Published on November 7, 2024

3 Million-Dollar AI Startup Ideas for Profitable Niches: Building Apps that Go Viral

At UniStart, our mission is to fuel innovation among early-stage founders by sharing not only valuable resources but also creative, actionable startup ideas. This time, we’re highlighting a 3 AI startup ideas thought by Blake Anderson on a recent podcast with Greg Isenberg.

WHO IS BLAKE?

Blake Anderson is a 23-year-old multi-millionaire app developer and entrepreneur who has achieved remarkable success with limited technical background. He is the founder of several "Looksmaxxing" apps, including RizzGPT, UMax, and Apex, which is described as the future of self-improvement

Blake's journey into the app development world began RizzGPT, an ai flirting assistant. He created an app where users could upload screenshots of their conversations with potential romantic interests, and the AI would provide suggestions on what to say next

Despite having no prior experience with consumer apps, Blake and his co-founders launched their product and experienced instant success. Within a week of launch, they achieved 200,000 downloads and $80,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) after just two $50 promotions with underground social media accounts

As the app grew, Blake faced challenges in scaling the product, including implementing basic features like notifications and reviews. He overcame these obstacles by networking with experienced app developers and improving his skills in Swift UI, the programming language used for the app

Blake's success story is particularly impressive given his background. He pursued this venture during a time when his family was facing financial difficulties, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and determination.

He’s now focused on building Apex Inc, a company that he envisions that will set a new paradigm for personal growth, combining digital offerings with physical goods.

Now let’s dive in the million dollar AI startup ideas he shared on the podcast.

1. Career AI: The All-in-One Career Advancement Tool

Concept: A comprehensive AI-driven tool for career planning that combines resume analysis, job application insights, and career advice. It introduces a unique “6-factor rating” system (similar to Madden ratings) that helps users gauge their strengths in various career competencies.

Distribution Strategy:

• Target Market: Students and early-career professionals on social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn.
• Partnerships: Collaborate with ed-tech influencers to boost credibility and reach.
• Engagement Tactics: Use split-testing to experiment with different hooks tailored to each niche, such as “Rate your resume like an NFL player!” to capture attention and encourage sharing.

With students frequently seeking career guidance, Career AI has the potential to become a go-to resource for young professionals aiming to stand out in competitive job markets.

2. Journal AI: Your AI-Powered “Second Brain”

Concept: Marketed as a journaling app but functioning as an emotional support and productivity tool, Journal AI offers insights into users' habits, relationships, and emotional well-being. Building on how people already use ChatGPT as a makeshift journal, Journal AI takes the idea further by adding memory storage for long-term tracking.

Key Features:

• Emotional Support: Uses natural language processing to provide users with insights on productivity and relationship patterns.
• Naming Strategy: Humanize the AI with friendly names like “Juni” or “Journey” to make it feel more approachable and less clinical.

Market Advantage: While there are plenty of journaling apps, Journal AI’s added emotional support and memory features make it a more interactive and insightful tool, especially for those already familiar with AI as a personal companion.

3. Language AI: The “Duolingo Disruptor”

Concept: Language AI aims to challenge traditional language learning apps by using voice-to-voice models that adjust dynamically, offering a more interactive and personalized learning experience. Unlike the static modules of Duolingo, Language AI’s dynamic content would make learning adaptive and responsive to user performance.

Why It Could Work:

• Scalability: Even capturing 1% of Duolingo’s market would represent a $100M opportunity.
• Differentiation: High user demand for fresh, adaptive content gives Language AI a distinct edge, especially for users seeking a more immersive learning experience.

Target Audience: With its focus on high-intent users willing to invest in quality language education, Language AI can appeal to students, professionals, and polyglots looking to expand their language skills.

Blake’s Framework for Building Viral AI Apps

For founders eager to make a splash, Blake shared his personal framework for building apps with viral potential:

1. Iterate on Virality from Day One: Start with a strong emphasis on building shareable features.
2. Split Test Hooks and Product Features: Constantly refine messages and hooks for different user segments to maximize engagement.
3. Influencer Relationships: Partner closely with influencers, emphasizing authenticity over broad-market campaigns.
4. Design for Virality & Functionality: Build core functions that drive users to share their experiences with friends and networks.

This framework ensures that the product is not just functional but also optimized for high visibility, making it easier to capture user attention and achieve organic growth.

Pricing Strategy for Sustainable Growth

Blake suggests a unique pricing model that prioritizes market penetration over quick profitability. The approach revolves around the formula:

users^n * profit per user, where n > 1.

This pricing formula allows apps to grow their user base quickly, with the potential for high profitability later as adoption increases. Blake also shares an “evil” onboarding flow that requests user data upfront to create a sense of personalization before presenting a paywall—an aggressive tactic, but effective in driving conversions.

Bonus Tip: Dive Deep Into Your Target Audience with Burner Accounts

For founders venturing into niche markets, Blake recommends creating social media accounts specifically tailored around the app’s topic. This helps founders curate their feeds, providing invaluable insights into the needs and preferences of their audience.

With these six ideas and frameworks, aspiring founders have a roadmap to build unique, value-driven AI applications that cater to high-demand areas. These concepts are practical, scalable, and designed to resonate with today’s AI-savvy users. By combining innovative ideas with proven growth strategies, founders can transform these concepts into successful startups ready to make a mark.

To listen to the full podcast episode and dive deeper into each idea, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9IEI6OhoYY