Episode description

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• Focus on digital marketing, not outdated door-to-door sales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/