In this episode, host I test Manus AI's ability to function as an AI co-founder by asking it to develop a million-dollar business idea focused on AI. The system analyzes Y Combinator startups and Reddit trends to identify opportunities, ultimately recommending an AI-powered micro-consulting platform for small businesses. Manus delivers a comprehensive business proposal including market validation, pricing strategy, and even designs a functional landing page.
Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
01:41 - Initial Prompt: Ideas for $1M Startup in 18 Months
03:24 - Manus AI Processing Prompt
06:25 - Alternative Use Cases of Manus AI
13:14 - Results from First Prompt
15:19 - Prompt 2: Focus on Niche Startup Opportunities
17:46 - Results from Second Prompt
23:15 - Prompt 3: Validate Ideas with data and trend analysis
27:00 - Prompt 4: Refining data and trend analysis
29:0` - Prompt 5: Creating a Landing Page with Manus
34:23 - Reviewing results from Business Proposal
37:35 - Results from Fifth Prompt
39:25 - Final Thoughts on Manus AI and Startup Ideas
Key Points:
• I explore Manus AI's multi-agent capabilities to generate a viable startup idea that could make $1 million in 18 months
• Manus AI analyzes YC's latest batch, Reddit trends, and market opportunities to identify niche AI business concepts
• The AI recommends "AI-powered micro-consulting for SMBs" as the most promising opportunity
• Manus creates a complete business proposal including landing page design, pricing strategy, and go-to-market plan
1) I challenged Manus AI (a multi-agent AI system) to develop a complete business plan for an AI startup that could make $1M in 18 months.
The goal: See if AI can identify REAL market trends and opportunities better than humans can.
2) What makes Manus different from ChatGPT?
• Multi-agent capabilities (can browse while chatting)
• Can analyze multiple sources simultaneously
• Performs complex research tasks independently
• Creates actual code/designs, not just concepts
3) The COOLEST use cases Greg discovered while testing Manus:
• Converting unstructured data into organized tables
• Analyzing financial reports like a JP Morgan analyst
• Contract review (saving $1500+ lawyer fees)
• Creating highlight reels from podcast audio
• Building websites from scratch
4) The AI identified these KEY TRENDS in the AI startup landscape:
• Vertical-specific AI solutions for regulated industries
• AI agents for specialized workflows
• Infrastructure tools helping others deploy AI
• No-code/low-code AI accessibility solutions
5) The WINNING IDEA Manus proposed: "Spark Console AI" - an AI-powered micro-consulting platform for small businesses.
The problem it solves? SMBs need expert consulting but can't afford $150-500/hour traditional services.
The solution? $49-500/month AI consulting agents.
6) What impressed me most: Manus VALIDATED the idea with ACTUAL DATA:
• 47% growth in r/smallbusiness subscribers
• Direct quotes from Reddit showing pain points:
"I'd love expert advice but can't justify $200 consultants"
"Generic AI tools don't understand my industry challenges"
7) Manus even built a COMPLETE landing page with:
• Eye-catching design
• Lead generation forms
• Interactive business assessment
• Pricing tiers
All without Greg needing to write a single line of code!
8) The LIMITATIONS Greg found:
• You still need to ask the right questions
• It's more like a "junior employee" than a true co-founder
• Takes 10-15 minutes for complex tasks
• You need to push back on some recommendations
9) My takeaway: We're entering an era where the COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE isn't coding ability - it's knowing which QUESTIONS to ask AI.
The winners will be those who can identify trends and direct AI to build solutions that ride those tailwinds.
Notable Quotes:
"In a world where anyone could create software... figuring out what is the brand, what is the landing page, what is the product, and what is the trend... is gonna help you actually build a business, not just build a product." - Greg
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The Startup Ideas Podcast