🔥 I am back (and life updates)
+ The future of Consumer Startups
Hey fam!
It’s been a minute. Sorry for the absence, but I’m finally back!
A lot’s happened in the past couple of years, and I’m excited to fill you in on some big life updates. Plus, I’ve been cooking up something special for Consumer Startups that I can’t wait to share with you all.
Life Updates
Here’s a quick recap of what has happened in my life since my last post in March 2023:
I joined TikTok’s Creative AI team as a product manager. It was a wild ride—I helped launch and scale AI dubbing and the TikTok Symphony Creative Studio. I got an inside look on how AI is democratizing the creative process for many creators and advertisers.
This fall, I decided to go back to school. I’m now studying Design Engineering at Harvard. It's been a fun challenge where I have had more time to work on my technical chops and tinker on some of my own products, ranging from AI pet portraits to performance wearable device for elite swimmers.
The most recent experiment I launched is InfluencerB2B, a directory of newsletters and podcasts from different B2B niches. The idea is to create an easier way for B2B marketers to find influencers to partner with for marketing campaigns. Hit me up if you are interested in learning more！
Trends that excite me recently
There are three trends I am closely following recently and will continue to unpack in my future posts.
The Rise of Solopreneurs
There’s been a noticeable surge in interest around solopreneurship (check out the Google Trends chart below). Personally, I’ve seen more and more of my entrepreneurial friends shifting gears—moving away from the ambition to build VC-backed startups, and instead, embracing the solopreneur route. Many are diving into building micro SaaS and consumer utility apps.
It makes sense when you think about it: There’s now a growing ecosystem of tools that make it easier to launch quickly and automate much of the back-office work. Starting and scaling a business on your own has never been more achievable—especially with so little overhead required.
Empowering Non-Technical Builders
On an related note, I’m also really excited about how non-technical people are now able to build products faster than ever with LLM powered coding apps. Tools like Cursor and Lovable are empowering people to create MVPs with AI. It's changing the game.
Here’s an example of a tweet I came across that highlights how people are using these tools to move fast:
It would be interesting to monitor the secondary effects derived from the rise of solopreneurs and non-technical builders:
Niche Products: With more individuals building solo, we could see a rise in highly niche products that cater to smaller, underserved markets. This creates a unique opportunity for people who can connect or integrate these products into larger ecosystems.
Support Services and Platforms: As the number of non-technical builders grows, so will the demand for supporting services—whether it’s mentorship, no-code tools, app templates, or specialized integrations. If you can build a product that helps these new founders move faster or get better results, there’s a huge market waiting.
The Era of AI Consumer Utility Apps
There’s a trend I’m really keeping my eye on: AI-driven consumer utility apps. It’s clear that the next wave of apps won’t just be “fun AI” features—they’ll be apps that revamp existing consumer apps and tools.
One perfect example is Cal AI, an AI-powered calorie tracking app. With a photo or a quick barcode scan, Cal AI can instantly help you calculate calories and nutrients so you don’t have to do it manually on My Fitness Pal like in the old days.
There will be more and more AI native apps that will replace those traditional consumer utility app incumbents.
Take this tweet from Greg Isenberg that perfectly sums up the idea:
What’s Coming Up
I’m returning to a regular biweekly posting schedule, and here’s what you can expect:
First, I’ll be diving into the latest consumer trends, with a particular focus on consumer AI. I’ll explore how AI is reshaping the products we use every day and what’s coming next in this space.
Next, I’m excited to break down the stories of the fastest-growing consumer startups today. Just like before, I’ll unpack how they got their first 1000 customers, the mistakes they made along the way, and the key lessons that other founders can learn from their journeys.
Lastly, I’ll be sharing more about the various projects I’m working on (e.g. InfluencerB2B)—and building in public with all of you.
That’s it for now. Looking forward to connecting more in the coming weeks!
Cheers,
Leo
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