How to get unlimited startup ideas

Hey — it’s Marc. After an earthquake in Bali and a typhoon in Hong Kong, I’m back home ready to rock & roll.

In 2021, I had 0 startup ideas. Today, there are 50+ on my list.

Let’s break down how to never run out of ideas.

Estimated reading time: 2 min 24 sec

1. Upgrade your life

Solve your own problem—they said. If you’re a specialist, you’re lucky. But if you’re a generalist like me, your #1 problem is finding startup ideas.

Instead, find something you do daily and improve it.

• Build a better habit tracker

• Make a better email drip tool

• Automate your coding flow

Customers won’t pay for your creativity. Instead, do something boring—upgrade an existing product/service you use often.

1. It increases the odds of making money: People are already paying for solutions

2. It boosts your conversion rate: You care about the market, and you speak their language

3. It generates tons of problems—a.k.a. startup ideas (see next part)

Build a daily habit of questioning what could be improved in your daily workflow and ideas will germ.

2. Build more

Legendary solopreneur—Pieter Levels—builds on top of his startups: AvatarAI created InteriorAI, which made PhotoAI.

Ideas emerge from building them.

• You use the same code boilerplate: it’s a startup

• You struggle with DNS records for email deliverability: it’s a course

• You launch in the same directories: it’s an info product

Start something boring. Launch it. Find what you can automate, fix, or teach. You’ll never run out of ideas.

3. Universal needs

There are problems everywhere:

• 𝕏 users want more followers

• Businesses want to make more money

• Anyone want to be fit and healthy

Problem = startup ideas. Start with a market you care about and think about how to fulfill their basic needs.

In 2018, I was lost, with no income and no startup idea. I didn’t know how to code and I just love video games.

So I cold-called escape room businesses and sold them a marketing tool: An embedded mini-game on their websites to increase the conversion rate (aka. universal need)

Someone bought it, I was shocked at how easy to is it to sell something when you solve someone’s problem. The software was not even prepared.

The SaaS grew to $6,000 MRR. I burned out because I didn’t care about the market, and closed the business (Acquire didn’t exist back then). But it kept me busy for 2 years, made money, and led me to where I am today.

What universal need can you solve with your skills?

I root for you.