AI Summary
5 min readMeta has opened its personal AI assistant, Muse, to outside developers through a new "connector" system, and the host of The Startup Ideas Podcast, Greg Eisenberg, argues this could become an App Store moment for AI. Drawing on his experience as an early advisor to TikTok and Reddit, he walks through what connectors are, why they matter for founders, and how to build and distribute one. The core thesis is that Muse provides the assistant and the distribution channel, while developers supply the specialized services that complete a user's request, creating a new market for AI-native businesses.
The App Store Analogy for AI
Eisenberg frames the opportunity by comparing it to the launch of the Apple App Store in 2008. Apple built the phone and the store; developers built the useful software. By June 2010, Apple had paid developers a billion dollars. The parallel with Muse is direct: Meta is building the assistant, and developers can now build "connectors" that let Muse use their service when a user asks for help. A key difference, however, is that a connector can become useful in the middle of a larger request. For example, someone planning an event might start by asking for a venue, but later realize they need equipment rental. A connector for equipment rentals becomes relevant at that specific moment, even though it wasn't what started the conversation. This creates a new
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **The App Store Moment for AI** - Greg Eisenberg introduces the thesis that Meta opening Muse AI to third-party developers through "connectors" is the next App Store moment.
- 2 (02:57) **Why This Is Different From the Original App Store** - A key structural advantage for connector businesses.
- 3 (04:00) **The Directory and Discovery Opportunity** - How Meta's platform currently works for finding connectors.
- 4 (04:55) **How a Muse Connector Actually Works** - The technical workflow explained with a concrete example.
- 5 (06:24) **Real-World Example: Duffel in Travel** - A company already betting on the Muse connector.
- 6 (07:25) **Startup Idea #1: Lead Gen for Business Suppliers** - A B2B connector for local suppliers.
- 7 (09:28) **Startup Idea #2: Home Repair Dispatch** - A connector for on-demand appliance repair.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
In this solo episode, I break down the huge business opportunity because Meta has opened Muse, its personal AI agent, to developers. You can now submit a connector, which lets Muse use your service when someone asks it for help, and I think this could be the app store moment for AI. I explain how a connector works, share four startup ideas you can build on one, and cover how to get customers beyond Meta's directory. I also show how I'd build a first version with a coding agent like Claude Code or Codex, and what I'd test before submitting it to Meta for review.
Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
01:35 – The App Store Parallel
04:55 – How a Muse Connector Works
07:29 – Startup Idea 1: Lead Gen for Business Suppliers
09:28 – Startup Idea 2: Home Repair Dispatch
11:07 – Startup Idea 3: Paddle Match and Court Finder
12:47 – Startup Idea 4: Family Dinner Planning
14:10 – How to pick an idea?
14:56 – How People Find Your Connector
15:32 – Growth Idea 1: Partner With Creators
16:17 – Growth Idea 2: Product-Led Sharing
17:46 – Growth Idea 3: Connected Marketplaces and Directory Placement
19:34 – Building the First Version
21:38 – Custom Connectors and Meta Approval
23:56 – Where to Start This Week
25:31 – Closing thoughts
Muse Connector Prompt: https://startup-ideas-pod.link/muse-connector-prompt
Key Points
- Meta has opened Muse to developers, and a connector lets Muse use your service when someone asks it for help.
- I look closely at the step in a request where someone needs a business that can deliver and money changes hands.
- With a small budget, I'd start with lead generation, because I can show a customer a sample before writing much software.
- I plan distribution around channels I can reach, such as creators, product-led sharing, and connected marketplaces.
- A coding agent can build the first version, and I still inspect the results and test the awkward requests myself.
- To start this week, I'd talk to one type of customer about the last time they dealt with the task.