GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), today delivering a startup idea to automatically fix those gross bathrooms.

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You can also check out free ideas in our past newsletters.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - Self-cleaning bathrooms, unlocked.

• Hardware MVP

Bathrooms that clean themselves, finally.

The One Liner

Bathrooms that clean themselves. Literally.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

No more nasty public restrooms. This self-cleaning bathroom uses automation, UV light, and AI to sanitize itself after every use.

The Longer Story Version

The Problem

Bathrooms get gross. Fast.

Whether it’s a high-traffic airport, a hospital, or even your home, keeping bathrooms clean is a never-ending battle. Manual cleaning takes time, costs money, and still leaves behind bacteria and odors. Plus, let’s be real—most public restrooms make you want to hold it until you get home.

Businesses pour millions into janitorial staff and cleaning supplies, but one bad bathroom experience can wreck customer perception. No one trusts a dirty restaurant, and a grimy office bathroom? Forget about it.

The Solution

A fully automated, self-cleaning bathroom that keeps itself spotless—so you don’t have to.

Here’s how it works:

1. UV-C Sterilization: After every use, high-powered UV-C light disinfects surfaces, eliminating bacteria and viruses.

2. Self-Cleaning Surfaces: Toilets, sinks, and floors are coated with hydrophobic and antimicrobial materials to repel grime and germs.

3. Automated Cleaning Cycles: IoT sensors detect usage and trigger robotic scrubbers and misting systems to keep everything fresh.

4. Smart Monitoring: The system tracks hygiene levels in real time and alerts staff only when deep cleaning is actually needed.

No more nasty floors. No more sketchy smells. No more “Out of Order” signs at the worst possible moment.

How We’d Build It

This is a big, complex problem—but if you crack it, it’s a massive business.

Building a true self-cleaning bathroom isn’t just slapping some Roombas and UV lights in a stall. You need a mix of AI, robotics, IoT, and material science. But the good news? Most of this tech already exists—it just hasn’t been put together the right way.

Here’s the stack:

• AI & Sensors (for detecting dirt, bacteria, and usage patterns)

  • Cameras & Computer Vision – OpenCV + Edge Impulse to detect messes and foot traffic.

  • Air Quality & Odor Sensors – Sensirion SGP40 for detecting ammonia and organic compounds.

  • Motion & Pressure Sensors – Texas Instruments mmWave sensors to detect usage and optimize cleaning cycles.

• UV-C & Steam Cleaning (for chemical-free sterilization)

  • UV-C LEDs – Lumin UV or Philips TUV systems for hospital-grade surface sterilization.

  • Steam Cleaning Nozzles – Dupray or Kärcher for eco-friendly deep cleaning.

  • Automated Dispensers – Arduino-controlled misting systems for on-demand disinfectant application.

• Self-Cleaning Surfaces (for continuous hygiene without extra cleaning)

  • Superhydrophobic Coatings – TiO2-based coatings (TitanPE or LiquiGlide) to repel liquids and grime.

  • Antimicrobial Coatings – Silver-ion or copper-infused surfaces (Microban or CuVerro) to prevent bacterial growth.

• Robotic Mopping & Sprayers (for automated deep cleaning)

  • Floor Scrubbing Robots – Adaptation of SoftBank Whiz or Nilfisk Liberty SC50 for small spaces.

  • Electrostatic Sprayers – Victory Innovations or EMist for even disinfection coverage.

• Backend Dashboard (for monitoring cleanliness & maintenance)

  • IoT Integration – AWS IoT Core or Particle.io for remote monitoring.

  • Real-Time Alerts – Twilio API for SMS/email notifications when deep cleaning is needed.

  • Analytics & Optimization – Power BI or Google Data Studio to track cleaning effectiveness and usage patterns.

Why It Needs to Exist

Because bad bathrooms shouldn’t exist in 2025.

This isn’t just about cleanliness—it’s about experience, efficiency, and perception. If a business can automate restroom cleaning, they cut costs, boost hygiene, and make customers (or employees) way happier.

For airports, hospitals, hotels, and even homes, this tech changes the game. Less work, fewer germs, and no more terrifying gas station restrooms.

The future of clean bathrooms? It’s automated.

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MVPs - But For Hardware

Every startup founder knows the classic MVP (Minimum Viable Product) playbook: Strip your idea down to the simplest version, launch it fast, get real user feedback, and iterate. It works beautifully for software. You can push an update overnight, A/B test different versions, or even roll back a release if things go sideways.

But what if you're building hardware? You can’t just ship a half-baked physical product and expect customers to be cool with it. If your hardware looks like a prototype, people will treat it like a prototype—meaning they won’t pay for it.

So how do you launch a hardware MVP without going broke on manufacturing or scaring off potential buyers? Here’s the playbook:

1. Make It Work First, Make It Pretty Later

Forget aesthetics for now. If you can get the core functionality working with off-the-shelf components, that’s your MVP. Plenty of hardware startups began by throwing a Raspberry Pi into a 3D-printed case and calling it a product.

🚀 Tools to help:

• Raspberry Pi + ESP32 – Cheap, powerful, perfect for IoT and smart devices.

• Shapr3D – Easy industrial design without a $5,000 CAD license.

• Fusion 360 – Free for startups, great for 3D modeling.

2. Sell Before You Scale

Instead of raising millions and setting up mass manufacturing, sell 5-10 units first. No preorders, no crowdfunding—just real sales. Build small, get feedback, iterate, and reinvest.

💰 Tools to sell before scaling:

• Gumroad – Quick way to take preorders without a full store.

• Shopify + Printful – Set up a storefront and sell accessories on-demand.

• BackerKit – Helps with crowdfunding fulfillment when you’re ready.

3. Use Someone Else’s Supply Chain

Instead of reinventing the wheel, find an existing device that’s almost what you need and modify it.

🔧 Tools for sourcing & modifying:

• Seeed Studio Fusion – Custom PCBs + small-batch assembly.

• MacroFab – US-based low-volume electronics manufacturing.

• Alibaba + Sourcify – Find and work with suppliers without getting burned.

4. Get Scrappy with Manufacturing

If you’re waiting until you can afford a factory run, you’re waiting too long. Start small and build up.

🏭 Tools for prototyping & low-volume runs:

• Xometry – 3D printing, CNC machining, and injection molding.

• PCBWay – Rapid prototyping for PCBs and enclosures.

• Hubs – Quick-turn custom metal and plastic parts.

5. Ship Something—Anything

Most hardware startups die because they never launch. They get stuck trying to perfect their design, raise money, or secure the “right” supplier. Meanwhile, their bank account runs dry.

📦 Tools to launch faster:

• Tindie – Marketplace for niche, early-stage hardware.

• Kickstarter – Still works if you have a strong campaign.

• HAX Accelerator – Funding + help with manufacturing.

The only way to win is to get real users, real revenue, and real feedback—fast. If people are willing to pay for your hacked-together prototype, you’re onto something. If they’re not, no amount of fancy industrial design will save you.

So stop obsessing over perfection. Get your hardware MVP out there. Sell a few. Learn what breaks. Fix it. Then scale.

That’s how you build a hardware startup that actually survives.

One More Meme