The Startup Ideas Podcast

Today I break down a big news item I think is flying under the radar: OpenAI quietly launched Skills for Codex, and I explain what that means (and how it differs from sub-agents and MCPs). I then share a fast-moving trend I’m watching and why it’s a strong wedge for a simple app. After that, I recommend the to-do app I’ve used for 14 years and give away a startup idea. I close with a practical 6-step framework for going from idea → viral validation → mobile app launch in 2026.Timestamps00:00 – Intro: the new format (news, trend, app, startup idea, framework)00:40 – AI New Item: OpenAI launches Skills for Codex05:45 – Trend: Face Yoga07:56 – App Recommendation: Things09:33 – Startup Idea: Call-an-expert service for non-developers stuck at 80% done14:44 – Framework: Viral Mobile App FrameworkKey PointsOpenAI “Skills” make Codex/ChatGPT more reusable and consistent by packaging repeatable workflows.A “skill” is the recipe, a “sub-agent” is extra worker instances, and an “MCP” is the tool access plug.Face yoga is an emerging sub-niche with clear app potential (simple routines, monetization via paid or ads).Last 20 is a practical marketplace idea: pay for 15 minutes of expert unblock help to finish the last 20%.Viral validation favors apps that are visually obvious, explainable in three words, and tied to insecurity-driven outcomes.Numbered Section SummariesOpenAI Skills: The Quiet Upgrade I walk through OpenAI’s launch of Skills for Codex—reusable bundles of instructions/scripts/resources that can be called directly or chosen automatically. I’m excited because this makes agent workflows more consistent and scalable across tasks.The Foundation: Skill vs Sub-Agent vs MCP I clarify the taxonomy: a skill is the written playbook, sub-agents are extra “worker” copies of the model that split a big job, and MCPs are what let the model access external systems like tickets or repos. This is the mental model I want everyone using going into 2026.The Trend: Face Yoga As An App Wedge I share a niche trend I’m seeing—face yoga—and why it’s a product opportunity similar to how yoga apps became huge. I call out the obvious app angles: guided routines, jawline/face-slimming programs, and content-driven growth via short videos.The Tool: Things (My Simple Focus System) I recommend the Things to-do app because it’s simple: “Today,” “Upcoming,” and “Someday,” without a monthly fee. I also note what’s missing (I’d like more AI features), but it still wins for focus if you don’t want a “kitchen sink” system.The Startup Idea: Last 20 (Phone-A-Friend For Vibe Coders) I give away the idea: builders get stuck at 80% after using Cursor/Replit/V0, so Last 20 matches them with someone who’s solved that exact wall before. The product is a fast screen-share session—problem solved—priced per session or bundled for teams/agencies, with the marketplace taking a cut.The Distribution Framework: Viral Validation → Launch I share a 6-step process: warm up the account, design a visually obvious app, build a tiny MVP fast, post daily until something hits, build the community before the product, then launch with a hard paywall and keep content rolling. It’s a simple playbook for getting to organic traction in 2026.The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.comLCA 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/The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/FIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

In this episode, I go over one AI news item I can’t stop thinking about, one trend you can build a business around, two tools I’m using, one startup idea you should steal, and one framework to end on. I start with a leak suggesting Anthropic is productizing “agent mode” for Claude with structured task buckets and a progress/context UI. Then I use Hyrox as an example of how I validate trends quickly with search data (and what “low competition + cheap CPC + explosive growth” signals). I wrap by pitching a hotel guest-communication concierge and the “thousand people framework” for getting to clarity on your ICP and what they’ll reliably pay for.Timestamps00:00 – Intro00:32 – AI New Item: Anthropic leak: Agent Task Mode for Claude04:47 – Trend: Hyrox08:59 – AI App: Krea and Notebook LLM12:23 – Startup idea: Digital Hotel Concierge15:59 – Framework: The “1000 People”For founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-modeKey PointsAgent workflows get “productized” when the UI guides the task (not just a blank prompt box).Trend validation can be fast: look for explosive growth + low competition + cheap CPC, then ideate apps around it.NotebookLM’s slide generation is an underrated workflow for turning sources into clean decks.The “Guest Guide” concept is a simple AI/QR wedge: answer repetitive hotel questions and monetize per property.The thousand-people exercise forces clarity: who exactly buys, what they pay yearly, and how you reach them.Section SummariesThe Claude Agent Mode Leak I break down a leak claiming Anthropic is preparing a more structured “agent mode” for Claude, organized into buckets like research, analyze, write, and build plus choices like depth, format, and outputs. The big shift is moving from “open chat” to “delegating distinct tasks” with visibility into progress and context.Productized Prompts = Better Output I explain why a blank text box can be daunting, and why UI that scaffolds intent (validate/compare/forecast, quick vs. thorough, doc vs. slides vs. spreadsheet) can make results meaningfully better. To me, it points at a future where you “check in” on agents like teammates.Trend Hunting I use Hyrox, an indoor fitness competition that’s “like the new CrossFit,” as a real example of how I sanity-check whether something is becoming a business opportunity. The workflow is simple: I see it in culture, then I go straight to Idea Browser to pull search/CPC/competition signals.Two Tools I’m Testing I call out Krea as a creative AI subscription bundling multiple models, and then I highlight NotebookLM’s slide/infographic feature as the underrated part—turning a source (including transcripts) into clean, well-designed slides with strong hierarchy.Steal This: Guest Guide I pitch a hotel digital concierge that handles common guest questions via QR-code guides, priced per property with affiliate upside, and I reference Sadie as an adjacent AI hospitality product (more on calls/reservations). Then I close with the “thousand people framework”: define the real ICP, map what they’ll pay yearly, and figure out distribution—because clarity is the driver.The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.comLCA 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/The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: https://www.thevibemarketer.com/FIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

I’m joined by Sahil Bloom for a throwback episode where he walks me through his “personal annual review,” a 7-question framework to reflect on 2025 and set yourself up to crush 2026. We talk about why reflection beats raw experience, how to use your calendar to surface what you’ve actually changed your mind on, and how to identify what creates vs. drains your energy. We dig into “boat anchors” (the hidden drag holding you back), what fear kept you from doing, and how to learn from both your greatest hits and worst misses. By the end, you’ll have a practical set of questions you can answer on paper to extract real insights from the year and carry them forward.Get the Personal Review Template: https://www.sahilbloom.com/annual-reviewTimestamps00:00 – Intro 02:54 – Why Reflection Matters (The “Annual Review” Setup) 04:12 – Q1: What Did I Change My Mind On? 11:29 – Q2: What Created Energy This Year? 18:58 – Q3: What Drained Energy This Year? 25:05 – Q4: What Were The Boat Anchors In My Life? 33:06 – Q5: What Did I Not Do Because Of Fear? 39:51 – Q6: Greatest Hits & Worst Misses (And Why) 44:04 – Q7: What Did I Learn This Year? (Synthesize 3–10 Learnings) Key PointsYou don’t learn from “having a year,” you learn from reflecting on it, and that reflection becomes usable data for the next year.Your outcomes follow your energy, use your calendar to identify what creates energy and what drains it, then adjust accordingly.For “draining” activities, evaluate how you feel after (not during), because many high-value things feel hard in the moment.The fastest progress often comes from cutting what holds you back (“boat anchors”), not adding new habits or protocols.Fear is often inexperience (not inability); shine a light on it with deconstruction exercises (e.g., upsides vs. downsides) and take action.“Hits vs. misses” reflection prevents bias, overly critical people only see misses; optimists only see wins, both lose learning.The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.comLCA 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/The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.comStartup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkitBecome a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empireFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND SAHIL ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/SahilBloomInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/sahilbloom/?hl=enYOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@Sahil_Bloom

In this solo episode, I walk through 10 concrete rules to get way more out of Claude Code and Claude Opus 4.5, based directly on tips Anthropic has shared in their docs and blog posts. I show how to move from vague prompts to architected briefs that use tone, constraints, structure, and power phrases to avoid “AI slop.” I demo examples across writing, research, teaching, and planning so you can see exactly how to apply each rule. By the end, you have a practical playbook for prompting Claude like a teammate and using it as a true thinking partner in your work.Timestamps00:00 – Intro00:56 – Rule #1: Tone of collaboration02:16 – Rule #2: Principle of explicitness (action verbs, quantity, audience)03:20 – Rule #3: Define the boundaries with clear constraints04:26 – Rule #4: Draft, plan, then act (outline → refine → execute)06:39 – Rule #5: Demand structured output (tables, formats, schemas)08:00 – Rule #6: Explain the “why” behind your request09:05 – Rule #7: Control brevity vs. verbosity (expert, brief, simplifier)10:21 – Rule #8: Provide a scaffold and templates11:21 – Rule #9: Use “power phrases” and expert personas12:28 – Rule #10: Divide and conquer complex projects14:09 – Putting it all together with an exampleFor founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-modeKey PointsI share 10 specific prompting rules that come directly from how Anthropic suggests people use Claude.I show how friendly, clear, and firm prompts beat either vague or overly polite requests.I demonstrate how explicit constraints (length, style, audience, banned words) create more creative and focused outputs.I use outlines, scaffolds, and structured formats to turn Claude into a planning and synthesis engine instead of a random text generator.I introduce “power phrases” like “think step by step” and “critique your own response” to unlock more advanced reasoning.I wrap everything into a final Stoicism lecture prompt that combines persona, context, constraints, structure, and tone.The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.comLCA 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/The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.comStartup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkitBecome a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empireFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

On this episode I sit down with Rob Hoffman, who runs a portfolio of profitable SaaS businesses (Contact, Mentions, Kleo). Rob breaks down six proven customer acquisition playbooks using real examples doing between ~$20K and $300K MRR. The episode walks through concrete strategies like waitlist launches, trend-jacking, language arbitrage, AI search, signal-search, and high-ticket ads. You will learn how to go beyond “vibe coding” and use structured marketing systems to get their first customers, raise prices, and scale more predictably.Timestamps00:00 – Intro 04:16 – 1) Waitlist Strategy: Kleo & Mentions Case Study 19:45 – 2) Wave Surfer Strategy: TrustMRR Case Study 27:54 –3) Language Arbitrage Strategy: Teachizy Case Study 33:53 – 4) AI Search Strategy: Tally Case Study 40:30 – 5) Signal Search Strategy: LocalRank Case Study 50:04 – 6) High Ticket Ad Strategy: MailScale Case StudyKey PointsMost indie builders can ship products but struggle to get customers; Rob packages his experience into six repeatable acquisition playbooks.The Waitlist Strategy pairs “edgy sales” content with email nurturing, scarcity, and beta cohorts to quickly reach tens of thousands in MRR.Riding an existing wave (like fake-MRR discourse on X) plus product-led virality can generate huge attention, which is better monetized with ads than subscriptions.Language and geo arbitrage—cloning a winning SaaS into another language/market—combined with non-English SEO is “marketing on easy mode.”AI search (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude) is an overpowered channel right now; deep “alternatives/versus/best of” pages are heavily cited and convert far better than Google traffic.Feature-first launches, faceless accounts, and enterprise plans let products like LocalRank and MailScale stack MRR with small audiences, YouTube demos, and high-ticket sales.The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.comLCA 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/The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.comStartup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkitBecome a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empireFIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND ROB ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/RobHoffman_Kleo: https://kleo.so