GM. This is Needs to Exist (aka NTE), today serving up a startup idea so good, you’ll cancel a bunch of subscriptions.

Using your design tools daily? No worries—NTE Pro has 1,500+ startup ideas, Sign up now!

Check out other free ideas in our past newsletters

Here’s what we’ve got for you today.

• Daily Idea - Flexible Design Access

• Brainstorming like its science

Design Tools, On-Demand Access

The One Liner

Rent tools. Skip subscriptions. Save $$$.

The 140 character tweet

Need Photoshop for a day? Figma for a week? Pay for the tools you need, only when you need them. Stop wasting money on unused subs.

The Longer Story Version

The Problem
Design software subscriptions are expensive. Photoshop at $250/year or Figma Pro at $180/year makes sense if you’re a daily user. But if you’re a freelancer, small business, or startup working on one-off projects, these prices feel like overkill.

Free alternatives? Clunky and frustrating.

The Solution
Pay-as-you-go design tools

Here’s how it works without their APIs:

1. Open Source Alternatives: Use tools like GIMP (Photoshop alternative), Inkscape (Illustrator alternative), and Penpot (Figma alternative).

2. Cloud Hosting: Host these on AWS AppStream or Paperspace so users don’t need to download or install anything.

3. Custom Enhancements: Add pre-built templates, design presets, and guides to make these tools feel like their premium counterparts.

The Math
Compare the costs:

• Photoshop: $20.99/month = $251.88/year.

• Figma Pro: $15/month = $180/year.

• Canva Pro: $12.99/month = $155.88/year.

With pay-as-you-go:

• Photoshop Equivalent (via GIMP) for a Day: $3.

• Figma Equivalent (via Penpot) for a Week: $10.

• Illustrator Equivalent (via Inkscape) for a Month: $12.

Result? You’re still saving hundreds per year with high-quality, accessible tools.

How To Build It

1. Host Open Source Tools: Use cloud services to provide virtual access to GIMP, Inkscape, and Penpot.

2. Custom UI Enhancements: Build an intuitive interface over these tools to make them easier to use for beginners.

3. Time-Based Access: Create a paywall with Stripe or Paddle, granting access for specific time periods (day/week/month).

4. Templates and Features: Preload templates, design guides, and plugins to match the functionality of premium tools.

5. Data Storage: Securely store user files in the cloud to enable seamless workflows and access later.

Why It Needs to Exist
Not everyone needs Adobe or Figma-level tools every day. By leveraging open source and hosting in the cloud, we can democratize access to professional-grade design software without locking people into expensive subscriptions.

This isn’t just cheaper—it’s smarter. Rent what you need, skip the fluff, and keep your wallet happy.

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• Step-by-Step Plans: Because "Figure It Out" Isn’t a Strategy

Brainstorming - The Process

The Geeky Gadgets article - “16+ ChatGPT-4 Advanced Brainstorming Prompts and Techniques”, is a goldmine for figuring out how to actually brainstorm.

This dives deep into advanced brainstorming methods that can spark ideas, solve problems, and foster innovation. This is a great toolkit we all need to unlock creativity—especially when paired with AI tools like ChatGPT.

Here’s the TL;DR with a dose of actionable advice…

Why Brainstorming is Your Secret Weapon

Let’s face it—good ideas rarely come from sitting around waiting for inspiration. Brainstorming works because it’s designed to:

1. Expand Perspectives: Whether it’s your team or ChatGPT, new viewpoints spark new ideas.

2. Encourage Free Thinking: It’s about creating a space where “bad ideas” are just stepping stones.

3. Marry Structure with Creativity: The best brainstorming techniques give you just enough structure to keep things productive without stifling creativity.

If you’re looking for a way to move from “I want to start something” to “I’ve got the next $100M idea,” these techniques help get you there.

3 Game-Changing Brainstorming Methods

1. The Disney Method

Think of your idea in three phases:

• Dreamer: No limits, anything is possible.

• Realist: How could this work in the real world?

• Critic: What are the potential pitfalls?

💡 Try This: Use the Dreamer phase to invent a wild subscription box for niche hobbies. Then shift to Realist mode and think about how you’d scale it. Finally, let your inner Critic ask, “What’s stopping someone else from doing this faster?”

2. Blue Ocean Strategy

Why fight for scraps in crowded markets (Red Oceans) when you can create your own Blue Ocean? This method helps you identify untapped opportunities by focusing on non-customers and underserved needs.

💡 Try This: Chart the online fitness market’s key factors: price, personalization, community. What’s missing? Maybe it’s live “fitness concierge” services that tailor workouts to time-strapped professionals.

Subject Line: Brainstorm Like a Pro: Unlock Your Next Startup Idea

Subject Line: Brainstorm Like a Pro: Unlock Your Next Startup Idea

Hey builders,

If you’re hunting for your next big startup idea but feel stuck, I’ve got something for you. I recently stumbled upon an article in Geeky Gadgets titled “16+ ChatGPT-4 Advanced Brainstorming Prompts and Techniques”, and it’s a goldmine. The piece dives deep into advanced brainstorming methods that can spark ideas, solve problems, and foster innovation. After reading it, I realized this is the toolkit we all need to unlock creativity—especially when paired with AI tools like ChatGPT.

Here’s the TL;DR with a dose of actionable advice for using these techniques to fuel your next startup idea.

Why Brainstorming is Your Secret Weapon

Let’s face it—good ideas rarely come from sitting around waiting for inspiration. Brainstorming works because it’s designed to:

1. Expand Perspectives: Whether it’s your team or ChatGPT, new viewpoints spark new ideas.

2. Encourage Free Thinking: It’s about creating a space where “bad ideas” are just stepping stones.

3. Marry Structure with Creativity: The best brainstorming techniques give you just enough structure to keep things productive without stifling creativity.

If you’re looking for a way to move from “I want to start something” to “I’ve got the next $100M idea,” these techniques will get you there.

3 Game-Changing Brainstorming Methods

1. The Disney Method

Think of your idea in three phases:

• Dreamer: No limits, anything is possible.

• Realist: How could this work in the real world?

• Critic: What are the potential pitfalls?

💡 Try This: Use the Dreamer phase to invent a wild subscription box for niche hobbies. Then shift to Realist mode and think about how you’d scale it. Finally, let your inner Critic ask, “What’s stopping someone else from doing this faster?”

2. Blue Ocean Strategy

Why fight for scraps in crowded markets (Red Oceans) when you can create your own Blue Ocean? This method helps you identify untapped opportunities by focusing on non-customers and underserved needs.

💡 Try This: Chart the online fitness market’s key factors: price, personalization, community. What’s missing? Maybe it’s live “fitness concierge” services that tailor workouts to time-strapped professionals.

3. SCAMPER

This acronym is your innovation Swiss Army knife:

• Substitute: Replace one element with another.

• Combine: Merge ideas or functions.

• Adapt: Tweak something existing for a new use.

• Modify: Add or amplify features.

• Put to Another Use: Repurpose an idea entirely.

• Eliminate: Cut the fluff.

• Reverse: Flip the process or concept.

💡 Try This: Take a restaurant reservation app and SCAMPER it. Reverse it—what if restaurants bid for diners during slow periods? Eliminate it—what if there’s no app and it’s all SMS-based? Boom, new ideas.

Supercharge These Techniques with ChatGPT

The article from Geeky Gadgets also highlights how tools like ChatGPT can act as your brainstorming assistant. Here’s how to use it:

• Prompt It: “Can you help me apply the Disney Method to brainstorm a new meal kit idea for college students?”

• Iterate: Ask for tweaks, alternatives, and expansions. ChatGPT thrives on iteration.

• Organize: Let it help you categorize and prioritize your ideas, so you’re not drowning in possibilities.

How to Start (Today)

1. Pick a Technique: Whether it’s Disney, SCAMPER, or Blue Ocean, start with one.

2. Set a Timer: 30 focused minutes. No distractions.

3. Iterate & Build: Don’t stop at one idea—push yourself (and ChatGPT) to go deeper.

4. Share & Refine: Bounce your ideas off someone. A fresh perspective can be priceless.

The key takeaway? You don’t need to be “inspired” to find your next big startup idea—you just need a system. And these techniques, especially when paired with AI tools, give you a system that works.

If you’re ready to level up, go check out this article for more inspiration. Then grab a notebook, open ChatGPT, and get to work.

Who’s building something cool next? Hit reply—I’d love to hear about it.

Let’s make it happen

One More Meme