Check out my newsletter at TKOPOD.com and join my new community at TKOwners.com

I sat down with Eric Simons, the CEO of Bolt, to talk about how non-technical entrepreneurs are using AI to build real software businesses from scratch. We broke down how Bolt went from zero to 20 million ARR in just 2 months, and how people are using it to launch full SaaS platforms, create AI-powered CRMs, build client dashboards, and even run entire web app agencies. Eric explained how Bolt helps you go from idea to product in minutes with built-in payment integration, full-stack backend, and mobile app deployment. We also talked about the viral tweet that launched it all and why non-coders might have the edge in this new wave of AI automation. If you want to build something without touching code, check out Bolt at bolt.new. And follow Eric at x.com/ericsimons and Bolt at x.com/boltdotnew.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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00:00 The New Era of Entrepreneurship
02:56 Building with Bolt: A Game Changer
05:45 The Impact of AI on Coding and Development
08:58 The Power of Community and Marketing
11:44 The Pivot to AI and Its Success
14:54 Understanding User Adoption and Use Cases
26:42 The Power of ROI in Software Development
29:29 Innovative Applications and Business Models
32:19 The Non-Technical Advantage in Software Creation
35:02 Monetization Strategies with Bolt
37:49 Building with Bolt: Real-World Examples
40:10 Prompting Best Practices for Effective Development
43:30 Overcoming Development Challenges
45:54 Designing with AI: Tips and Tricks
49:36 Building Complex Applications with Bolt

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Today I talk about the most controversial question in entrepreneurship: should you quit your job to start a business? It’s something I’ve wrestled with for years, and in this episode I share the frameworks, personal stories, and mindset shifts that have helped me figure out when to go all in and when to hold back. Then I bring on my friend Steven Hale, who actually did it. He walked away from a high-paying job at a publicly traded company and launched Oak Bridge, which went from zero to 25 employees and nearly $6 million in revenue in just one year. We talk about the fear, the clarity, the hard choices, and why sometimes you need your options taken away in order to move forward. If you’re stuck at the edge of the leap, this one’s for you. You can reach out to Steven on LinkedIn or by email at steven@oakbridgeas.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
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---

00:00 The Great Boat Burning Debate
02:46 Understanding the Risks of Entrepreneurship
06:00 Personal Stories of Burning the Boats
08:52 Strategic Planning for Business Success
12:08 The Journey of Stephen Hale
13:20 Navigating Career Transitions
14:47 The Journey to Ownership and Entrepreneurship
16:40 Navigating the Early Days of a Startup
19:16 Balancing Confidence and Insecurity
20:08 The Joy of Building and Creating
24:09 Overcoming Fear and Taking Risks
26:44 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

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HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I talk about

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

• Nik@cofounders.com
• Chris@cofounders.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
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---

00:00 - Highlights
01:00 - Trivia Game Idea with ChatGPT
05:34 - Build a Family Trivia App
07:45 - AI Captures Family Stories
12:27 - HandymanMentors.com Idea
19:37 - DIY Kits for Learning Home Repairs
23:56 - ChatGPT as a Virtual Handyman
28:46 - Free Gifts Hack: Mailing Wedding Invites
31:07 - Personalized Postcards with AI
33:31 - Live Remodel Previews Using AI

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I sat down with Sam Thompson again and we talked about how starting a business really isn't that complicated. We broke down why perfect logos, pricing models, or websites don’t matter early on, and how getting on sales calls with nothing to sell is often the best place to begin. We shared an example of a guy who launched a Google Maps optimization service from scratch (no prior experience) and closed clients in under 30 days. We also talked about pricing strategies, paid ads, building confidence through customer conversations, and even how AI tools like Replit and ChatGPT can be packaged into customizable templates and sold as one-time products. If you’ve been thinking about launching something simple but powerful, this idea might be exactly what you need.

You can find Sam on X/Twitter (https://x.com/ImSamThompson) and check out what he’s building at https://www.unlimitedcontent.com/

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
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---

00:00 Impatience with Action, Patience with Results
03:02 The Power of First Party Customer Research
06:00 Adapting to Customer Needs
08:55 Understanding Willingness to Pay
11:47 The Importance of Action Over Research
15:05 Pricing Strategies for Success
17:59 Creating Value for Customers
19:58 Navigating Idea Hopping
23:44 Innovative Product Ideas and Market Fit
30:45 Replit Wrapper Idea

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I sat down to break down one of the most overlooked service business ideas out there: mailbox installation and repair. This is the kind of high-margin local business that’s hiding in plain sight, with real entrepreneurs pulling in over $9K a week just by fixing what’s already broken. We talked about how to start with almost no money, how to land HOA contracts, and why this is a goldmine for offline lead generation and local SEO. I also got into ways to turn this into a real ecommerce play using custom products, AI-driven mockups, and smart Facebook ad targeting. If you’ve been looking for a simple scalable service business that can actually make money, this one’s for you.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
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---

00:00 Unlocking Hidden Business Opportunities
03:04 The Mailbox Repair Market: An Untapped Goldmine
05:49 Diverse Business Approaches: From Handyman to Custom Designs
08:42 Marketing Strategies for Success
12:01 Scaling Your Mailbox Business
15:09 The Path to Starting Your Business
18:04 Understanding Your Market Potential
20:59 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

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HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I talk about why starting a business has never been easier—and how to actually take advantage of that. We go deep on AI-powered outreach and automation, including a guy closing $7K/month deals with in-person pitches and guarantees, and a 24-year-old automating CPA services with 140 clients at $50/month. We also got into selling custom GPTs, why friction kills momentum, and the idea of a local handyman “fantasy camp” for guys like us who never learned how to fix a sprinkler. Finally, we brainstormed more B2B piggyback businesses like pool digging and fence post augering—ideas you can copy and launch fast.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

• Nik@cofounders.com
• Chris@cofounders.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
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---

00:00 Highlights
00:45 Intro for New Listeners
02:48 Start of The Episode
06:02 Cold Outreach and Sales Strategies
08:55 Piggybacking on Existing Businesses
11:59 Emerging Opportunities in Home Services
17:43 Leveraging AI for Business Growth
23:56 The Importance of Reducing Friction in Entrepreneurship
29:46 Hands-On Learning and DIY Business Ideas

👋 Welcome to The Koerner Office!

If you're here from my MFM appearance, thank you! You're gonna love this show.
BUT this episode is better on YouTube because it's super visual and tactical.
▶️ Watch it here → https://youtu.be/uUlU5G1Nda0

This one covers Facebook Ads for Beginners, but if you want my best episodes start here:

🔥 Ep 164: The Most Overlooked Way to Make Money Online (Directory Biz)
🔥 Ep 161: Missed Every Gold Rush
🔥 Ep 163: You're Overthinking It. Here’s the Simple Way to Start (ft. Nick Huber)
🔥 Ep 169: How to Actually Make Money with ChatGPT
🔥 Ep 162: I’ve Started 75+ Businesses — Here’s What Matters
💎 Bonus Bangers: Ep 73, 123, 156, 167, 171, 173

________________________________________________________________________________________

Check out my newsletter at TKOPOD.com and join my new community at TKOwners.com.

I sat down to record this five-part crash course for anyone struggling to make Facebook ads actually work. Whether you're running a local business, selling an online product, or just trying to get more leads or sales, this series walks you through everything from the ground up. I cover how to build winning campaigns in Meta Ads Manager, write high-converting ad copy, test ads without wasting money, and scale from $10 to $500/day. I also share my favorite low-budget hacks, ad examples, and shortcuts for getting cheap leads and better ROAS. If you're trying to grow with digital marketing, this is the step-by-step blueprint you need.

🚀 Get 30 days of powerful AI tools for free with HighLevel. Automate your funnels, follow-ups, and more, all in one platform.
👉 Try it here: https://www.gohighlevel.com/

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

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Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---

00:00 Introduction to Facebook Ads for Noobs
11:07 Building Your First Facebook Campaign
18:24 Writing High-Performing Facebook Ad Copy
23:32 Crafting Compelling Visuals for Ads
26:16 Writing Like a Human: The Key to Engagement
29:49 Testing and Optimization: The Science of Ads
35:28 Scaling and Automation: Growing Your Ad Strategy
42:14 Expert Shortcuts: Accelerating Your Ad Success