefficient since the product wouldn’t actually reach the market for several years. By the time the product launched, the consumer trends had already shifted, making that research outdated. That’s where AI can play a crucial role. Instead of looking at what consumers like today, we realised that companies should use AI to predict what they will want next. This allows businesses to create products that are ahead of the curve. Right now, the failure rate for new product launches is alarmingly high, with 8 out of 10 products failing. By leveraging AI, companies can avoid wasting resources on products that won’t succeed, leading to better, more successful launches. Start by talking to as many industry experts as possible to identify the real problems When we first had the idea for AI Palette, it was just a hunch, a gut feeling—we had no idea whether people would actually pay for it. To validate the idea, we reached out to as many people as we could within the industry. Since our focus area was all about consumer insights, we spoke to professionals in the CPG sector, particularly those in the insights departments of CPG companies. Through these early conversations, we began to see a common pattern emerge and identified the exact problem we wanted to solve. Don’t tell people what you’re building—listen to their frustrations and challenges first. Going into these early customer conversations, our goal was to listen and understand their challenges without telling them what we were trying to build. This is crucial as it ensures that you can gather as much data about the problem to truly understand it and that you aren't biasing their answers by showing your solution. This process helped us in two key ways: First, it validated that there was a real problem in the industry through the number of people who spoke about experiencing the same problem. Second, it allowed us to understand the exact scale and depth of the problem—e.g., how much money companies were spending on consumer research, what kind of tools they were currently using, etc. Narrow down your focus to a small, actionable area to solve initially. Once we were certain that there was a clear problem worth solving, we didn’t try to tackle everything at once. As a small team of two people, we started by focusing on a specific area of the problem—something big enough to matter but small enough for us to handle. Then, we approached customers with a potential solution and asked them for feedback. We learnt that our solution seemed promising, but we wanted to validate it further. If customers are willing to pay you for the solution, it’s a strong validation signal for market demand. One of our early customer interviewees even asked us to deliver the solution, which we did manually at first. We used machine learning models to analyse the data and presented the results in a slide deck. They paid us for the work, which was a critical moment. It meant we had something with real potential, and we had customers willing to pay us before we had even built the full product. This was the key validation that we needed. By the time we were ready to build the product, we had already gathered crucial insights from our early customers. We understood the specific information they wanted and how they wanted the results to be presented. This input was invaluable in shaping the development of our final product. Building & Product Development Start with a simple concept/design to validate with customers before building When we realised the problem and solution, we began by designing the product, but not by jumping straight into coding. Instead, we created wireframes and user interfaces using tools like InVision and Figma. This allowed us to visually represent the product without the need for backend or frontend development at first. The goal was to showcase how the product would look and feel, helping potential customers understand its value before we even started building. We showed these designs to potential customers and asked for feedback. Would they want to buy this product? Would they pay for it? We didn’t dive into actual development until we found a customer willing to pay a significant amount for the solution. This approach helped us ensure we were on the right track and didn’t waste time or resources building something customers didn’t actually want. Deliver your solution using a manual consulting approach before developing an automated product Initially, we solved problems for customers in a more "consulting" manner, delivering insights manually. Recall how I mentioned that when one of our early customer interviewees asked us to deliver the solution, we initially did it manually by using machine learning models to analyse the data and presenting the results to them in a slide deck. This works for the initial stages of validating your solution, as you don't want to invest too much time into building a full-blown MVP before understanding the exact features and functionalities that your users want. However, after confirming that customers were willing to pay for what we provided, we moved forward with actual product development. This shift from a manual service to product development was key to scaling in a sustainable manner, as our building was guided by real-world feedback and insights rather than intuition. Let ongoing customer feedback drive iteration and the product roadmap Once we built the first version of the product, it was basic, solving only one problem. But as we worked closely with customers, they requested additional features and functionalities to make it more useful. As a result, we continued to evolve the product to handle more complex use cases, gradually developing new modules based on customer feedback. Product development is a continuous process. Our early customers pushed us to expand features and modules, from solving just 20% of their problems to tackling 50–60% of their needs. These demands shaped our product roadmap and guided the development of new features, ultimately resulting in a more complete solution. Revenue and user numbers are key metrics for assessing product-market fit. However, critical mass varies across industries Product-market fit (PMF) can often be gauged by looking at the size of your revenue and the number of customers you're serving. Once you've reached a certain critical mass of customers, you can usually tell that you're starting to hit product-market fit. However, this critical mass varies by industry and the type of customers you're targeting. For example, if you're building an app for a broad consumer market, you may need thousands of users. But for enterprise software, product-market fit may be reached with just a few dozen key customers. Compare customer engagement and retention with other available solutions on the market for product-market fit Revenue and the number of customers alone isn't always enough to determine if you're reaching product-market fit. The type of customer and the use case for your product also matter. The level of engagement with your product—how much time users are spending on the platform—is also an important metric to track. The more time they spend, the more likely it is that your product is meeting a crucial need. Another way to evaluate product-market fit is by assessing retention, i.e whether users are returning to your platform and relying on it consistently, as compared to other solutions available. That's another key indication that your solution is gaining traction in the market. Business Model & Monetisation Prioritise scalability Initially, we started with a consulting-type model where we tailor-made specific solutions for each customer use-case we encountered and delivered the CPG insights manually, but we soon realized that this wasn't scalable. The problem with consulting is that you need to do the same work repeatedly for every new project, which requires a large team to handle the workload. That is not how you sustain a high-growth startup. To solve this, we focused on building a product that would address the most common problems faced by our customers. Once built, this product could be sold to thousands of customers without significant overheads, making the business scalable. With this in mind, we decided on a SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. The benefit of SaaS is that once you create the software, you can sell it to many customers without adding extra overhead. This results in a business with higher margins, where the same product can serve many customers simultaneously, making it much more efficient than the consulting model. Adopt a predictable, simplistic business model for efficiency. Look to industry practices for guidance When it came to monetisation, we considered the needs of our CPG customers, who I knew from experience were already accustomed to paying annual subscriptions for sales databases and other software services. We decided to adopt the same model and charge our customers an annual upfront fee. This model worked well for our target market, aligning with industry standards and ensuring stable, recurring revenue. Moreover, our target CPG customers were already used to this business model and didn't have to choose from a huge variety of payment options, making closing sales a straightforward and efficient process. Marketing & Sales Educate the market to position yourself as a thought leader When we started, AI was not widely understood, especially in the CPG industry. We had to create awareness around both AI and its potential value. Our strategy focused on educating potential users and customers about AI, its relevance, and why they should invest in it. This education was crucial to the success of our marketing efforts. To establish credibility, we adopted a thought leadership approach. We wrote blogs on the importance of AI and how it could solve problems for CPG companies. We also participated in events and conferences to demonstrate our expertise in applying AI to the industry. This helped us build our brand and reputation as leaders in the AI space for CPG, and word-of-mouth spread as customers recognized us as the go-to company for AI solutions. It’s tempting for startups to offer products for free in the hopes of gaining early traction with customers, but this approach doesn't work in the long run. Free offerings don’t establish the value of your product, and customers may not take them seriously. You should always charge for pilots, even if the fee is minimal, to ensure that the customer is serious about potentially working with you, and that they are committed and engaged with the product. Pilots/POCs/Demos should aim to give a "flavour" of what you can deliver A paid pilot/POC trial also gives you the opportunity to provide a “flavour” of what your product can deliver, helping to build confidence and trust with the client. It allows customers to experience a detailed preview of what your product can do, which builds anticipation and desire for the full functionality. During this phase, ensure your product is built to give them a taste of the value you can provide, which sets the stage for a broader, more impactful adoption down the line. Fundraising & Financial Management Leverage PR to generate inbound interest from VCs When it comes to fundraising, our approach was fairly traditional—we reached out to VCs and used connections from existing investors to make introductions. However, looking back, one thing that really helped us build momentum during our fundraising process was getting featured in Tech in Asia. This wasn’t planned; it just so happened that Tech in Asia was doing a series on AI startups in Southeast Asia and they reached out to us for an article. During the interview, they asked if we were fundraising, and we mentioned that we were. As a result, several VCs we hadn’t yet contacted reached out to us. This inbound interest was incredibly valuable, and we found it far more effective than our outbound efforts. So, if you can, try to generate some PR attention—it can help create inbound interest from VCs, and that interest is typically much stronger and more promising than any outbound strategies because they've gone out of their way to reach out to you. Be well-prepared and deliberate about fundraising. Keep trying and don't lose heart When pitching to VCs, it’s crucial to be thoroughly prepared, as you typically only get one shot at making an impression. If you mess up, it’s unlikely they’ll give you a second chance. You need to have key metrics at your fingertips, especially if you're running a SaaS company. Be ready to answer questions like: What’s your retention rate? What are your projections for the year? How much will you close? What’s your average contract value? These numbers should be at the top of your mind. Additionally, fundraising should be treated as a structured process, not something you do on the side while juggling other tasks. When you start, create a clear plan: identify 20 VCs to reach out to each week. By planning ahead, you’ll maintain momentum and speed up the process. Fundraising can be exhausting and disheartening, especially when you face multiple rejections. Remember, you just need one investor to say yes to make it all worthwhile. When using funds, prioritise profitability and grow only when necessary. Don't rely on funding to survive. In the past, the common advice for startups was to raise money, burn through it quickly, and use it to boost revenue numbers, even if that meant operating at a loss. The idea was that profitability wasn’t the main focus, and the goal was to show rapid growth for the next funding round. However, times have changed, especially with the shift from “funding summer” to “funding winter.” My advice now is to aim for profitability as soon as possible and grow only when it's truly needed. For example, it’s tempting to hire a large team when you have substantial funds in the bank, but ask yourself: Do you really need 10 new hires, or could you get by with just four? Growing too quickly can lead to unnecessary expenses, so focus on reaching profitability as soon as possible, rather than just inflating your team or burn rate. The key takeaway is to spend your funds wisely and only when absolutely necessary to reach profitability. You want to avoid becoming dependent on future VC investments to keep your company afloat. Instead, prioritize reaching break-even as quickly as you can, so you're not reliant on external funding to survive in the long run. Team-Building & Leadership Look for complementary skill sets in co-founders When choosing a co-founder, it’s important to find someone with a complementary skill set, not just someone you’re close to. For example, I come from a business and commercial background, so I needed someone with technical expertise. That’s when I found my co-founder, Himanshu, who had experience in machine learning and AI. He was a great match because his technical knowledge complemented my business skills, and together we formed a strong team. It might seem natural to choose your best friend as your co-founder, but this can often lead to conflict. Chances are, you and your best friend share similar interests, skills, and backgrounds, which doesn’t bring diversity to the table. If both of you come from the same industry or have the same strengths, you may end up butting heads on how things should be done. Having diverse skill sets helps avoid this and fosters a more collaborative working relationship. Himanshu (left) and Somsubhra (right) co-founded AI Palette in 2018 Define roles clearly to prevent co-founder conflict To avoid conflict, it’s essential that your roles as co-founders are clearly defined from the beginning. If your co-founder and you have distinct responsibilities, there is no room for overlap or disagreement. This ensures that both of you can work without stepping on each other's toes, and there’s mutual respect for each other’s expertise. This is another reason as to why it helps to have a co-founder with a complementary skillset to yours. Not only is having similar industry backgrounds and skillsets not particularly useful when building out your startup, it's also more likely to lead to conflicts since you both have similar subject expertise. On the other hand, if your co-founder is an expert in something that you're not, you're less likely to argue with them about their decisions regarding that aspect of the business and vice versa when it comes to your decisions. Look for employees who are driven by your mission, not salary For early-stage startups, the first hires are crucial. These employees need to be highly motivated and excited about the mission. Since the salary will likely be low and the work demanding, they must be driven by something beyond just the paycheck. The right employees are the swash-buckling pirates and romantics, i.e those who are genuinely passionate about the startup’s vision and want to be part of something impactful beyond material gains. When employees are motivated by the mission, they are more likely to stick around and help take the startup to greater heights. A litmus test for hiring: Would you be excited to work with them on a Sunday? One of the most important rounds in the hiring process is the culture fit round. This is where you assess whether a candidate shares the same values as you and your team. A key question to ask yourself is: "Would I be excited to work with this person on a Sunday?" If there’s any doubt about your answer, it’s likely not a good fit. The idea is that you want employees who align with the company's culture and values and who you would enjoy collaborating with even outside of regular work hours. How we structure the team at AI Palette We have three broad functions in our organization. The first two are the big ones: Technical Team – This is the core of our product and technology. This team is responsible for product development and incorporating customer feedback into improving the technology Commercial Team – This includes sales, marketing, customer service, account managers, and so on, handling everything related to business growth and customer relations. General and Administrative Team – This smaller team supports functions like finance, HR, and administration. As with almost all businesses, we have teams that address the two core tasks of building (technical team) and selling (commercial team), but given the size we're at now, having the administrative team helps smoothen operations. Set broad goals but let your teams decide on execution What I've done is recruit highly skilled people who don't need me to micromanage them on a day-to-day basis. They're experts in their roles, and as Steve Jobs said, when you hire the right person, you don't have to tell them what to do—they understand the purpose and tell you what to do. So, my job as the CEO is to set the broader goals for them, review the plans they have to achieve those goals, and periodically check in on progress. For example, if our broad goal is to meet a certain revenue target, I break it down across teams: For the sales team, I’ll look at how they plan to hit that target—how many customers they need to sell to, how many salespeople they need, and what tactics and strategies they plan to use. For the technical team, I’ll evaluate our product offerings—whether they think we need to build new products to attract more customers, and whether they think it's scalable for the number of customers we plan to serve. This way, the entire organization's tasks are cascaded in alignment with our overarching goals, with me setting the direction and leaving the details of execution to the skilled team members that I hire.

So, you want to be a CEO?

I used to post here occasionally with business advice. But it turns out most of you in this sub have a dream, but seemingly no execution. You want to be rich sure, but without understanding what it takes to be a founder, run a startup, create a team around an idea and a strategy, and push them to their limits without burning them out, to win in a market that's never heard of you - not to mention the pressures on your personal life. So, I'm going to post a new game called, "So, You Want to Be A CEO?" The game: Each week I will post a reasonably complex challenge that a startup founder has to overcome, between inception of the company until it goes bust or series A. You respond with your best course of action - that is, what would you do in the situation provided? YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THE WORK! The rules: One response per person Your upvotes are your score for the week I will track them in the OP Scores are calculated on the Friday of that week You must answer the prompt completely, if you don't you lose half your points earned that week. ChatGPT is allowed, but it may not provide sufficient advice to win the game Prompt 1: "Boomerang" You are an HR executive turned entrepreneur. You have identified a significant issue: professionals over the age of 55 are struggling to re-enter the workforce and you also believe corporations are missing out on a wealth of institutional knowledge in retirement. You believe you can help solve this problem by creating Boomerang, a platform dedicated to empowering these individuals and corporate partners by connecting them with the best candidates aged 55 and older. Objective: Your goal is to validate your concept, develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and balance your personal responsibilities while laying the foundation for Boomerang’s success. This Week's Key Challenges and Decisions: Market Research Challenge 1: You need to validate the market need for Boomerang. This involves understanding the pain points of older job seekers and potential employers. This will take 4 days (non-sequential) How do you get started? Developing an MVP Challenge 2: With limited resources, you need to create an MVP that effectively demonstrates Boomerang’s value. This will take 2 days. Can be combined with other challenges. How do you get started? Dealing with Personal Health Issues Challenge 3: Your doctor mentioned your bloodwork is irregular, but can't pinpoint the cause. They recommend you see a specialist before Friday. This will take 1 day. Give it a shot! There's no right answer, just answer what your plan to do and try to optimize the use of your time to the best of your ability. EDIT: Scoreboard (I realize now the top post generally gets the most upvotes, so I may change the points system): u/conscious_border3019 - 22 u/inBoulderForSummer - 4 u/that_whey-or-the-lee - 3 u/AgencySaas - 3 u/Gold-Ad-8211 - 2 u/93024662 - 2 u/DeusExBam - 2 u/njm19920 - 2 u/SilentEconomist9265 - 2 u/ai_servant - 2 u/Background-Term2759 - 2 u/Insane_squirrel - 2 u/kiss_thechef - 2 u/codeyman2 - 2 u/Xentoxus - 2 u/LongComplex4395 - 2

Hot take: AI will replace non-technical founders before technical founders [I will not promote]

I think the prevailing theory is AI is going to empower non-technical people to create complex systems just by writing a prompt or prompts. I think a variant of that is getting close which are agentic workflows where something triggers an agent and it does things autonomously. These sort of systems are starting to pop up everywhere (zapier, n8n, others...) however we're a ways off from these being able to respond in near real time. Long story short you'll still need to have code to run and someone to write that code (at least for a few more years) I've been using Deepresearch by OpenAI since Monday. I'm a technical founder without a formal business background. I've had it do product market fit analysis, sam/tam estimates, go to market strategies and it's producing fantastic reports. I could see it handling pretty much 90% of the non-technical business work that doesn't involve action in the physical world. It produced the content of a very well thought out pitch deck for one of my businesses. It's identifying potential customers. It's pretty damn crazy. Like right now I have it building a financial pro-forma for my data room. In fact it finished before I could write this post!

Building in the open with Founder University - I will not promote

Published Oct 30, 2024 I am on my fifth startup. I ran the last one for a decade, that’s a whole story. A hell of a story. But a different story. I’ll tell it to you when I can, but not right now. The one before that was an e-commerce site that did pretty well but I didn’t love it. Before that were two service businesses. The first one I did for the love of the game, the second one was an attempt to make people stop asking me to fix their computer by charging them outrageous prices, which backfired horribly when they were eager to pay. None are relevant except to say I’ve been around the block and have the scars to prove it. When it was time to get back out there, I wanted to use all I’ve learned to do better. Before I talk about what those lessons produced, I’m going to talk about what those lessons were. Cause before effect, after all. One thing I wanted to do better this time was pattern matching - making the startup look the way that the industry and investors “expect” a startup to look. My last startup was an awesome idea with awesome tech (still is, but like I said, another story), but that one didn’t match patterns. It didn’t match investor patterns, industry buying patterns, patterns of existing, immediate, recognized and admitted needs. Because it didn’t “look” right to anyone, everything about it was way harder than necessary. The “make it look right” approach runs the risk of building a cargo cult, imitating the trappings of something but without understanding the essence of that something, but then again, a thing that looks like a knife is going to make a better knife that a thing that looks like a bowling ball, so sometimes just sharing apparent similarities can get you pretty far, even if it doesn’t get you all the way there. Like how mimicking someone’s accent makes it easier for them to understand you. For this one, I wanted to adopt every tool, method, and pattern that I knew “the industry” wanted to see to minimize the friction from development, go-to-market, scaling, adoption, and that would make investment optional (and, therefore, available if desired) instead of necessary (and, therefore, largely unavailable). That required establishing some expectations for successful patterns I could match against. What patterns am I matching to? Here’s a general sketch of my pattern matching thought process: Software first and software only. It’s the easiest industry to start a business in, lowest startup costs, and easiest customer acquisition. I wanted to build software for an element of the industry that’s actively emerging (and therefore has room to grow) and part of an optimistic investor thesis (and therefore has a cohort of people who are intent on injecting capital into the market to help it grow). It needs to fills a niche that is underexplored (low competition) and highly potent (lots of opportunity), while being aligned to recognized and emerging needs within the industry (readily adopted). I wanted it to have evidence supporting the business thesis that proves the demand exists, but demonstrates that the demand is unanswered (as of yet) by sufficient or adequate supply.* I wanted the lowest number of dominoes to line up and tip for everything to work correctly - the more dominoes in the line, the less likely the last one will fall. I wanted to implement modern toolsets for everything, wherever possible. I wanted to obey the maxim, “When there’s a gold rush, don’t mine the gold, sell the picks and shovels.” Whatever I chose would need to produce cash flow almost immediately with minimal development time or go-to-market delays, because the end of ZIRP killed the “trust me bro” investment thesis predominant over the last 15 years. I wanted to match to YC best practices, not because YC can predict what will definitely work, but because they’ve churned through so many startups in the last 15 years that they have a good sense of what will definitely not work. And I wanted to build client-centric, because if my intent is to to produce cash flow immediately, we need to get clients immediately, and if we need to get clients immediately, we need to focus on what clients need right now. Extra credit: What’s the difference between a customer and a client? Note: Competition is awesome! Competition is validating and not scary, because competition proves a market exists. But competition, especially mature competition against an immature startup, makes it harder to break into a space. A first mover advantage isn’t everything, but seeing demand before it’s sufficiently supplied is a great advantage if you’re capital constrained or otherwise unproven. Think about how much money the first guy to sell fidget spinners or Silly Bandz made versus how much money the last guy to order a pallet of each made. Finding demand that exists already but is as of yet insufficiently satisfied is a great place to start. What opportunity spaces are most relevant? The industries and markets I chose to observe were: AI, because if I’m following a theme & pattern for today, it’s AI. Fintech, because cash is king, and fintech puts your hands on cash flow. Crypto/blockchain, because that’s the “new” fintech (or maybe the “old-new” fintech?), and crypto creates powerful incentives and capital formation strategies, along with a lot of flexibility for transaction systems. Tools, particularly unmet demand in tools, that enable these industries. If you wanted to do some brief and simple homework, you could map each of those bullets to several of the numbered list items preceding them. The reasoning was pretty simplistic - AI is what people want to build and invest in now, while fintech and crypto/blockchain are what people were building and investing in for the last major investment thesis. That means that there’s demand in the market for AI and AI-adjacent startups, while there’s a glut of underutilized and highly developed tools within fintech and crypto/blockchain, with a lot of motivated capital behind the adoption. When someone is thinking “I built this thing and not enough people are using it”, and you then build something that uses it creates a great way to find allies. This rationale harnesses technology that is being built and financed now (which means it needs tools and support methods, and a lot of other “picks and shovels”), while leveraging technology that was recently built and financed and is eager for more widespread adoption of the existing toolkits, which makes it suitable for using to build the AI-adjacent tools that are in demand now. It’s like two harmonics producing constructive interference - it makes two waves into one larger wave, which gives me more momentum to surf against. This was a learning process, and I iterated against my general paradigm repeatedly as I learned more. Neither of us have the patience to go through that in excruciating detail, so I’ll cover the highlights in my next post. Extra credit answer: A customer gets a product, a client gets a service. Challenge: Is software a product or a service?

From “Green” to “Smart” – Tom Gorski’s Word of Advice

Sharing this interview with entrepreneur Tom Gorski. I think it contains a few nice tips for beginner entrepreneurs. What is the problem with the term “Green?” what are the top 3 mistakes entrepreneurs make that can prevent them from enjoying the sweet taste of success? And what should young entrepreneurs always keep in mind? Continuing our expert interview series, we asked entrepreneur Tom Gorski to share some of his secrets to success with us. Gorski is the CEO and Co-Founder at SaaSGenius.com, and an Inbound Marketer & Growth Hacker at InboundWay.com. His career spans over 12 years of developing and implementing online marketing, SEO and conversion optimization campaigns. He defines his biggest accomplishment to date as “achieving 4500% growth for one of my clients over a three­year period.” logo-saasgenius Q: It’s no secret that the SaaS market is saturated, as new companies are having very hard time acquiring, retaining and monetizing users. In your view – what are the top 3 mistakes SaaS companies make? What are some key differentiators you recognize in a successful product? A: Mistake No. 1: Product-market fit is not good enough There are a number of reasons for this, including the fact that inertia, incumbency and bureaucracy are all working against you. For emerging companies, this means finding a way to be exponentially better with fewer resources. As a result, focus is key. Mistake No. 2: Not Specializing Your Sales Roles When you specialize your sales people, you allow them to focus, which creates greater output form your sales team. Mistake No. 3: You Need a Niche To be able to market and sell well, you need to have a niche. The world is noisy and messy, and you’ll struggle if you don’t have a sharp, direct message. When you try to speak to everyone, no one can hear you. Q: Which innovative trends do you recognize in the high tech world nowadays? A: “Green” was a mega trend of the last decade and while it will continue to be very important, there will be a shift towards “smart” solutions, which are intelligent, connected and have the ability to sense, report, and take the right action. Smart solutions will be everywhere around us from smart clothing, phones, to smart homes and smart cities. Q: What is the most significant advice you can give young entrepreneurs? A: Being very successful means learning from those who have already achieved success. Having a mentor is an amazing blessing to an entrepreneur, but not everyone can find one in person. My advice is to work smarter, not harder. This is the most non-intuitive observation I will probably make. If you want to compete in the arena, hard work isn’t enough. And judging yourself on how hard you work, rather than how smart you work can be fatal. Q: We are flooded with buzzwords lately – VR / AI / Bots… where do you think the software world is heading? A: AI and bots are a very hot topic in 2016 and it’s sometimes hard to distinguish the real potential behind the hype. My point of view is that, like with many things, there’s no revolution but evolution. It’s unrealistic to think that AI can become mainstream in SaaS products without proper AI infrastructure. SaaS delivery will significantly outpace traditional software product delivery, growing nearly five times faster than the traditional software market and will become a significant growth driver for all functional software markets. By 2019, the SaaS software model will account for $1 of every $4 spent on software. Q: Let us in on some of your secrets… where do you look for innovation? For inspiration and revolutionary ideas? A: Ideas for new startups often begin with a real problem that needs to be solved. And they don’t come while you’re sitting around sipping coffee and contemplating life. They tend to reveal themselves while you’re at work on something else. Start with brainstorming with problems that you are personally invested in. Building a business is hard and takes the kind of relentless dedication that comes from personal passion. Perhaps the greatest factor that determines whether or not an entrepreneur will be successful isn’t the business idea itself, but rather the entrepreneur’s willingness to try to turn the idea into reality. Great ideas are abundant, but it’s what we decide to do with them that counts. Original post: http://saasaddict.walkme.com/from-green-to-smart-tom-gorskis-words-of-advice/

New to Startups; Where do I start?

I have an idea for an specialized AI based software system in a particular market that I think, if done well, could be a very helpful and lucrative software/AI (both for its owners as well as its users). It hasn't been properly implemented into any form that I or my associates have been able to find and I believe that now is the perfect time to start its development. I'm an entrepreneur, have started several successful companies over the years and am well experienced in all things business. But, none of my companies have involved creating a brand new product or would fall into the "Startup" category. It's a whole new world to me. That being said, I'm not sure what the proper steps are to make this idea come to fruition and am hoping for a point in the right direction. How do people usually go from idea to launch? I imagine there are 2 distinct things I need right now, funding for the project and a partner to help create the software. Step 1 would be the partner. For this partner, I'm not sure where to start to find this person. I'd imagine I need someone that's experienced in machine learning, AI engineering, software development, programming, etc. Or a combination of people with those skills. Since none of my companies are startup or tech based, I don't have connections to anyone with those skills. If I go around looking for a partner with those skills, I'll surely need to explain my idea to them and will need to be able to protect my idea before hand. Do I copyright it? Make them sign an NDA? What's common business practice? Where do I go to look for a partner with those skills? For funding, I can fund the initial stages of the project for a handful of months. From there, I'd like to find some kind of investment. But that sounds like a bridge to cross when I get further down that road. Looking forward to starting down this road and hopefully making something that benefits and pushes forward this new world of AI!

There's a handful of frequent discussion/post types tanking this sub's overall quality

We've all seen them, here's a few that I've routinely noticed: Painfully obvious ChatGPT'd dos-and-donts list gurus Poorly veiled posts attempting to disguise crowdsourcing market research as random curiosity (e.g, what are your pain points with todo apps and what would it take for you to pay a million dollars for mine?) Delusions of grandeur - recruitment posts for taking down FAANG companies with no existing traction, moat, funding, team, or product Idea guys asking how get full time engineers to build massive products for free Seeking a tech founder with no details about the business and people in the comments begging to join despite knowing nothing about it Building an app like but with amateuraly implemented, needless AI that could easily do better in a week to sink us Asking for product validation, expecting a standing ovation and losing their cool when it's decidedly no good Did I miss anything?

Using Claude.. I think I may have built something - suggested next steps, maybe get a dev house to build it? (I will not promote)

So, for context, I am an IT manager (non code) so I can converse all around tech, but I've just never had the nack for coding. My brain doesn't like it. I've been using different AI's for a while for general stuff, but I thought I would give Claude a go to build something that just popped into my head. Took me a while to figure out how to prompt it correctly, but it appears to have built each of the sections of this browser extension tool and even wrote me a business plan on it (which I didn't ask it to do). I had to pay for premium but boy did it just go to work. It has absolutely given me more than any other AI model yet including deepseek, chatgpt (free) and google gemini advanced (pro), I just don't know if it is good. Claude gave me the code as requested for the admin dashboard, backend implementation, browser extension, and security implementation - though I do recognise it probably won't be perfect and there will still be loads to do to get a fully functioning mvp together. So, I have this code... that I don't know how to use :D I'm a business mind that can speak technical, and I am looking to progress this forward. What are your suggestions to get it fully implemented? Find a partner/CTO (up for 50/50 split preferably in the UK), engage a dev shop to build it out, or I've heard places like fiverr are decent? Thoughts?

Content aggregation that acts as a middleman for content discovery via third-party marketplace & revenue sharing (i will not promote but I'm looking for fellow researchers)

High level I’m considering a content aggregation business model, but one that acts as an open marketplace where third party devs and where world class data scientists compete to build the best recommenders for different use cases. (E.g. the incentives can be ad revenue sharing or subscription based for niche professional markets.) The idea is to facilitate more bottom up innovation from third party data scientists. The platform itself just acts as the middleman. (Also something that strips out original ads and makes it easy to skip paid sponsorship sections would be great.)  I’ve seen startups building web crawlers and content aggregation systems for other AI startups. My proposal is better in the sense that third party devs are instead responsible for implementing whatever questionable hacks are necessarily to scrape platforms that don’t necessarily want to be scraped.  Personally, I’m more concerned about getting the right information than ever before, to this end I can’t rely on platform specific recommenders. The solution is more bottom up innovation in content promotion. More generally, if you’re also concerned about consuming game changing information that’s too easily missed: we need a platform that incentivizes bottom up innovation of content promotion. What we need is a platform that functions like a marketplace where third party devs and where world class data scientists compete to build the best recommenders for different use cases. Here’s some elevator pitches I’m considering:  Did you know that the magic behind YouTube is its recommendation engine? Now, imagine an open platform where independent engines compete to deliver the most personalized content feed—from news to local events—directly to you. Interested in rethinking how we find content? “In today’s fragmented digital landscape, a single platform no longer holds sway over content discovery. The Network Effect is dead: audiences are more mobile than ever; and big tech killed it. In such a fragmented landscape we’re building a bottom-up, decentralized marketplace for recommendation engines—a solution that taps into diverse revenue streams through subscriptions, ad revenue, and affiliate partnerships. Invest in the future of personalized content aggregation.” “Are you a developer passionate about algorithms and content discovery? Our open marketplace lets you build and monetize your own recommendation engine, competing to deliver the most engaging, personalized feeds. Join a revolution where your innovation can directly shape how the world finds content.” “Are you tired of being told what to watch or read by one mysterious algorithm? Imagine taking control—choosing from a marketplace of smart recommendation engines that curate content just for you. It’s a revolution in content discovery where you hold the power.” (As a Utahn this one is interesting because even mormons are talking about the dangers of “doom scrolling” though it’s seldom discussed in society at large.) As far as simple hooks I’m considering:  One platform to rule them all and in the darkness bind them.  Choose how you discover—content recommenders that work for you.  The area where recommender engines battle to win your feed. Request I would love to start prototyping this idea and see what else I can uncover from such preliminary research. But I want to get a couple other likeminded individuals onboard.  I'm the best when it comes to iOS/macOS development, but there's tons of backend work that needs to be done which I wouldn’t have the time for if i'm focused on the native clients. Who am I 'ideally' looking for?  I’ve heard of weird stats to the effect that if you scale up a population to billions of people, the number of life overlaps starts skyrocketing. Not just physical lookalikes, but people with eerily similar life paths, personalities, habits, and even thoughts — without ever knowing each other. Where are my clones? Such is whom I’m looking for in an ideal world.  Take a hunch  People nowadays have no concept of going out on a limb, taking a ‘hunch’, and backing their instincts. Everything has to be calculated, proven, and guaranteed before they make a move. In contrast consider the success of the Chinese DeepSeek project: According to Asianometry’s YouTube video on DeepSeek, their “memory-saving multi-head latent architecture” (whatever that means, just quoting the name) came about from a researchers ‘hunch’, which the company bet big on and the result was drastically improved performance on low end hardware…  Here in the west the idea of betting on a hunch is inconceivable. We have no balls to chase long term insights. My own instincts when it comes to software is such because I’ve wasted too much of my life on small scale projects. All I’m trying to do is attempt a more scaled up experiment based on some hunches with me and a few other likeminded individuals.  Just as the early oil prospectors didn’t have precise maps—just intuition and test drills. They had to drill, analyze the pressure, and adjust. The best oil fields weren’t found by foresight alone, but by adaptive exploration. The startup space itself is liken to the first prospectors who got the gold nuggets lying in the riverbed. In such an environment moving first has its advantages but nowadays I wish I could have all those shitty ‘engineers’ sent to their maker.  Today the reality is such that you’ve got to dig deep—where vast stores of wealth can be found—or go home, and those who dig into the depths cannot use mere forethought, for what lies beneath cannot be seen by the mind’s eye.  I will not promote but I'm looking for fellow research oriented minds.

Technical Co-Founder Seeking Commercial/Marketing Partner for Micro SaaS Projects

Hi everyone, I’m looking for a commercial or marketing co-founder to join me in developing some Micro SaaS (MSaaS) apps. Here’s a bit about where I’m coming from and what I’m hoping to find: About Me: I’m a full-stack developer with over 15 years of experience, including some work in AI. I’m currently working part-time, which gives me the time to focus on developing MVPs quickly. I’m passionate about creating SaaS solutions and would love to find someone who can help bring these ideas to life. Based in french alps. What I’m Looking For: Role: Non-Technical Co-Founder (Commercial/Marketing) Location: Remote Equity: 50% co-founder stake What I’m Hoping You’ll Bring: Experience: Background in business development, marketing, or similar fields. Vision: An eye for potential in new SaaS ideas and a drive to help make them successful. Commitment: Enthusiasm for building and growing a business together. What’s In It For You: Revenue Potential: Share in the financial rewards of successful products with a 50% equity stake, giving you a direct share of the profits. Fast ROI: Benefit from rapid MVP development, which allows for quicker validation and faster revenue generation. Dynamic Approach: We move quickly—if an app doesn’t gain traction in a few weeks, we pivot to the next idea, keeping our efforts focused on what works. Financial Growth: As we iterate and scale, there are opportunities for significant financial upside based on the success of our products. Shared Success: Be an integral part of a partnership where both of us share equally in the risks and rewards, creating a strong incentive for mutual success. What’s In It For You: Partnership: Equal share in the business (50/50). Opportunity: Work on interesting MSaaS projects with room for creativity. Flexibility: A remote role that fits around your schedule. If you’re interested or would like to learn more, please reach out. I’d be thrilled to discuss how we might work together. Thank you for considering this!

Is my idea + progress good enough to raise pre-seed round? CRM for construction niches. Non-tech founder.

Is my startup idea and progress good enough to raise a pre-seed round? It’s a CRM with meaningful AI integrations for specific type of B2B construction companies. I only want to continue at my current pace if it’s realistic to start raising within the next 2 weeks. At first, I thought it was fine because simple companies still get on Y-comb such as hammr and Relate CRM , but now I’m not sure. Would love to get the community’s thoughts on this. I’ve been working on this for about a week. &#x200B; Key Highlights (You can skip to longer section below) Product is CRM for B2B construction companies. The previous tech company I worked at used an in-house built CRM for their workflow, and I’m creating that solution and applying it to B2B construction companies that have similar workflows. No competitors I’ve found. I’m uniquely positioned to spearhead: B2B SaaS/tech sales + expertise in construction I’m a non-tech sales founder with experience in UI/UX. Will bring on CTO co-founder once I start raising as that would entice better talent Progress + Traction $400 MRR in pre-sales, can get to \~$800-1000 EOM Validated through customer interviews Created some Figma frames, product overview, user journeys, business plan Made a simple but meaningful AI tool that will be available to those that sign up for waitlist. Did this with GitHub + ChatGPT Landing page website going up this week followed by PPC campaign, email marketing, and outreach. My GF works in enterprise sales and she’ll help me generate more leads. &#x200B; Long Version Background B2B SaaS/Tech sales. I worked at enterprise company as an Account Executive where I worked with funded startups and their development, UI/UX, and Product management teams. I have a general knowledge in all these - my best being UI/UX design as I can work with Figma well Domain expertise: my family has had a construction company since I was young. I have a large network because of this. Problem At my previous company, we had a custom in-house built CRM for our workflow. It worked okay, despite being maintained by multiple engineers costing hundreds of thousands a year. I’m creating a CRM that solves that, and applying it to construction industries that can make use of it. I have a great network here which makes it easy for me get sales quickly. Vision Building this CRM for construction niche will allow us to generate MRR fast. We will be first movers in bringing meaningful AI tools to construction, which is generating significant interest. This gives us the opportunity to build the foundational technology that can be adapted to a wider audience such as my previous company and others - think researchers, consultants, etc. Traction + Current Progress (1 week) Validated idea through user interviews and pre-sales. Currently have $400 MRR in pre-sales. I expect $800-1000 in a month if I continue at my pace. This is from doing typical B2B sales. I’ve set up a CRM for this. Created product overview, user journeys, wireframes and some Figma frames, business plan Created a simple but meaningful AI tool for the niche which will be available to those that sign up for the waitlist. Created with GitHub + ChatGPT Completing landing page website this week. Will start PPC ads (I’m experienced in this) after that to generate sign-ups. I’ll also start email marketing from lists I’ve scraped. Team Solo-founder, will bring on CTO co-founder once I start raising funds. I have promising candidates, but feel that I need to raise funds to really entice a good co-founder. I’m uniquely positioned to head this product; B2B sales having worked with many CRMs + construction expertise and network. That said, I’ve never actually done anything that* impressive besides being an AE at a known enterprise techy company (but not FAANG level). &#x200B; I want to acknowledge that my progress might sound more impressive than it is - it's still just a CRM after all, and I'm non-technical. Should I keep going? Advice? I also have a great offer to lead sales at a profitable startup, but I could always do both if it was worth it. I’m feeling really uncertain for some reason :/ maybe it’s just burnout.

Looking for a technical cofounder with experience in building websites and marketplaces

Are you passionate about revolutionizing traditional processes? Do you have the expertise to build scalable platforms and want to be part of something transformative? I’m a second-year Economics student at the University of Warwick with a deep drive for creating impactful solutions. I’m seeking a technical co-founder to join me in building a startup dedicated to transforming how startups hire entry-level talent. About the Project I’m developing a recruitment marketplace that connects early-stage and growing startups with talented students and graduates. Our goal is to streamline the hiring process, making it hassle-free for startups while creating meaningful career opportunities for the next generation of talent. What I’m Looking For in a Technical Co-Founder I need someone who can complement my non-technical skills and help take this project to the next level. The ideal co-founder will have: A strong background in programming online marketplace platforms. Experience managing large databases efficiently. Knowledge in machine learning and AI, with a vision to integrate these in future features. Skills in scaling online platforms for a larger audience. The ability to work in synergy with me to shape and execute the vision. A passion for the idea—I’m happy to share more details in a meeting! Key responsibilities will include platform development, handling backend work, deploying the MVP, aiding in design, and collaborating on product iterations. About Me I bring experience in business strategy, operations, finance, product/project management, marketing, and sales—essentially, I cover everything except the technical aspects of development. I previously worked on a social communication platform for school students during high school. I also gained valuable experience as a business analyst in another startup. Why Join me? This is an exciting opportunity to build a product from the ground up, make an impact in the startup ecosystem, and grow alongside a venture poised to redefine hiring. We need: A seamless MVP launch. Networking efforts to onboard startups and expand our reach. Together, we can create something transformative, fostering innovation and enabling career growth for students while helping startups find the talent they need to succeed. If you’re excited about the prospect of building something revolutionary and have the technical skills to complement my business acumen, I’d love to connect. Let’s discuss how we can work together to create the next generation of hiring solutions. Please DM if you are interested in getting to know more about this project! Looking forward

The #1 Mistake Entrepreneurs Make – And How to Avoid It Before Launching Your Startup (I will not promote)

Why So Many Startups Fail Before They Even Begin A huge number of early-stage entrepreneurs fall into the same trap: They get excited about their idea but don’t validate if the market actually wants it. They invest time and money building something nobody will pay for. They focus on execution first instead of proof of demand. By the time reality hits, they’ve burned months (or years) and thousands of dollars—just to learn the hard way that they started wrong. How do we prevent this? What’s the best way to validate a business idea before wasting resources? According to your unique experiences, what’s the Smartest Way to Validate a Startup Idea? I’ve been working on new approaches to validation that combine: ✔ AI-powered feasibility analysis to assess business potential instantly. ✔ Market research frameworks that help test demand before launching. ✔ Lean execution models that prevent unnecessary risk. But I want to hear from you: How did YOU validate your startup idea before launching? What methods have actually worked to confirm demand? What’s one mistake you made in your early-stage startup that others can avoid? The best insights come from real founders who’ve been in the trenches. Let’s break down what actually works. Drop your thoughts below! 👇 (I will not promote).

Hot take: AI will replace non-technical founders before technical founders [I will not promote]

I think the prevailing theory is AI is going to empower non-technical people to create complex systems just by writing a prompt or prompts. I think a variant of that is getting close which are agentic workflows where something triggers an agent and it does things autonomously. These sort of systems are starting to pop up everywhere (zapier, n8n, others...) however we're a ways off from these being able to respond in near real time. Long story short you'll still need to have code to run and someone to write that code (at least for a few more years) I've been using Deepresearch by OpenAI since Monday. I'm a technical founder without a formal business background. I've had it do product market fit analysis, sam/tam estimates, go to market strategies and it's producing fantastic reports. I could see it handling pretty much 90% of the non-technical business work that doesn't involve action in the physical world. It produced the content of a very well thought out pitch deck for one of my businesses. It's identifying potential customers. It's pretty damn crazy. Like right now I have it building a financial pro-forma for my data room. In fact it finished before I could write this post!

Does this sound useful? [I will not promote]

My idea is an AI model that helps business owner make smart decisions no matter their size. (Mentor in your pocket) No more spending ours researching, Validating, planning, time wasting decision discussions etc 🕑Save Time > Saving Money💰 ⬇️Read for a better understanding⬇️ 1) give it context about your business( the more specific the better) 2) ask it a question. E.g "I need a marketing strategy that appeals to the X audience more " E.g "At the current rate is my business dying?" E.g "give me a step by step guide using the resources I have that can get my business up and running" 3) results aren't just pulled out of the air but are pulled from a database with answers and case studies to back up the answer. E.g "company Y had competition with company X in [2012] to get a larger market share so company Y...[The decisions that company made to get the result similar to the problem your facing]" This would even be friendly for people who wish to start a new business. •E.g prompt: "[ input idea] please validate my idea, does it suck?" Result could even be from a specific entrepreneur. E.g • "Alex Hormozi states that ... in the book $100M Offers. And it seems you are missing ... from his framework." Here is what you can do to [Desired result]. (You can specify which entrepreneur or the AI will select the most relevant one to you.)

So, you want to be a CEO?

I used to post here occasionally with business advice. But it turns out most of you in this sub have a dream, but seemingly no execution. You want to be rich sure, but without understanding what it takes to be a founder, run a startup, create a team around an idea and a strategy, and push them to their limits without burning them out, to win in a market that's never heard of you - not to mention the pressures on your personal life. So, I'm going to post a new game called, "So, You Want to Be A CEO?" The game: Each week I will post a reasonably complex challenge that a startup founder has to overcome, between inception of the company until it goes bust or series A. You respond with your best course of action - that is, what would you do in the situation provided? YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO THE WORK! The rules: One response per person Your upvotes are your score for the week I will track them in the OP Scores are calculated on the Friday of that week You must answer the prompt completely, if you don't you lose half your points earned that week. ChatGPT is allowed, but it may not provide sufficient advice to win the game Prompt 1: "Boomerang" You are an HR executive turned entrepreneur. You have identified a significant issue: professionals over the age of 55 are struggling to re-enter the workforce and you also believe corporations are missing out on a wealth of institutional knowledge in retirement. You believe you can help solve this problem by creating Boomerang, a platform dedicated to empowering these individuals and corporate partners by connecting them with the best candidates aged 55 and older. Objective: Your goal is to validate your concept, develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP), and balance your personal responsibilities while laying the foundation for Boomerang’s success. This Week's Key Challenges and Decisions: Market Research Challenge 1: You need to validate the market need for Boomerang. This involves understanding the pain points of older job seekers and potential employers. This will take 4 days (non-sequential) How do you get started? Developing an MVP Challenge 2: With limited resources, you need to create an MVP that effectively demonstrates Boomerang’s value. This will take 2 days. Can be combined with other challenges. How do you get started? Dealing with Personal Health Issues Challenge 3: Your doctor mentioned your bloodwork is irregular, but can't pinpoint the cause. They recommend you see a specialist before Friday. This will take 1 day. Give it a shot! There's no right answer, just answer what your plan to do and try to optimize the use of your time to the best of your ability. EDIT: Scoreboard (I realize now the top post generally gets the most upvotes, so I may change the points system): u/conscious_border3019 - 22 u/inBoulderForSummer - 4 u/that_whey-or-the-lee - 3 u/AgencySaas - 3 u/Gold-Ad-8211 - 2 u/93024662 - 2 u/DeusExBam - 2 u/njm19920 - 2 u/SilentEconomist9265 - 2 u/ai_servant - 2 u/Background-Term2759 - 2 u/Insane_squirrel - 2 u/kiss_thechef - 2 u/codeyman2 - 2 u/Xentoxus - 2 u/LongComplex4395 - 2

Startup founders, tell me what's the job you would like to get done in your startup but you are too busy to repeat or start it?

I've been focusing on LLM-based agent development for the past two years and am now building a related startup. I want to validate my startup ideas and would especially like to hear feedback from entrepreneurs. What are the repetitive tasks in your startup journey that need to be completed but you're too busy to handle or initiate? I can develop specialized intelligent agents to solve these issues for you. Whether it's workflow automation or more advanced agent AI applications, whatever problems you want to solve, I'm willing to try and help. For just a small fee (provided it's truly an important problem worth solving), I can customize solutions for you. Following the principle of "do things that don't scale," I'm more focused on helping entrepreneurs quickly and effectively address their pain points. Through this approach, we can explore together the practical value of AI agents in startup scenarios and gradually improve product functionality. Feel free to share any specific business scenarios or needs you have. Let's discuss how AI agents can truly help entrepreneurs improve their work efficiency.

16 years old and thinking about creating a startup

Hi to everyone, this is my first post on Reddit and r/Startups. Sorry in advance if there is any mistake. I'm 16 years old, and I'm already planning to create my startup. Growing up in the digital age has given me both inspiration and doubts. On one side, you hear advice like, “You need connections with powerful people to succeed.” On the other, there are stories of founders coming from poverty and now leading billion-dollar companies.That really sucks. I'm here because I believe this community offers honest and grounded insights. So you can analyze, I leave you my goals. I accept all the advice you have. I’ll finish high school in two years while using my free time to learn about AI, programming, agile methods, and business basics. After that, I plan to pursue a Systems Engineering degree, even though I’ve debated skipping university. My older siblings convinced me it’s worth it for the professional and technical foundation. During college, I aim to freelance, save money, and build connections with entrepreneurs and developers. Beyond that, my 15-year plan includes working in tech companies to gain experience, creating an MVP for my startup, and securing funding through investors or incubators. I want to solve real-world problems using tools that feel future-proof. While I sometimes feel behind, I’m determined to catch up and take advantage of the opportunities ahead. I know the startup journey is uncertain—like a vulnerable animal facing competition, funding issues, and market challenges. But I’m ready to adapt as my vision evolves. Like for example the time. Obviously I would like to keep it exactly but you never know what can happen along the way. I’d love to hear your thoughts or advice. Thanks in advance, and I apologize if anything is unclear

Why raise in 2025? - I will not promote

I will not promote Lately, I've been thinking about how AI tools are completely reshaping what it means to bootstrap a startup. It honestly feels like we're living through a golden age for entrepreneurs where you don't necessarily need venture capital to build something big or meaningful. At my company, we're a small team of just four people, bootstrapping our AI-focused startup. Thanks to AI-powered tools, we're able to keep our burn rate ridiculously low, quickly test new ideas, and scale our operations way faster than we ever expected. It’s honestly pretty incredible how accessible advanced technology has become, even compared to just a few years ago. Of course, bootstrapping definitely comes with its own share of headaches. For example, we've noticed that funded startups get significantly better access to cloud credits, advertising budgets, and enterprise-level tools. We do have access to some discounts and free resources, but it rarely compares to what funded startups enjoy. This can feel frustrating, especially when you know you're competing directly with businesses that have those extra advantages. Visibility is another major challenge we've noticed. Without big funding announcements or a well-connected investor backing us, getting attention from media or even early adopters can be tough. It's just harder to make a splash without someone else's endorsement. We've had to accept and work around creatively. That said, there's something genuinely empowering about staying bootstrapped, prioritizing profitability, and maintaining control over our vision. After speaking with several investors, we've become aware of how investors can significantly influence or even redirect the trajectory of a business. We've heard stories where investors gained enough leverage to replace the original founders or have killed perfectly profitable businesses that were not growing "fast enough", which certainly gave us pause. They can definitely be helpful but giving the control over the future of my business to someone else would definitely make me feel anxious. At this time, we simply don't feel raising external capital aligns with our current goals, but we're also aware that this could change in the future. For now, maintaining autonomy and staying close to our original vision remains a priority. I'm curious to hear from others here who've been through this. Have you successfully bootstrapped an AI a tech business? What obstacles did you encounter, and how did you overcome them? EDIT: To give you a bit of perspective, my company is a B2B SaaS in the finance industry based in Europe. We have received VC funding in the past but it was an exceptionally good deal and we don't plan to raise in the near future even-thought it may change if we see the need to help us scale. We have also raised a significant amount in soft funding. Right now, we are growing on our revenues, and we plan to continue this trajectory. Recently, one of our developers left, and although we are a small team, we noticed that it had little to no impact on our productivity.

Finally Launched My First App Without Any Coding Experience

About Myself I am a structural engineer that are taught to design buildings in the day and I have been dreaming forever to build a SaaS business to get out of the rat race. However, as a structural engineer, coding is definitely not something I am capable of doing (I have some simple knowledge, but its no way close to building an app) The Journey As I've mentioned, I always wanted to build a SaaS business because in my mind the business model is most attractive to me, where you only need to build once and can sell to millions. So I started off searching and exploring on the internet and my first ever "SaaS" was from Wordpress. I am buying plugin from other user and then pluggin into my own Wordpress website. It was a project management tool SaaS. I was so excited about the website and can't even sleep well at night because I'm just so hype about it. But, the reality is because this is my first ever business, I totally didn't realise about the importance of UI UX or my business differentiation, thinking that everyone will be as excited as I am. Then, I went deeper and deeper into the journey (I can write more about this in another post if anyone is interested) and finally landed on Flutterflow to create my first ever app. No Code Journey Thanks to no code builder, I never thought that a non-coder like me can ever create an app and got accepted by the App Store/Play Store. Since that I am using a low-code builder, for any specific requirement that I need that are not covered natively, I will just talk to ChatGPT and boom I pretty much got most of the answer I needed. About The App As someone that always try to keep track of my expenses, I never able to find an app that are simple and interesting enough for me to continue on the journey. I realise that I could have incorporate AI into this journey and hence there go, I created an AI Money Tracker. Let me introduce Rolly: AI Money Tracker - a new AI expense tracker where you can easily record your transactions just by chatting with our bot Rolly and it will automatically record and categorise the transaction into the most suitable category (you can also create any of your own category and it will also take care of it in consideration). I am not sharing the app link here to avoid getting ban, but feel free to search up Rolly: AI Money Tracker on either App Store on Play Store. My Learnings As someone that can't code and never imagine that I could create a production app by myself and publish it on to the App Store and Play Store. Since I am not making any money yet and just at the beginning of my entrepreneur journey, I can't give any substantial advice, all I can say is just my own learnings and feelings. My advice is if you have a dream of building a business, just go for it, don't worry about all the problems that you can think of to convince yourself not making the start at all. From my point of view, as long as you're not giving up everything (eg, putting yourself in huge debt etc), why don't just go for it and you've got nothing much to lose. You'll only lose if you never even get started. And also, I believe that creating an app is always the easiest step out of the entreprenuership journey, marketing and distribution is the key to success. Even though you've spent days and nights on it and it might mean everything to you, the truth is people don't really cares and you'll need to market for it. I am still in journey to learn how to do marketing, content, building a business and everything. I think this is just a very beginning of my journey and hopefully there's more interesting one to share further down the road.

Have you ever heard of a successful startup where the founder was way out of their depth?

Hello everyone, I'm an aspiring entrepreneur with a business idea, but I'm currently facing a dilemma and would appreciate some advice from those who have been in similar situations. My business idea involves creating a web app that leverages AI to provide users with insights and personalized recommendations based on their uploaded video. The goal is to help users improve their performance in video. While I believe in the potential of this idea, I’m finding the technical complexity daunting, particularly the development and maintenance of the AI models required to analyze user input effectively. (I haven’t got an experience with ai models, so I would have to use over the counter models & I would rely on chat gpt for insight in how to fix problems with it). I have some technical background, but I’m concerned that I could be outmatched in this space, which has made me question whether this is the right path to pursue. Is it realistic to assume that I could get investors to back me if I gain enough traction even with my lack of technical experience?

🚀 Revolutionizing IT and Network Operations: A Vision for the Future, Smarter, Faster, Proactive 🚀

Solution that I am building: IT teams today are bogged down by fragmented tools, reactive troubleshooting, and escalating downtime costs. This hampers innovation, inflates operational expenses, and delays business growth. We’re building something game-changing: an AI/ML-powered platform that transforms IT operations with: ✔️ Proactive issue prevention via real-time anomaly detection. ✔️ Automated remediation, reducing resolution time by up to 90%. ✔️ Unified monitoring, integrating infrastructure, apps, and services into a single-pane-of-glass dashboard. ✔️ Advanced network automation, with features like configuration drift detection, root cause analysis, and dynamic topology mapping. The goal? Less firefighting, more innovation. With faster ROI, 30–40% cost savings, and seamless scalability across hybrid and multi-cloud environments, we aim to redefine IT operations. 💡 We’d love your thoughts: 👉 Does this resonate with the challenges you’ve faced? 👉 What features would make this an essential tool for your organization? If you’d like to share insights, contribute to the vision, or even explore investment opportunities, let’s connect! Together, we can shape the future of proactive IT operations. Drop your feedback in the comments or DM me directly. Let’s innovate together! 🙌 \#ITInnovation #NetworkAutomation #AIOps #DigitalTransformation #FutureOfIT

Selling equity - what’s next?

Hey all, Seeking some guidance / advice as I plan my exit from a marketing agency I helped grow to $5M Long story short, I was hired part time to build their digital marketing department that sat at around 40k annual agency revenue. Since then I’ve become a minority equity partner, and at one point the agency was above $5M in gross agency revenue. The digital department that I run had up to 13 FTE employees at one point And digital revenue accounted for 60% of all agency revenue for the last 3-4 years. So, why am I leaving? Things are groovy, right? Well, we have dropped from $5M to now $3M this year and we’ll be lucky to hit that. As a minority equity party it’s been hard to watch leadership continue to disregard our agency as a digital agency. They don’t want to niche down, and they don’t want to identify as a digital agency, but instead by a full service “strategic agency”. Clients have felt our lack of expertise and direction, so they leave for someone who is an expert in xyz platform or industry. I no longer see their vision, and so I’m planning a sale of my equity and looking for new venture opportunities. While I am perfectly capable of running Google ads and Facebook ads campaigns, and as an accomplished SEO I know how to rank sites, and still find it fun. But I’m not interested in the labor arbitrage model of agency work anymore. I’d rather build a portfolio of in-house properties or digital assets where I have more control. Lately my obsession has been using AI and zapier to automate business processes, documentation, project management etc. Agency life has also exposed me to a lot of industries and business models, which I am always fascinated by. Eventually I will launch my own business, but I’m supporting my partner while they finish school. So I’m a single income household.. Therefore a W2 would be ideal but I’m open to contract work. So my question is- what positions or roles would I fill? I’ve done my share of research but this community has always given me new things to consider. Any feedback or questions are welcomed.

Am I on the right track?

This might be a little long for the average reader. But i'll do my best to format it so it's skimmable. Context I left my SaaS company 2 months ago. I was employee number 4 and helped them grow to 8 figures. I had a seat at the executive table and equity in the business. Burnt out and wanted to start my own thing. I forgot how hard it is to go from 0 👉 1 📚 Two schools of thought Build a product that solves your pain point and find others with that pain point Perform customer discovery calls until you get signal and start building + follow up with them 🥇 First approach For the last 45 days I built the product I wished I had when leading a 10 person marketing/sales team for the SaaS I was previously at. It checked all the boxes, pulled data, automated specific steps, showed the conversion tracking, data, etc. I launched it as a beta to my close network and the crowd went MILD. 😒 After some follow up - I realized I built something that already kind of exists and it's hard to convince others (even those who personally know me) that it's different or better. Undiscouraged, I am going to go back to the drawing board and try approach #2 above and schedule some customer discovery calls. 🥈 Second approach After trying and failing to turn the marketing numbers around at my last role I am convicted of 4 brutal truths about digital marketing today Truth #1 – AI-generated content is flooding the internet and ANYONE can and will be creating content with AI. Truth #2 – Ranking for high-volume keywords is harder than ever and probably not worth it anymore. Truth #3 – AI-driven efficiency is non-negotiable. If you haven’t installed AI in your business - you are WAY behind. Truth #4 – Most businesses are thinking about AI completely wrong. Easy button vs quality stair step. I have some early thoughts on how I would like to solve this (backed by data and some user stories). But my main question and the entire point of this post is.... ⁉️ Questions Before I schedule these product discovery calls should I make it clear where I am convicted and find those who want to talk (agree or disagree) with the above. Or just keep that out of the mix and ask them my product discovery questions regardless? I am probably overthinking it - but I just hit up my personal network with a beta launch, feels silly to go back with product discovery questions for them. Is there a good place (besides reddit) to pay people for product discovery calls? A quick Google Search and it's unclear to me.

10y of product development, 2 bankruptcies, and 1 Exit — what next? [Extended Story]

10 years of obsessive pursuit from the bottom to impressive product-market fit and exit. Bootstrapping tech products as Software Developer and 3x Startup Founder (2 bankruptcies and 1 exit). Hi everyone, your motivation has inspired me to delve deeper into my story. So, as promised to some of you, I've expanded on it a bit more, along with my brief reflections. There are many founders, product creators, and proactive individuals, I’ve read many of your crazy stories and lessons so I decided to share mine and the lessons I learned from the bottom to impressive product-market fit and exit. I've spent almost the past 10 years building tech products as a Corporate Team Leader, Senior Software Developer, Online Course Creator, Programming Tutor, Head of Development/CTO, and 3x Startup Founder (2 bankruptcies, and 1 exit). And what next? good question... A brief summary of my journey: Chapter 1: Software Developer / Team Leader / Senior Software Developer I’ve always wanted to create products that win over users’ hearts, carry value, and influence users. Ever since my school days, I’ve loved the tech part of building digital products. At the beginning of school, I started hosting servers for games, blogs and internet forums, and other things that did not require much programming knowledge. My classmates and later even over 100 people played on servers that I hosted on my home PC. Later, as the only person in school, I passed the final exam in computer science. During my computer science studies, I started my first job as a software developer. It was crazy, I was spending 200–300 hours a month in the office attending also to daily classes. Yes, I didn’t have a life, but it truly was the fulfillment of my dreams. I was able to earn good money doing what I love, and I devoted fully myself to it. My key to effectively studying IT and growing my knowledge at rocket speed was learning day by day reading guides, building products to the portfolio, watching youtube channels and attending conferences, and even watching them online, even if I didn’t understand everything at the beginning. In one year we’ve been to every possible event within 400km. We were building healthcare products that were actually used in hospitals and medical facilities. It was a beautiful adventure and tons of knowledge I took from this place. That time I built my first product teams, hired many great people, and over the years became a senior developer and team leader. Even I convinced my study mates to apply to this company and we studied together and worked as well. Finally, there were 4 of us, when I left a friend of mine took over my position and still works there. If you’re reading this, I’m sending you a flood of love and appreciation. I joined as the 8th person, and after around 4 years, when I left hungry for change, there were already over 30 of us, now around 100. It was a good time, greetings to everyone. I finished my Master’s and Engineering degrees in Computer Science, and it was time for changes. Chapter 2: 1st time as a Co-founder — Marketplace In the meantime, there was also my first startup (a marketplace) with four of my friends. We all worked on the product, each of us spent thousands of hours, after hours, entire weekends… and I think finally over a year of work. As you might guess, we lacked the most important things: sales, marketing, and product-market fit. We thought users think like us. We all also worked commercially, so the work went very smoothly, but we didn’t know what we should do next with it… Finally, we didn’t have any customers, but you know what, I don’t regret it, a lot of learning things which I used many times later. The first attempts at validating the idea with the market and business activities. In the end, the product was Airbnb-sized. Landing pages, listings, user panels, customer panels, admin site, notifications, caches, queues, load balancing, and much more. We wanted to publish the fully ready product to the market. It was a marketplace, so if you can guess, we had to attract both sides to be valuable. “Marketplace” — You can imagine something like Uber, if you don’t have passengers it was difficult to convince taxi drivers, if you don’t have a large number of taxi drivers you cannot attract passengers. After a year of development, we were overloaded, and without business, marketing, sales knowledge, and budget. Chapter 3: Corp Team Lead / Programming Tutor / Programming Architecture Workshop Leader Working in a corporation, a totally different environment, an international fintech, another learning experience, large products, and workmates who were waiting for 5 pm to finish — it wasn’t for me. Very slow product development, huge hierarchy, being an ant at the bottom, and low impact on the final product. At that time I understood that being a software developer is not anything special and I compared my work to factory worker. Sorry for that. High rates have been pumped only by high demand. Friends of mine from another industry do more difficult things and have a bigger responsibility for lower rates. That’s how the market works. This lower responsibility time allowed for building the first online course after hours, my own course platform, individual teaching newbies programming, and my first huge success — my first B2C customers, and B2B clients for workshops. I pivoted to full focus on sales, marketing, funnels, advertisements, demand, understanding the market, etc. It was 10x easier than startups but allowed me to learn and validate my conceptions and ideas on an easier market and showed me that it’s much easier to locate their problem/need/want and create a service/product that responds to it than to convince people of your innovative ideas. It’s just supply and demand, such a simple and basic statement, in reality, is very deep and difficult to understand without personal experience. If you’re inexperienced and you think you understand, you don’t. To this day, I love to analyze this catchword in relation to various industries / services / products and rediscover it again and again... While writing this sentence, I’m wondering if I’m not obsessed. Chapter 4: Next try — 2nd time as a founder — Edtech Drawing upon my experiences in selling services, offering trainings, and teaching programming, I wanted to broaden my horizons, delve into various fields of knowledge, involve more teachers, and so on. We started with simple services in different fields of knowledge, mainly relying on teaching in the local area (without online lessons). As I had already gathered some knowledge and experience in marketing and sales, things were going well and were moving in the right direction. The number of teachers in various fields was growing, as was the number of students. I don’t remember the exact statistics anymore, but it was another significant achievement that brought me a lot of satisfaction and new experiences. As you know, I’m a technology lover and couldn’t bear to look at manual processes — I wanted to automate everything: lessons, payments, invoices, customer service, etc. That’s when I hired our first developers (if you’re reading this, I’m sending you a flood of love — we spent a lot of time together and I remember it as a very fruitful and great year) and we began the process of tool and automation development. After a year we had really extended tools for students, teachers, franchise owners, etc. We had really big goals, we wanted to climb higher and higher. Maybe I wouldn’t even fully call it Startup, as the client was paying for the lessons, not for the software. But it gave us positive income, bootstrap financing, and tool development for services provided. Scaling this model was not as costless as SaaS because customer satisfaction was mainly on the side of the teacher, not the quality of the product (software). Finally, we grew to nearly 10 people and dozens of teachers, with zero external funding, and almost $50k monthly revenue. We worked very hard, day and night, and by November 2019, we were packed with clients to the brim. And as you know, that’s when the pandemic hit. It turned everything upside down by 180 degrees. Probably no one was ready for it. With a drastic drop in revenues, society started to save. Tired from the previous months, we had to work even harder. We had to reduce the team, change the model, and save what we had built. We stopped the tool’s development and sales, and with the developers, we started supporting other product teams to not fire them in difficult times. The tool worked passively for the next two years, reducing incomes month by month. With a smaller team providing programming services, we had full stability and earned more than relying only on educational services. At the peak of the pandemic, I promised myself that it was the last digital product I built… Never say never… Chapter 5: Time for fintech — Senior Software Developer / Team Lead / Head of Development I worked for small startups and companies. Building products from scratch, having a significant impact on the product, and complete fulfillment. Thousands of hours and sacrifices. This article mainly talks about startups that I built, so I don’t want to list all the companies, products, and applications that I supported as a technology consultant. These were mainly start-ups with a couple of people up to around 100 people on board. Some of the products were just a rescue mission, others were building an entire tech team. I was fully involved in all of them with the hope that we would work together for a long time, but I wasn’t the only one who made mistakes when looking for a product-market fit. One thing I fully understood: You can’t spend 8–15 hours a day writing code, managing a tech team, and still be able to help build an audience. In marketing and sales, you need to be rested and very creative to bring results and achieve further results and goals. If you have too many responsibilities related to technology, it becomes ineffective. I noticed that when I have more free time, more time to think, and more time to bounce the ball against the wall, I come up with really working marketing/sales strategies and solutions. It’s impossible when you are focused on code all day. You must know that this chapter of my life was long and has continued until now. Chapter 6: 3rd time as a founder — sold Never say never… right?\\ It was a time when the crypto market was really high and it was really trending topic. You know that I love technology right? So I cannot miss the blockchain world. I had experience in blockchain topics by learning on my own and from startups where I worked before. I was involved in crypto communities and I noticed a “starving crowd”. People who did things manually and earned money(crypto) on it.I found potential for building a small product that solves a technological problem. I said a few years before that I don’t want to start from scratch. I decided to share my observations and possibilities with my good friend. He said, “If you gonna built it, I’m in”. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had thought and planned every aspect of marketing and sales. And you know what. On this huge mindmap “product” was only one block. 90% of the mindmap was focused on marketing and sales. Now, writing this article, I understood what path I went from my first startup to this one. In the first (described earlier) 90% was the product, but in the last one 90% was sales and marketing. Many years later, I did this approach automatically. What has changed in my head over the years and so many mistakes? At that time, the company for which I provided services was acquired. The next day I got a thank you for my hard work and all my accounts were blocked. Life… I was shocked. We were simply replaced by their trusted technology managers. They wanted to get full control. They acted a bit unkindly, but I knew that they had all my knowledge about the product in the documentation, because I’m used to drawing everything so that in the moment of my weakness (illness, whatever) the team could handle it. That’s what solid leaders do, right? After a time, I know that these are normal procedures in financial companies, the point is that under the influence of emotions, do not do anything inappropriate. I quickly forgot about it, that I was brutally fired. All that mattered was to bring my plan to life. And it has been started, 15–20 hours a day every day. You have to believe me, getting back into the game was incredibly satisfying for me. I didn’t even know that I would be so excited. Then we also noticed that someone was starting to think about the same product as me. So the race began a game against time and the market. I assume that if you have reached this point, you are interested in product-market fit, marketing, and sales, so let me explain my assumptions to you: Product: A very very small tool that allowed you to automate proper tracking and creation of on-chain transactions. Literally, the whole app for the user was located on only three subpages. Starving Crowd: We tapped into an underserved market. The crypto market primarily operates via communities on platforms like Discord, Reddit, Twitter, Telegram, and so on. Therefore, our main strategy was directly communicating with users and demonstrating our tool. This was essentially “free marketing” (excluding the time we invested), as we did not need to invest in ads, promotional materials, or convince people about the efficacy of our tool. The community could directly observe on-chain transactions executed by our algorithms, which were processed at an exceptionally fast rate. This was something they couldn’t accomplish manually, so whenever someone conducted transactions using our algorithm, it was immediately noticeable and stirred a curiosity within the community (how did they do that!). Tests: I conducted the initial tests of the application on myself — we had already invested significantly in developing the product, but I preferred risking my own resources over that of the users. I provided the tool access to my wallet, containing 0.3ETH, and went to sleep. Upon waking up, I discovered that the transactions were successful and my wallet had grown to 0.99ETH. My excitement knew no bounds, it felt like a windfall. But, of course, there was a fair chance I could have lost it too. It worked. As we progressed, some users achieved higher results, but it largely hinged on the parameters set by them. As you can surmise, the strategy was simple — buy low, sell high. There was considerable risk involved. Churn: For those versed in marketing, the significance of repeat visitors cannot be overstated. Access to our tool was granted only after email verification and a special technique that I’d prefer to keep confidential. And this was all provided for free. While we had zero followers on social media, we saw an explosion in our email subscriber base and amassed a substantial number of users and advocates. Revenue Generation: Our product quickly gained popularity as we were effectively helping users earn — an undeniable value proposition. Now, it was time to capitalize on our efforts. We introduced a subscription model charging $300 per week or $1,000 per month — seemingly high rates, but the demand was so intense that it wasn’t an issue. Being a subscriber meant you were prioritized in the queue, ensuring you were among the first to reap benefits — thus adding more “value”. Marketing: The quality of our product and its ability to continually engage users contributed to it achieving what can best be described as viral. It was both a source of pride and astonishment to witness users sharing charts and analyses derived from our tool in forum discussions. They weren’t actively promoting our product but rather using screenshots from our application to illustrate certain aspects of the crypto world. By that stage, we had already assembled a team to assist with marketing, and programming, and to provide round-the-clock helpdesk support. Unforgettable Time: Despite the hype, my focus remained steadfast on monitoring our servers, their capacity, and speed. Considering we had only been on the market for a few weeks, we were yet to implement alerts, server scaling, etc. Our active user base spanned from Japan to the West Coast of the United States. Primarily, our application was used daily during the evenings, but considering the variety of time zones, the only time I could afford to sleep was during the evening hours in Far Eastern Europe, where we had the least users. However, someone always needed to be on guard, and as such, my phone was constantly by my side. After all, we couldn’t afford to let our users down. We found ourselves working 20 hours a day, catering to thousands of users, enduring physical fatigue, engaging in talks with VCs, and participating in conferences. Sudden Downturn: Our pinnacle was abruptly interrupted by the war in Ukraine (next macroeconomic shot straight in the face, lucky guy), a precipitous drop in cryptocurrency value, and swiftly emerging competition. By this time, there were 5–8 comparable tools had infiltrated the market. It was a challenging period as we continually stumbled upon new rivals. They immediately embarked on swift fundraising endeavors — a strategy we overlooked, which in retrospect was a mistake. Although our product was superior, the competitors’ rapid advancement and our insufficient funds for expeditious scaling posed significant challenges. Nonetheless, we made a good decision. We sold the product (exit) to competitors. The revenue from “exit” compensated for all the losses, leaving us with enough rest. We were a small team without substantial budgets for rapid development, and the risk of forming new teams without money to survive for more than 1–2 months was irresponsible. You have to believe me that this decision consumed us sleepless nights. Finally, we sold it. They turned off our app but took algorithms and users. Whether you believe it or not, after several months of toiling day and night, experiencing burnout, growing weary of the topic, and gaining an extra 15 kg in weight, we finally found our freedom… The exit wasn’t incredibly profitable, but we knew they had outdone us. The exit covered all our expenses and granted us a well-deserved rest for the subsequent quarter. It was an insane ride. Despite the uncertainty, stress, struggles, and sleepless nights, the story and experience will remain etched in my memory for the rest of my life. Swift Takeaways: Comprehending User Needs: Do you fully understand the product-market fit? Is your offering just an accessory or does it truly satisfy the user’s needs? The Power of Viral Marketing: Take inspiration from giants like Snapchat, ChatGPT, and Clubhouse. While your product might not attain the same scale (but remember, never say never…), the closer your concept is to theirs, the easier your journey will be. If your user is motivated to text a friend saying, “Hey, check out how cool this is” (like sharing ChatGPT), then you’re on the best track. Really. Even if it doesn’t seem immediately evident, there could be a way to incorporate this into your product. Keep looking until you find it. Niche targeting — the more specific and tailored your product is to a certain audience, the easier your journey will be People love buying from people — establishing a personal brand and associating yourself with the product can make things easier. Value: Seek to understand why users engage with your product and keep returning. The more specific and critical the issue you’re aiming to solve, the easier your path will be. Consider your offerings in terms of products and services and focus on sales and marketing, regardless of personal sentiments. These are just a few points, I plan to elaborate on all of them in a separate article. Many products undergo years of development in search of market fit, refining the user experience, and more. And guess what? There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Each product and market follows its own rules. Many startups have extensive histories before they finally make their mark (for instance, OpenAI). This entire journey spanned maybe 6–8 months. I grasped and capitalized on the opportunity, but we understood from the start that establishing a startup carried a significant risk, and our crypto product was 10 times riskier. Was it worth it? Given my passion for product development — absolutely. Was it profitable? — No, considering the hours spent — we lose. Did it provide a stable, problem-free life — nope. Did this entire adventure offer a wealth of happiness, joy, and unforgettable experiences — definitely yes. One thing is certain — we’ve amassed substantial experience and it’s not over yet :) So, what lies ahead? Chapter 7: Reverting to the contractor, developing a product for a crypto StartupReturning to the past, we continue our journey… I had invested substantial time and passion into the tech rescue mission product. I came on board as the technical Team Leader of a startup that had garnered over $20M in seed round funding, affiliated with the realm of cryptocurrencies. The investors were individuals with extensive backgrounds in the crypto world. My role was primarily technical, and there was an abundance of work to tackle. I was fully immersed, and genuinely devoted to the role. I was striving for excellence, knowing that if we secured another round of financing, the startup would accelerate rapidly. As for the product and marketing, I was more of an observer. After all, there were marketing professionals with decades of experience on board. These were individuals recruited from large crypto-related firms. I had faith in them, kept an eye on their actions, and focused on my own responsibilities. However, the reality was far from satisfactory. On the last day, the principal investor for the Series A round withdrew. The board made the tough decision to shut down. It was a period of intense observation and gaining experience in product management. This was a very brief summary of the last 10 years. And what next? (Last) Chapter 8: To be announced — Product Owner / Product Consultant / Strategist / CTO After spending countless hours and days deliberating my next steps, one thing is clear: My aspiration is to continue traversing the path of software product development, with the hopeful anticipation that one day, I might ride the crest of the next big wave and ascend to the prestigious status of a unicorn company. I find myself drawn to the process of building products, exploring product-market fit, strategizing, engaging in software development, seeking out new opportunities, networking, attending conferences, and continuously challenging myself by understanding the market and its competitive landscape. Product Owner / Product Consultant / CTO / COO: I’m not entirely sure how to categorize this role, as I anticipate that it will largely depend on the product to which I will commit myself fully. My idea is to find one startup/company that wants to build a product / or already has a product, want to speed up, or simply doesn’t know what’s next. Alternatively, I could be a part of an established company with a rich business history, which intends to invest in digitization and technological advancements. The goal would be to enrich their customer experience by offering complementary digital products Rather than initiating a new venture from ground zero with the same team, I am receptive to new challenges. I am confident that my past experiences will prove highly beneficial for the founders of promising, burgeoning startups that already possess a product, or are in the initial phases of development. ‘Consultant’ — I reckon we interpret this term differently. My aim is to be completely absorbed in a single product, crafting funnels, niches, strategies, and all that is necessary to repeatedly achieve the ‘product-market fit’ and significant revenue. To me, ‘consultant’ resonates more akin to freelancing than being an employee. My current goal is to kickstart as a consultant and aide, dealing with facilitating startups in their journey from point A to B. Here are two theoretical scenarios to illustrate my approach: Scenario 1: (Starting from point A) You have a product but struggle with marketing, adoption, software, strategy, sales, fundraising, or something else. I conduct an analysis and develop a strategy to reach point B. I take on the “dirty work” and implement necessary changes, including potential pivots or shifts (going all-in) to guide the product to point B. The goal is to reach point B, which could involve achieving a higher valuation, expanding the user base, increasing sales, or generating monthly revenue, among other metrics. Scenario 2: (Starting from point A) You have a plan or idea but face challenges with marketing, adoption, strategy, software, sales, fundraising, or something else. I analyze the situation and devise a strategy to reach point B. I tackle the necessary tasks, build the team, and overcome obstacles to propel the product to point B. I have come across the view that finding the elusive product-market fit is the job of the founder, and it’s hard for me to disagree. However, I believe that my support and experiences can help save money, many failures, and most importantly, time. I have spent a great deal of time learning from my mistakes, enduring failure after failure, and even had no one to ask for support or opinion, which is why I offer my help. Saving even a couple of years, realistically speaking, seems like a value I’m eager to provide… I invite you to share your thoughts and insights on these scenarios :) Closing Remarks: I appreciate your time and effort in reaching this point. This has been my journey, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. I had an extraordinary adventure, and now I’m ready for the next exciting battle with the market and new software products. While my entire narrative is centered around startups, especially the ones I personally built, I’m planning to share more insights drawn from all of my experiences, not just those as a co-founder. If you’re currently developing your product or even just considering the idea, I urge you to reach out to me. Perhaps together, we can create something monumental :) Thank you for your time and insights. I eagerly look forward to engaging in discussions and hearing your viewpoints. Please remember to like and subscribe. Nothing motivates to write more than positive feedback :) Matt.

36 startup ideas found by analyzing podcasts (problem, solution & source episode)

Hey, I've been a bit of a podcast nerd for a long time. Around a year ago I began experimenting with transcription of podcasts for a SaaS I was running. I realized pretty quickly that there's a lot of knowledge and value in podcast discussions that is for all intents and purposes entirely unsearchable or discoverable to most people. I ended up stopping work on that SaaS product (party for lack of product/market fit, and partly because podcasting was far more interesting), and focusing on the podcast technology full-time instead. I'm a long-time lurker and poster of r/startups and thought this would make for some interesting content and inspiration for folks. Given I'm in this space, have millions of transcripts, and transcribe thousands daily... I've been exploring fun ways to expose some of the interesting knowledge and conversations taking place that utilize our own data/API. I'm a big fan of the usual startup podcasts (My First Million, Greg Isenberg, etc. etc.) and so I built an automation that turns all of the startup ideas discussed into a weekly email digest. I always struggle to listen to as many episodes as I'd actually like to, so I thought I'd summarise the stuff I care about instead (startup opportunities being discussed). I thought it would be interesting to post some of the ideas extracted so far. They range from being completely whacky and blue sky, to pretty boring but realistic. A word of warning before anyone complains – this is a big mixture of tech, ai, non-tech, local services, etc. ideas: Some of the ideas are completely mundane, but realistic (e.g. local window cleaning service) Some of the ideas are completely insane, blue sky, but sound super interesting Here's the latest 36 ideas: |Idea Name|Problem|Solution|Source| |:-|:-|:-|:-| |SalesForce-as-a-Service - White Label Enterprise Sales Teams|White-label enterprise sales teams for B2B SaaS. Companies need sales but can't hire/train. Recruit retail sellers, train for tech, charge 30% of deals closed.|Create a white-label enterprise sales team by recruiting natural salespeople from retail and direct sales backgrounds (e.g. mall kiosks, cutco knives). Train them specifically in B2B SaaS sales techniques and processes. Offer this trained sales force to tech companies on a contract basis.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |TechButler - Mobile Device Maintenance Service|Mobile tech maintenance service. Clean/optimize devices, improve WiFi, basic support. $100/visit to homes. Target affluent neighborhoods.|Mobile tech support service providing in-home device cleaning, optimization, and setup. Focus on common issues like WiFi improvement, device maintenance, and basic tech support.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |MemoryBox - At-Home Video Digitization Service|Door-to-door VHS conversion service. Parents have boxes of old tapes. Pick up, digitize, deliver. $30/tape with minimum order. Going extinct.|Door-to-door VHS to digital conversion service that handles everything from pickup to digital delivery. Make it extremely convenient for customers to preserve their memories.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |Elite Match Ventures - Success-Based Luxury Matchmaking|High-end matchmaking for 50M+ net worth individuals. Only charge $1M+ when they get married. No upfront fees. Extensive vetting process.|Premium matchmaking service exclusively for ultra-high net worth individuals with a pure contingency fee model - only get paid ($1M+) upon successful marriage. Focus on quality over quantity with extensive vetting and personalized matching.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |LocalHost - Simple Small Business Websites|Simple WordPress sites for local businesses. $50/month includes hosting, updates, security. Target restaurants and shops. Recurring revenue play.|Simplified web hosting and WordPress management service targeting local small businesses. Focus on basic sites with standard templates, ongoing maintenance, and reliable support for a fixed monthly fee.|My First Million - "Life Hacks From The King of Introverts + 7 Business Ideas| |VoiceJournal AI - Voice-First Smart Journaling|Voice-to-text journaling app with AI insights. 8,100 monthly searches. $15/month subscription. Partners with journaling YouTubers.|AI-powered journaling app that combines voice recording, transcription, and intelligent insights. Users can speak their thoughts, which are automatically transcribed and analyzed for patterns, emotions, and actionable insights.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |AIGenAds - AI-Generated UGC Content Platform|AI platform turning product briefs into UGC-style video ads. Brands spending $500/video for human creators. Generate 100 variations for $99/month.|AI platform that generates UGC-style video ads using AI avatars and scripting. System would allow rapid generation of multiple ad variations at a fraction of the cost. Platform would use existing AI avatar technology combined with script generation to create authentic-looking testimonial-style content.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |InfographAI - Automated Infographic Generation Platform|AI turning blog posts into branded infographics. Marketers spending hours on design. $99/month unlimited generation.|AI-powered platform that automatically converts blog posts and articles into visually appealing infographics. System would analyze content, extract key points, and generate professional designs using predefined templates and brand colors.|Where It Happens - "7 $1M+ AI startup ideas you can launch tomorrow with $0"| |KidFinance - Children's Financial Education Entertainment|Children's media franchise teaching financial literacy. Former preschool teacher creating 'Dora for money'. Books, videos, merchandise potential.|Character-driven financial education content for kids, including books, videos, and potentially TV show. Focus on making money concepts fun and memorable.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |FinanceTasker - Daily Financial Task Challenge|Free 30-day financial challenge with daily action items. People overwhelmed by money management. Makes $500k/year through books, speaking, and premium membership.|A free 30-day financial challenge delivering one simple, actionable task per day via email. Each task includes detailed scripts and instructions. Participants join a Facebook community for support and accountability. The program focuses on quick wins to build momentum. Automated delivery allows scaling.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |FinanceAcademy - Expert Financial Training Platform|Premium financial education platform. $13/month for expert-led courses and live Q&As. 4000+ members generating $40k+/month.|Premium membership site with expert-led courses, live Q&As, and community support. Focus on specific topics like real estate investing, business creation, and advanced money management.|The Side Hustle Show - "How a Free Challenge Turned Into a $500,000 a Year Business (Greatest Hits)"| |SecurityFirst Compliance - Real Security + Compliance Platform|Security-first compliance platform built by hackers. Companies spending $50k+ on fake security. Making $7M/year showing why current solutions don't work.|A compliance platform built by security experts that combines mandatory compliance requirements with real security measures. The solution includes hands-on security testing, expert guidance, and a focus on actual threat prevention rather than just documentation. It merges traditional compliance workflows with practical security implementations.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |LinkedInbound - Automated Professional Visibility Engine|LinkedIn automation for inbound job offers. Professionals spending hours on manual outreach. $99/month per job seeker.|Automated system for creating visibility and generating inbound interest on LinkedIn through coordinated profile viewing and engagement. Uses multiple accounts to create visibility patterns that trigger curiosity and inbound messages.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |ConvoTracker - Community Discussion Monitoring Platform|Community discussion monitoring across Reddit, Twitter, HN. Companies missing sales opportunities. $499/month per brand tracked.|Comprehensive monitoring system that tracks competitor mentions and industry discussions across multiple platforms (Reddit, Twitter, Hacker News, etc.) with automated alerts and engagement suggestions.|In the Pit with Cody Schneider| |ContentAds Pro - Smart Display Ad Implementation|Display ad implementation service for content creators. Bloggers losing thousands in ad revenue monthly. Makes $3-5k per site setup plus ongoing optimization fees.|Implementation of professional display advertising through networks like Mediavine that specialize in optimizing ad placement and revenue while maintaining user experience. Include features like turning off ads for email subscribers and careful placement to minimize impact on core metrics.|The Side Hustle Show - "636: Is Business Coaching Worth It? A Look Inside the last 12 months of Side Hustle Nation"| |MoneyAppReviews - Professional Side Hustle App Testing|Professional testing service for money-making apps. People wasting time on low-paying apps. Makes $20k/month from affiliate commissions and ads.|Professional app testing service that systematically reviews money-making apps and creates detailed, honest reviews including actual earnings data, time investment, and practical tips.|The Side Hustle Show - "636: Is Business Coaching Worth It? A Look Inside the last 12 months of Side Hustle Nation"| |LightPro - Holiday Light Installation Service|Professional Christmas light installation service. Homeowners afraid of ladders. $500-2000 per house plus storage.|Professional Christmas light installation service targeting residential and commercial properties. Full-service offering including design, installation, maintenance, removal and storage. Focus on safety and premium aesthetic results.|The Side Hustle Show - "639: 30 Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays"| |FocusMatch - Research Participant Marketplace|Marketplace connecting companies to paid research participants. Companies spending weeks finding people. $50-150/hour per study.|Online platform connecting companies directly with paid research participants. Participants create detailed profiles and get matched to relevant studies. Companies get faster access to their target demographic while participants earn money sharing opinions.|The Side Hustle Show - "639: 30 Ways to Make Extra Money for the Holidays"| |SolarShine Pro - Specialized Solar Panel Cleaning Service|Solar panel cleaning service using specialized equipment. Panels lose 50% efficiency when dirty. $650 per job, automated scheduling generates $18k/month from repeat customers.|Professional solar panel cleaning service using specialized deionized water system and European cleaning equipment. Includes automated 6-month scheduling, professional liability coverage, and warranty-safe cleaning processes. Service is bundled with inspection and performance monitoring.|The UpFlip Podcast - "156. $18K/Month with This ONE Service — Niche Business Idea"| |ExteriorCare Complete - One-Stop Exterior Maintenance Service|One-stop exterior home cleaning service (solar, windows, gutters, bird proofing). Automated scheduling. $650 average ticket. 60% repeat customers on 6-month contracts.|All-in-one exterior cleaning service offering comprehensive maintenance packages including solar, windows, gutters, roof cleaning and bird proofing. Single point of contact, consistent quality, and automated scheduling for all services.|The UpFlip Podcast - "156. $18K/Month with This ONE Service — Niche Business Idea"| |ContentMorph - Automated Cross-Platform Content Adaptation|AI platform converting blog posts into platform-optimized social content. Marketing teams spending 5hrs/post on manual adaptation. $199/mo per brand with 50% margins.|An AI-powered platform that automatically transforms long-form content (blog posts, podcasts, videos) into platform-specific formats (Instagram reels, TikToks, tweets). The system would preserve brand voice while optimizing for each platform's unique requirements and best practices.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Digital Threads: The Entrepreneur Playbook for Digital-First Marketing with Neal Schaffer"| |MarketerMatch - Verified Digital Marketing Talent Marketplace|Marketplace for pre-vetted digital marketing specialists. Entrepreneurs spending 15hrs/week on marketing tasks. Platform takes 15% commission averaging $900/month per active client.|A specialized marketplace exclusively for digital marketing professionals, pre-vetted for specific skills (video editing, social media, SEO, etc.). Platform includes skill verification, portfolio review, and specialization matching.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Digital Threads: The Entrepreneur Playbook for Digital-First Marketing with Neal Schaffer"| |Tiger Window Cleaning - Premium Local Window Service|Local window cleaning service targeting homeowners. Traditional companies charging 2x market rate. Making $10k/month from $200 initial investment.|Local window cleaning service combining competitive pricing ($5/pane), excellent customer service, and quality guarantees. Uses modern tools like water-fed poles for efficiency. Implements systematic approach to customer communication and follow-up.|The Side Hustle Show - "630: How this College Student’s Side Hustle Brings in $10k a Month"| |RealViz3D - Real Estate Visualization Platform|3D visualization service turning architectural plans into photorealistic renderings for real estate agents. Agents struggling with unbuilt property sales. Making $30-40k/year per operator.|Professional 3D modeling and rendering service that creates photorealistic visualizations of properties before they're built or renovated. The service transforms architectural plans into immersive 3D representations that show lighting, textures, and realistic details. This helps potential buyers fully understand and connect with the space before it physically exists.|Side Hustle School - "#2861 - TBT: An Architect’s Side Hustle in 3D Real Estate Modeling"| |Somewhere - Global Talent Marketplace|Platform connecting US companies with vetted overseas talent. Tech roles costing $150k locally filled for 50% less. Grew from $15M to $52M valuation in 9 months.|Platform connecting US companies with pre-vetted overseas talent at significantly lower rates while maintaining high quality. Handles payments, contracts, and quality assurance to remove friction from global hiring.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |GymLaunch - Rapid Gym Turnaround Service|Consultants flying to struggling gyms to implement proven member acquisition systems. Gym owners lacking sales expertise. Made $100k in first 21 days.|Expert consultants fly in to implement proven member acquisition systems, train staff, and rapidly fill gyms with new members. The service combines sales training, marketing automation, and proven conversion tactics to transform struggling gyms into profitable businesses within weeks.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |PublishPlus - Publishing Backend Monetization|Backend monetization system for publishing companies. One-time customers becoming recurring revenue. Grew business from $2M to $110M revenue.|Add complementary backend products and services to increase customer lifetime value. Develop software tools and additional services that natural extend from initial publishing product. Focus on high-margin recurring revenue streams.|My First Million - "I Lost Everything Twice… Then Made $26M In 18 Months| |WelcomeBot - Automated Employee Onboarding Platform|Automated employee welcome platform. HR teams struggling with consistent onboarding. $99/month per 100 employees.|An automated onboarding platform that creates personalized welcome experiences through pre-recorded video messages, scheduled check-ins, and automated swag delivery. The platform would ensure consistent high-quality onboarding regardless of timing or location.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Free Training on Building Systems and Processes to Scale Your Business with Chris Ronzio: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |ProcessBrain - Business Knowledge Documentation Platform|SaaS platform turning tribal knowledge into documented processes. Business owners spending hours training new hires. $199/month per company.|A software platform that makes it easy to document and delegate business processes and procedures. The platform would include templates, guided documentation flows, and tools to easily share and update procedures. It would help businesses create a comprehensive playbook of their operations.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "Free Training on Building Systems and Processes to Scale Your Business with Chris Ronzio: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |TradeMatch - Modern Manufacturing Job Marketplace|Modern job board making manufacturing sexy again. Factory jobs paying $40/hr but can't recruit. $500 per successful referral.|A specialized job marketplace and recruitment platform focused exclusively on modern manufacturing and trade jobs. The platform would combine TikTok-style content marketing, referral programs, and modern UX to make manufacturing jobs appealing to Gen Z and young workers. Would leverage existing $500 referral fees and industry demand.|My First Million - "He Sold His Company For $15M, Then Got A Job At McDonald’s"| |GroundLevel - Executive Immersion Program|Structured program putting CEOs in front-line jobs. Executives disconnected from workers. $25k per placement.|A structured program that places executives and founders in front-line jobs (retail, warehouse, service) for 2-4 weeks with documentation and learning framework. Similar to Scott Heiferman's McDonald's experience but productized.|My First Million - "He Sold His Company For $15M, Then Got A Job At McDonald’s"| |OneStepAhead - Micro-Mentorship Marketplace|Marketplace for 30-min mentorship calls with people one step ahead. Professionals seeking specific guidance. Takes 15% of session fees.|MicroMentor Marketplace - Platform connecting people with mentors who are just one step ahead in their journey for focused, affordable micro-mentorship sessions.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |VulnerableLeader - Leadership Authenticity Training Platform|Leadership vulnerability training platform. Leaders struggling with authentic communication. $2k/month per company subscription.|Leadership Vulnerability Platform - A digital training platform combining assessment tools, guided exercises, and peer support to help leaders develop authentic communication skills. The platform would include real-world scenarios, video coaching, and measurable metrics for tracking leadership growth through vulnerability.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |NetworkAI - Smart Network Intelligence Platform|AI analyzing your network to find hidden valuable connections. Professionals missing opportunities in existing contacts. $49/month per user.|AI Network Navigator - Smart tool that analyzes your professional network across platforms, identifies valuable hidden connections, and suggests specific actionable ways to leverage relationships for mutual benefit.|Entrepreneurs on Fire - "How to Create an Unbroken Business with Michael Unbroken: An EOFire Classic from 2021"| |Porch Pumpkins - Seasonal Decoration Service|Full-service porch pumpkin decoration. Homeowners spend $300-1350 per season. One operator making $1M in 8 weeks seasonal revenue.|Full-service seasonal porch decoration service focused on autumn/Halloween, including design, installation, maintenance, and removal. Offering premium curated pumpkin arrangements with various package tiers.|My First Million - "The guy who gets paid $80K/yr to do nothing"| |Silent Companion - Professional Presence Service|Professional silent companions for lonely people. Huge problem in Japan/globally. $68/session, $80k/year per companion. Non-sexual, just presence.|A professional companion service where individuals can rent a non-judgmental, quiet presence for various activities. The companion provides silent company without the pressure of conversation or social performance. They accompany clients to events, meals, or just sit quietly together.|My First Million - "The guy who gets paid $80K/yr to do nothing"| Hope this is useful. If anyone would like to ensure I include any particular podcasts or episodes etc. in future posts, very happy to do so. I'll generally send \~5 ideas per week in a short weekly digest format (you can see the format I'd usually use in here: podcastmarketwatch.beehiiv.com). I find it mindblowing that the latest models with large context windows make it even possible to analyze full transcripts at such scale. It's a very exciting time we're living through! Would love some feedback on this stuff, happy to iterate and improve the analysis/ideas... or create a new newsletter on a different topic if anyone would like. Cheers!

A Structured Approach to Ideation and Validation (I will not promote)

Hi all, I used to work in VC and wanted to share some startup knowledge and insights from startup founders I know. Recently, I interviewed a friend of mine who built an AI Robotics startup ("Hivebotics") that creates automated toilet-cleaning robots. I can't post the full article because of Reddit's word limit, so I'll be posting it in sections here instead. This first section of the transcript goes through his approach to ideation and validation. Enjoy and let me know what you think! (I will not promote) \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ (1) Ideation and Validation Problem-Market-Solution Framework I like to think of startup ideation and validation using this framework: Problem– What exactly are you solving? Observation– How you identify a problem to work on User Research– How you further understand that problem Market– Is there a large enough market for solving this problem? Size– How many people experience this same problem? Demand– How many of those people are willing to pay for the solution? Solution– Your answer to the problem Desirability– Whether people actually want your solution Feasibility– Whether building the solution is practical and realistic Viability– Whether your solution can generate revenue Problem You always need to start problem-first, which is something that was really drilled into me during my time at Stanford. Too often, founders rush to build solutions first—apps or products they find exciting—without confirming whether there's any real demand for it. The first step is always to identify a specific problem, then further understand its scale, urgency and further details by talking to potential users. Observation– To find problems, observation is key. People may not even realise the inefficiencies in their processes until you point them out. That’s why interviews and field research are so important. There are problems all around us, so it's simply a matter of going out, paying attention and being attuned to them as they occur. User Research– To further understand the problem, conducting user research by interviewing potential customers is essential. Personally, I like to use the "Mom Test" when I conduct interviews to avoid biased and generic feedback. Don’t just ask theoretical questions and avoid being too specific—observe how your potential users work, ask about pain points, and use broad, open-ended questions to ensure you aren't leading them to a specific answer. Market Once you've found an actual problem and talked to enough potential users to really understand its specific pain points, the next step is to determine the market size and demand for a solution. Size– Determining the market size is essential because it determines whether or not it's commercially worthwhile to pursue the problem and develop a solution for it. You need to determine if there are enough potential customers out there experiencing this problem to gauge the market size. There's no secret strategy for this; you have to interview as many potential users as possible to confirm that it's a widespread problem in the industry. Demand– Make sure that you're working on a problem that people will gladly pay to have solved. Even if the problem is large enough, you have to make sure it's painful enough to warrant a paid solution. If many people experience the same problem, but aren't willing to pay for a solution, then you don't have a market and should look for a different problem to validate. Another way of looking at it is that your true market size is the number of potential customers actually willing to pay* for the solution to the problem, not the number of people simply experiencing the same problem. Solution When validating a potential solution to the problem, I would look at the 3 factors of desirability, feasibility and viability. Desirability– the degree to which a solution appeals to people and fulfills their wants and needs. Without strong desirability, even the most technically advanced or economically practical product is unlikely to succeed. The best way to test this is to secure financial commitments early on during the proof-of-concept stage. Most people are polite, so they may simply tell you that your startup's product is good even if it's not. However, if they're actually willing to pay for the solution, this is actual evidence of your product's desirability. Don't just ask people if they would pay for it; actually see whether they will pay for it. Feasibility– whether a product can be built using existing technical capabilities. A lack of feasibility makes it challenging or impossible to develop the product, no matter how appealing it might be to users or how promising its financial prospects are. This is just a matter of conducting initial research and actually trying to build a prototype, which will inform you whether the fully-realised product is truly feasible. Viability– the product's ability to generate sustainable financial returns. Without financial viability, the business supporting the product cannot endure, even if the product is highly appealing to users and technically achievable. Here, you need to look at your unit economics, development costs and other expenses to determine the viability of your solution. \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Hope you enjoyed reading this; let me know your honest thoughts in the comments and I'll try to improve how I interview founders based on those!

Voice AI Isn’t Just for Big Brands – Here’s How Startups Can Use It (I will not promote)

When you think about Voice AI, it’s easy to picture massive companies like Amazon or Google pouring millions into complex systems. But it isn’t just for the big guys anymore. Startups can use it too, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Why Startups Should Care About Voice AI Voice AI used to be expensive and complicated, but that’s changed a lot. Today, even small startups can use it to save time, cut costs, and make customers happier—all without needing a massive budget. If you think that repetitive tasks are eating up your team’s time, or if customers are getting frustrated by slow responses, Voice AI can help. And it’s not just for call centers or tech giants. Startups can benefit from it just as much, if not more. 3 Practical Ways Startups Can Use Voice AI Automated Scheduling and Appointment Setting Whether it’s booking meetings, setting reminders, or rescheduling, Voice AI can handle it all. This is especially useful for service-based startups, like healthcare clinics, legal firms, or consulting agencies. Answering Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Every startup gets repetitive questions—“What are your hours?” “What’s your refund policy?” Instead of answering the same things over and over, Voice AI can automate it. Order Tracking and Status Updates For e-commerce startups, Voice AI can provide real-time order updates without involving a human. Customers get quick answers, and your team can focus on more important tasks. Simple Workflow: How It Works Customer Initiates Call Customer calls the business for scheduling, FAQs, or order updates. Voice AI Answers AI responds with a natural, human-like voice. AI Handles the Request Schedules appointments, answers FAQs, or provides order updates. Integration and Confirmation Syncs with calendars or order management systems. Confirms booking or provides tracking info. Call Ends Customer gets what they need without waiting. Team stays focused on higher-priority tasks. If the fear is that Voice AI will sound robotic or annoy customers, it’s worth reconsidering. Today’s tech is way more natural and human-like than it used to be. You can use free trial of platforms like Retell AI or Play AI or Bland AI (I will not promote) Would it make sense for your startup to try Voice AI?

How a founder built a B2B AI startup to serve with 65+ global brands (including Fortune500 companies) (I will not promote)

AI Palette is an AI-driven platform that helps food and beverage companies predict emerging product trends. I had the opportunity recently to sit down with the founder to get his advice on building an AI-first startup, which he'll be going through in this post. (I will not promote) About AI Palette: Co-founders: >!2 (Somsubhra GanChoudhuri, Himanshu Upreti)!!100+!!$12.7M USD!!AI-powered predictive analytics for the CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry!!Signed first paying customer in the first year!!65+ global brands, including Cargill, Diageo, Ajinomoto, Symrise, Mondelez, and L’Oréal, use AI Palette!!Every new product launched has secured a paying client within months!!Expanded into Beauty & Personal Care (BPC), onboarding one of India’s largest BPC companies within weeks!!Launched multiple new product lines in the last two years, creating a unified suite for brand innovation!Identify the pain points in your industry for ideas* When I was working in the flavour and fragrance industry, I noticed a major issue CPG companies faced: launching a product took at least one to two years. For instance, if a company decided today to launch a new juice, it wouldn’t hit the market until 2027. This long timeline made it difficult to stay relevant and on top of trends. Another big problem I noticed was that companies relied heavily on market research to determine what products to launch. While this might work for current consumer preferences, it was highly inefficient since the product wouldn’t actually reach the market for several years. By the time the product launched, the consumer trends had already shifted, making that research outdated. That’s where AI can play a crucial role. Instead of looking at what consumers like today, we realised that companies should use AI to predict what they will want next. This allows businesses to create products that are ahead of the curve. Right now, the failure rate for new product launches is alarmingly high, with 8 out of 10 products failing. By leveraging AI, companies can avoid wasting resources on products that won’t succeed, leading to better, more successful launches. Start by talking to as many industry experts as possible to identify the real problems When we first had the idea for AI Palette, it was just a hunch, a gut feeling—we had no idea whether people would actually pay for it. To validate the idea, we reached out to as many people as we could within the industry. Since our focus area was all about consumer insights, we spoke to professionals in the CPG sector, particularly those in the insights departments of CPG companies. Through these early conversations, we began to see a common pattern emerge and identified the exact problem we wanted to solve. Don’t tell people what you’re building—listen to their frustrations and challenges first. Going into these early customer conversations, our goal was to listen and understand their challenges without telling them what we were trying to build. This is crucial as it ensures that you can gather as much data about the problem to truly understand it and that you aren't biasing their answers by showing your solution. This process helped us in two key ways: First, it validated that there was a real problem in the industry through the number of people who spoke about experiencing the same problem. Second, it allowed us to understand the exact scale and depth of the problem—e.g., how much money companies were spending on consumer research, what kind of tools they were currently using, etc. Narrow down your focus to a small, actionable area to solve initially. Once we were certain that there was a clear problem worth solving, we didn’t try to tackle everything at once. As a small team of two people, we started by focusing on a specific area of the problem—something big enough to matter but small enough for us to handle. Then, we approached customers with a potential solution and asked them for feedback. We learnt that our solution seemed promising, but we wanted to validate it further. If customers are willing to pay you for the solution, it’s a strong validation signal for market demand. One of our early customer interviewees even asked us to deliver the solution, which we did manually at first. We used machine learning models to analyse the data and presented the results in a slide deck. They paid us for the work, which was a critical moment. It meant we had something with real potential, and we had customers willing to pay us before we had even built the full product. This was the key validation that we needed. By the time we were ready to build the product, we had already gathered crucial insights from our early customers. We understood the specific information they wanted and how they wanted the results to be presented. This input was invaluable in shaping the development of our final product. Building & Product Development Start with a simple concept/design to validate with customers before building When we realised the problem and solution, we began by designing the product, but not by jumping straight into coding. Instead, we created wireframes and user interfaces using tools like InVision and Figma. This allowed us to visually represent the product without the need for backend or frontend development at first. The goal was to showcase how the product would look and feel, helping potential customers understand its value before we even started building. We showed these designs to potential customers and asked for feedback. Would they want to buy this product? Would they pay for it? We didn’t dive into actual development until we found a customer willing to pay a significant amount for the solution. This approach helped us ensure we were on the right track and didn’t waste time or resources building something customers didn’t actually want. Deliver your solution using a manual consulting approach before developing an automated product Initially, we solved problems for customers in a more "consulting" manner, delivering insights manually. Recall how I mentioned that when one of our early customer interviewees asked us to deliver the solution, we initially did it manually by using machine learning models to analyse the data and presenting the results to them in a slide deck. This works for the initial stages of validating your solution, as you don't want to invest too much time into building a full-blown MVP before understanding the exact features and functionalities that your users want. However, after confirming that customers were willing to pay for what we provided, we moved forward with actual product development. This shift from a manual service to product development was key to scaling in a sustainable manner, as our building was guided by real-world feedback and insights rather than intuition. Let ongoing customer feedback drive iteration and the product roadmap Once we built the first version of the product, it was basic, solving only one problem. But as we worked closely with customers, they requested additional features and functionalities to make it more useful. As a result, we continued to evolve the product to handle more complex use cases, gradually developing new modules based on customer feedback. Product development is a continuous process. Our early customers pushed us to expand features and modules, from solving just 20% of their problems to tackling 50–60% of their needs. These demands shaped our product roadmap and guided the development of new features, ultimately resulting in a more complete solution. Revenue and user numbers are key metrics for assessing product-market fit. However, critical mass varies across industries Product-market fit (PMF) can often be gauged by looking at the size of your revenue and the number of customers you're serving. Once you've reached a certain critical mass of customers, you can usually tell that you're starting to hit product-market fit. However, this critical mass varies by industry and the type of customers you're targeting. For example, if you're building an app for a broad consumer market, you may need thousands of users. But for enterprise software, product-market fit may be reached with just a few dozen key customers. Compare customer engagement and retention with other available solutions on the market for product-market fit Revenue and the number of customers alone isn't always enough to determine if you're reaching product-market fit. The type of customer and the use case for your product also matter. The level of engagement with your product—how much time users are spending on the platform—is also an important metric to track. The more time they spend, the more likely it is that your product is meeting a crucial need. Another way to evaluate product-market fit is by assessing retention, i.e whether users are returning to your platform and relying on it consistently, as compared to other solutions available. That's another key indication that your solution is gaining traction in the market. Business Model & Monetisation Prioritise scalability Initially, we started with a consulting-type model where we tailor-made specific solutions for each customer use-case we encountered and delivered the CPG insights manually, but we soon realized that this wasn't scalable. The problem with consulting is that you need to do the same work repeatedly for every new project, which requires a large team to handle the workload. That is not how you sustain a high-growth startup. To solve this, we focused on building a product that would address the most common problems faced by our customers. Once built, this product could be sold to thousands of customers without significant overheads, making the business scalable. With this in mind, we decided on a SaaS (Software as a Service) business model. The benefit of SaaS is that once you create the software, you can sell it to many customers without adding extra overhead. This results in a business with higher margins, where the same product can serve many customers simultaneously, making it much more efficient than the consulting model. Adopt a predictable, simplistic business model for efficiency. Look to industry practices for guidance When it came to monetisation, we considered the needs of our CPG customers, who I knew from experience were already accustomed to paying annual subscriptions for sales databases and other software services. We decided to adopt the same model and charge our customers an annual upfront fee. This model worked well for our target market, aligning with industry standards and ensuring stable, recurring revenue. Moreover, our target CPG customers were already used to this business model and didn't have to choose from a huge variety of payment options, making closing sales a straightforward and efficient process. Marketing & Sales Educate the market to position yourself as a thought leader When we started, AI was not widely understood, especially in the CPG industry. We had to create awareness around both AI and its potential value. Our strategy focused on educating potential users and customers about AI, its relevance, and why they should invest in it. This education was crucial to the success of our marketing efforts. To establish credibility, we adopted a thought leadership approach. We wrote blogs on the importance of AI and how it could solve problems for CPG companies. We also participated in events and conferences to demonstrate our expertise in applying AI to the industry. This helped us build our brand and reputation as leaders in the AI space for CPG, and word-of-mouth spread as customers recognized us as the go-to company for AI solutions. It’s tempting for startups to offer products for free in the hopes of gaining early traction with customers, but this approach doesn't work in the long run. Free offerings don’t establish the value of your product, and customers may not take them seriously. You should always charge for pilots, even if the fee is minimal, to ensure that the customer is serious about potentially working with you, and that they are committed and engaged with the product. Pilots/POCs/Demos should aim to give a "flavour" of what you can deliver A paid pilot/POC trial also gives you the opportunity to provide a “flavour” of what your product can deliver, helping to build confidence and trust with the client. It allows customers to experience a detailed preview of what your product can do, which builds anticipation and desire for the full functionality. During this phase, ensure your product is built to give them a taste of the value you can provide, which sets the stage for a broader, more impactful adoption down the line. Fundraising & Financial Management Leverage PR to generate inbound interest from VCs When it comes to fundraising, our approach was fairly traditional—we reached out to VCs and used connections from existing investors to make introductions. However, looking back, one thing that really helped us build momentum during our fundraising process was getting featured in Tech in Asia. This wasn’t planned; it just so happened that Tech in Asia was doing a series on AI startups in Southeast Asia and they reached out to us for an article. During the interview, they asked if we were fundraising, and we mentioned that we were. As a result, several VCs we hadn’t yet contacted reached out to us. This inbound interest was incredibly valuable, and we found it far more effective than our outbound efforts. So, if you can, try to generate some PR attention—it can help create inbound interest from VCs, and that interest is typically much stronger and more promising than any outbound strategies because they've gone out of their way to reach out to you. Be well-prepared and deliberate about fundraising. Keep trying and don't lose heart When pitching to VCs, it’s crucial to be thoroughly prepared, as you typically only get one shot at making an impression. If you mess up, it’s unlikely they’ll give you a second chance. You need to have key metrics at your fingertips, especially if you're running a SaaS company. Be ready to answer questions like: What’s your retention rate? What are your projections for the year? How much will you close? What’s your average contract value? These numbers should be at the top of your mind. Additionally, fundraising should be treated as a structured process, not something you do on the side while juggling other tasks. When you start, create a clear plan: identify 20 VCs to reach out to each week. By planning ahead, you’ll maintain momentum and speed up the process. Fundraising can be exhausting and disheartening, especially when you face multiple rejections. Remember, you just need one investor to say yes to make it all worthwhile. When using funds, prioritise profitability and grow only when necessary. Don't rely on funding to survive. In the past, the common advice for startups was to raise money, burn through it quickly, and use it to boost revenue numbers, even if that meant operating at a loss. The idea was that profitability wasn’t the main focus, and the goal was to show rapid growth for the next funding round. However, times have changed, especially with the shift from “funding summer” to “funding winter.” My advice now is to aim for profitability as soon as possible and grow only when it's truly needed. For example, it’s tempting to hire a large team when you have substantial funds in the bank, but ask yourself: Do you really need 10 new hires, or could you get by with just four? Growing too quickly can lead to unnecessary expenses, so focus on reaching profitability as soon as possible, rather than just inflating your team or burn rate. The key takeaway is to spend your funds wisely and only when absolutely necessary to reach profitability. You want to avoid becoming dependent on future VC investments to keep your company afloat. Instead, prioritize reaching break-even as quickly as you can, so you're not reliant on external funding to survive in the long run. Team-Building & Leadership Look for complementary skill sets in co-founders When choosing a co-founder, it’s important to find someone with a complementary skill set, not just someone you’re close to. For example, I come from a business and commercial background, so I needed someone with technical expertise. That’s when I found my co-founder, Himanshu, who had experience in machine learning and AI. He was a great match because his technical knowledge complemented my business skills, and together we formed a strong team. It might seem natural to choose your best friend as your co-founder, but this can often lead to conflict. Chances are, you and your best friend share similar interests, skills, and backgrounds, which doesn’t bring diversity to the table. If both of you come from the same industry or have the same strengths, you may end up butting heads on how things should be done. Having diverse skill sets helps avoid this and fosters a more collaborative working relationship. Himanshu (left) and Somsubhra (right) co-founded AI Palette in 2018 Define roles clearly to prevent co-founder conflict To avoid conflict, it’s essential that your roles as co-founders are clearly defined from the beginning. If your co-founder and you have distinct responsibilities, there is no room for overlap or disagreement. This ensures that both of you can work without stepping on each other's toes, and there’s mutual respect for each other’s expertise. This is another reason as to why it helps to have a co-founder with a complementary skillset to yours. Not only is having similar industry backgrounds and skillsets not particularly useful when building out your startup, it's also more likely to lead to conflicts since you both have similar subject expertise. On the other hand, if your co-founder is an expert in something that you're not, you're less likely to argue with them about their decisions regarding that aspect of the business and vice versa when it comes to your decisions. Look for employees who are driven by your mission, not salary For early-stage startups, the first hires are crucial. These employees need to be highly motivated and excited about the mission. Since the salary will likely be low and the work demanding, they must be driven by something beyond just the paycheck. The right employees are the swash-buckling pirates and romantics, i.e those who are genuinely passionate about the startup’s vision and want to be part of something impactful beyond material gains. When employees are motivated by the mission, they are more likely to stick around and help take the startup to greater heights. A litmus test for hiring: Would you be excited to work with them on a Sunday? One of the most important rounds in the hiring process is the culture fit round. This is where you assess whether a candidate shares the same values as you and your team. A key question to ask yourself is: "Would I be excited to work with this person on a Sunday?" If there’s any doubt about your answer, it’s likely not a good fit. The idea is that you want employees who align with the company's culture and values and who you would enjoy collaborating with even outside of regular work hours. How we structure the team at AI Palette We have three broad functions in our organization. The first two are the big ones: Technical Team – This is the core of our product and technology. This team is responsible for product development and incorporating customer feedback into improving the technology Commercial Team – This includes sales, marketing, customer service, account managers, and so on, handling everything related to business growth and customer relations. General and Administrative Team – This smaller team supports functions like finance, HR, and administration. As with almost all businesses, we have teams that address the two core tasks of building (technical team) and selling (commercial team), but given the size we're at now, having the administrative team helps smoothen operations. Set broad goals but let your teams decide on execution What I've done is recruit highly skilled people who don't need me to micromanage them on a day-to-day basis. They're experts in their roles, and as Steve Jobs said, when you hire the right person, you don't have to tell them what to do—they understand the purpose and tell you what to do. So, my job as the CEO is to set the broader goals for them, review the plans they have to achieve those goals, and periodically check in on progress. For example, if our broad goal is to meet a certain revenue target, I break it down across teams: For the sales team, I’ll look at how they plan to hit that target—how many customers they need to sell to, how many salespeople they need, and what tactics and strategies they plan to use. For the technical team, I’ll evaluate our product offerings—whether they think we need to build new products to attract more customers, and whether they think it's scalable for the number of customers we plan to serve. This way, the entire organization's tasks are cascaded in alignment with our overarching goals, with me setting the direction and leaving the details of execution to the skilled team members that I hire.

HubSpot alternatives

We’ve been using HubSpot as our customer CRM, email marketing + automation loops, customer call hub and for meeting links. Everything just seems to work “ok” and we’re about to graduate to the next tranche of HubSpot start-up pricing where it start to get silly. Our core business has a platform which manages customer day to day ops but we’re keen to switch to alternative platforms that work better for: A) customer calls (phone line for inbound/outbound/scheduling/recording/AI note taking) B) email marketing (automations and campaigns) Any recommendations?

Looking for a Marketing Partner for an Innovative AI Mobile App [i will not promote]

Hello everyone! I'm a software engineer and AI developer working on something great in the mobile AI space. If you have been following the trends on TikTok and similar platforms, you have probably noticed the explosion of AI apps (like Rizz AI and similar) that follow the simple "scan → solve" concept. These apps have been massively successful because they solve specific problems with minimal user friction. Here's what makes my project different: I have identified an unique market where there is currently zero competition for this app idea that I'm creating and the potential user base is massive - we are talking about 200M+ potential users in the US alone (60% of the US population could use this app). Even capturing just 0.05% of this market could generate significant revenue, considering similar apps typically charge $4-6 per user. What I'm looking for: A marketing partner (preferably US-based or someone familiar with the US market/audience) who can help grow this app. Initially, it requires about 30–60 minutes per day for content creation and posting. No experience is required. If you don't have marketing experience, don't worry. In today's marketing, passion is often more important than skills (and a bit of luck, haha). What I'm offering: For now, it's a revenue share partnership. I have invested my savings into the development of the app and the necessary equipment and I'm offering a revenue share until we generate enough profit for paid positions. Once we gain traction, the goal is to transition this into a part-time or full-time role. If you have zero creativity skills, I can provide you with my automated content generation tool to assist with marketing. It is basically a script that generates the type of content that gets the most views on other AI apps promoted on social media platforms. This is also a long-term partnership, if we achieve some results but not good enough with one app, we can try a new niche or just continue on this one. About the project: The app is almost complete and will likely launch in mid-February. It is a self-funded venture, meaning all profits will be reinvested into growth, including ads, revenue sharing and potentially useful tools to improve marketing. Also, the app is unique, I made a deep research and there is no similar app in this niche and it is very easy to promote. Overall, it follows a simple and effective business model with a clear monetization strategy. If you're interested in being part of something with genuine growth potential and want to learn more, DM me. We can discuss details on Reddit, Discord, LinkedIn, anything you like. The app launches in mid-February so I'm looking to bring someone on board soon to help out. Note: I will share specific details about the niche and app functionality in private messages to protect the idea before launch.

Serious B2B businesses will not try to create a solution using AI - This is why. [i will not promote]

After architecting and developing multiple B2B SaaS platforms and resolving countless challenges, here's why I don't think a proper B2B solution can be developed using AI. You must have senior tech-folks in your teams - even if you choose to leverage AI for expediting some code generation. This isn't theory - this is battle-tested reality. You can use this as a template if you're building one. Core Considerations: Multi-Tenancy Foundation (B2B) Proper tenant isolation at every layer (data, compute, networking) Flexible deployment models (pooled vs. silo) based on customer tier Tenant-aware everything (logging, metrics, tracing) Identity & Security (B2B/Standalone) Enterprise-grade authentication, often with SSO support Role-based access control (RBAC) at tenant level (may need dynamic policy generation for resource access) Audit trails for all system actions (specially if you're in a regulated domain) Client/Tenant Management (B2B) Self-service onboarding with admin approval workflows Automated tenant provisioning/deprovisioning Tenant-specific configurations and customizations Cross-tenant analytics and administration Operational Excellence (B2B/Standalone) Zero-downtime deployments (helps with canary releases) Tenant-isolated debugging capabilities Resource quotas and throttling by tenant tier Automated backup and disaster recovery per tenant Scalability Architecture (B2B) Independent scaling of tenant workloads Resource isolation for "noisy neighbor" prevention Tier-based performance guarantees (SLAs) Dynamic resource allocation Each of these topics can be as complicated as you can think of - depends on the solution you're building. I have seen many seasoned architects and developers struggle also because of their "single-tenant" mindset. Here are some common pitfalls to avoid (B2B/Standalone): Standalone - mindset in database design Hard-coded configurations Lack of context in logging/monitoring Insufficient tenant isolation in shared services (B2B) Missing tenant-aware cost allocation (B2B) You need people great with infrastructure as well. They need to consider: Tenant-aware routing (API Gateway or whatever you're using) Code with isolation when/if required Data storage with proper partitioning Shared services vs. dedicated services strategy There are a number of common problems I have seen people often make. Often it's because of a pressure from high above. But every architectural decision must considered in terms of the solution you're building. In many cases, security cannot be bolted on later, observability must be tenant-aware from day one, operations must scale. This is just the foundation. Your actual business logic sits ON TOP of all this. Now, would you think these can be done by AI? I'll be waiting for that day. :-)

AI Might Be the Best Industry for Ambitious Lazy People i will not promote

Not here to promote, just talk about my experience with starting a new business. I'm not new to the game, so I was able to speed-run my new AI automation agency. I currently run a software company with a co-founder, and I recently decided to start a new AI and automation agency. I just had a private launch this week, and I already have a $2K client lined up, ready to buy, along with some other interested parties, as I have sales calls with them coming up. I found all of my leads after choosing a niche to focus on and using this tool I built that automatically scrapes IG data. My tool is “unique” because it automagically qualifies the leads with AI. It even has a custom frontend, and I used this tool as a case study to secure the client I have now, and I accomplished all of this in the span of about a week. Granted, I have a background in engineering, so picking up AI was easier for me, but anyone can do it. You can even use AI to learn AI. If you haven’t used AI in your business yet, I would strongly suggest getting into AI and automation. If you've been considering starting a business but don't know what business to start, take this as a sign to turn AI into a business. i will not promote

Startup founders, tell me what's the job you would like to get done in your startup but you are too busy to repeat or start it?

I've been focusing on LLM-based agent development for the past two years and am now building a related startup. I want to validate my startup ideas and would especially like to hear feedback from entrepreneurs. What are the repetitive tasks in your startup journey that need to be completed but you're too busy to handle or initiate? I can develop specialized intelligent agents to solve these issues for you. Whether it's workflow automation or more advanced agent AI applications, whatever problems you want to solve, I'm willing to try and help. For just a small fee (provided it's truly an important problem worth solving), I can customize solutions for you. Following the principle of "do things that don't scale," I'm more focused on helping entrepreneurs quickly and effectively address their pain points. Through this approach, we can explore together the practical value of AI agents in startup scenarios and gradually improve product functionality. Feel free to share any specific business scenarios or needs you have. Let's discuss how AI agents can truly help entrepreneurs improve their work efficiency.

App ideas. im dry. i will not promote.

Since november ive tried solo creating an app or mini startup but after weeks of work i end up in dead ends. The last one was facebook restricting my whatsapp business for using automated answers, and im not sure when or if its gonna be liberated or not. Another time my computer simply couldn't handle it, and other times the project just got too big and messy for me and the AI to complete. I know you are supposed to copy a working business model and market it, but im not great at marketing. I mean it doesn't seem difficult to market something, but having the account to market with the right number of viral capacity is just very hard to do. I have music, design, data analysis, writing, and other skills, along with minimal coding skills. I need to come up with something that works for at least $1,000 a month. That it takes a month to build. its not too much to ask, is it? how do i find that app or saas? How did you do it? i will not promote

Feeling stuck—built a startup, got rejected from YC & IVI, met smarter people, and now I don’t know what to do. ( i will not promote ) I will not promote

I will not promote I don’t even know where to start, but I just feel completely stuck right now. I’m 20 years oldI don’t even know where to start, but I just feel completely stuck right now. I’m 20 years old, have been grinding non-stop for months, and it feels like I have nothing to show for it. I built an AI agent that automates workflows for businesses. I can build tech, but I can’t sell. That’s been my biggest realization recently—I thought building would be enough, but it’s not. I need customers, I need a co-founder, I need to figure out the business side… and I have no idea how. I applied to YC, IVI at ISB, and EF, met a lot of insanely smart people—some were impressed with me and my work, but they were wiser, more experienced, and honestly, just better at all of this than I am. It made me realize how much I don’t know. I got rejected from YC & IVI. 💔 YC didn’t even give much feedback—just a standard rejection. 💔 IVI told me: “You're too young, you need more experience, and you should work with a team before trying to start something.” That hit me hard. I had already been struggling to find a co-founder, and this just made me wonder if I even belong in this space yet. The Frustrating Part? I KNOW my tool Has a Unique Edge. I’m not just another AI automation tool—I know my tool has a strong USP that competitors lack. It has the potential to be an AI employee for businesses, not just another workflow tool. But I still haven’t built the “perfect product” I originally envisioned. And that’s what’s eating at me. I see what it COULD be, but I haven’t made it happen yet. At the same time, the competition in the AI agent space is exploding. YC-backed companies are working on AI agent startups. OpenAI is making huge progress with Operator. Competitors are moving fast, while I feel stuck. I’ve delayed development because I’m unsure whether to double down, pivot, or just move on entirely. Where I’m Stuck Right Now 🔹 Do I keep pushing and try to crack sales somehow? 🔹 Do I join a startup as a founding engineer to get experience, make connections, and learn sales before trying again? 🔹 Do I move to Bangalore, meet founders, and figure out what’s next? 🔹 Do I pivot to something nicher instead of competing in the AI agent race? If so, how do I even find a niche worth pursuing? 🔹 Do I even belong in startups? Or am I just forcing something that’s not working? I feel stuck in a weird middle zone where I’m not a beginner, but I’m also not successful. I’ve done enough to see what’s possible, but not enough to make it real. Every rejection makes me question if I’m even on the right path. I don’t know if I’m posting this for advice or just to get it out of my system. Maybe both. Has anyone else felt like this before? If you’ve been in this situation—how did you figure out whether to keep going or move on? TL;DR: I’m 20, built an AI agent for automating workflows, got rejected from YC & IVI, met insanely smart and experienced people, realized I can build tech but can’t sell, struggling to find a co-founder, AI agent competition is growing, delaying development, confused about the future—don’t know whether to double down, pivot, or move on. The frustrating part? I\ know I have a unique edge that others lack, but I still haven’t built the perfect product I originally envisioned.* edit: removed the tool's name

I fell into the builder's trap and need help getting out

Hi r/startups, First-time technical founder here. Two years ago, I decided to leave the 9-5 grind and build something meaningful. Now, I have (what I believe is) a brilliant technical solution but no clear business case. I’m seeking a cofounder with product and marketing expertise to help pivot my project into a viable business - or start a new one. Details below. About Me 36yo, born in Berlin and moved to San Francisco 8 years ago Master's in Software Engineering with 15 years of experience Worked with early-stage startups in Berlin and a venture studio in SF Spent the past years leading a team of 12 shipping enterprise software The tech I've built An AI engine that makes it easy for developers to automate their workflows. It works with code, issues, PRs and integrates with 3rd party systems like error trackers, wikis, ticketing systems, etc. It takes natural language instructions, fulfills them autonomously and responds with a result. The functionality is served as a platform, with an API and an SDK. On top of it, I've built a CLI and a web application with productivity tools for developers. Who and what I'm looking for My main goal is to leave my current job and build a company around a problem that matters to me, ideally with considerable equity. I’m looking for: A cofounder with product and marketing expertise who sees potential in my tech and can help turn it into a successful business—or someone with a strong business case who needs a technical founder. Mentorship from someone experienced in dev tool startups or as a successful solo founder. I’d love to learn from your journey and would be happy to offer my technical expertise or collaborate on projects in return. Happy to answer any questions or provide more details. Cheers!

I started a Tech Startup, and I feel totally STUCK.

I made "Visual Love," a Computer Vision/AI-driven matchmaking platform. The idea is that although appearance is one of the biggest factors for starting a relationship, current matchmaking services and dating apps do not have the capability to search for people based on appearance. On Visual Love, you can find your ideal match simply by uploading a picture of your "ideal type." Also, you can connect with someone who thinks of you as their ideal type, simply by uploading your own picture. Or, there might be a perfect (mutually ideal) match. I made this CV/AI algorithm to scan faces, retrieve facial features, and make it possible to find the closest match among millions of others in a second. On average, regular dating app users swipe 8000 times over 8 months until they find their love. On Visual Love, users can find one in a million just in a second. You can try the tech demo on the website if you want to (find the link through my LinkedIn at the bottom of the post; I have to follow the "I will not promote" rule.) I thought this app would have the best chance in Asia, as people care a lot more about appearance in Asia (especially Korea and Japan). Also, my nationality is Korean, and I speak both Korean and Japanese as fluently as I speak English. So I came to Korea, and pitched to a number of VC/AC firms in Korea and Japan, and two of them were typically intersted in making investment. However, they both required me to provide market validation: how much it would cost per user acquisition, how much each user would pay on average, and etc, even after I provided them with a 3-years financial projection including market research based on other dating apps. &#x200B; Everything might be going just as expected, or even better than anticipated, but I'm feeling very stuck now. I am not a business expert, and I don't have much idea on how to proceed from here. The problem is, it wouldn't quite work as expected when there are not many users. If I start with a small group of users, it's not any better than any other dating app. Matching users within a small group doesn't quite reflect the values of Visual Love. So I figured a way around: making a game version of Visual Love targeting 100k to 500k users to work as an initial distribution channel. This version will include finding look-alike celebrities, and solving look-alike face puzzles, and etc. But now, the problem is, I cannot continue this project by myself. I have no social/financial support, and I'm running low on cash. Also, although I'm from Korea, I lived in many different countries. I did my undergraduate in New York (Columbia University) and all my friends are in the US. I don't feel very included here. I can't stop feeling frustrated and distressed :( I'm sure Visual Love can reshape the future of the matchmaking market. But, only if I can continue this project by getting the fund I require. I'm open to any advice, and if you're interested in providing any help or working with me, please contact me through LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-lee-3853b1264/

I fell into the builder's trap and need help getting out

Hi r/startups, First-time technical founder here. Two years ago, I decided to leave the 9-5 grind and build something meaningful. Now, I have (what I believe is) a brilliant technical solution but no clear business case. I’m seeking a cofounder with product and marketing expertise to help pivot my project into a viable business - or start a new one. Details below. About Me 36yo, born in Berlin and moved to San Francisco 8 years ago Master's in Software Engineering with 15 years of experience Worked with early-stage startups in Berlin and a venture studio in SF Spent the past years leading a team of 12 shipping enterprise software The tech I've built An AI engine that makes it easy for developers to automate their workflows. It works with code, issues, PRs and integrates with 3rd party systems like error trackers, wikis, ticketing systems, etc. It takes natural language instructions, fulfills them autonomously and responds with a result. The functionality is served as a platform, with an API and an SDK. On top of it, I've built a CLI and a web application with productivity tools for developers. Who and what I'm looking for My main goal is to leave my current job and build a company around a problem that matters to me, ideally with considerable equity. I’m looking for: A cofounder with product and marketing expertise who sees potential in my tech and can help turn it into a successful business—or someone with a strong business case who needs a technical founder. Mentorship from someone experienced in dev tool startups or as a successful solo founder. I’d love to learn from your journey and would be happy to offer my technical expertise or collaborate on projects in return. Happy to answer any questions or provide more details. Cheers!

What I Learned from a Failed Startup: Seeking Advice on Engineering, Co-Founder Agreements & Execution (i will not promote)

Hey everyone! Long-time lurker, first-time founder here. I’m reaching out to get feedback on a recent startup experience—what went wrong, what I could have done better, and how I should approach future opportunities. The Background There were three founders in this venture: • Founder A (CEO, 50%) – The product/growth guy who identified the problem space. • Founder B (Me, CTO, 37.5%) – A software engineer with a software dev shop and multiple clients. I wanted to diversify into building my own products but am not inherently a “product person.” • Founder C (COO, 12.5%) – Brought into the mix by Founder A, with the goal of leveraging his network for traction once the product was built. The idea was to create Product X, a solution targeting the SMB space while competitors were moving upmarket. It wasn’t revolutionary—more of a strategic market play. The Initial Plan & My Role • Founder A would define and prioritize product specs, guiding what needed to be built. • I (Founder B) didn’t have time to code myself, so I allocated engineers from my dev shop (which I personally paid for). My stake was adjusted from 32.5% to 37.5% to reflect this contribution. • Founder C was more of an observer early on, planning to help with traction once we had a product ready. We agreed on a 1-year cliff and a 4-year vesting schedule for equity. Where Things Started to Go Wrong • Lack of a Clear Product Roadmap – Founder A was very focused on getting something built fast, but we never signed off on a structured roadmap or milestones. I underestimated the complexity of what was actually needed for customer conversations. • Engineering Expectations vs. Reality – The team (one part-time lead + two full-time juniors from my dev shop) faced early feedback that development was too slow. In response, I ramped up the lead to full-time and added a part-time PM. But Founder A continued pushing for speed, despite real hurdles (OAuth integrations, etc.). • Shifting MVP Goalposts – Midway, Founder A concluded that an MVP wouldn’t cut it—we needed a more complete product to be competitive. This meant more engineering, more delays, and more of my own money spent on development. The Breaking Point Near the 1-year vesting mark, we had an opportunity: a paying client willing to fund an app. I didn’t have devs on the bench, so I asked Founder A to hold off our project briefly while I hired more engineers to avoid stalling either effort. This was the final straw. Founder A (with Founder C somewhat aligned) decided the arrangement wasn’t working—citing past disagreements and the “slowness” issue. The decision was made to end the partnership. Now, Founder A, as majority holder, is requesting a full handover of the code, Founder C is indifferent, and all engineering costs I covered are essentially lost. Key Takeaways (So Far) Crystal-Clear Agreements Upfront – A formalized product roadmap and timeline should’ve been locked in from day one. Business Needs > Engineering Standards – I wanted to build something solid and scalable, but in an early-stage startup, speed to market is king. This was before AI tools became mainstream, so our approach wasn’t as optimized. Don’t Overextend Without Protection – I personally financed all engineering, but without clear safeguards, that investment became a sunk cost. Expenses Must Be Distributed – I was solely covering engineering salaries, which created an imbalance in financial risk. Future partnerships should ensure costs are shared proportionally, rather than one person shouldering the burden. Where I Need Advice Looking back, I want to improve as an engineer, CEO, and co-founder. • What should I have done differently in structuring this partnership? • How do you balance engineering quality with the startup need for speed? • As a dev shop owner, how can I better navigate equity deals where I’m also bringing in engineering resources? I really appreciate everyone who went through this long post and provide any insights from founders, engineers, or anyone who has been in a similar situation. Thanks for reading! ===================================================================== For readers who might be thinking what set this type of expectation? Because I had a dev shop and I thought my co-founders will be understanding of my business circumstance and I was a bit trigger to build a product with a C-exec team, I gave the impression of "unlimited" engineering which I later realized down the line that it was not feasible for me. Something I learned that I have to be more careful with and set expectations accordingly from the very beginning. And from the feedback of the commenters here, I am much more aware what I should offer and how to set expectations, esp. in the early stages of execution. So thank you all! 🙏🏾 EDIT: I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. You not only helped me but future founders who are considering to get into the startup scene!

We received 25k investment offer, need advice [I will not promote]

We received a $25k for 2.5% on a convertible note offer from a US based investor. The note matures in 18 months with an interest rate of 5%, but the investor said they can extend it further. It’s an AI SaaS in graphic design. We have been bootstrapping till now, and we feel that this money could help us hire better engineers and marketeers, we want to grow it to a good revenue, but don't see it becoming a billion dollar startup as such. Our initial plans were to build it like an indie-hacker, grow it a decent revenue and sell it to someone who can take better care of it. We built it as a side project with full time jobs. We already have decent traction with 10k+ signups and $600+ in revenue per month with <100 dollars spent on marketing. But our AI model costs are high, 0.2 USD per user that we onboard and provide free credits. But we as founders are more interested in another idea that we have been thinking about and see a bigger potential + founder market fit in. The current product is good, and we can foresee that with better hiring and marketing, we can grow our revenue to about 10-20k a month, like a regular online business. What should we do? We don't want to simply let go of the product because it's not that it doesn't work, it's just that we as founders are better fit for something else. We can't sell it yet as the revenue isn't too high and we haven't even incorporated. Is it okay if we think of growing it to 10-20k+ a month and then intend to sell it to someone who can take better care of it? Should we take the investment in such a case, given this investment is definitely gonna help us grow? Process of incorporation will also help us in selling this business later I think?

I feel Ai is mostly marketing - I will not promote

I run into this on X an made me think about it… the post says “AI is effectively ‘useless’ and it’s created a ‘fake it till you make it’ bubble that could end in disaster”. I think this is true. I haven't seen a product that really solves anything specifically except for the gimmicks. It needs a product normally people can use. Also the AI startups have cash burn rates 3x to 10x their revenue. No business model. It's very focused on getting acquired.

Hot take: AI will replace non-technical founders before technical founders [I will not promote]

I think the prevailing theory is AI is going to empower non-technical people to create complex systems just by writing a prompt or prompts. I think a variant of that is getting close which are agentic workflows where something triggers an agent and it does things autonomously. These sort of systems are starting to pop up everywhere (zapier, n8n, others...) however we're a ways off from these being able to respond in near real time. Long story short you'll still need to have code to run and someone to write that code (at least for a few more years) I've been using Deepresearch by OpenAI since Monday. I'm a technical founder without a formal business background. I've had it do product market fit analysis, sam/tam estimates, go to market strategies and it's producing fantastic reports. I could see it handling pretty much 90% of the non-technical business work that doesn't involve action in the physical world. It produced the content of a very well thought out pitch deck for one of my businesses. It's identifying potential customers. It's pretty damn crazy. Like right now I have it building a financial pro-forma for my data room. In fact it finished before I could write this post!

Just raised and here are the stats (July 2024)

CEO of a startup - bootstrapped for 10 months with a team of 7 - Built a waitlist of $15B AUM (fintech) and here's what it took (with no intended story structure) I didn't want to spam, so I decided to go the old school route and manually write every single email (some copy and paste) In order to feel prepared, I would do my research prior to reaching out, albeit sometimes limited due to time x reward Sent over 350 emails to around 300 funds and we received three yes' (to be honest we received more than three, but they wanted too much equity, or they weren’t a good fit culturally) Pre Seed is different for everyone. Some accept pre revenue others expect 100-300k ARR - this was one of the more frustrating pieces for me, due to the fact that it's extremely subjective to what "Earliest Stage" means to some funds. We're pre-product, we had to remove our CTO in the process due to performance issues, we let go of our front-end, hired a new CTO, hired an AI Engineer, and replaced our front end. It's a numbers game. We received 94% no reply - 5% nos (with meetings) - 1% yes' I used OpenVC as my main resource, highly recommend even their free product. I recommend using discount with a SAFE. Some Angels like it better, some VC’s hate it. You have to be willing to play ball with whoever leads. Mercury for banking, perks (like Carta), and SAFE agreement. All great at Mercury. Raising for a B2B business in an enterprise market is much easier, unless deep tech or science backed. But consumer products right now are not raising pre seed from what I can tell. If it means anything - it's a numbers game. Go get what you deserve, but put in the work because no one will just hand it to you. Love this community, always here to help anyone I can.

Anyone wants to join? Looking for non technical partner

To keep things short, I'm a fullstack dev with 13+ years of exp in few startups (the most successful one is $200m+ valuation). Then launched my own gamedev business which operates well in codev and content production. Now I want to switch back into startups and use 140% of my time and expertise to bring a briliant product live after maybe few pivots. I already have one concept of AI daily newsletter with AI narrator imitating podcasts and/or tv live news but tailored for each user. Sound dumb? - Would love to hear and jump on your ideas baked by usp and market research then. Looking for someone with marketing/UA/fundraising expertise. And remember: It is not success that defines, but dedication.

I Built a Startup at 18, Shut It Down at 21, and Now I Feel Lost at 22 - What Should I Do?

Here’s My Story: At 18, during my first year of studying computer engineering, I founded my first tech startup. For three years, I wore every hat, programming, marketing, sales, design, HR, product management, and even handling finances. It was a crash course in business and tech, and I learned more than I ever thought possible. By the time I shut it down in 2023, we had 8,000 app downloads, lots of positive feedback, and promising metrics. But despite the progress, I had to let it go (there might be a possibility of launching it again since I didn't shut it because it was a failure). Now at 22, I’m Lost. I’ve realized how much I want to master everything related to business and tech, but I feel scattered. When I tried creating content on LinkedIn, I wrote posts about AI, programming, HR, funding, and product management, and I have more drafts waiting. One day I want to start another startup. The next, I dream of becoming an AI product manager or just finding a stable job. With graduation coming next summer, I’m struggling to focus and figure out which path to take. I Need Your Advice. If you’ve been through something similar or have guidance for someone at this crossroads, I’d love to hear your thoughts. How do I find clarity and decide which direction to pursue? i will not promote

What I Learned from a Failed Startup: Seeking Advice on Engineering, Co-Founder Agreements & Execution (i will not promote)

Hey everyone! Long-time lurker, first-time founder here. I’m reaching out to get feedback on a recent startup experience—what went wrong, what I could have done better, and how I should approach future opportunities. The Background There were three founders in this venture: • Founder A (CEO, 50%) – The product/growth guy who identified the problem space. • Founder B (Me, CTO, 37.5%) – A software engineer with a software dev shop and multiple clients. I wanted to diversify into building my own products but am not inherently a “product person.” • Founder C (COO, 12.5%) – Brought into the mix by Founder A, with the goal of leveraging his network for traction once the product was built. The idea was to create Product X, a solution targeting the SMB space while competitors were moving upmarket. It wasn’t revolutionary—more of a strategic market play. The Initial Plan & My Role • Founder A would define and prioritize product specs, guiding what needed to be built. • I (Founder B) didn’t have time to code myself, so I allocated engineers from my dev shop (which I personally paid for). My stake was adjusted from 32.5% to 37.5% to reflect this contribution. • Founder C was more of an observer early on, planning to help with traction once we had a product ready. We agreed on a 1-year cliff and a 4-year vesting schedule for equity. Where Things Started to Go Wrong • Lack of a Clear Product Roadmap – Founder A was very focused on getting something built fast, but we never signed off on a structured roadmap or milestones. I underestimated the complexity of what was actually needed for customer conversations. • Engineering Expectations vs. Reality – The team (one part-time lead + two full-time juniors from my dev shop) faced early feedback that development was too slow. In response, I ramped up the lead to full-time and added a part-time PM. But Founder A continued pushing for speed, despite real hurdles (OAuth integrations, etc.). • Shifting MVP Goalposts – Midway, Founder A concluded that an MVP wouldn’t cut it—we needed a more complete product to be competitive. This meant more engineering, more delays, and more of my own money spent on development. The Breaking Point Near the 1-year vesting mark, we had an opportunity: a paying client willing to fund an app. I didn’t have devs on the bench, so I asked Founder A to hold off our project briefly while I hired more engineers to avoid stalling either effort. This was the final straw. Founder A (with Founder C somewhat aligned) decided the arrangement wasn’t working—citing past disagreements and the “slowness” issue. The decision was made to end the partnership. Now, Founder A, as majority holder, is requesting a full handover of the code, Founder C is indifferent, and all engineering costs I covered are essentially lost. Key Takeaways (So Far) Crystal-Clear Agreements Upfront – A formalized product roadmap and timeline should’ve been locked in from day one. Business Needs > Engineering Standards – I wanted to build something solid and scalable, but in an early-stage startup, speed to market is king. This was before AI tools became mainstream, so our approach wasn’t as optimized. Don’t Overextend Without Protection – I personally financed all engineering, but without clear safeguards, that investment became a sunk cost. Expenses Must Be Distributed – I was solely covering engineering salaries, which created an imbalance in financial risk. Future partnerships should ensure costs are shared proportionally, rather than one person shouldering the burden. Where I Need Advice Looking back, I want to improve as an engineer, CEO, and co-founder. • What should I have done differently in structuring this partnership? • How do you balance engineering quality with the startup need for speed? • As a dev shop owner, how can I better navigate equity deals where I’m also bringing in engineering resources? I really appreciate everyone who went through this long post and provide any insights from founders, engineers, or anyone who has been in a similar situation. Thanks for reading! ===================================================================== For readers who might be thinking what set this type of expectation? Because I had a dev shop and I thought my co-founders will be understanding of my business circumstance and I was a bit trigger to build a product with a C-exec team, I gave the impression of "unlimited" engineering which I later realized down the line that it was not feasible for me. Something I learned that I have to be more careful with and set expectations accordingly from the very beginning. And from the feedback of the commenters here, I am much more aware what I should offer and how to set expectations, esp. in the early stages of execution. So thank you all! 🙏🏾 EDIT: I would like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread. You not only helped me but future founders who are considering to get into the startup scene!

AI Might Be the Best Industry for Ambitious Lazy People i will not promote

Not here to promote, just talk about my experience with starting a new business. I'm not new to the game, so I was able to speed-run my new AI automation agency. I currently run a software company with a co-founder, and I recently decided to start a new AI and automation agency. I just had a private launch this week, and I already have a $2K client lined up, ready to buy, along with some other interested parties, as I have sales calls with them coming up. I found all of my leads after choosing a niche to focus on and using this tool I built that automatically scrapes IG data. My tool is “unique” because it automagically qualifies the leads with AI. It even has a custom frontend, and I used this tool as a case study to secure the client I have now, and I accomplished all of this in the span of about a week. Granted, I have a background in engineering, so picking up AI was easier for me, but anyone can do it. You can even use AI to learn AI. If you haven’t used AI in your business yet, I would strongly suggest getting into AI and automation. If you've been considering starting a business but don't know what business to start, take this as a sign to turn AI into a business. i will not promote

Feeling stuck—built a startup, got rejected from YC & IVI, met smarter people, and now I don’t know what to do. ( i will not promote ) I will not promote

I will not promote I don’t even know where to start, but I just feel completely stuck right now. I’m 20 years oldI don’t even know where to start, but I just feel completely stuck right now. I’m 20 years old, have been grinding non-stop for months, and it feels like I have nothing to show for it. I built an AI agent that automates workflows for businesses. I can build tech, but I can’t sell. That’s been my biggest realization recently—I thought building would be enough, but it’s not. I need customers, I need a co-founder, I need to figure out the business side… and I have no idea how. I applied to YC, IVI at ISB, and EF, met a lot of insanely smart people—some were impressed with me and my work, but they were wiser, more experienced, and honestly, just better at all of this than I am. It made me realize how much I don’t know. I got rejected from YC & IVI. 💔 YC didn’t even give much feedback—just a standard rejection. 💔 IVI told me: “You're too young, you need more experience, and you should work with a team before trying to start something.” That hit me hard. I had already been struggling to find a co-founder, and this just made me wonder if I even belong in this space yet. The Frustrating Part? I KNOW my tool Has a Unique Edge. I’m not just another AI automation tool—I know my tool has a strong USP that competitors lack. It has the potential to be an AI employee for businesses, not just another workflow tool. But I still haven’t built the “perfect product” I originally envisioned. And that’s what’s eating at me. I see what it COULD be, but I haven’t made it happen yet. At the same time, the competition in the AI agent space is exploding. YC-backed companies are working on AI agent startups. OpenAI is making huge progress with Operator. Competitors are moving fast, while I feel stuck. I’ve delayed development because I’m unsure whether to double down, pivot, or just move on entirely. Where I’m Stuck Right Now 🔹 Do I keep pushing and try to crack sales somehow? 🔹 Do I join a startup as a founding engineer to get experience, make connections, and learn sales before trying again? 🔹 Do I move to Bangalore, meet founders, and figure out what’s next? 🔹 Do I pivot to something nicher instead of competing in the AI agent race? If so, how do I even find a niche worth pursuing? 🔹 Do I even belong in startups? Or am I just forcing something that’s not working? I feel stuck in a weird middle zone where I’m not a beginner, but I’m also not successful. I’ve done enough to see what’s possible, but not enough to make it real. Every rejection makes me question if I’m even on the right path. I don’t know if I’m posting this for advice or just to get it out of my system. Maybe both. Has anyone else felt like this before? If you’ve been in this situation—how did you figure out whether to keep going or move on? TL;DR: I’m 20, built an AI agent for automating workflows, got rejected from YC & IVI, met insanely smart and experienced people, realized I can build tech but can’t sell, struggling to find a co-founder, AI agent competition is growing, delaying development, confused about the future—don’t know whether to double down, pivot, or move on. The frustrating part? I\ know I have a unique edge that others lack, but I still haven’t built the perfect product I originally envisioned.* edit: removed the tool's name

I fell into the builder's trap and need help getting out

Hi r/startups, First-time technical founder here. Two years ago, I decided to leave the 9-5 grind and build something meaningful. Now, I have (what I believe is) a brilliant technical solution but no clear business case. I’m seeking a cofounder with product and marketing expertise to help pivot my project into a viable business - or start a new one. Details below. About Me 36yo, born in Berlin and moved to San Francisco 8 years ago Master's in Software Engineering with 15 years of experience Worked with early-stage startups in Berlin and a venture studio in SF Spent the past years leading a team of 12 shipping enterprise software The tech I've built An AI engine that makes it easy for developers to automate their workflows. It works with code, issues, PRs and integrates with 3rd party systems like error trackers, wikis, ticketing systems, etc. It takes natural language instructions, fulfills them autonomously and responds with a result. The functionality is served as a platform, with an API and an SDK. On top of it, I've built a CLI and a web application with productivity tools for developers. Who and what I'm looking for My main goal is to leave my current job and build a company around a problem that matters to me, ideally with considerable equity. I’m looking for: A cofounder with product and marketing expertise who sees potential in my tech and can help turn it into a successful business—or someone with a strong business case who needs a technical founder. Mentorship from someone experienced in dev tool startups or as a successful solo founder. I’d love to learn from your journey and would be happy to offer my technical expertise or collaborate on projects in return. Happy to answer any questions or provide more details. Cheers!

Nuts and bolts AI implementation for small business

How can small businesses use AI to increase sales or decrease expenses without massive disruption? One way for us is using AI to process our email history to identify patterns and write personalized messages based on past correspondence. According to legal advice in which I have confidence, email that is personalized for each recipient (and meets other standards) does not need to be opt in. If you disagree - understood - but spam morality is not the topic here. Bottom line - obviously a game changer. Knowing phrases people have used before becoming clients - and all of the possible permutations of those phrases, and detecting where those phrases show up will make our sales and marketing many times more effective for a fraction of the cost. There's a reason big corps. record calls, and now small business can leverage the same technology. We are setting up a process that yields accurate, up to date, comprehensive data for our own business operations. Our clients - who are they and how has their demographic changed over time? To answer this question and for email personalization, we also need access to external data sources e.g. like accurate up to date company demographics. IMO - the leader in company data in the US? THEY SUCK. We found there is no magic fairy who is going to make good data appear for our AI. The process of applying our own proprietary knowledge to code and categorize the data is just as important, and obviously highly sensitive. How do we leverage the AI technologies of companies like Google and Microsoft (or anyone else) without being their bitch? Below is a list of some of the sources of my business's data: Data sources: PST/OST/Other Email data files Microsoft data from Windows/O365 Windows/Linux/Android/IOS application logs and other data Web server logs for the company website. SEO/Analytics Data Google data export Google voice/VOIP logs OneDrive/G drive Other Phone system/cell service logs Other SAAS and in-house application data. Facebook/social media data for company pages. QuickBooks/other accounting systems/business bank account logs POS/Credit card processing systems/PayPal, etc. OSINT to fill in the blanks

Good at coding, bad at marketing. Summary

Hello. I posted a question on what to do if you are good at coding but bad at marketing four days ago, and I received so many responses and tips. The original post is here. I was really glad and excited to read comments. To return the favor to the community and add some more value, I’ve summarized all the comments I got on the original post. Here are they, with my personal comments on some of the advice I got. You’ll never believe it, but the most common advice was to learn. Really, the first and only thing you should start with if you’re bad at marketing is learning. Yet learning could be different. I highlighted 5 main areas. Educate yourself on general questions. Learn more about some basics. For example, start by finding out what the 4P’s of marketing are, and afterward, you’ll inevitably run into YouTube videos, seminars, Udemy courses, or any other resource that resonates with you on some ideas/avenues you could pursue. Read books and watch videos. There are tons of books on marketing and sales. People shared in the comments books by Dan Kennedy and “Cashvertising”, written by Drew Eric Whitman. (I’ve never heard of them, but already ordered on Amazon). For sales, the most common idea was to start with YouTube videos. For example, Alex Hormozi videos and Startup school delivered by Ycombinator videos. Check out Indie Hackers and scrutinize it for a piece of good advice from developers in the same situation. Also, there was advice to follow up and read some guy on Twitter. (Don't want to get unfairly banned from here, so won't post it) Educate yourself and hire a professional or find a co-founder to help you: Hire a seasoned marketer in this field to help you out. He will help you achieve cost-efficient scales. But it could be a real problem to find the right person. Marketing agencies are expensive. Try to look on LinkedIn or among your acquaintances. Look for professionals with credentials or extensive experience. Seek marketing referrals from startups of a similar size/industry. If you don't have those, try to bring a trusted/experienced marketer friend into the intro meetings to help assess whether the service provider knows what they are doing. Talented freelancers can often get the job done for less than hiring an entire agency. Look for a co-founder who is savvy in marketing, passionate, and ready to work hard towards mutual success. Educate and DIY Being the face of your business is way better than having faceless communication. The startup checklist is made based on the comments is next: At least have your product defined. Define your target audience. Set up the goals you want to achieve. Make domain expertise and understand the market and the direction of its development. The next stage is answering tricky questions: Have you created a business model? How do you plan to compete? What’s your unique selling point? How much do you plan to budget for marketing? Are you planning to work alone, or will you need other devs? Then you start thinking about clients… You need the exposure to truly understand the customer's pain points and build a product that they love. You need to think about how your clients would think, and you should tailor each step you take for them. Get feedback from your early users if you already have a product. Interview your potential customers to learn how they buy. This will help you narrow your choice of marketing channels. Get your product or service used by several startups and help them achieve their goals. Endorsements are very valuable marketing assets. You need a landing to validate your value proposition and start sending traffic, or you can run meta instant form campaigns... It would depend on the category of your startup. You need a benchmark of the competition's ads both in Meta and Google, blog posts, domain authority, their landing page, and average search volumes. Do affiliate marketing for your product since it's an effective strategy. Educate and use AI tools for dealing with marketing. Build an LLM-based product to automate marketing. (Sounds like an idea for a startup, right?) Learn following ChatGPT advice. In 1–3 months, you will be another updated person. Look at marketowl, an AI marketing department for startups and microbusinesses that have no budget or time to do marketing. It will automate the basic tasks your business needs, but it doesn't require your marketing expertise. Check out AI tools that are delivering very good marketing content (gocharlie, jasper, copyai). Educate yourself and run socials Start a blog or YouTube channel where you can share your expertise in coding or anything else you are good at and how your product simplifies life. Engage with your audience on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn, where you can showcase your industry knowledge. Start a page on Twitter and an account on Reddit. Follow and read subreddits and pages where your potential customers are. Learn the pain from the inside. Do not simply promote, people will lose interest immediately. Start by taking focused time to create informational content, so people will eventually be naturally intrigued by what you do and want to support you when they start to “know” you. Educate your potential users about the value of your product. Create content based on what ideal customers are asking at the various stages of marketing. e.g., if they are at the beginning of the process, they may use basic language; if they are further down the process, maybe they’ll be specific. Try to get on podcasts and build as many social links as you can. In other words, don’t live in a shell! Post regularly, and eventually you’ll find sites or people that are willing to promote for you. I omitted here all personal help offers and newsletters, however you could find them in the original post. Hope that will be helpful!

Looking for more people to test out my AI App building product!

Hey guys, I am looking for a few people to do an early test on a product I made. The product allows you to tell an AI about an app you want, and it will create it for you! I hope this will help many people here build the online business they have always wanted with essentially no work. This isn't like cursor ai, there is no code written in front of you. Instead, you are presented with multiple variations of an app, and you can tell the AI what changes to make. It's meant to be a creative journey, not a technical one. THIS IS NOT A SALES PITCH AND IS 100% FREE. Just building fun stuff out here and I need great people to try it!

Would you be paying $10/month for a service that lets you

-create an AI assistant in seconds without any “low code/ no code drag & drop tools”. -that talks to your customer to answer business queries, book your appointments and automate workflows? -can be exported as chatbot, voice call agent, whatsapp and other social media handler.

Month 2 of building my startup after being laid off - $200 in revenue and 4 (actual) paying customers

In September 2024, I got laid off from my Silicon Valley job. It fucking sucked. I took a day to be sad, then got to work - I'm not one to wallow, I prefer action. Updated my resume, hit up my network, started interviewing. During this time, I had a realization - I'm tired of depending on a single income stream. I needed to diversify. Then it hit me: I literally work with RAG (retrieval augmented generation) in AI. Why not use this knowledge to help small businesses reduce their customer service load and boost sales? One month later, Answer HQ 0.5 (the MVP) was in the hands of our first users (shoutout to these alpha testers - their feedback shaped everything). By month 2, Answer HQ 1.0 launched with four paying customers, and growing. You're probably thinking - great, another chatbot. Yes, Answer HQ is a chatbot at its core. But here's the difference: it actually works. Our paying customers are seeing real results in reducing support load, plus it has something unique - it actively drives sales by turning customer questions into conversions. How? The AI doesn't just answer questions, it naturally recommends relevant products and content (blogs, social media, etc). Since I'm targeting small business owners (who usually aren't tech wizards) and early startups, Answer HQ had to be dead simple to set up. Here's my onboarding process - just 4 steps. I've checked out competitors like Intercom and Crisp, and I can say this: if my non-tech fiancée can set up an assistant on her blog in minutes, anyone can. Key learnings so far: Building in public is powerful. I shared my journey on Threads and X, and the support for a solo founder has been amazing. AI dev tools (Cursor, Claude Sonnet 3.5) have made MVP development incredibly accessible. You can get a working prototype frontend ready in days. I don't see how traditional no-code tools can survive in this age. But.. for a production-ready product? You still need dev skills and background. Example: I use Redis for super-fast loading of configs and themes. An AI won't suggest this optimization unless you know to ask for it. Another example: Cursor + Sonnet 3.5 struggles with code bases with many files and dependencies. It will change things you don't want it to change. Unless you can read code + understand it + know what needs to be changed and not changed, you'll easily run into upper limits of what prompting alone can do. I never mention "artificial intelligence" "AI" "machine learning" or any of these buzzwords once in my copy in my landing page, docs, product, etc. There is no point. Your customers do not care that something has AI in it. AI is not the product. Solving their pain points and problems is the product. AI is simply a tool of many tools like databases, APIs, caching, system design, etc. Early on, I personally onboarded every user through video calls. Time-consuming? Yes. But it helped me deeply understand their pain points and needs. I wasn't selling tech - I was showing them solutions to their problems. Tech stack: NextJS/React/Tailwind/shadcn frontend, Python FastAPI backend. Using Supabase Postgres, Upstash Redis, and Pinecone for different data needs. Hosted on Vercel and Render.com. Customer growth: Started with one alpha tester who saw such great results (especially in driving e-commerce sales) that he insisted on paying for a full year to keep me motivated. This led to two monthly customers, then a fourth annual customer after I raised prices. My advisor actually pushed me to raise prices again, saying I was undercharging for the value provided. I have settled on my final pricing now. I am learning so much. Traditionally, I have a software development and product management background. I am weak in sales and marketing. Building that app, designing the architecture, talking to customers, etc, these are all my strong suits. I enjoy doing it too. But now I need to improve on my ability to market the startup and really start learning things like SEO, content marketing, cold outreach, etc. I enjoying learning new skills. Happy to answer any questions about the journey so far!