Show HN: Let Grumpy AI Roast Your Startup Idea

Idea: An AI site that fronts as a "let me roast your idea" kind of thing, but really it collects good startup ideas

Roast: Oh, great! An AI that doubles as both a roast master and a covert corporate spy. Because nothing screams innovation like tricking people into giving you free startup ideas while they think they're being witty. What's next, an AI that writes breakup texts and then sells relationship advice to the dumped?

Pros: Can potentially gather a lot of unique and diverse startup ideas. Entertaining for users who enjoy roasts and humor. Low overhead costs, AI can handle large volumes of input. Cons: Ethically questionable - users are unaware their ideas are being collected. Trust issues - once users find out the real purpose, they'll likely avoid the service, and brand reputation will tank. Limited longevity - novelty wears off quickly, and there's a finite amount of genuinely good ideas out there. Alternative Idea: Create an AI-powered brainstorming platform where users openly and willingly share startup ideas. They can get feedback from the AI and other users, and maybe even earn rewards or recognition. Transparency is key; don't be sneaky if you want sustained engagement.

Nice try, haha. Why stop here though? The value is in the execution rather than the idea, so they say. How about “Let Grumpy AI Roast Your Company’s Unreleased Q1 Financial Results”

I bet someone has made this joke before, but... "This website will tell you your personality type based on your social security number!"

Do you remember memes about translating song so many times, that it didn't make sense any more? I tried to pivot each time to alternative idea.

I started from: Rent random travelers rent your couch.

- Then: Platform that allows to rent amazing location

- Then: Connect with locals to show attractions

- Then: Partners with verified experts in various fields (e.g. historians, chefs, artists) to offer curated, educational experiences

- Then: connect travelers with local, knowledgeable guides

- Then: connect travelers with local community members for casual meetups or activities

- Then: connect travelers with lnon-profits for volunteer opportunities

- Then: connect travelers with mentorship opportunities

Idea: Specialized motion-capture system to help jugglers increase their object count, stamina, and trick repertoire.

Roast:

Oh great, just what the world needs: another gizmo for the 12 people who think they can make a living from juggling! What's next, an app to help mimes perfect their invisible box technique? Or maybe a virtual reality experience for people who want to feel what it's like to be the world's last professional yodeler?

Neat!

Note: all submissions are publicly viewable (which I think is fine-but you may want to disclose that up front by changing the button to "Share/Post"), and you can browse through them all by changing the url:

For example: https://maker-list.com/ideas/530

as previous practices have shown, the idea is not as important as its implementation and money

If I want someone to roast my startup idea I can just take it directly to a bank or vc.

Fun product, but I put in a startup idea and it suggested pivoting it IoT. Then I click back and changed my idea to include IoT, then it criticized me for including IoT unnecessarily!

Still a really fun project :)

Hey HN! I made this earlier today for fun. Went for grumpy yet amusing vibes. Share your burns from letting the Grumpy AI roast your idea. Ask me anything.

That's a brilliant way to steal startup ideas. I bet the AI even rates them for you and suggests patents to file.

I like how it will roast it's own "alternative suggestions". Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

I gave it "A grumpy AI that roasts startup ideas" and it gave me some spiel about avocado toast.

/Shrug-emoji

Sure, because posting my detailed startup concept on some unknown website sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

The answer I got was not very relevant. Which model is that it is not very smart

This is fun.

Idea: Portable phone with camera and music player and games

Roast: Oh, great. A 'portable phone with a camera, music player, and games.' Because nothing screams innovation like combining a rotary phone, a boombox, a disposable camera, and an ancient Game Boy. Who knew reinventing 2002 was the new Silicon Valley trend? What's next, a startup for a portable DVD player with a built-in fax machine? Get outta here.

Pros: Compact and all-in-one design Multi-functional, reducing the need to carry multiple devices Potentially lower cost compared to buying individual devices

Cons: Extremely redundant in the age of smartphones Market saturation with far more advanced devices Limited appeal to tech-savvy or modern users Potential lack of app ecosystem and software support

Alternative Idea: How about focusing on something people actually need, like a universal translator earbud that works in real-time and is super reliable? Not only would it solve actual travel and communication problems, but it also has the potential to be a game-changer in global business and tourism. Now that's a startup worth talking about.

Idea: Uber for parrots

Roast:

Oh, sure! Because the public was just clamoring for a service that would shuttle Polly to her cracker appointment. Uber for parrots? What's next? Airbnb for hamsters? Lyft for goldfish? Someone call the Silicon Valley innovation police because we've hit peak genius here.

Pros:

It could appeal to a niche market of bird enthusiasts. Potentially lucrative in urban areas with high pet ownership.

Could create jobs for specialized pet transporters.

Cons:

Extremely niche market, limiting potential growth. High operational costs for safe and humane pet transport.

Regulatory hurdles related to animal transport. Risk of bird injuries or stress during transport.

Alternative Idea:

How about an app that connects pet owners with vetted and trained pet sitters who specialize in different kinds of animals? Instead of creating an Uber for parrots, you could develop 'PetSitterPro' where pet owners can easily find reliable care for their pets, whether they have parrots, dogs, or even goats. This way, you're opening up the market to a much larger audience and solving a real problem for pet owners.

Coffee but it makes you sleepy. AI likes it!

I put in a description of Uber, then updated my prompt with the alternative suggestions over and over again. What I ended up with was this:

"An app to partner people with a mixture of private, non judgemental AI systems and certified financial coaches and mentors from the local community to teach a practical, personalized financial literacy wellness boosting course, with investment resources and the ability to track and automate the budgeting of their finances independently. One that doesn't give patronising or condescending advice like stop buying avocado toast. Maybe with gamification rewards when necessary."

The AI still roasted it's own idea, then put the same one as it's alternative suggestion.

This website is dumb.

:idea cure for cancer

cure for cancer