Rephonic
Artwork for Idea to Startup
Entrepreneurship
Startup Strategy
Startups
Marketing
Tacklebox
Decision Making
Startup Ideas
Personal Venn Diagram Method
Problems and Opportunities Method
Product Development
Time Management
Homeschooling
Startup Failure Rates
Customer Value
Differentiation
Startup Identity
Unique Experiences
Find Your Lobster
Startup Prioritization
Concierge MVP

A podcast for people working on startup ideas. We have 15-minute tactical episodes and occasional interviews with people who did the early things exceptionally well. We've helped launch hundreds of startups worth hundreds of millions of dollars, and these are the building blocks. "This is, without a doubt, the best podcast for people trying to build startups out there." "If you aren't listening to... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes276Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurshipMarketing

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Artwork for Idea to Startup

Latest Episodes

Today, we'll talk through a framework that'll help you evaluate whether you're building something useful enough to anchor a business. Most startups fail because the thing they built doesn't make a big enough dent in their customers lives. We'll make ... more

Today, we'll run through a Concierge MVP example live on the pod. Brian chooses an idea specifically because someone wrote in and said it was "un-Concierageable," which isn't a word but is the reason this podcast exists.

We go through the four-part... more

Today, we talk through the Silk Sheet Problem - how to do something new and hard when your life is fairly... comfortable. We help a listener get started on their idea - an AI tutor's assistant - with three shortcuts to set their life up in a way that... more

Today we'll talk through how to test out and build a startup idea in ~10 days by answering four questions. We'll use an idea that's oddly popped up a bunch lately: Kitchen Organizer. We do this with a little help from a story about a poker player and... more

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Recent Guests

Seth Godin
Marketing expert and author of 20 consecutive bestsellers
Episode: Seth Godin and Brian Go Through Startup Ideas (ITS Classic)

Host

Brian Squaredotto
Host of the Idea to Startup podcast, frequently discusses startup strategy, customer acquisition, and practical frameworks.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 331 ratings
  • Forget everything you think you know about startups and listen to this pod instead.

    I’ve been listening on Tacklebox for years. Brian gives the absolute best advice to founders. It’s, like he says, often counter intuitive. It’s also highly actionable. For any friends/colleagues who tell me they’re interested in starting a company, I immediately point them to ITS…but only after we listen to a little smooth jazz (IYKYK)

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sbrown62
    United States9 months ago
  • Best Startup Podcast

    I have listened to this podcast for over a year. It’s the only podcast that I have ever listened to weekly—never missed an episode! Brian is brilliant. The content is always helpful, the episodes are always fun and entertaining to listen to. I enrolled in his Tacklebox program after listening to the podcast and his wisdom and support on my startup journey has been invaluable. Thanks for everything, Brian!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Shermes233
    United States10 months ago
  • Nothing like it!

    Been binging the show since I discovered it last week. At a critical point in my journey and Brian’s knowledge and approach has been immensely helpful. I’m a regular now.🧡

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Remi Roy
    United Statesa year ago
  • Smart, Inspiring, Concise, On Point

    Brian helps me overcome obstacles before I even see them. I come away energized with new insights and awareness motivated to tackle my ideas and turn one into a thriving business. On to it!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    sway1470
    United Statesa year ago
  • Great Resource

    Good for anyone launching a business, starting their career, or intellectually curious. Delivers actionable insights, real-world advice, and good stories. Seems like an overlooked gem.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    jtoddduncan
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Credible host with clear frameworks that actually help early-stage founders.
Great storytelling that connects concepts to real-world examples.
Actionable, practical, and entertaining.
A must-listen for first-time entrepreneurs and those growing early-stage startups.
Consistently high-value, no fluff; episodes are concise and focused on real outcomes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Running a Concierge MVP Live (feat. the four-step Concierge MVP framework) ITS Classic
Q: How should founders structure the wild success hypothesis for their test?
Define a clear trio: who the customer is, what problem they have, and the exact moment when solving that problem yields tangible, noticeable benefits; this becomes the hypothesis and the basis for the test design.
Running a Concierge MVP Live (feat. the four-step Concierge MVP framework) ITS Classic
Q: What is the core purpose of a Concierge MVP in the early stage of a startup?
To get deep insight into the customer's actual bottlenecks, validate a problem-solution fit with a hands-on service, and identify a wedge that delivers immediate value while revealing what the real product needs to do.
Start a Startup in Ten Days with Four Questions (ITS super-classic)
Q: What are the four questions to consider when starting a side business?
They are focused on who the potential customers are, how to find them, how to create immediate value, and what the customers truly want.
The Coffee Truck Idea I'd Start Tomorrow (Thanksgiving Mailbag)
Q: Hey, love the pod. I'm working on an idea, and I'm trying to get my spouse on board with it.
Create boundaries, run weekly updates, and get clarity on stress.
An SOP for Testing a Startup Idea (ITS top 1%)
Q: What's the likeliest path to get there?
You should be identifying and testing various startup ideas while working backwards from your goal to inform daily actions.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Idea to Startup

What is Idea to Startup about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pragmatic, tactics-forward show for people building startups, with a strong emphasis on taking action over grand planning. Episodes commonly explore practical frameworks for validating ideas, acquiring early customers, and building momentum with limited resources. Listeners can expect actionable advice, real-world storytelling, and repeatable systems (from MVP approaches to trust-building and niche targeting) that apply across diverse industries. A standout aspect is the mix of concise, high-value solo episodes and case-study style discussions featuring founders who actually executed early-stage wins, making it useful for both aspiring founders and growth-stage operators seeking repeatable playbooks.

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Which podcasts are similar to Idea to Startup?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Idea to Startup:

1. Startups For the Rest of Us
2. Y Combinator Startup Podcast
3. The Startup Ideas Podcast
4. The a16z Show
5. AI + a16z

How many episodes of Idea to Startup are there?

Idea to Startup launched 7 years ago and published 276 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Idea to Startup?

Recent guests on Idea to Startup include:

1. Seth Godin

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