The Startup Ideas Podcast
The best businesses are built at the intersection of emerging technology, community, and real human needs.
“I'm trying to create like a rigged slot machine where I put a dollar in and get $1.30 out”
What It Means
Focus on predictable profitability rather than uncertain growth - find formula that works and scale it
Why It Matters
This approach allows rapid scaling without complex operations or large teams
When It's True
When you have proven unit economics and can maintain them at scale
When It's Risky
When market conditions change, competition increases, or platform policies shift
How to Apply
Test small to find profitable customer acquisition
Scale only proven formulas
Don't try to fix broken unit economics - pivot instead
Example Scenario
“Test Facebook ads at $50/day, find profitable combination, then scale to $500/day with same creative and targeting”
Related Knowledge
LTV over CAC of above three best consumer mobile apps
Sustainable consumer mobile apps achieve lifetime value to customer acquisition cost ratios exceeding 3:1
Rigged Slot Machine Framework
A business model where you know with high confidence that investing $1 will return $1.
Digital-to-IRL Conversion Framework
A systematic approach to taking successful digital products, services, or communities and recreating them as premium in-person experiences.
Leveraged Agency Progression Framework
A three-phase approach to building AI startups by starting with manual service work, then systematically replacing human labor with AI agents while maintaining service pricing and margins.
vitamin or painkiller vitamin don't want to be painkiller really need
Products solving urgent, desperate problems (painkillers) succeed better than nice-to-have improvements (vitamins)
This isn't your 101. You're going to be running a business by yourself with AI employees.
AI agents represent a fundamental shift from simple automation to full business operation assistance