7 validated startup ideas that will make $100K/month (and how to grow them)
February 17, 2025
AI Summary
5 min read7 validated startup ideas that will make $100K/month (and how to grow them)
The hosts open with a confession: they both had four Cuban coffees and are "wired right now." What follows is a rapid-fire session of seven startup ideas, each grounded in a specific mechanism — not vague theory. The throughline is that every idea exploits a gap between what people already pay for and what they actually get, then uses software, AI, or domain portfolios to capture that gap as recurring revenue.
The Lightroom Preset Subscription
The first idea targets photographers who buy Lightroom presets — XML files that give photos a specific aesthetic. Currently, photographers buy preset packs from individual creators. The hosts propose using AI image recognition to generate these XML files automatically from any reference photo. A user uploads a photo with the look they want, and the AI writes the preset code.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (01:20) **Idea #1: AI-Generated Lightroom Presets** - Turning the preset market into a subscription software by using AI to create XML preset files from any photo.
- 2 (10:48) **Idea #2: AI for E-Commerce Newsletters** - A tool to help e-commerce brands design and write email newsletters using AI, addressing a growing search trend.
- 3 (19:57) **Idea #3: Lelo Agency for Artists** - Building a growth agency around the rising CRM platform Lelo, specifically for musicians and creators.
- 4 (28:09) **Idea #4: Dog Park Bar (Physical Business)** - A physical "third space" combining a dog park with a bar, capitalizing on the "Soho House-ification" of everything.
- 5 (32:45) **Idea #5: Micro AI Apps Riding Viral Trends** - Building a "startup studio" that rapidly creates and launches simple, single-purpose AI apps to capitalize on short-lived viral trends.
- 6 (44:00) **Wrap-Up** - Final thoughts and call to action.
- 7 Standout Quotes
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
Join us for an engaging conversation with Cody Schneider, Co-Founder and CEO of Swell AI, as we explore a wide range of AI startup ideas and business opportunities with detailed analysis of market opportunities, implementation strategies, and potential revenue models.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction and technical setup
01:31 - Startup Idea 1: Lightroom Preset SaaS
04:41 - Startup Idea 2: Domain Portfolio for Lead Gen
10:56 -Startup Idea 3: E-commerce newsletter AI tools
15:19 -Startup Idea 4: High-LTV SaaS Services
20:08 - Startup Idea 5: Productized Service Agency
28:11 - Startup Idea 6: Dog park bar concept
32:53 - Startup Idea 7: Micro app Studio
Key Points:
• Detailed discussion of an AI-powered Lightroom preset subscription business opportunity
• Analysis of e-commerce newsletter AI tools and market potential
• Exploration of physical business concept: Dog park combined with bar
• Discussion of micro-apps trend and opportunity in riding viral waves
1) Lightroom Preset SaaS
Photographers spend $$$ on presets. Time to disrupt.
• Build AI tool to generate Lightroom presets from sample photos
• Convert XML packets at scale
• $29/month subscription model
• Target Adobe users on FB ads
Infinite margins. Just code.
2) Domain Portfolio for Lead Gen
Law firms do it. Now apply it everywhere.
• Buy 1000+ exact-match domains for niche keywords
• Rank organically (still works!)
• Bundle leads to specific industries
• Sell entire portfolio to PE firms
40k+ per lead in some niches
3) AI for Ecomm Newsletters
People hate coding email templates.
• AI chat interface for newsletter design
• Product storytelling automation
• Holiday campaign generation
• Template modification without code
Klaviyo users desperate for this.
4) Lalo Agency Play
New CRM taking music industry by storm.
• Help artists build fan lists
• Run targeted merch giveaways
• Geographic targeting for tours
• Less than $1 cost per signup
All major labels switching over
5) Dog Park Bar Concept
The millennial country club is here.
• Combine dog park + bar
• Add app for daily dog updates
• Target high-income dog owners
• Members-only model potential
4pm is packed every day
6) Micro AI Apps Studio
Text-behind-image went viral. More coming.
- Build simple, focused AI tools
• Ride viral trends
• Credit pack monetization
• $7/week pricing psychology
Adobe does this. Why not you?
7) High-LTV SaaS Services
Find tools people pay for but barely use.
• Target Klaviyo, HubSpot, Sage
• Build productized service
• Create digital assets/templates
• Add custom plugins
25k+ customer LTV
Notable Quotes:
"Labels are like a bank. That's all they turned into." - Cody Schneider
"Find trends. That's a very hard thing, I think, for the
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