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10 new project and startup ideas

2026-05-10 · 14:41 UTC ·ben at next play ·5 min read

Brief

Ben Lang’s May 10, 2026 Next Play post lists ten concrete, fast-to-build startup ideas ranging from marketplaces to AI tools. Highlights include OnlyFeedback (a dating-profile coaching marketplace where coaches set rates and the platform takes a cut), InstantExpert (an AI-driven expert network that auto-discovers experts, removes scheduling by letting experts join an immediate call link, uses AI to continue questioning until research goals are met, and returns a final report), and AI Talent Tracker (real‑time LinkedIn monitoring for departures at OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta AI, DeepMind, Cohere — Next Play notes they’ve partially built it and invites hires via hi@nextplay.so). Other ideas: a Forward Deployed Engineering community, an entirely AI-powered news livestream with animated AI characters, Swim Lane (male fertility tracking with metrics like count/motility/morphology and at-home test integration), infrastructure for AI rollups, a sober headline-focused media brand, and lightweight consumer apps (Favorites, Momma Knows Best). The post emphasizes viral growth channels (TikTok, livestreams, newsletters/podcasts) and practical monetization paths (marketplace cuts, recruiting, paid reports).

Why it matters

Ben Lang published 10 quick-build startup ideas on May 10, 2026 in the Next Play newsletter, each framed as actionable side-projects or early startups.

Key details

  • OnlyFeedback: a two-sided marketplace for dating-profile coaches where coaches set rates, the platform takes a cut, and growth is suggested via TikTok (compared to intro.co but dating-specific).
  • InstantExpert: an AI-powered expert network (positioned vs. AlphaSights/Tegus) that auto-identifies qualified experts, removes scheduling by enabling experts to join an immediate call link, uses AI to drive questioning until call goals are met, and delivers a final report to the client.
  • AI Talent Tracker and Swim Lane: a real-time LinkedIn monitor for departures from top AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta AI, DeepMind, Cohere) — Next Play says they partly built this (contact hi@nextplay.so) — and Swim Lane, a male fertility app tracking count, motility, morphology plus daily habits with optional at‑home test-kit integration.
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Ideas you can build quickly

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10 new project and startup ideas

May 10

READ IN APP

✨ Hey there this is a free edition of next play’s newsletter, where we share under-the-radar opportunities to help you figure out what’s next in your journey. Join our private Slack community here and access $1000s of dollars of product discounts here.

> We put together another list of the best startup ideas and side-projects you should consider building. I’m pretty sure if you took these ideas seriously you could make some serious money quickly. Check it out below.

OnlyFeedback

Two-sided marketplace where people pay “coaches” for 1:1 dating profile reviews, feedback on photos, bios, prompt answers, and opening lines, to improve match quality and message rates. Coaches set their own rates; the platform takes a cut. Sort of like intro.co, but specifically for dating. Grow virally on TikTok.

InstantExpert

An AI-powered expert network, like Alpha Sights or Tegus, that eliminates the scheduling middleman. A client submits a question or research brief, the platform auto-identifies and reaches out to qualified experts. If an expert is interested, there’s no back-and-forth with scheduling: they hop on a link immediately to answer. The AI knows what the goals of the call are and keeps asking questions until it’s accomplished. They then send the final report to the client.

AI Talent Tracker

A real-time monitoring service that watches LinkedIn profiles of employees at top AI labs (OpenAI, Anthropic, Meta AI, DeepMind, Cohere, etc.) and instantly notifies subscribers the moment someone updates their profile to show they’ve left.

[PS - we kinda built this. If you ’re hiring or want to see it email us: hi@nextplay.so]

43 people in the Next Play community open to meeting a cofounder (part 2)

Ben Lang| | ·

May 4

Read full story

Forward Deployed Engineering Community

Every startup these days is trying to hire forward deployed engineers. You should build a community specifically targeting this audience. You can create content, have a podcast, and eventually build a recruiting business focused on FDEs. Like Lenny but for FDEs. Email us hi@nextplay.so if you’re interested in partnering with Next Play to do this. Think it’d do really well!

AI-powered News Channel

There have been several large acquisitions and/or investments in the media world recently. You could try building a news channel that’s entirely powered by AI. When I say entirely, I also mean the characters on the screen. Imagine a live stream with multiple AI characters who are reacting to today’s news. I would start with the tech vertical. Like a TPBN, but entirely built with AI.

Momma Knows Best

A TikTok channel where you interview the mothers of single people and ask them to pitch their son/daughter to people who want to date them. That’s the idea.

Swim Lane

A mobile app that helps men track and optimize their sperm health: count, motility, morphology, lifestyle factors. Think of it as Flo or Clue, but for guys. Users log daily habits (sleep, alcohol, diet, exercise, heat exposure, supplements) and get personalized insights on how their choices affect fertility. Optional at-home test kit integration gives them actual lab numbers to track over time.

Rollup Infrastructure

We are seeing more and more “AI rollups,” which are funds/holding companies who are going out and buying businesses and then using AI to make them more efficient and increase their valuations. Figure out what workflows these rollups are spinning up themselves and then build infrastructure to support them. That may be in helping them spot companies to acquire or in identifying inefficiencies with existing businesses or in helping with underwriting or talking to experts in their space.

Double Take

A newsletter or Youtube channel that reacts to the latest headlines from the tech world. Build a brand focused on truth-seeking and avoiding sensational headlines that are not really grounded in reality. Become the default place people go to actually understand what is going on.

Favorites

An app where you log your favorite “X” where X is things like clothing, food, best purchase under $100, and more. You can see other people’s answers and upvote the best ones.

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