The Startup Ideas Podcast

• Prompt Claude better than 99% of people

  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. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 00:56 – Rule #1: Tone of collaboration 02:16 – Rule #2: Principle of explicitness (action verbs, quantity, audience) 03:20 – Rule #3: Define the boundaries with clear constraints 04:26 – 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 request 09:05 – Rule #7: Control brevity vs. verbosity (expert, brief, simplifier) 10:21 – Rule #8: Provide a scaffold and templates 11:21 – Rule #9: Use “power phrases” and expert personas 12:28 – Rule #10: Divide and conquer complex projects 14:09 – Putting it all together with an example For founders doing $50k+ MRR+: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/offline-mode Key Points I 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.com 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/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

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• 10 Unknown SaaS Making $50K+ MRR (Copy Them)

  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. Timestamps 00:00 – 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 Study Key Points Most 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.com 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/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND ROB ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://x.com/RobHoffman_ Kleo: https://kleo.so

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• $50K/month Mobile App Ideas So Good You’ll Quit Your Job

  On this episode, I breakdown eight little-known mobile apps that each generate around $50,000+ per month and explain why they work. I walk through specific examples—from AI video generators and Bible note-takers to vinyl pricing tools and AI English tutors—then explain the common patterns behind their success. The second half of the episode is devoted to six clear frameworks for spotting high-potential niches and designing simple, sticky mobile apps around them. I end the episode with a batch of extra startup ideas built on high-intent inputs like photos, videos, and scans so listeners can “vibe code” their own profitable apps in 2026. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 02:02 – App 1: Flashloop: AI Video Generator for Viral Character Clips 03:26 – App 2: Bible Note-Taker & Prayer Recorder for Churchgoers 06:35 – App 3: AI Home Decor Interior Design App and Visualization Pain 08:48 – App 4: Moji Lab: Emoji/Sticker Packs and Expression as a Business 11:43 – App 5: Vinyl Snap: Scanning Vinyl Records for Accurate Pricing 13:51 – App 6: Genora AI: Bundling Multiple LLMs into One Assistant 16:45 – App 7: Logo Maker: AI Generated Logos 18:57 – App 8: Menu Fit: Healthy Eating Recommendations at Any Restaurant 20:44 – App 9: LangLearn: Personal AI English Tutor and Duolingo Comparison 22:37 – App 10: Zozo Fit 3D Body Scanner: Tracking Body Change, Not the Scale 25:04 – The “ 50K MRR App Framework” 31:30 – Bonus Startup Ideas Key Points Profitable mobile apps often do one high-intent, recurring job for a specific identity-based group, then charge a subscription around that behavior. Many breakout apps turn photos, videos, or scans (high-signal inputs) into premium insights like valuations, design plans, or tailored recommendations. Simple, one-screen interfaces with clear before/after transformations make these AI-powered tools feel approachable and addictive to use. The “50K MRR App Framework” combines spending power, repeating problems, visual inputs, accuracy needs, and bad existing tools to guide idea selection. New app ideas can be generated by pairing these frameworks with underserved niches like golf swings, pet health, used cars, or RV layouts. Numbered Section Summaries Why Mobile Apps Are Printing Money in 2026 The host opens by arguing that now is an incredible time to build mobile apps, pointing to new apps that have appeared “out of nowhere” and reached $50K+ per month. He cites a tweet listing 10 such apps launched in the last 180 days and sets the goal of reverse engineering what makes them work so listeners can apply the patterns to their own ideas. The 50K MRR App Framework The “50K MRR App Framework”: find a group that (1) spends money, (2) has a repeating problem, (3) uses photos/videos as inputs, (4) cares deeply about accuracy, and (5) suffers from bad existing tools. He walks through how vinyl collectors fit every criterion and stresses that while the framework is simple, execution still requires great UX, clean UI, and the right niche. The goal is to make idea selection easier by checking all five boxes before committing to an app. Six Supporting Frameworks for Designing Hit Apps I expands into six additional frameworks: start with a “nerve” (identity, urgency, stakes, repetition); solve one job that always must be done; build around a single high-intent input (photo, address, object); use AI to unlock a premium insight (price, diagnosis, summary, design plan); wrap it in a simple, desirable interface (one screen, one button, one transformation); and create a recurring behavior loop that pulls users back daily or weekly. He summarizes these in a conceptual pipeline: high-intent input → AI premium insight → simple interface → recurring loop → $50K MRR. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com 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/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

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• How I Use Claude Code & Cursor (Ship 10X Faster)

  On this episode I sit down with indie app builder and designer Chris ****Raroque to walk through his real AI coding workflow. Chris explains how he ships a portfolio of productivity apps doing thousands in MRR by pairing Claude Code and Cursor instead of picking just one tool. He live-demos “vibe coding” an iOS animation, then compares how Claude Code and Cursor’s plan mode tackle the same task. The episode closes with concrete tips on plan mode, MCP servers, AI code review, dictation, and deep research so solo devs can build bigger apps than they could alone. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:04 – Which Tools & Models to Use 09:16 – Thoughts on the Vibe Coding Mobile App Landscape 11:14 – Live demo: prompting Claude Code to build an iOS “AI searching” animation 18:07 – Live demo: prompting Cursor with same task 21:02 – Chris’s Best Tips for Vibe Coders Key Points You don’t have to pick one IDE copilot: Chris actively switches between Claude Code and Cursor because they have different strengths. For very complex bug-hunting, he prefers Cursor with plan mode; for big-picture app architecture, he leans on Claude Code with Opus. Non-developers should start on higher-level “vibe coding” platforms like Create Anything for mobile apps before graduating to Claude/Cursor. Plan mode plus detailed, spoken prompts dramatically improves code quality, especially for UI and animation work. MCP servers and AI code review bots let solo developers safely set up infra, enforce security, and catch bugs they’d otherwise miss. Claude’s deep research is a powerful way to choose the right patterns and libraries before handing implementation back to Claude Code or Cursor. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com 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/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND CHRIS ON SOCIAL Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@raroque X/Twitter: https://x.com/raroque Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chris.raroque/

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• Best Products of 2025 (Apps, Video Games, AI)

  Join me as I sit down with Jonathan Courtney to host the second annual “Sippy Awards,” the most prestigious award show in tech for the products, games, and tools that shaped 2025. We crown our most-hyped products for 2026, favorite games of the year, best productivity tools, and best products under $100. We also dive into analog tools like Traveler’s Notebook, hi-fi systems, Japanese porcelain, and simple clothing uniforms as ways to make everyday life better and de-fragment your brain. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 03:23 – Most Hyped Product of 2026 14:43 – Game of the Year 2025 19:49 – The Way to Innovate 25:41 – Premium Domains 29:56 – Best Productivity Product 42:02 – Favorite Product of 2025 54:10 – Best products under $100. Key Points The Sippy Awards are a playful but serious way for Greg and Jonathan to highlight the products and games that genuinely improved their lives in 2025. They argue that cult classics (Wind Waker, Pinkerton, Kid A, Breath of the Wild, Elden Ring) come from creators who put the audience last and follow their own taste, even at the risk of initial backlash. Distinctive visual identities and premium dot-com domains are framed as both trust builders for users and commitment devices for founders. Their favorite productivity and lifestyle tools—ChatGPT, Things, Endel, Traveler’s Notebook, YouTube Premium, Japanese porcelain—show how small, well-crafted tools reshape daily workflows and rituals. Analog practices (morning pages, notebooks, hi-fi listening) and simple clothing uniforms are presented as ways to de-fragment your brain, reduce decision fatigue, and focus on what matters. The #1 tool to find startup ideas/trends - https://www.ideabrowser.com 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/ The Vibe Marketer - Resources for people into vibe marketing/marketing with AI: thevibemarketer.com Startup Empire - get your free builders toolkit to build cashflowing business - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire-toolkit Become a member - https://startup-ideas-pod.link/startup-empire FIND ME ON SOCIAL X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/ FIND JONATHAN ON SOCIAL Unscheduled CEO Podcast: https://www.unscheduledceo.com/  X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jicecream  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-courtney-4510644b/

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