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- Idea Of The Day - Build Couples Therapy, But Fun With An App to Save Relationships One Check-In at a Time
Idea Of The Day - Build Couples Therapy, But Fun With An App to Save Relationships One Check-In at a Time
Needs To Exist
June 18, 2025
In partnership with
GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), dropping a startup idea to make relationships stronger and actually last.
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Here’s what we’ve got for you today.
Daily Idea - Relationship Check-In System
We got Shark Tank
Sync Better With Your Partner
Inspired by the Startup Ideas Podcast
The One Liner
Weekly stand-ups for your relationship, minus the HR jargon.
The 140 character tweet (or X) version
Tired of surface-level convos? This app gives you structured, recurring check-ins to grow your relationship like a startup.
The Longer Story Version
The Problem
You optimize everything, your calendar, your workouts, your work, but your relationship? That’s just vibes and crossed fingers.
And let’s be real:
Most couples don’t fall apart in one big fight. They drift. Little things go unsaid. Needs go unmet. Check-ins don’t happen until it’s too late.
You wouldn’t run a company without syncs. So why run your most important partnership on autopilot?
The Solution
What if couples had weekly 1:1s, but better?
This app turns emotional maintenance into something structured but not stiff. Here’s how it works:
Pick a cadence — weekly, biweekly, monthly
Get prompted — with questions that go beyond “how was your day?”
Track the patterns — so you can catch issues before they become problems
Celebrate growth — with shared highlights, mood streaks, and tiny wins
Think: a mix of therapy, Google Forms, and Notion but fun, emotional, and made for two.
You don’t need to guess what your partner’s thinking. You need a system for showing up, checking in, and actually hearing each other.
How We’d Build It
🚀 Starter Stack (Solo Builder MVP)
⚙️ Intermediate Stack (Full-Time Indie Hacker)
Front End: React Native + Expo
Back End: Firebase for real-time sync between partners
AI Layer: Use Cohere Embed or Anthropic Haiku to analyze tone across entries over time
GTM: Bundle with premarital counseling orgs, churches, and retreat centers
Monetize: $5–10/mo with a “Partner OS” pro version (custom questions, shared goals, sync reminders)
🧠 Advanced Stack (VC-Backed Vision)
Behavioral Science Team: Partner with relationship researchers to fine-tune prompts
API Integration: Hook into Apple Health or Oura for biofeedback-linked insights
GTM: B2B2C, offer it to companies as a perk for dual-income couples
Viral Loop: “Love Score” badge + invite-only couples leaderboard (yes, make emotional health a flex)
Brand Play: A Relationship Review Yearbook delivered as a printed gift annually
Why It Needs to Exist
Because we pour more structure into SaaS sprints than our soulmate.
Because great relationships aren’t a mystery, they’re a habit.
Because two people who check in win.
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Startup Shark Tank (Parody Edition)
Alright, we’re trying something new today.
Instead of our usual breakdown, we’re throwing this week’s startup idea into the Shark Tank.
This is not investment advice.
This is definitely not real.
This is a parody — but one that forces us to pressure test ideas through different perspectives (and hey, it’s more fun than a SWOT analysis).
If you like it, we’ll do more. If you hate it, we’ll go back to your regularly scheduled idea drops next week. Cool? Cool.
Now entering the Tank...
💡 The Idea: Relationship Check-In App
An app that helps couples stay emotionally in sync through structured, recurring check-ins. Think: the opposite of vague texts and emotional drift. Guided prompts, mood tracking, and weekly reflections like Google Calendar meets therapy.
🦈 Mark Cuban
“I love it. It’s like a CRM for your relationship. That’s smart. Most people don’t even realize they’re coasting until it’s too late. My concern? Adoption. Are couples actually disciplined enough to use it weekly? If you can show usage and stickiness, I’m in at $500k for 10%, and I’ll throw in some Dallas Mavericks tickets for the couples with the highest Love Scores.”
Verdict: IN (with conditions)
🦈 Barbara Corcoran
“This is brilliant, it’s like marriage insurance! I built my business on trust and communication. But most people are terrible at both. My concern is whether you can make something emotional feel fun and light. If you can nail the tone, you’ve got a hit. I’ll offer $250k for 12%, but I want to help make this the new anniversary gift.”
Verdict: IN (but only if it’s brand-first)
🦈 Kevin O’Leary
“Ah, love. Such a high-risk, low-return asset class. But if you can reduce churn in the relationship market, that’s interesting. My issue? Low lifetime value. Couples break up. Users churn. You’d better upsell wedding planners, therapists, or even prenups. I’ll do $150k as a royalty deal, $5 per couple, until I recoup 3x. Then I’m out. Mr. Wonderful always gets paid.”
Verdict: IN (royalty only)
🦈 Lori Greiner
“I think this could be a hero product for Valentine’s Day and anniversaries. I see a lot of people buying this for their partner to look like a great communicator. If you brand it right, this could be the next emotional health gift. But I’m worried about retention. If it becomes a chore, it dies. I’m on the fence.”
Verdict: OUT (but watching)
🦈 Robert Herjavec
“As someone who’s gone through divorce and found love again, I think this is really powerful. Relationships are the most important thing we have and we spend zero time optimizing them. I believe in this. I’ll go $500k for 15%, but I want to build a version for families and friendships too.”
Verdict: IN (and expanding the vision)
Let us know what you think, more Shark Tanks? Or back to basics?
What Should We Do Next?We’re testing new formats so help us shape what comes next. |
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