3 startup ideas from the co-founder of Loom (make $120k/mo)

November 25, 2024

AI Summary

5 min read

Three startup ideas from the co-founder of Loom

The co-founder of Loom, Shahed Khan, came on the podcast to give away three startup ideas he's been thinking about since his exit. None of them require venture capital to start. All three are grounded in a simple observation: the way people actually behave—how they search, how they travel, how they share memories—has diverged from what existing products offer. The episode walks through each idea in detail, including how to build an MVP, how to monetize, and why the timing is right.

The anti-TripAdvisor travel app

The first and most developed idea is a travel discovery app built for millennials and Gen Z who want to find places locals actually go. Khan's diagnosis is blunt: "For 99% of travelers out there, travel is a byproduct of how good an SEO engineer really is." TripAdvisor and Expedia dominate search results, which means they send everyone to the same handful of tourist spots—the Coliseum at 9 a.m., the famous restaurant two blocks away where no locals eat. Meanwhile, the real gems live on TikTok, posted by micro-influencers who film aesthetically minimal guides to coffee shops, bookstores, and quiet places to sit and watch the city. None of that content exists on the legacy travel sites.

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Introduction & Guest Setup** - Host introduces a close friend who sold a company for a billion dollars and is giving away startup ideas.
2 (01:32) **Idea 1: The Anti-TripAdvisor Traveler** - A TikTok-inspired travel guide for millennials and Gen Z seeking hidden gems.
3 (19:28) **Idea 2: A Micro Social Network for Friend Proximity** - A minimalist app to see where your close friends are, inspired by Path.
4 (34:21) **Idea 3: Time Capsules for Shared Memories** - An ephemeral, curated way to gift and relive shared experiences.
5 (41:27) **Closing & Guest's Contact** - Guest plugs his Twitter (@_SHAHEDK) and Instagram for feedback on these ideas.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

In this episode, I am joined by Shahed Khan, co-founder of Loom, as we explore innovative startup ideas, and his frameworks for finding and building startups

Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:50 Startup Idea 1: The Modern Travel Guide
19:25 Startup Idea 2: The anti-social social network
34:06 Startup Idea 3: Time Capsules of Shared Memories

1) The Anti-TripAdvisor Traveler
Problem: Millennials & Gen Z hate cookie-cutter travel experiences
Solution: TikTok-inspired travel app with curated, local gems

Key features:
• City-specific guides (coffee shops, bookstores, etc.)
• Video carousels showing vibes
• Monetize by unlocking full guides ($0.99)

How to build MVP:
1. Use TikTok API to pull trending local videos
2. Transcribe with Descript or Google Speech-to-Text
3. Clean up with ChatGPT
4. Auto-post to WordPress via Zapier
Pro tip: Start hyper-niche (e.g., coffeesnobs.xyz) then expand

2) The New "Path" - Dunbar's Social Network
Problem: We've lost connection with our REAL friends
Solution: Reinvent Path for 2024 - ultra-private social network
Key features:
• Max 150 connections (Dunbar's number)
• Location-based updates
• Simple, minimalist design

Why it could work:
• People crave intimate, ad-free spaces
• AI makes building faster & cheaper
• Charge $20-30/year subscription
Marketing angle: "The anti-social social network"

3) Time Capsules of Shared Memories
Problem: "Shared albums are where memories go to die"
Solution: Physical, ephemeral time capsules of shared experiences

Key features:
• Pull from connected social accounts
• Curate personalized memory boxes
• Make it EASY to send as gifts

Monetization:
• Subscription for curation
• Charge per physical time capsule sent

Inspiration: Remember Klout? Leverage nostalgia!
Bonus insight: People don't change. Our needs stay the same.
Products evolve, but human nature is constant. Study the past!

Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)

Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas

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FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/

FIND SHAHED ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: h