Editor's Top Picks
🎯 Best for Solo Founder
PlainFFmpeg
PlainFFmpeg has clear technical scope, immediate market validation from HN interest, and can start with simple API before scaling
💰 Fastest to Revenue
CalendarIQ
CalendarIQ addresses universal pain point, can launch freemium model quickly, and has proven willingness to pay in productivity space
🚀 Highest Scale Potential
StableToll
StableToll could become infrastructure for entire smart city ecosystems globally, with massive government TAM
🛡️ Most Defensible
SyncMaster
SyncMaster has deep technical moat requiring specialized hardware and expertise, plus network effects from precision requirements
Technology Business Ideas
15 ideas
1
PlainFFmpeg
"Natural language video editing API that converts plain English commands to FFmpeg operations"
HIGH Scale
MODERATE
Problem
FFmpeg is powerful but has a steep learning curve - developers waste hours on syntax for simple video operations
Solution
API that translates 'make this video 720p and add fade transitions' into optimized FFmpeg commands with error handling
Target Market
SaaS companies, content creators, developers build...
Revenue Model
Usage-based API pricing: $0.01 per operation, ente...
Startup Costs
$75k (GPU servers, initial AI model training, 6 months runway)
Moat
First-mover in NL-to-FFmpeg translation, builds ne...
First Steps
1Build MVP with 20 common video operations
2Launch on HackerNews with free tier
3Get 10 paying beta customers
2
SyncMaster
"Enterprise clock synchronization as a service for distributed systems and IoT networks"
MEDIUM Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Clock drift causes billions in trading losses, IoT failures, and distributed system bugs
Solution
Managed NTP/PTP service with microsecond precision, monitoring, and automatic drift correction
Target Market
Financial firms, IoT manufacturers, cloud infrastr...
Revenue Model
SaaS pricing: $100-1000/month per network, enterpr...
Startup Costs
$150k (precision hardware, global server infrastructure, team)
Moat
Purpose-built for modern distributed systems vs le...
First Steps
1Build proof-of-concept with 3 global nodes
2Target HFT firms for beta testing
3Get SOC2 compliance
3
DevHook
"Smart pre-commit hooks that actually work - AI-powered code quality gates with team learning"
HIGH Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Pre-commit hooks are broken, slow, and teams disable them, leading to buggy production code
Solution
AI-powered hooks that learn from team patterns, run incrementally, and provide contextual fixes
Target Market
Development teams at growth-stage companies (50-50...
Revenue Model
Per-developer pricing: $15-25/month per developer,...
Startup Costs
$60k (AI training, integrations with major Git providers, 6 months)
Moat
AI learns team-specific patterns vs generic rule e...
First Steps
1Build GitHub Action with 5 smart rules
2Launch free tier for open source
3Get 100 teams using it
4
GameSecure
"Real-time anti-cheat and exploit detection for online games using behavioral AI"
HIGH Scale
HARD
Problem
Game hacking costs the industry billions and ruins player experience - current solutions are reactive
Solution
ML models that detect cheating patterns in real-time, integrated via SDK with minimal performance impact
Target Market
Indie game studios, mid-size game companies, espor...
Revenue Model
Per-game licensing: $1k-10k/month based on MAU, to...
Startup Costs
$120k (AI talent, game integration testing, anti-cheat research)
Moat
Behavioral AI vs signature-based detection, faster...
First Steps
1Build proof-of-concept for Unity games
2Partner with 3 indie studios for beta
3Demonstrate ROI metrics
5
CalendarIQ
"AI calendar optimization that actually schedules meetings intelligently based on team productivity patterns"
MASSIVE Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Calendar tools are dumb schedulers - they don't understand focus time, energy patterns, or meeting effectiveness
Solution
AI assistant that learns when you're most productive and schedules meetings to maximize team output
Target Market
Knowledge workers, executive assistants, remote-fi...
Revenue Model
Freemium: $0 basic, $12/month pro features, $25/mo...
Startup Costs
$40k (calendar API integrations, AI development, mobile apps)
Moat
Productivity optimization vs basic scheduling, tea...
First Steps
1Build Google Calendar integration MVP
2Launch Product Hunt with productivity angle
3Get 1000+ daily active users
6
EspressoBoard
"Single-board computer specifically designed for embedded Linux applications with integrated sensors"
MEDIUM Scale
HARD
Problem
Raspberry Pi alternatives are either too expensive or lack integrated sensors for IoT projects
Solution
Custom ARM board with built-in temperature, humidity, motion sensors and industrial I/O at $35 price point
Target Market
IoT developers, industrial automation, educational...
Revenue Model
Hardware sales with 40% margins, dev kits at $89, ...
Startup Costs
$200k (hardware design, initial manufacturing run, certifications)
Moat
Integrated sensors vs add-on modules, industrial t...
First Steps
1Design and prototype first board
2Pre-orders via crowdfunding campaign
3Partner with industrial distributors
7
OutboundAI
"AI sales assistant that personalizes outbound at scale using public data and behavioral psychology"
HIGH Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Outbound sales is a numbers game with low response rates due to generic messaging and poor timing
Solution
AI that researches prospects, crafts personalized messages, and times outreach based on behavioral triggers
Target Market
B2B sales teams, SDRs, sales consultants, growth a...
Revenue Model
Per-seat pricing: $99-199/month per sales rep, ent...
Startup Costs
$80k (AI development, CRM integrations, compliance, sales team)
Moat
Psychology-based personalization vs template custo...
First Steps
1Build LinkedIn + email integration MVP
2Get 10 sales reps to beta test
3Measure response rate improvements
8
LegalStack
"Software infrastructure for law firms - practice management, billing, and client portals in one modern stack"
MEDIUM Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Law firms use outdated software that doesn't integrate, leading to billing leaks and client frustration
Solution
Modern, integrated practice management system with automated billing, client self-service, and mobile apps
Target Market
Small to mid-size law firms (5-50 attorneys), lega...
Revenue Model
SaaS pricing: $50-150/month per attorney, setup fe...
Startup Costs
$100k (legal compliance, integrations, attorney feedback, 8 months runway)
Moat
Modern UX vs legacy systems, integrated billing vs...
First Steps
1Interview 50 attorneys about pain points
2Build MVP with 3 core features
3Get 5 firms as pilot customers
9
TextRenderPro
"High-performance text rendering engine for game developers and UI frameworks with perfect font handling"
MEDIUM Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Text rendering is notoriously complex and buggy across platforms, causing UI inconsistencies and crashes
Solution
Drop-in text rendering library with consistent output, emoji support, and performance optimization for games/apps
Target Market
Game engine developers, UI framework creators, app...
Revenue Model
Licensing fees: $500-5000 per project, enterprise ...
Startup Costs
$90k (graphics programming expertise, cross-platform testing, documentation)
Moat
Performance and consistency vs platform-native ren...
First Steps
1Build proof-of-concept for Unity integration
2Benchmark against existing solutions
3Get 3 game studios to trial
10
InfraSentry
"Infrastructure monitoring specifically for small businesses - simplified Datadog for non-tech teams"
MEDIUM Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Small businesses have IT infrastructure but lack technical expertise to monitor it properly, leading to downtime
Solution
One-click infrastructure monitoring with plain English alerts and automated remediation suggestions
Target Market
Small businesses with 10-100 employees, local IT c...
Revenue Model
Simple pricing: $29-99/month per business based on...
Startup Costs
$50k (monitoring agents, dashboard development, customer support setup)
Moat
SMB focus vs enterprise tools, simple setup vs com...
First Steps
1Build Windows/Linux monitoring agents
2Partner with 5 local IT consultants
3Get 50 SMB pilot customers
11
SecureSSL
"Automated SSL certificate management and security monitoring for websites and APIs"
MEDIUM Scale
MODERATE
Problem
SSL certificate management is manual, error-prone, and security misconfigurations are common
Solution
Automated cert provisioning, renewal, and security scanning with vulnerability alerts and fixes
Target Market
Web developers, DevOps teams, digital agencies, Sa...
Revenue Model
Tiered pricing: $19-199/month based on domains mon...
Startup Costs
$60k (security expertise, CA integrations, monitoring infrastructure)
Moat
Full automation vs manual processes, security focu...
First Steps
1Build Let's Encrypt automation tool
2Add security scanning features
3Get 500 domains under management
12
CodeDebate
"AI-powered code review platform where multiple AI models debate and synthesize the best solutions"
HIGH Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Code reviews are bottlenecked by human availability and single perspectives miss edge cases
Solution
Multiple AI models (Claude, GPT, Codex) review code independently, then debate to find optimal solutions
Target Market
Development teams, solo developers, open source pr...
Revenue Model
Per-repository pricing: $29-99/month, usage-based ...
Startup Costs
$70k (AI model access costs, Git integrations, web platform development)
Moat
Multi-AI debate approach vs single model reviews, ...
First Steps
1Build GitHub App prototype
2Demo multi-AI debate concept
3Get 20 teams using it regularly
13
EmbeddedRust
"Rust-based development platform and tools specifically designed for embedded systems and IoT devices"
MEDIUM Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Embedded development is stuck with C/C++ despite memory safety issues; Rust adoption is slow due to tooling gaps
Solution
Complete embedded Rust toolkit with debugging, profiling, OTA updates, and device management
Target Market
Embedded engineers, IoT device manufacturers, auto...
Revenue Model
IDE licensing: $200-500/seat, cloud services for O...
Startup Costs
$150k (embedded systems expertise, hardware testing lab, IDE development)
Moat
Rust memory safety vs C/C++, complete ecosystem vs...
First Steps
1Build proof-of-concept IDE extension
2Partner with hardware vendors
3Create embedded Rust tutorials
14
TollOpti
"Route optimization app that helps drivers avoid toll roads and find the most cost-effective paths"
MEDIUM Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Toll roads are spreading but navigation apps don't optimize for cost, leading to expensive commutes
Solution
Smart routing that considers toll costs, time savings, fuel efficiency, and user preferences for optimal routes
Target Market
Daily commuters, delivery drivers, fleet managers,...
Revenue Model
Freemium app: $4.99/month premium, fleet managemen...
Startup Costs
$45k (mobile app development, mapping data licensing, toll rate databases)
Moat
Cost-optimization focus vs time-only routing, real...
First Steps
1Build iOS/Android MVP for major metro areas
2Integrate toll rate APIs
3Launch in 3 high-toll cities
15
PharmaLeak
"Patent expiry tracking and generic drug opportunity identification platform for pharmaceutical companies"
MEDIUM Scale
HARD
Problem
Pharmaceutical companies miss generic opportunities worth billions due to poor patent monitoring
Solution
AI-powered platform that tracks patent expirations, analyzes market potential, and predicts generic competition timing
Target Market
Generic drug manufacturers, pharmaceutical investo...
Revenue Model
Subscription: $5k-50k/month based on company size,...
Startup Costs
$120k (pharmaceutical expertise, patent database access, regulatory knowledge)
Moat
AI analysis vs manual patent research, real-time u...
First Steps
1Build patent database and analysis engine
2Validate with 3 generic drug companies
3Demonstrate ROI with case studies
Crypto & Blockchain Ideas
3 ideas
1
CryptoCommit
"Git-based smart contracts for code bounties and open source development funding using automated escrow"
HIGH Scale
HARD
Problem
Open source funding is broken - contributors work for free while projects struggle to incentivize quality contributions
Solution
Smart contracts that automatically release payments when code is merged, with reputation systems and milestone-based funding
Target Market
Open source maintainers, developers seeking bounti...
Revenue Model
Transaction fees, premium features for organizatio...
Startup Costs
$80k (smart contract audits, platform development, initial liquidity)
Moat
Gitcoin exists but focuses on grants; we focus on ...
First Steps
1Deploy MVP smart contracts on testnet
2Partner with 5 OSS projects
3Launch with GitHub integration
2
StableToll
"Blockchain-based dynamic toll pricing and payment system for smart cities and highways"
MASSIVE Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Current toll systems are expensive to operate, inflexible for dynamic pricing, and lack transparency
Solution
Blockchain infrastructure for automated toll collection, dynamic pricing based on traffic, and transparent revenue sharing
Target Market
City governments, highway authorities, transportat...
Revenue Model
SaaS licensing to governments, transaction fees, c...
Startup Costs
$200k (blockchain development, pilot deployments, regulatory navigation)
Moat
Traditional toll companies like Kapsch; first bloc...
First Steps
1Build proof-of-concept with city transportation dept
2Develop partnership with IoT device manufacturer
3Get pilot program approved
3
DeFiHealth
"Decentralized health insurance pools where members stake crypto and smart contracts pay claims automatically"
MASSIVE Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Health insurance is expensive with denied claims and slow payouts; medical costs are bankrupting families
Solution
Peer-to-peer health insurance pools using smart contracts for instant, transparent claim processing and community governance
Target Market
Self-employed individuals, freelancers, crypto nat...
Revenue Model
Management fees from insurance pools, DeFi protoco...
Startup Costs
$150k (smart contract audits, actuarial modeling, regulatory consultation, initial pool liquidity)
Moat
Traditional insurance and emerging crypto insuranc...
First Steps
1Research insurance regulations in crypto-friendly jurisdictions
2Build actuarial models for risk pricing
3Create pilot with 100 members for basic coverage
Market Opportunity Ideas
2 ideas
1
MidMarket SaaS Consolidator
"Roll-up strategy targeting profitable B2B SaaS companies in the $1-10M ARR range across fragmented verticals"
MASSIVE Scale
EXPERT
Problem
Thousands of profitable SaaS companies lack exit options and growth capital, trading at low multiples
Solution
Acquire 15-20 complementary SaaS companies, implement shared operations, cross-sell, and eventually exit as larger entity
Target Market
B2B SaaS companies in legal, healthcare, construct...
Revenue Model
Improve margins through operational efficiency, gr...
Startup Costs
$2-5M initial fund for first acquisitions, debt financing for additional deals
Moat
Focus on profitable companies vs growth-at-all-cos...
First Steps
1Raise initial acquisition fund
2Identify and analyze 50+ target companies
3Complete first acquisition in familiar vertical
2
AI Training Data Services
"Specialized data collection, labeling, and curation services for companies building domain-specific AI models"
HIGH Scale
MODERATE
Problem
Companies need high-quality training data for specialized AI models but lack expertise and infrastructure
Solution
End-to-end data services including collection, cleaning, labeling, and synthetic data generation for specific domains
Target Market
AI startups, enterprise companies building custom ...
Revenue Model
Project-based pricing, ongoing data subscriptions,...
Startup Costs
$100k (data infrastructure, labeling platform, initial team of domain experts)
Moat
Domain specialization vs generalist data companies...
First Steps
1Choose 2-3 specialized domains to focus on
2Build relationships with AI companies needing data
3Develop proprietary data collection methods
Trend Analysis
🔥 Hottest Sectors
AI/ML Infrastructure
Developer Tools
Embedded Systems/IoT
Vertical SaaS
Web3 Infrastructure
🌱 Emerging Technologies
Natural Language Interfaces
Multi-AI Systems
Rust for Systems Programming
Real-time Collaborative Tools
Blockchain Infrastructure
🎯 Market Gaps
SMB-focused monitoring tools
Embedded Rust ecosystem
Cost-optimized routing
Multi-AI code review
Pharmaceutical patent analytics
📈 Tailwinds
Remote work infrastructure needs
AI integration across industries
SMB digital transformation
Supply chain visibility demands