Skip to main content

Search TrendsNew Ads Appearances Podcasts API

We value your privacy

We use cookies to understand how you use our platform and to improve your experience. Click “Accept All” to consent, or “Decline non-essential” to opt out of non-essential cookies. Read our Privacy Policy.

Half Baked

Brainstorming $100M Startup Ideas

Sep 15, 2026 · 1 hr 13 min · 10 segments

Get the startup ideas we don't cover on the show…

Get the startup ideas we don't cover on the show: \[https://www.gethalfbaked.com] Episode 1: Darragh Lucey (https://x.com/darrrragh) and John O'Keeffe (https://x.com/JohnDOKeeffe) break down four half-baked startup ideas anyone could run with, from a podcast app that fixes discoverability, to a calmer energy drink taking on Monster, to a verified video-first dating app. — Show Notes: (0:00) Intro (8:05) Podcast overload: an app that clips shows by topic (18:06) Why podcast discoverability is broken (and why Spotify cares) (20:15) Why big acquisitions so often fail (23:51) Acquired as a business: $1.5M ad slots, a team of three (29:51) Transplanting the Acquired format to sports franchises (35:37) A verified, video-first dating app (53:33) Taking on Monster with a "calm energy" drink (1:11:16) What Half Baked is and how to get funded — Sponsors: Google Workspace — \[http://gethalfbaked.com/google] Name.com — \[https://name.com/?utm\_source=half+bak...] — Check Out Half Baked: Newsletter — https://www.gethalfbaked.com Follow the show on X — https://x.com/gethalfbaked Got one of these ideas and think you're the person to build it? Message Darragh and John on X. —

Get the startup ideas we don't cover on the show…

Show signals: Audience≈496 followers

YouTube Website

Speakers: John O'KeeffeHostDarragh LuceyHost

Top entities: Spotify×11 Google×11 Silicon Valley×8 Name.com×8 Tinder×8

Episode Teaser0:00 – 0:58

Darragh LuceyHost

0:00

For what Blinkist did to books, I think there's a way that you could implement some similar concept

John O'KeeffeHost

0:07

to podcasts.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:07

The obvious acquirer here would be like Spotify.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:10

Maybe a month or two after it was founded, Spotify acquired it.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:13

You listen to Acquire, don't you? So in 2017, if you wanted to be, I think, a presenting sponsor, it would have cost you $2,500.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:19

In 2025, to be the presenting partner, it would cost you $1.5 million.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:24

I think there's two or three different formats that you could do, which are similar to the Acquired podcast, but just in different verticals that I think could do really, really well.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:30

So the first one would be like Acquired

Darragh LuceyHost

0:32

for...

Darragh LuceyHost

0:33

This is so good.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:34

Gen Zs.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:35

They're very, very difficult to appeal to when it comes to dating apps.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:39

They hate dating apps.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:40

I think we bring speed dating back.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:41

The

John O'KeeffeHost

0:41

problem with the vast majority of energy drinks, I feel you have this kind of open space in what is an incredibly crowded market for someone to build...

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:51

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:52

He's like, half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:52

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:53

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:53

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:54

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:55

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:55

Half

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:56

baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:56

All of a sudden, it's like the revenge of the Idea Guys.

Read the full transcript.

Create an account to read the whole episode, search across every transcript, and follow the shows you care about.

Sign up Already have an account? Log in

SpotifyCompanyCompany
99%11 mentions
GoogleCompanyTechnology corporation
98%11 mentions
Silicon ValleyTV SeriesAmerican comedy series
96%8 mentions
Name.comCompanyCompany
95%8 mentions
TinderSoftware Application
93%8 mentions
ShopifyCompanyE-commerce company
92%2 mentions
OmegleWebsiteWebsite
90%2 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
89%2 mentions
AcquiredEntityBusiness podcast
88%7 mentions
BlinkistSoftware Application
86%7 mentions
Monster EnergyProductEnergy drink
85%5 mentions
Steven BartlettPersonBritish businessman and investor
83%1 mention
Richard BransonPersonEnglish business magnate
82%2 mentions
YouTubeWebsiteVideo sharing company
80%14 mentions
Google WorkspaceSoftware ApplicationComputer software
79%2 mentions
Generation ZEntity
77%9 mentions
Dallas CowboysSports TeamAmerican football team
76%1 mention
AnthropicCompanyArtificial intelligence company
74%3 mentions
San FranciscoCityCity in California
73%1 mention
TheanineEntity
71%3 mentions
RSSEntityFormat
70%1 mention
Coca-ColaProductCarbonated soft drinks
68%8 mentions
Match GroupCompanyCompany
67%1 mention
GeminiEntity
65%1 mention
XEntitySocial networking service
64%5 mentions
Diapers.comCompanyCompany
63%1 mention
Amazon.comCompanyE-commerce company
61%4 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
60%2 mentions
Red BullProductDrink
58%4 mentions
Andrew HubermanPersonAmerican neuroscientist
57%2 mentions
Tim FerrissPersonAmerican entrepreneur and investor
55%5 mentions
AppleCompanyTechnology company
54%3 mentions
Manchester United F.C.Sports TeamFootball club
52%3 mentions
Uber TechnologyCompanyTransport company
51%2 mentions
WordleVideo GameWeb-based game
49%2 mentions
RolexCompanyManufacturing company
48%1 mention
Harvard UniversityCollege or UniversityPrivate university in Cambridge, Massachusetts
46%2 mentions
Mergers and acquisitionsEntityOrganization termination type
45%1 mention
Bang EnergyBrand
43%1 mention
NvidiaCompanyCompany
42%1 mention
Golden State WarriorsSports TeamBasketball team
40%1 mention
Real MadridSports TeamFootball club
40%1 mention
Chris WilliamsonPersonYouTuber
37%1 mention
Joe RoganPersonAmerican podcaster and sports commentator
37%1 mention
Lloyd's of LondonCompanyInsurance company
34%1 mention
Roman EmpireCountryState
34%1 mention
Standard OilCompanyPetroleum industry company
32%1 mention
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
30%1 mention
Formula 1Sports OrganizationSports league
29%1 mention
Virgin ColaEntity
27%3 mentions

User VerificationTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Applications
Content CreationBusiness > Entrepreneurship > Startups > Podcasting
Audience EngagementMedia > Podcasts > Consumption Trends
Content CurationMedia > Podcasts > Consumption Trends > Audience Engagement
Market TrendsBusiness > Consumer Products > Energy Drinks
Branding StrategiesBusiness > Consumer Products > Energy Drinks > Market Trends
Safety ProtocolsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence > Applications > User Verification
ApplicationsTechnology > Artificial Intelligence
User ExperienceRelationships > Dating > Online Dating
Safety MeasuresRelationships > Dating > Online Dating > User Experience
Consumer ProductsBusiness
Energy DrinksBusiness > Consumer Products
Consumption TrendsMedia > Podcasts
Online DatingRelationships > Dating
PodcastingBusiness > Entrepreneurship > Startups
Technology
Business
Media
PodcastsMedia
EntrepreneurshipBusiness
Relationships
Artificial IntelligenceTechnology
DatingRelationships
StartupsBusiness > Entrepreneurship

Episode Teaser0:00 – 0:58

Darragh LuceyHost

0:00

For what Blinkist did to books, I think there's a way that you could implement some similar concept

John O'KeeffeHost

0:07

to podcasts.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:07

The obvious acquirer here would be like Spotify.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:10

Maybe a month or two after it was founded, Spotify acquired it.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:13

You listen to Acquire, don't you? So in 2017, if you wanted to be, I think, a presenting sponsor, it would have cost you $2,500.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:19

In 2025, to be the presenting partner, it would cost you $1.5 million.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:24

I think there's two or three different formats that you could do, which are similar to the Acquired podcast, but just in different verticals that I think could do really, really well.

John O'KeeffeHost

0:30

So the first one would be like Acquired

Darragh LuceyHost

0:32

for...

Darragh LuceyHost

0:33

This is so good.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:34

Gen Zs.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:35

They're very, very difficult to appeal to when it comes to dating apps.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:39

They hate dating apps.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:40

I think we bring speed dating back.

Darragh LuceyHost

0:41

The

John O'KeeffeHost

0:41

problem with the vast majority of energy drinks, I feel you have this kind of open space in what is an incredibly crowded market for someone to build...

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:51

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:52

He's like, half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:52

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:53

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:53

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:54

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:55

Half baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:55

Half

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:56

baked.

S

Soundbite SpeakerSoundbite Speaker

0:56

All of a sudden, it's like the revenge of the Idea Guys.