GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), delivering daily startup ideas - this one to help you preserve legacies and build lasting impact.

Think building an AI-powered ghostwriter to preserve life stories isn’t your thing? No worries—explore 1,000+ other startup ideas that could be your perfect match. Sign up for NTE Pro now!

Every idea in this newsletter is up for grabs. Kick off the year by taking one, running with it, and building something big—no green light required! Dive into the archive of past ideas here.

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - Stories, Simplified Forever

• How do I get my first 10 customers?

Untold Stories, AI-Powered Legacies

The One Liner

Everyone has a story to tell—this is how you can help them tell it.

The 140 character tweet (or X) version

What if you could build a service to turn untold life stories into e-books? AI-powered personal ghostwriting for memories that last forever.

The Longer Story

The world is full of untold stories. Every person you pass on the street has a life filled with experiences, struggles, and triumphs—but most of those stories never get shared. Why? Writing is hard. It’s time-consuming, intimidating, and not everyone knows how to turn their memories into a compelling narrative.

That’s where you come in. Imagine building a service that gives everyone the chance to preserve their life story in a beautifully written format—without ever needing to pick up a pen.

The Problem

Millions of people want to share their stories, but they don’t know where to start. Writing an autobiography is daunting. Hiring a professional ghostwriter costs thousands of dollars. Precious life experiences slip through the cracks, untold and unshared.

The Solution

Build an AI-powered ghostwriting service that makes storytelling accessible. Here's how it works:

1. Questionnaire Wizardry: Users start by answering an intuitive, in-depth questionnaire. AI uses their answers to piece together a narrative in their voice.

2. Formats Galore: Offer options like e-books, print-on-demand physical books, or even a digital timeline of their life on a custom website.

3. Add the Magic Touch: Let them upload photos, or for premium users, include a video interview to create dynamic, multimedia content.

4. Legacy in Progress: A subscription service allows users to update their stories over time, capturing every new chapter of their lives.

5. Privacy First: Stories can be private, shared with family, or even published for the world to see.

How I’d Build This

• Start Simple: Use GPT-style models for the first drafts and human editors for polish.

• Low Barrier Entry: Launch with a basic e-book offering, then expand into physical books and multimedia.

• Test with Niches: Market to seniors (legacy-building) and young parents (capturing early family memories).

• Subscriptions for Scale: Continuous story updates keep users engaged—and paying.

Why This Needs To Exist

Storytelling connects generations. It preserves history. It bridges the gap between what we live and what we leave behind. You’d be building a tool that turns the most human desire—sharing our lives—into something everyone can afford and access.

The kicker? It’s also a scalable, profitable business model. People are already paying thousands for ghostwriters. Your service democratizes that for a fraction of the cost, with recurring revenue potential baked in.

The world needs this. The market’s waiting for it. You just need to build it.

Needs To Exist Pro

Unlock the Ultimate Startup Idea Repository

• 1,000+ Startup Concepts and Counting: Gain access to an ever-growing database of innovative business ideas.

• Effortlessly Searchable and Categorized: Find the perfect idea quickly with our easy-to-use search and categorization features.

• Handpicked from Hundreds of Reputable Sources: Benefit from ideas curated from a vast array of trusted sources.

• Comprehensive Action Plans Included: Get detailed steps to help you take action and bring your chosen idea to life.

Deep Dive: Stealing the First Customers

Your first 10 customers will do more than validate your idea—they’ll set the tone for your entire business. Here’s how to hustle your way into those early wins, complete with specific tools to make it happen.

Let’s use the AI Ghostwriting legacy app as the example.

1. Borrow an Audience
Find where potential users already hang out and engage authentically.

Tools to Use:

• Reddit: Search for subreddits like r/Writing, r/FamilyHistory, or r/Autobiography. Answer questions, share value, and offer a free trial in your comments.

• Facebook Groups: Join memoir, genealogy, or life storytelling groups. Look for posts like “I wish I could write my life story” and respond with, “I’m building something that might help!”

• Slack Communities: Check out paid or free communities like Write the Docs or Pro Writing Aid Users to network with aspiring writers.

2. Slide Into DMs
Reach out to potential users directly on LinkedIn or Twitter. Keep it short, personal, and relevant.

Tools to Use:

• Apollo.io: Use Apollo to find LinkedIn profiles that match your ideal user (e.g., people in genealogy organizations or creative writing groups).

• Hunter.io: Scrape email addresses of potential users and send a personalized message.

Example Email:
“Hi [Name], I saw you’re passionate about preserving family history. I’m building an AI tool that turns your stories into beautifully written e-books. Would you like to try it out for free? I’d love your feedback!”

3. Make it Exclusive
People love being early adopters—if it feels special. Offer beta access to make them feel like VIPs.

Tools to Use:

• Tally.so: Create a clean, custom sign-up form for your beta testers. Include a short pitch and ask for feedback to make them feel involved.

• Calendly: Let them book a quick intro call to talk about their life story and how your product works. People love personal attention.

4. Build a Prototype Experience
Even if your product isn’t fully functional yet, fake it till you make it. Manually process their stories to deliver results while your AI ghostwriter gets built.

Tools to Use:

• Typeform: Build an interactive questionnaire to collect user stories and preferences. Use their input to manually write or polish a sample e-book draft.

• ChatGPT: Use ChatGPT or similar AI to generate the draft, tweak it for quality, and present it as your “AI-powered” service.

5. Launch a Micro-Campaign
Create curiosity and buzz by running a targeted campaign for your first users.

Tools to Use:

• Canva: Design simple, eye-catching graphics to post on social media with a tagline like, “Your Story, Your Legacy—Written by AI.”

• Beehiiv: Start a newsletter for people interested in storytelling and offer early access as a reward for subscribing.

6. Quick Action for Today:
Use Apollo.io or Reddit to identify 5 people who fit your target audience. Craft a personal DM or email inviting them to test your service for free. Make it irresistible—offer to write their first story draft as a gift.

One More Meme