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Startup Ideas #405: Betterhelp for X, Cloud Seeding...

Plus 4 Viral Apps. 2 Exits. 1 Founder

Welcome to Half Baked, the newsletter serving up startup ideas as surprising as Amazon acquiring a wearable that records everything you say 👀 

If you want to read any previous editions of Half Baked, you can on our website.

Let’s goooo 🚀 

In today’s edition:

  • 💡 An idea we have faith in

  • 📈 The company that’s making it rain by making it rain

  • 🛠️ Using AI for generative engine optimization (GEO)

  • 🤑 4 Viral Apps. 2 Exits. 1 Founder

  • 🍻 A stone cold killer…idea for a product

✝️ Betterhelp for Faith

Soul much better

Available domain: Betterfaith.co

The Problem: In these uncertain times, people are turning to all manners of faith for comfort. Bible sales are increasing, church attendance is growing too. But while faith is often seen as a deeply personal journey, it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. So in the same way that people turn to therapists or counselors to guide them through their mental health journey, why not offer a similar service for those looking to expand or deepen their faith? Here’s what we’re thinking.

The Solution:

  • In a line: A platform that connects users with counselors or religious experts for mentorship sessions to help deepen their faith

  • Product:

    • 🙏 Users download the app and choose their faith background (Christian, Jewish, Muslim, interfaith, etc.) during onboarding

    • 👥 They’re matched with faith-based counselors or pastors who align with their values and theology and can guide them through their faith journey

    • 📅 They complete weekly live sessions (video, audio, or text) with optional exercises throughout the week

    • 🕊️ Users can also join small-group sessions as they continue on their journey

  • Business Model: Monthly subscription model ($60–$90/mo), with upsells for premium sessions and small-group intensives

  • End Goal: Sell to a large faith-related business like Hallow for a 7–12x revenue multiple

Rate this idea:

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🎟️ Win a free ticket to INBOUND 2025 ($1,399 Value)

Tech conferences can be transformative for startups. But as a founder, you have to be strategic with your time, energy and capital.

That’s why we've teamed up with HubSpot for Startups to give away two free tickets to INBOUND 2025, HubSpot's globally renowned sales and marketing conference, to our readers.

With speakers like Dario Amodei (CEO of Anthropic), Dharmesh Shah (HubSpot co-founder), Colin Jost (Comedian and writer) and many more, this is not to be missed.

🌧️ Cloud Seeding

The Trend: In today’s edition of “sci-fi tech that doesn’t sound real but is totally“ it’s time for us to talk about cloud seeding, aka making it rain (or snow), on demand. By releasing substances like silver iodide into clouds, scientists can stimulate precipitation, which could help to combat droughts or even boost agriculture. Rainmaker is leading the pack here, having raised a $25m Series A earlier this year to push the technology forward. If they could start working on “sun seeding” too so we all have a nice summer…that’d be great.

Opportunities:

  • Subscription-Based Rainfall Plans: A SaaS-style model where farmers or regions pay monthly for guaranteed minimum rainfall.

  • Luxury Events Weather Control: On-demand cloud seeding for weddings, festivals, and sports tournaments to ensure blue skies.

📄 Using AI for Generative Engine Optimization (GEO)

The Tool: We’ve talked about Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) before. Previously, it was all about SEO and getting on the first page of Google. In 2025 it’s just as important to show up in ChatGPT or other LLMs. Here’s how you can.

Step-by-step:

  1. Go to your LLM of choice and paste in this long prompt

  2. Paste in an existing blog post you have on your website or another piece of content

  3. Use the output from your LLM on your website to help increase your visibility to crawlers

⬛️ Turn your Idea into Reality with Squarespace

Here at Half Baked, we're all about ideas. But while ideas are great, they only matter if you make them real.

That's where Squarespace comes in.

Squarespace’s tools help you to transform your business from an idea to a reality, from launching a stunning website to securing your brand name or even creating a logo.

One platform to bring your idea to life.

Get 10% off with code HALFBAKED (along with your 14 day free trial).

📈 4 Viral Apps. 2 Exits. 1 Founder

The Idea: Zay (Isaiah) Turner has always loved apps. So much so that back in 2014, at just age 15, he won Apple’s WWDC Student Scholarship that year. Around this time he also (pretty publicly) hacked Yo, the infamous messaging app, which actually got him a job at the startup. Funny how life works sometimes. But eventually, by 2016, Zay decided to start building his own businesses and went on an epic run where he’s built 4 incredibly viral apps…so far. This is his story.

The Execution:

  • 2016: Zay partnered with Ben Pasternak, another teenage entrepreneur, and together they launched Monkey, a video chat app for teens (like Omegle for Gen Z).

  • 2017: Monkey went super viral and grew to 300k monthly active users. Holla, another social app company, acquired Monkey that year.

  • 2021: Zay then launched Poparazzi, an anti-selfie photo-sharing app that encouraged users to snap pictures of their friends. It skyrocketed to the top of the App store.

  • 2022: Zay co-founded NGL, which allowed users to receive anonymous questions and messages from friends. NGL achieved 50M downloads in just 90 days, which is insane. Zay also co-founded Gas the same year (a similar app to NGL).

  • 2023: Discord Acquired Gas for an estimated 10 figure sum. Poparazzi shut down this year though, so it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows.

  • 2025: Zay is working on Chance App, a hangout app for friends. Will this be another breakout hit? Only time will tell…

In the end Zay’s story proves that success is a skill. Once you figure out where your skills are best applied, you can win again…and again…and again.

🔍️ Founder Finds

  • 🛠️ AI Tool: This tool allows users to create and monetize their own workflows

  • 🎁 Free Resource: Anthropic’s prompt engineering guide is super helpful

  • 📚 Must-Read: This article on shifts in risk taking towards the worship of jackpots and its broader societal implications is fantastic

  • ✖️ Trending Tweet: This tweet from Nikita Bier (Head of Product at X) on building consumer apps is great (reposting since we got the link wrong yesterday…oops)

  • 💬 Founder Quote: “You don't have to have it all figured out to move forward. You just have to move.” Julia Hartz (Eventbrite)

🔦 Reader Spotlight

  • 🈂️ Nippon Note: Josiah Tucker recently launched a newsletter based on an idea we shared in edition #365 (you love to see it).

  • 🌍 RocketDevs: Ali Elzeiny is working on a nonprofit that connects talented developers from Africa with early-stage founders

  • 📝 Mindnote: Tomya Mateo is working on this AI-powered note taker helps students and professionals write and enhance their notes ten times faster

  • 🔗 LinkStorm: François Mommens is working on an innovative SEO tool for internal optimization

  • 🛡️ IP Defender: John Elixon is working on a monitoring system that protects small businesses from trademark trolls

P.S: If you want your startup or project featured, click here!

🍺 Drunk Business Idea:

  • Have you jumped on the cold plunge bandwagon? Wondering how to make your cryotherapy sesh feel more like a spa day and less like medieval punishment?

  • Meet BrrrBombs™, the world’s first bath bombs for cold plunges. Each one fizzes, pops, and releases a beautiful scent, turning your voluntary hypothermia into a multi-sensory experience.

  • BrrrBombs™ - where aromatherapy meets masochism.

Vote

👋 That’s All Folks!

Before you go just a few public service announcements:

  • Have an idea you want feedback on? DM me to discuss it or book in for Office Hours here.

  • Looking to sponsor Half Baked? Just fill out this form and we’ll get back to you asap.

What did you think of today's edition?

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See you soon,

John and Darragh | The Half Baked Team

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