Co-Star's Playbook for Founders
How "decision hygiene" became a $3B category — and why timing tools are the next founder productivity unlock
Solo / AI-Assisted
Startup ideas and business models buildable by one person using AI, automation, or no-code tools. Perfect for solopreneurs and indie hackers starting with low investment and fast validation. Explore easy-to-start businesses that can scale with technology.
The Shopify Moment for AI Labor: Owning Worklines on MuleRun
MuleRun hit 600K users offering promotional economics to fill their marketplace. Workline owners capture value; single-agent builders get commoditized.
Review Gardening Agents: Build the Revenue Layer for Google Business Profile
Turn every Google review into repeat visits. Shops hit 90% response rates and capture 10-30 VIP contacts monthly from reviews alone.
Build The PDGA For Padel (And Other Emerging Sports)
Padel facilities are multiplying faster than operational infrastructure. The ratings and portable identity layer is contested but not yet owned—and it's worth more than the booking system.
DoorDash Just Opened the Taste Graph Gold Rush. Here's How You Win.
DoorDash's Zesty proves taste graphs beat social graphs. Beli and Letterboxd validated the model. The infrastructure layer is wide open.
The PrayScreen Playbook: 90 Days to $50k MRR on Organic TikTok
VCs poured $175 million into faith apps, validating what religion knew all along: obligation beats motivation. The micro-niches are wide open.
Build the AG1 of Mobility: Gen Z's Mobility Aesthetics
Nearly 20% of Gen Z uses joint supplements. The category hit $14B and projects to $27B. No brand positions mobility like skincare yet.
Build the $2,500 Wardrobe Layer for America's 31 Million GLP-1 Users
GLP-1 users spend $1,000-2,500 replacing closets during weight loss. Build the membership layer retail structurally can't serve.
The Missing macOS Layer for Dasung's $2,000 E-Ink Monitors
E-ink monitor displaying crisp text, macOS menu bar, eye strain relief icon, Dasung company logo, VS Code editor interface
Morning Triage for Niches
Google and OpenAI are training users to expect AI-run mornings. The free briefing normalizes the habit. The paid opportunity is vertical execution.
Compliance-First Script Engine for Beauty Creators
Beauty influencer trust dropped 8 points while ingredient transparency became Gen Z's top driver. The gap is a compliance infrastructure opportunity.
Weekly Template Drop Platform
CapCut templates hit 50,000+ uses each. Meta just launched a competitor. The formats people copy are becoming infrastructure.
Identity Commerce Platform for Menswear
Quarter-zip phenomenon proves men buy identities, not clothes. $130B+ menswear market shifting from disposable microtrends to stackable, nameable uniforms with built-in community.
Trust Layer for TikTok Shop
TikTok Shop users regret 23% of purchases. Build the trust layer that captures post-viral buyers seeking quality over hype.
Ambient Presence Layer for Work
Airbuds and Locket proved homescreen social works—5M users, $10M raised, 91M installs. Nobody's built the ambient layer for work and money yet.
Vertical AI GM for Nail Salons
Jimdo's AI assistant increased customer outcomes 40% by recommending actions, not reporting data. Nail salons need vertical AI GMs they can afford.
Solo Dining Discovery & Certification Platform
Solo dining searches up 271% on Yelp, reservations spiking 22% on Toast—but no platform owns the discovery layer or certification standard.
Pinterest-Style Affiliate Commerce Platform
Pinterest trained 522M users to shop by aesthetic, but creators can't monetize this behavior outside walled gardens. The embed economy awaits.
Desk-Friendly Breakfast Brands
Hybrid workers skip breakfast 39% of the time, eating at desks when they do—creating a TikTok-native convenience play beyond traditional CPG channels.
Smart Ring to XR Middleware
Smart rings hit $417M in 2025, XR hand tracking fails 40% from occlusion. Nobody's built the translation layer between them yet.
TikTok Shop DIY Kit Brands
Smart operators hit seven figures selling Dubai chocolate DIY kits while TikTok Shop's order-volume caps create an accidental moat against casual sellers.