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Join me as I chat with Anu Atluru, startup builder, angel investor, and writer, as we dive deep into how to build and scale premium dating apps, and Anu shares her thoughts on how to leverage status to position and growth hack your startup.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:27 Startup Idea 1: Premium Dating App for Niche Markets
20:51 Startup Idea 2: AI Girlfriends/Boyfriends for Niche Demographics
27:23 Startup Idea 3: "Riz-maxing" app
30:55 Startup Idea 4: Report cards for life
35:15 Pricing strategy shift
39:10 Content format discussion
1) The League 2.0: Dating app for modern status symbols
- Original League app sold for $30M+ to Match Group
a) Charged up to $2,499/month (!) for premium memberships
b) New version could filter by:
- YC founders
- Follower counts
- Who follows you
Key insight: Status markers have evolved beyond just education/job
2) Why now for League 2.0?
- Cheaper than ever to launch dating apps
a) More distribution channels to hack growth
b) People desperate for new ways to find partners
c) Premium/niche dating apps are HOT
Example: Lox Club for Jewish singles crushing it
3) Controversial idea alert: AI girlfriends/boyfriends for niche demographics
- Huge financial opportunity (but ethically questionable)
- Google Trends shows massive spike in interest
- Could target specific ethnicities, religions, etc.
Opportunity for brave founders, but proceed with caution!
4) "Riz-maxing" app: Charisma coach in your pocket
- AI listens to your convos & scores social skills
- Gives feedback on awkwardness, charisma, etc.
- People crave honest social feedback
Think: Looksmaxxing app, but for personality
5) Report cards for life: Huge untapped opportunity
- We're conditioned to want feedback from school days
- Adults still crave knowing how they measure up
- Combine with personality tests, IQ tests, etc.
People LOVE data about themselves!
6) Pricing strategy shift: Death of monthly subscriptions?
- One-time payments
- Lifetime subscriptions
- Annual plans
- Pay-what-you-want models
Monthly feels like a "situationship" - users want commitment or freedom!
7) Content creation pro tip: Iterate on format until you find your groove
- Don't get stuck on what you "should" do
- Experiment with:
a) Live vs. async
b) Solo vs. group
c) Short-form vs. long-form
d) Audio vs. video
Find your emotional center & natural aptitude!
8) Challenge: Create more novel content formats!
Ideas:
- Tech/culture Daily Show
- Startup Cribs (MTV-style home tours)
- Live, unscripted breakdowns
Push to extremes - avoid the crowded middle!
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
Work with me and my team: LCA — world’s best product design firm to build apps, websites and brands people love. https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Community Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses http://communityempire.co/
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND ANU ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/anuatluru
Newsletter: https://www.workingtheorys.com
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:27 Startup Idea 1: Premium Dating App for Niche Markets
20:51 Startup Idea 2: AI Girlfriends/Boyfriends for Niche Demographics
27:23 Startup Idea 3: "Riz-maxing" app
30:55 Startup Idea 4: Report cards for life
35:15 Pricing strategy shift
39:10 Content format discussion
1) The League 2.0: Dating app for modern status symbols
- Original League app sold for $30M+ to Match Group
a) Charged up to $2,499/month (!) for premium memberships
b) New version could filter by:
- YC founders
- Follower counts
- Who follows you
Key insight: Status markers have evolved beyond just education/job
2) Why now for League 2.0?
- Cheaper than ever to launch dating apps
a) More distribution channels to hack growth
b) People desperate for new ways to find partners
c) Premium/niche dating apps are HOT
Example: Lox Club for Jewish singles crushing it
3) Controversial idea alert: AI girlfriends/boyfriends for niche demographics
- Huge financial opportunity (but ethically questionable)
- Google Trends shows massive spike in interest
- Could target specific ethnicities, religions, etc.
Opportunity for brave founders, but proceed with caution!
4) "Riz-maxing" app: Charisma coach in your pocket
- AI listens to your convos & scores social skills
- Gives feedback on awkwardness, charisma, etc.
- People crave honest social feedback
Think: Looksmaxxing app, but for personality
5) Report cards for life: Huge untapped opportunity
- We're conditioned to want feedback from school days
- Adults still crave knowing how they measure up
- Combine with personality tests, IQ tests, etc.
People LOVE data about themselves!
6) Pricing strategy shift: Death of monthly subscriptions?
- One-time payments
- Lifetime subscriptions
- Annual plans
- Pay-what-you-want models
Monthly feels like a "situationship" - users want commitment or freedom!
7) Content creation pro tip: Iterate on format until you find your groove
- Don't get stuck on what you "should" do
- Experiment with:
a) Live vs. async
b) Solo vs. group
c) Short-form vs. long-form
d) Audio vs. video
Find your emotional center & natural aptitude!
8) Challenge: Create more novel content formats!
Ideas:
- Tech/culture Daily Show
- Startup Cribs (MTV-style home tours)
- Live, unscripted breakdowns
Push to extremes - avoid the crowded middle!
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
Work with me and my team: LCA — world’s best product design firm to build apps, websites and brands people love. https://latecheckout.agency/
BoringAds — ads agency that will build you profitable ad campaigns http://boringads.com/
BoringMarketing — SEO agency and tools to get your organic customers http://boringmarketing.com/
Community Empire - a membership for builders who want to build cash-flowing businesses http://communityempire.co/
FIND ME ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenberg
Instagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/
FIND ANU ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/anuatluru
Newsletter: https://www.workingtheorys.com
Creators & Guests
What is The Startup Ideas Podcast?
Get your creative juices flowing with The Startup Ideas Podcast. Published twice a week, we bring you free startup ideas to inspire your next venture. Hosted by Greg Isenberg, CEO of Late Checkout and former advisor to Reddit and TikTok. Subscribe so you don't miss out.
For more startup ideas, we created a database of 30+ startup ideas you can take at https://gregisenberg.com/30startupideas