GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), delivering a startup idea to turn yardwork into a masterpiece.

We’re giving away free access to up to 3 NTE Pro categories and you can unlock a 3rd by completing an extra step!

To enter, pick your favorite idea from past newsletters, tell us why you love it, and submit it via this form. For 1 guaranteed category, follow @needstoexist on X, share the idea with hashtag #NeedsToExist, and add the link to the past newsletter—winners get access to up to 3 categories of their choice. Enter Now!

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - Show Off Those Yard Skills

• Funnel Fun

Strava for Yard Work

Inspired by this tweet

The One Liner

Flex your yardwork mastery.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

Yardwork isn’t just a chore—it’s an art. Map your mowing, log your pruning, and share your masterpiece with people who get it.

The Longer Story Version

For people who love yardwork, there’s nothing more satisfying than stepping back to admire a freshly mowed lawn, neatly trimmed hedges, or perfectly weeded flower beds.

But let’s be real—you’re the Michelangelo of mulch, and no one is seeing your work. Your lawn is a masterpiece, but where’s the audience? Your neighbor might compliment it once a year, and your family? They’re not hyped about your mowing angles.

There’s no community, no place to show off your perfect stripes, your pruned-to-perfection hedges, or your creative garden layout. The world is missing out on your skills.

The Solution

What if yardwork lovers had their own platform to track their progress and share their brilliance?

Here’s how it works:

• GPS Mapping: Track your mowing like an artist tracking brush strokes. Show off those perfectly straight lines and creative patterns.

• Before/After Pics: Share your yard transformations—weed jungle to garden paradise. The ultimate flex.

• Activity Log: Keep track of every detail—how many weeds you pulled, branches you pruned, or flowers you planted.

• Monthly Challenges: Compete with others for titles like “Best Lawn Stripes” or “Most Creative Yard Design.” Win badges, respect, and maybe even a trophy.

• Community Feed: A space to share your yardwork pride with others who get it. Like Instagram, but for the lawn-obsessed.

This isn’t about chores. It’s about celebrating the craft, connecting with others who care, and creating the yardwork Hall of Fame.

How We’d Build It

• GPS Mapping: Use Google Maps or OpenStreetMap to track mowing and trimming routes.

• Image Features: Add before/after comparison tools powered by Vision AI for side-by-side glow-ups.

• Social Sharing: Build a feed with tools like Firebase or Supabase for seamless community interaction.

• Gamification: Use BadgeKit or similar APIs to create custom challenges, leaderboards, and rewards.

• Mobile Platform: Build with Flutter or React Native for a smooth cross-platform experience.

Why It Needs to Exist

For the lawn-and-garden crowd, this isn’t work—it’s a passion.

This app turns yardwork into a sport, an art, and a community. It’s about showing off the care, the precision, and the creativity that go into making your yard a masterpiece.

Because who doesn’t want to flex their perfectly edged lawn?

NTE Pro Giveaway

We’re giving away free access to up to 3 categories of NTE Pro

Here's how to enter:

Step 1: Pick Your Favorite Idea from Past Newsletters

• Go through past newsletters.

• Pick your favorite startup idea and tell us why you love it.

• Submit your response using this form.

• 1 Winner will be contacted and can choose 2 free categories.

Step 2 (Bonus!): Unlock a Guaranteed Category

• Follow NeedsToExist on Twitter.

• Tweet about favorite idea from the newsletter with the hashtag #NeedsToExist on Twitter

• Include the tweet link on the form.

Make sure to enter by 1/30 at 12pm ET. Good luck—we can’t wait to hear which idea inspired you the most!

The Right Funnel = MVP Success

The MVP grind. You’ve got your big idea, a prototype that barely works, and maybe a little cash in the bank. Now what? You need users. Not just random visitors scrolling through, but people who take action. People who validate your idea.

Enter: The Funnel.

Think of the funnel as your MVP’s hype machine. It’s how you guide users from “Hmm, this looks cool” to “Take my money!” If you’re not thinking about your funnel from Day 1, you’re not just leaving money on the table—you’re leaving your entire business on the table.

Here’s the kicker: Funnels aren’t just some outdated marketing trick. They still work because they’re rooted in human psychology. The better you understand how people move through the stages of awareness, interest, and action, the better you can build something they’ll actually care about (and pay for).

Let’s break it down.

Stage 1: Top-of-Funnel (TOFU)

This is where your potential customers are just discovering you. They don’t know who you are. They don’t care (yet). Your job? Get their attention.

Goals:

• Raise awareness.

• Show them you understand their problem.

• Get them to take a small step—like joining your email list.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Beehiiv or Substack: Build a newsletter to hook them with content they care about.

• Typeform: Create a simple quiz or survey to engage them (and collect emails).

• Canva: Whip up quick, clean visuals for your ads or social posts without hiring a designer.

• Meta Ads: Run targeted campaigns to drive traffic to your landing page.

Pro Tip:

Use a squeeze page—a simple landing page with one goal: capture their email. Offer a freebie (like a guide, checklist, or exclusive access to your MVP) to sweeten the deal.

Stage 2: Middle-of-Funnel (MOFU)

Okay, they know who you are now. But do they trust you? This stage is about nurturing that relationship and showing them why your MVP is worth their time.

Goals:

• Build trust.

• Educate them on how you solve their problem.

• Push them closer to a decision.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Kit: Set up automated email sequences to keep them engaged.

• Notion or Google Docs: Share case studies, testimonials, or a behind-the-scenes look at your MVP.

• Unbounce: Create landing pages for free trials, demos, or lead magnets.

• Calendly: Let them book a demo or consultation without the back-and-forth.

Pro Tip:

Use this stage to flex social proof. Got a testimonial? Feature it. Have stats? Share them. Build that “If it worked for them, it’ll work for me” energy.

Stage 3: Bottom-of-Funnel (BOFU)

Now’s the time to close the deal. They’re interested. They’re engaged. All that’s left is to make the decision ridiculously easy for them.

Goals:

• Drive conversions (sign-ups, purchases, or bookings).

• Eliminate objections.

• Make it dead simple to take action.

Tools You’ll Need:

• Stripe: Set up seamless payments.

• Shopify or ThriveCart: If you’re selling a product, make checkout frictionless.

• Zapier: Automate follow-ups, confirmations, and onboarding after they convert.

• Hotjar: Watch how users interact with your final page and spot drop-off points.

Pro Tip:

Test the heck out of your landing pages. Use A/B testing tools like Google Optimize to tweak headlines, CTAs, and design elements. Small changes = big wins.

How to Build Your Funnel in 5 Steps

1. Start with TOFU: Create one landing page and run ads or share content that drives traffic to it. Make the goal clear: collect their email or get them to sign up.

2. Add MOFU Nurturing: Set up an automated email sequence to show off your MVP’s value. Include FAQs, case studies, or demo invites.

3. Optimize BOFU for Conversions: Build a checkout or sign-up page that removes friction. Add testimonials or guarantees to squash objections.

4. Integrate Everything: Use tools like Zapier to connect your funnel. For example, when someone joins your email list, they get added to Kit, booked through Calendly, and tagged in your CRM.

5. Iterate and Improve: Watch the data. Where are people dropping off? Use tools like Hotjar or Google Analytics to identify weak spots and keep refining.

Why This Matters for Your MVP

A solid funnel doesn’t just help you sell—it gives you data to make smarter decisions. If people bounce at TOFU, maybe your pitch isn’t clear. If they drop off at BOFU, maybe your pricing’s off or there’s friction in your checkout process.

Every step of your funnel teaches you something about your audience and your MVP. And the faster you learn, the faster you can adapt and win.

Your MVP’s Shortcut to Success

You don’t need a perfect product to launch. You need a perfect system to guide your audience to action. That’s what the funnel is—a system.

The best part? Tools like Unbounce, Kit, and Stripe make building a funnel easier than ever. You don’t need a developer. You don’t need a huge budget. You just need a clear goal, the right tools, and a willingness to experiment.

Launch the funnel. Learn from the funnel. Iterate your MVP.

Rinse. Repeat.

Now go build something.

One More Meme