Hey builder 👋
Your time is limited, so each week, I break down one startup idea you can build in days, not months. Simple plan, real tools, fast launch.
In today’s newsletter:
A smart SaaS idea solving real marketing pain
A 7-day roadmap to launch it
A ready-made boilerplate to skip setup and start building
Let’s break it down!
Today’s idea: A smart, opinionated tool finder that filters thousands of marketing tools into a short, personalized list based on your tasks, budget, and current stack.
1. Pain First (5/5)
Marketers, especially solo operators and small teams, drown in tool choices. With over 15,000+ tools, finding the right mix for specific jobs (like capturing leads, automating emails, or scheduling content) is overwhelming.
The pain is real, recurring, and time-wasting.
2. Why Now (5/5)
The marketing tech space exploded in 2025, and AI-assisted filtering makes personalized selection feasible today.
People want curated opinions, not directories.
The trend toward stack transparency (people sharing what they use) also supports social validation and discovery.
3. Market Shape (4/5)
~20M solo marketers, agencies, and small marketing teams worldwide.
Growing trend toward DIY digital marketing and no-code tools.
If even 1% use a “stack builder” monthly at ~$20/month, that’s a $50–100M annual opportunity. The segment is niche but active, with high content sharing potential.
4. Current Alternatives (3/5)
Generic directories like G2, Capterra, or Product Hunt.
Crowdsourced lists (e.g., Notion templates, Reddit threads, Stackshare).
Asking peers in communities (e.g., Indie Hackers, GrowthHackers).
These methods are manual and biased, with no personalized ranking.
5. Contrarian Insight (5/5)
Most assume marketers want more tools.
In reality, they want fewer tools that work together and suit their workflow.
The insight: a “shortlister” that’s opinionated and workflow-first beats a massive directory.
6. Flow Sketch (4/5)
Input: User enters job-to-be-done (e.g., “capture emails from LinkedIn”), current stack, budget, and must-have integrations.
What happens: AI filters tools, scores compatibility and pricing fit, and ranks top 3 recommendations with “who uses it” snippets.
Output: A shareable 3-tool shortlist with explanations, integration scores, and stack credibility markers.
7. Risk Analysis (3/5)
Value risk: Users may not trust recommendations → fix by showing transparent reasoning + verified “stack snippets.”
Data risk: Tool databases and integrations are messy → start small with verified categories (e.g., lead capture tools).
Market risk: Could feel niche → position as “decision shortcut” rather than directory.
Distribution risk: Need organic reach → focus on SEO (“best martech stack for solo founders”) and community sharing.
8. Acquisition Feasibility (4/5)
Marketing Slack communities (Demand Curve, GrowthHackers, Swipe Files).
LinkedIn groups for solo marketers and agencies.
Stackshare or Product Hunt launches with “build your stack in 60 seconds” messaging.
9. Future Potential (5/5)
Add “auto-publish your stack” leaderboards → credibility + SEO content flywheel.
Introduce comparison scoring (“best fit for HubSpot users under $50/mo”).
Monetize via tool partnerships, affiliate links, or premium “verified stack” badges.
Eventually become the “Spotify for marketing stacks.”
🔥 Potential: 4.4 / 5 - Excellent
Simple, timely, and real pain. A perfect “build-this-week” idea.
Let’s build it step by step!
Day 1: Identify the Pain and the People
Start by understanding the real frustration behind tool overload.
Solo marketers and small-team founders spend hours comparing new AI tools that all claim to do the same thing. They’re tired of guessing what actually works together.
Spend time on Reddit, GrowthHackers, and LinkedIn. Look for posts like “Best tool for X?” or “Has anyone tried Y?” and note the language people use. Phrases such as “I’ve tried everything” or “just want something simple that works” reveal the emotion behind the problem.
By the end of the day, write one clear sentence that summarizes it.
Example: “Solo marketers waste hours comparing tools that all look the same. They just want three that actually work together.”
Day 2: Validate Demand Before Building
Next, test if people care about your solution.
Create a one-page site that sells the promise, not the product.
Headline: “Find your perfect 3-tool marketing stack in 60 seconds.”
Subline: “We shortlist tools that match your workflow and budget.”
CTA: “Join the early access list.”
Use Typedream, Carrd, or Framer to publish fast. Add a Tally form to collect emails. Then share your page on Reddit, LinkedIn, and small marketing communities.
If at least 15 to 20 people sign up or comment with curiosity, you’ve validated the pain.
Tomorrow you’ll design the first real experience.
Day 3: Outline the MVP
Focus on building the smallest version that delivers value.
Create a short Typeform with 3-4 questions such as:
What’s your main goal?
What tools do you already use?
What’s your monthly budget?
Store the answers in Airtable and manually pair them with a few pre-selected tools.
Then use ChatGPT to write a short explanation like: “Here are three tools that match your workflow and budget, and why they fit.”
Send this as an email or short PDF.
The goal is not automation yet, it’s proving that the concept feels useful.
Day 4: Collect Feedback
Invite a few people from your waitlist to try it.
Ask them to complete the form and promise a free personalized shortlist within 24 hours.
Create each report manually in Notion or Google Docs and deliver it by email.
Pay attention to their reactions. Do they care more about simplicity, price, or integration details?
Their questions reveal what matters most and where your next version should improve.
Aim for at least two testers who respond with something like “This saved me hours.”
That’s confirmation that the idea works.
Day 5: Automate and Polish
Now it’s time to connect everything into a working product.
Use Make or Zapier to link your Typeform (input) → Airtable (tool data) → ChatGPT API (logic) → email response.
Keep it simple. For each user input, match tags such as goal and budget, then generate a shortlist with short explanations.
Test it yourself until it feels natural and helpful.
Then polish the front end with a basic landing interface in Framer or Softr.
Add your headline, a demo video from Loom, and a “Try the Beta” button.
By the end of today, Martech Shortlister should run smoothly end-to-end.
Day 6: Monetize Early
Before scaling, measure whether people see value worth paying for.
Add a soft “Pro” mention on your site: “Want a deeper analysis with verified integration scores? Pro version coming soon.”
Track how users react. If they click, message, or ask about pricing, that’s early proof of interest.
You can add a test payment option using Stripe Checkout, Gumroad, or Lemon Squeezy, but keep it optional.
You’re not chasing revenue yet. You’re learning what feels valuable enough for someone to pay.
Day 7: Launch and Measure
Share your story publicly.
Post on LinkedIn, X, or Product Hunt Upcoming: “I built an AI shortlister that helps solo marketers find their perfect 3-tool stack in 60 seconds.”
Include a short Loom demo and a clear link to try it.
Also send an update to your early list with a thank-you message and the beta link.
Track engagement: click-throughs, signups, and feedback. Even 5–10 percent response shows strong traction.
By the end of the day, you’ll have live users and real data to guide your next sprint.
What to Do Next
Review your results. How many people signed up, used it, or showed interest in paying?
If users said things like “This feels like magic,” expand your database, improve the UI, and invite them to a private beta.
If trust felt low, add transparency: show why each tool is recommended or include integration scores.
Whatever the outcome, you now have a validated idea, a running MVP, and first-hand user insight.
Next week is about refinement, not reinvention.
Keep iterating small and stay close to your users.
Clarity is your product, and that’s what marketers truly want.
Ready to turn this idea into something real?
Get a production-ready Next.js boilerplate with auth, payments, and analytics already done, so you can start building in minutes.
Hope today’s idea fired you up to build something new 🔥
Your feedback helps me make each issue better, reply and tell me what you liked (or didn’t). I read every message personally.
– Adrien