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Join me as I chat with Sarah Lacy, Co-Founder of The Best Book Store , as we discuss a variety of EdTech startup ideas. Sarah also shares her the lessons she learned from studying Mark Zuckerberg and her advice for networking and storytelling
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:46 Startup Idea 1: Pre-MBA Entrepreneurship Program for Tween Girls
23:53 Networking and Storytelling as Key Skills
31:13 Lessons Learned from Mark Zuckerberg
36:33 Startup Idea 2: AI-Powered Author Coaching Bots
1) Startup Idea 1: Pre-MBA Entrepreneurship Program for Tween Girls
Why it's HOT:
• Tackles confidence drop in adolescence
• Teaches negotiation, self-worth, ideation
• Potential to transform female leadership
Key features:
• Online curriculum for schools
• Real-world challenges with local businesses
• Focus on digital marketing, not outdated door-to-door sales
Monetization strategy:
• Sell to schools (public & private)
• Sponsorships from big brands (Nike, anyone?)
Pro tip: Use storytelling to sell to sponsors. Remember the water charity campaign? ONE story can lead to big numbers.
2) Startup Idea 2: AI-Powered Author Coaching Bots
Problem: People buy self-help books but struggle to apply the lessons long-term.
Solution: Daily prompts & coaching from an AI avatar of the author!
How it works:
• Personalized daily check-ins
• Reminders to apply book concepts
• Voice & look of the actual author
Potential authors to target:
• James Clear (Atomic Habits)
• Adam Grant
• Brené Brown
Business model:
• Partner with publishers
• Drive book pre-orders (10k = NYT Bestseller!)
• Offer exclusive access to early adopters
3) Zuckerberg Insight 👀
What made young Zuck unique? EXTREME HUMILITY + self-awareness.
"He knows when he doesn't know something, and he doesn't just go in to learn it. He gives himself... a position of extreme humility." - Sarah Lacy
4) Key takeaway: NETWORK + STORYTELLING = Startup success
Remember: It's not just WHO you know, but HOW you pitch your idea!
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 SARAH ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/sarahcuda
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcuda/
The Best Book Store: https://bestbookstore.com/
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:46 Startup Idea 1: Pre-MBA Entrepreneurship Program for Tween Girls
23:53 Networking and Storytelling as Key Skills
31:13 Lessons Learned from Mark Zuckerberg
36:33 Startup Idea 2: AI-Powered Author Coaching Bots
1) Startup Idea 1: Pre-MBA Entrepreneurship Program for Tween Girls
Why it's HOT:
• Tackles confidence drop in adolescence
• Teaches negotiation, self-worth, ideation
• Potential to transform female leadership
Key features:
• Online curriculum for schools
• Real-world challenges with local businesses
• Focus on digital marketing, not outdated door-to-door sales
Monetization strategy:
• Sell to schools (public & private)
• Sponsorships from big brands (Nike, anyone?)
Pro tip: Use storytelling to sell to sponsors. Remember the water charity campaign? ONE story can lead to big numbers.
2) Startup Idea 2: AI-Powered Author Coaching Bots
Problem: People buy self-help books but struggle to apply the lessons long-term.
Solution: Daily prompts & coaching from an AI avatar of the author!
How it works:
• Personalized daily check-ins
• Reminders to apply book concepts
• Voice & look of the actual author
Potential authors to target:
• James Clear (Atomic Habits)
• Adam Grant
• Brené Brown
Business model:
• Partner with publishers
• Drive book pre-orders (10k = NYT Bestseller!)
• Offer exclusive access to early adopters
3) Zuckerberg Insight 👀
What made young Zuck unique? EXTREME HUMILITY + self-awareness.
"He knows when he doesn't know something, and he doesn't just go in to learn it. He gives himself... a position of extreme humility." - Sarah Lacy
4) Key takeaway: NETWORK + STORYTELLING = Startup success
Remember: It's not just WHO you know, but HOW you pitch your idea!
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 SARAH ON SOCIAL
X/Twitter: https://x.com/sarahcuda
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahcuda/
The Best Book Store: https://bestbookstore.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