🧃A third way to startup success + new tech, old school

Today's SIP letter includes 3+ juicy startup ideas and 3 strategies worth stealing from 2 fresh episodes of The Startup Ideas Podcast.

Let's get sippin'.

​Episode 1: Stealing proven strategies for your startup

Ever heard the saying, "Good artists borrow, great artists steal"?

Great entrepreneurs do the same thing. They take what works and make it their own.

​Adam Robinson, a bootstrapping legend behind Retention.com and RB2B, came on to sip and talk about it. He’s built businesses from zero to $20 million ARR without outside funding, so when he talks, I listen.

We get into how you can 'steal like an artist' in the startup world—not by copying ideas outright, but by adapting time-tested strategies for your unique situation.

Here are three ways you can steal like an artist in business:

1) Validate with proven market demand

One of the biggest mistakes I see new founders make is building something nobody wants.

Adam shared a smart strategy for validating an idea with market demand. He called it the “Elon approach” - make something fancy for rich people first.

Why? Because they're early adopters and can provide valuable feedback.

Let’s use the example of Yondr - a locking phone pouch used at events to encourage more human interaction. Yondr has proven there's a market for no-phone spaces and experiences.

Adam's idea is to create a "Yondr 2.0" for specific niches, starting with wealthy individuals.

Here's how you could validate the idea:

1. Identify potential customers (think tech executives, wellness enthusiasts, or parents concerned about their kids' screen time)
2. Have conversations with them about their phone usage habits and pain points
3. Show them the current Yondr pouch and ask: "What if this could do X, Y, and Z?"
4. Iterate on your ideas based on their feedback until you see their eyes light up, asking where they can buy it

Choose a proven product in your industry and brainstorm how you could improve it for a specific, preferably affluent, niche. Then, start having conversations with your target audience.

You want to talk with hundreds of people before building anything.

As Adam said in the pod, "Prototyping is expensive. You can save a lot of heartache through talking."

Rich or not, find an accessible group that can provide quick, valuable feedback. When they start asking you how and when they can buy, that's your proven market demand.

This is how you validate before sinking in too much money.

2) Build with the "third way" approach

Once you've validated your idea, it's time to build. Adam introduced a concept he calls the "third way" of building startups.

This approach combines the best aspects of bootstrapping (à la Basecamp's "Rework" philosophy) with Y Combinator’s focus on product excellence.

It's being lean without being bare-bones and aggressive without being reckless.

This is how to go the "third way":

• Start lean to test your concept
• Reinvest profits to fuel early growth
• Focus on product quality and customer satisfaction
• Look into alternative funding methods (like revenue-based financing or strategic partnerships)

The goal? Maintain control while having the resources to scale quickly.

You grow at your own pace while building a product that the market can’t live without. And you can scale without compromising your soul.

It's not easy, but it's a game-changer if you can pull it off.

(Adam shares the origin story of this approach starting at 30:30 in the pod)

3) Market with user content & word of mouth

When it comes to marketing, authenticity sells. One of the most powerful tools in your marketing arsenal is user-generated content (UGC).

Adam has a growth hack that works for both B2B and B2C: tapping into micro to medium influencers for UGC. Aiming for volume, not individual reach.

Instead of pouring funds into traditional marketing, you ask real users to share their honest experiences with your product.

Here's the playbook:

1. Make a list of 100 micro-influencers in your niche (they don't need to have massive followings)
2. Reach out to send them your product for free, no strings attached
3. Ask for honest reviews if they genuinely like the product - tell them to throw it out if they don’t
4. See how many respond and what kind of content they create
5. Amplify the best content across your marketing channels

This strategy provides the volume of paid advertising with the authenticity of organic growth.

You're tapping into people's trust in their peers and niche influencers. This is how you encourage genuine content and word-of-mouth marketing.

You're not looking for a few big influencers. You’re after the many smaller ones who will create content about your product.

Don't pay for shoutouts. Pay for honesty.

Authentic reviews beat paid ads every time.

Full episode links:

​YouTube​, Spotify, ​Apple Podcasts​​​​

Or skip straight to the juicy parts:

​02:22 Startup Idea 1: Yondr phone pouch 2.0
​09:40 How to validate & launch a Yondr competitor
​18:28 Growth strategy: Micro-influencer UGC
​25:23 Copywriting framework
​30:30 The "third way" of building startups

​Episode 2: Turning forgotten markets into gold with Chris Koerner

In the rush of chasing shiny objects, we miss the opportunities right under our noses.

While everyone's panning for gold in riverbeds, entire mines are waiting to be discovered (or rediscovered).

With his empire of RV parks and a portfolio of seven companies, Chris Koerner is no stranger to finding and capitalizing on hidden opportunities. He's world-class at combining modern tech solutions with traditional business practices.

After talking to Chris, I'm convinced there's gold waiting for entrepreneurs who reintroduce 'old school tactics' into the digital space.

Here are 3 startup ideas mixing aspects of old and new:

Idea 1: Content Management for underserved platforms

I’ll admit it - I still log into Facebook from time to time. Maybe once a week to remember birthdays and relive memories.

The occasional dose of nostalgia makes me one of Facebook’s 3 Billion monthly active users.

While everyone’s fighting for attention on Instagram, X, and YouTube, Facebook is quietly maintaining its position at #1 in MAUs.

Chris shared something that makes this juicer - you can cross-post Instagram Reels to Facebook with just a toggle. But unlike Instagram, Facebook allows clickable links in comments.

That's prime real estate for driving traffic wherever you want. And the engagement is real. Thousands of people see the pinned comment and click the link.

There’s a massive opportunity for an agency play here.

Why? Because most creators and businesses are overlooking most platforms.

Here's the idea:

Start a service agency that manages content for creators and businesses on underserved platforms - Facebook, Quora, Pinterest, and so on.

The tagline could be “We go where you don't have time to go” - all the social networks where they know they could be posting, but they don't have the time.

The beauty of this idea is that you're not asking clients to create new content. You're just helping them squeeze more juice out of content they're already making.

To take it further, you could build a tool to automate a lot of this process. Think a simple app or Chrome extension that handles the cross-posting, comment pinning, and analytics tracking.

Consider this your sign to dust off that Facebook account.

Just because we've "moved on" from a platform doesn't mean it's dead.

Sometimes, the best opportunities are hiding where everyone else has stopped looking.

Idea 2: Shopify abandoned cart call center

70% of online shopping carts are abandoned. That's a lot of missed sales.

We've all been there - add to cart, get distracted, abandon ship.

But what if there was a way for companies to reel us back in?

Instead of getting another automated email, you get a call from a real person. Not with a pushy offer but an offer to help, answer questions, and maybe sweeten the deal.

I know, I know, it sounds like taking a step back in time. But this is about adding a human touch to the digital shopping experience.

Here's why it could work:

• It's unexpected. Who calls you to help these days?
• In a sea of automated responses, a human voice stands out.
• You can address common concerns quickly - maybe they just had a quick question about shipping.
• You'll learn stuff you never knew you needed to know.

Every abandoned cart is a missed opportunity. This idea blends old-school customer service with cutting-edge e-commerce strategies.

Here's the playbook:

1. Use Shopify's third-party tools to track abandoned carts.
2. Set up a small call center (or outsource it) to follow up with customers.
3. Offer something helpful on the call - like a 30% discount or free shipping.
4. Sell it as a service to Shopify store owners, promising increased conversion rates.
5. If you don't convert, no charge. But they still get all that valuable feedback for free.

The best part? You could do this all yourself to start.

I’m not saying you need to personally call every abandoned cart. But you can start small and use services like BuiltWith.com or Upwork to find people to help.

While everyone else automates, you're adding that human touch. And in a digital world, the most human company wins.

Idea 3: "Lifetime Warranty" DTC brand

When a company guarantees their product for life, that’s not just confidence—it’s a solid business strategy.

Why?

It's a differentiator. It builds insane brand loyalty. And word-of-mouth marketing will be off the charts.

Who doesn't want to brag about a product that lasts forever?

Chris mentioned Shady Rays, a $130 million sunglasses brand that built their entire business on a lifetime warranty. They basically say, "Break 'em, lose 'em, we'll replace 'em, no questions asked."

Instead of banking on constant replacements, they’re betting on quality and customer loyalty.

If a sunglasses brand can crush it with a lifetime warranty, why not other products people frequently replace?

You could do this for sandals, kitchenware, outdoor gear... The possibilities are vast, and so is the profit potential.

Here's how you do it:

1. Pick products people are always buying. Socks, water bottles, whatever. Something people use and abuse.
2. Make these things indestructible. Like, survive-the-apocalypse level tough.
3. Shout that lifetime warranty from the rooftops. Make it your thing.
4. When it comes to replacements, make it so easy anyone can do it.

(Chris breaks down Shady Rays' model at 27:38 in the pod)

You might be thinking, “How can I make any money if I’m replacing every product forever for free?”

One way is a VIP program that turns potential losses into a recurring revenue stream.

You could charge something like $5 a month. It could include perks like no restocking fees for replacements, extra discounts, early access to sales, and dedicated support.

Now, you're selling more than a product - you're selling long-term peace of mind.

A lifetime warranty isn't just a guarantee - it's a statement. You're telling customers, "We're in this for the long haul."

In a world where everything seems disposable, be the brand that stands the test of time. Literally.

Full episode links:
​YouTube​, Spotify, ​Apple Podcasts​​

Or dive straight to the juicy parts:

​02:03 Startup Idea 1: Content management for underserved platforms
​10:11 Startup Idea 2: Programmatic SEO franchise
​19:09 Startup Idea 3: Viral-content finder
​27:03 Startup Idea 4: "Lifetime Warranty" DTC brand
​30:34 Startup Idea 5: Shopify abandoned cart call center
​34:56 Discussion: Most valuable platform for personal brand
​39:29 Greg’s Elon story

I hope these episodes get your entrepreneurial gears turning. Forward this email to a friend or share on social media to get others thinking.

And if you have a startup idea you want to workshop with me, join me for my YouTube livestreams.

I give feedback to anyone willing to share their idea on stage. Click ​here to subscribe on YouTube so you don’t miss out.

Have a creative weekend,

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