Latest news with #solopreneurs
Forbes
3 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Turn These 3 ChatGPT Prompts Into Passive Income Within Hours
You don't need to learn code or be a tech nerd to start making money with AI. All you need are a few simple ingredients that you can easily access: These powerful prompts help you implement the right system so you can develop a passive income product in just a few hours, making it easy for anyone, regardless of experience level, to boost their salary or create an entirely new salary from passive income products alone. AI is already disrupting the workforce at scale. Millions of workers have been and are being displaced as it continues to roll out and be implemented across organizational workflows and departments. You've likely seen layoffs at your organization, or have been worried that you'll be the next target of a layoff because of AI and "efficiency". At the same time, the job market is getting tougher. Many find it difficult to regain their professional balance after being laid off, leading to being stranded in several months, even more than a year in some cases, of unemployment and heavy financial strain. However, it's essential to remember that AI is not your enemy. Analysts at the World Economic Forum project that despite layoffs, the effects of automation and new technology will produce 170 million new jobs. At the same time, there is an uptick in freelance workers, with solopreneurs making up more than half of the U.S. workforce by 2027, according to Statista. This creates a situation where AI can actually work in your favor, if you approach it correctly and have a system or strategy in place. You can create your own job from your skills, and make money relatively quickly compared to waiting to be hired by an employer--using ChatGPT to help you develop, deploy, and scale, rapidly. The ChatGPT prompt workflow in this article works because it is: Prompt 1: From my background in [your previous or current job/discipline] I have [skill]. My previous results included [name your results, wins, achievements]. Here are some things I learned [list your experiences and key insights]. List some potential target audiences that I can reach with my expertise, and their pain-points. Prompt 2: What digital products can I create from this information, that can sell and generate passive income? Give me an outline of what the first one would look like. (You might want to give it some follow-up prompts to help you create the product in further detail.) Prompt 3: Give me a 30-day LinkedIn [or other social media platform] engagement strategy to market this product before, during, and post-launch and get people familiar with who I am, positioning me as a thought leader, expert, and the go-to for their questions about [name the pain-point]. 1. Copying and pasting ChatGPT verbatim. Problem: This is annoying to others, lacks personality, depth, and originality, and is a cheapened, bogus, unethical approach to building your career and business. Solution: Incorporate your tone of voice and personality. Fact-check everything it produces, and allow sentences to blend and flow naturally instead of following the same pattern all the time. And don't forget to inject your personal experiences and stories. 2. Building a digital product for passive income based on ChatGPT-based research only. Problem: Generative AI is sometimes inaccurate and the information it gives can be outdated, with the occasional hallucination. It's not possible to conduct in-depth research with ChatGPT alone. You need a variety of real-time sources. Solution: Use Google Trends, industry reports, and pay attention to LinkedIn, social media, and wherever your target clients hang out, so you can figure out what they need and create a targeted solution that sells while you sleep. 3. Thinking passive income = one-time effort. Problem: One of the most common misconceptions about passive income is that it is done once and lasts forever. That's technically not the way it works. Solution: Passive income products (like courses, e-books, templates, etc.) require ongoing marketing efforts to ensure consistent sales. This is the only way you can actually create a career from this. Otherwise no one will know that you exist, or you'll have short-term hype that is insufficient for tangibly boosting your income. Some examples of digital products that can earn you passive income include: Once you have the outline and guidance from ChatGPT, you can then start developing your product quickly, using these tools and platforms: It all starts with a few simple ChatGPT prompts. That leads to a product idea. Then evolves to a tangible digital product. That then leads to establishing you as a leading voice in your industry. That ends with sales and unlimited income as you sleep. This is how you make ChatGPT work for you. Can I really build passive income with ChatGPT? Yes, if you follow the prompt workflow outlined in this article. It will take some time and consistency to start accruing sales, but it's worth the effort, especially if you're feeling unsettled with the job market right now. Do I need a massive audience or thousands of followers to make money with ChatGPT? No, initially you can start small, by selling where your audience is already present (online marketplaces), starting with people you already know, ensuring it's a top-notch product so you gain reviews and referral buyers, and boosting your reach through partnering with well-known voices in your field.
Finextra
4 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
Marygold rolls out bespoke business banking app
As UK SMEs face the prospect of further tax rises this Autumn, amid sluggish growth and a lukewarm public response to the recent Spending Review, Marygold & Co. has launched the UK's first bespoke business banking app designed specifically for solopreneurs and SMEs to prepare for tax management effectively. 0 With 13% of Brits stating that financial mismanagement directly contributed to a business closure, Marygold's launch comes at a pivotal moment as Treasury officials are reportedly drawing up new revenue-raising measures. These include potential increases to dividend and bank profit taxes. April's GDP contraction of 0.3%, combined with new Opinium research showing that over half of Britons expect the economic outlook to worsen in the next year, has intensified pressure on the government's fiscal plans. Meanwhile, the latest Ipsos poll reveals that nearly eight in ten people believe the amount of tax they personally pay will rise within the next 12 months. Just 19% of the public believe the Spending Review prioritised the right areas, fuelling speculation that further fiscal tightening may be required. In this challenging climate of rising costs, late payments, and inconsistent banking support, Marygold & Co. offers a much-needed alternative to outdated financial platforms - empowering business owners with smart, fee-free tools to better manage their finances and prepare for economic uncertainty. The app's key features include real-time budgeting, automated tax reserves, and tailored financial insights designed for the self-employed and small business community. This innovation comes as the banking sector faces growing scrutiny. According to SaaScada, 77% of UK banking leaders acknowledge that their organisations must modernise to better support SMEs - yet outdated systems, fragmented tools, and hidden charges remain widespread. Hidden fees alone are costing SMEs dearly: 19% report being charged undisclosed fees, averaging over £3,700 per year. In response to delayed payments, 28% of small businesses have resorted to short-term finance simply to stay afloat. Additional research from Marygold & Co. highlights how poor financial infrastructure affects small businesses at a personal level: • 16% of business owners confuse revenue with income • 12% report setbacks due to poor tax planning With business confidence at its lowest since 2022 (ICAEW), the need for clear, intuitive financial tools is more urgent than ever. Marygold & Co.'s new app is designed to solve the most common pain points reported by small businesses, including opaque fee structures, lack of budgeting tools, and no support for long-term planning. Its key features include: • Smart Tax Reserves - Automatically sets aside a portion of incoming funds to meet tax obligations • Real-Time Budgeting - Gives instant visibility over cash flow and business performance • Financial Resilience Tools - Offers automated saving prompts, behavioural nudges, and planning features • Streamlined UX - Designed to minimise complexity for time-poor users Built around actual business behaviour, the Marygold & Co. app is designed specifically for the realities of small business owners, balancing usability with financial discipline. Unlike legacy platforms, it adapts to the working rhythms of time-poor entrepreneurs, providing clarity over complexity and empowering users to make confident, informed financial decisions from day one. Matthew Parden, CEO of Marygold & Co., commented: 'Entrepreneurs are often boot strapped. Every ounce of energy goes into running the business and every penny counts. For the lucky ones who start seeing profits and surplus income after overhead costs are accounted for, they find it is often too late to create a meaningful retirement pot. This is effectively a tax on entrepreneurs who have already paid income tax, VAT, corporation tax, capital gains and many more' 'So much so that business owners have been unable to build any meaningful provision for when they stop working into pension plans or tax-free savings accounts. They are also restricted as to how much they can put into them with annual limits.' Backed by The Marygold Companies, Inc., listed on the NYSE American Exchange (MGLD), Marygold & Co. is committed to delivering a superior, accessible financial experience rooted in transparency, control and long-term value. As UK businesses face the highest tax burden in a generation, sustained late payment issues, and shrinking margins, Marygold & Co. provides a modern alternative - a tailored financial tool to help solopreneurs and SMEs not only survive, but plan, grow and thrive.
Forbes
7 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Gen Z High Career Standards Are Paying The Price Of A Broken Market
As Gen Z graduates enter a broken job market, their high-career standards amid workplace obstacles ... More are causing some of them to emotionally unravel, according to some reports. Gen Z comprises the largest generation in the workplace and is expected to make up 30% of the workforce by 2030. But their influence is already here, along with their expectations around leadership, communication and culture reshaping the rules of the American workplace. But as Gen Zers enter the job market with bold expectations amid a tanking economy, increasing AI dominance and rising layoffs, landing a job isn't easy. Their high career standards, within a system fraught with problems, is causing them to emotionally unravel in the search process. Perhaps the best part of Gen Z is that they set high standards whether it's promoting healthy work cultures, mentoring their senior employees or raising the bar for side hustles. Don't let anyone tell you Gen Zers are slackers. Andy Kurtzig, CEO of told me that Gen Z is using AI to become what he calls "solopreneurs." 'We're watching a generational pivot in real time. Gen Z is taking the same tools corporations use to eliminate jobs and flipping the script to create opportunities for themselves,' Kurtzig explains. 'They're using AI to re-imagine career paths, build brands and monetize skills that traditional workplaces often overlook. What used to take funding, mentorship and institutional access, they're now doing with a laptop and a chatbot.' A national survey by Superprof shows that Gen Z graduates are setting high standards for job hunts, with 40% saying a a toxic work culture is a deal breaker, and 27% refusing to tolerate financial secrecy or low pay. They want a well-paying job, but their priorities are jobs that also provide work-life balance, meaningful work, flexible hours and well-being. But that's not the 2025 job market they're stepping into. 'Gen Z isn't just job-hunting—they're curating an experience,' states Mina Ozdemir, PR manager at Superprof. 'They want work that aligns with their values, lets them grow and doesn't burn them out. If the vibes are off, they're out." I spoke with Amanda Schneider, founder and president of ThinkLab, who told me that their latest research shows that Gen Z is quietly hoping to rewrite the old apprenticeship model for a new era. 'While older generations often insist that learning only happens through shadowing and in-person osmosis, Gen Z is proving that's no longer true—or at least not entirely true.' But despite their standards of excellence, is Gen Z raising the bar too high for their own good? Clarify Capital surveyed 1,000 employees on how much time, money and emotional energy it takes to get hired in today's job market. Findings show that Gen Z is footing the emotional and financial bill for a broken system, fueled by rising living costs, minimal financial buffers and a hiring landscape flooded with ghost jobs and automated rejections. An additional discovery? Gen Z is emotionally unraveling in the job seeking process. Out of the 86% of job hunters, 60% of Gen Z say the churn-and-burn job market is leaving them emotionally stressed and disillusioned before they even begin. Other key findings include: Some experts contend that the problem isn't that Gen Z's standards are unrealistic. It's that they're better than the broken market they're entering. For example, Michael Baynes, co-founder and CEO of Clarify Capital, told me that Gen Z is paying the price for a broken system in their job hunting. 'The hiring landscape in 2025 has become increasingly inefficient and difficult to navigate,' Baynes says. "Ghost listings, automated rejections and pay-to-play application systems are pushing out young applicants before many have a chance to apply. Notably, three in five applicants abandon the process mid-way, and 46% encounter scams.' Baynes asserts that the workforce has created an entry system that's burning Gen Z out before they even clock in. He further contends that there are times when the current job market treats entry-level employment as if it's a luxury. He describes multi-step interviews, AI filters and rising costs just to apply as examples of the convoluted process. 'With nearly 90% lacking savings and half getting no offers, today's job search can be financially unsustainable and emotionally crushing,' Baynes points out. "This generation is being asked to invest time, money and energy into a process that very often yields nothing in return." Moira Corcoran, CPA and finance expert on Pearl, believes their data indicates that Americans, particularly younger generations, are feeling a sense of hopelessness when it comes to their financial outlook. 'With so many saying saving feels futile at this point, many are looking to make drastic changes to their lives in a way that's reminiscent of the 2008 recession,' Corcoran points out. "Between postponing major life decisions like having a child or owning a home to cutting back on summer travel, it is clear consumers are approaching a state of panic–they need ways to access affordable, professional financial advice to navigate these ever-changing economic conditions.' According to Joseph Semrai, CEO and founder of Context, AI is making it even harder for new grads to get their foot in the door because traditional junior roles no longer exist, and he believes these roles need to be redesigned so that his generation doesn't get pushed out. 'Artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape for early-career roles in a way reminiscent of robotics' disruption of manufacturing jobs decades ago," Semrai observes. 'Entry-level positions traditionally built around tasks like basic data processing, document creation and introductory programming are increasingly automated, presenting new challenges for Gen Z graduates looking to develop foundational skills. However, the strategic response should not be to limit AI's integration but rather to rethink how we structure apprenticeship and early training.' One way to accommodate Gen Z high career standards is Semrai's suggestion that companies actively redesign junior positions around meaningful collaboration within AI systems. 'Young professionals should be engaging closely with AI-generated outputs, auditing the reasoning behind automated decisions, challenging assumptions and refining final results,' Semrai concludes. "Recent research from institutions like MIT Sloan underscores that entry-level employees gain the most when they actively interact with AI, rather than passively consuming its outputs.'
Forbes
09-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Most Promising Startups From The First-Ever YC Spring Batch
Colourful silhouettes of rockets to symbolise new business startup launch 'Make something people want.' That's the famous Y Combinator slogan—and the results speak for themselves. Over the years, YC has launched some of the most iconic startups of our time, including Airbnb, DoorDash, Dropbox, Instacart, Stripe, and Deel. Now operating four batches per year, Y Combinator just introduced its first-ever spring batch—and the upcoming Demo Day promises to deliver. Startups are working around the clock to prepare and attract investment from top-tier VCs. Unsurprisingly, many of the YC X25 (Spring 2025) batch startups are AI-driven—but their applications span a wide range of industries. From homebuying and healthcare to solopreneur support and developer tools, this batch reflects the growing diversity of AI use cases. Cactus is addressing the operational challenges faced by solopreneurs—particularly private chefs and other service-based entrepreneurs. These businesses often rely on multiple disconnected tools and consultants, making it difficult to scale and grow. With recent advancements in AI and voice technology, there's a unique opportunity to automate and streamline these workflows. Cactus aims to be the AI Copilot that manages brand maintenance, website creation, lead qualification, proposal generation, and invoicing—freeing up solopreneurs to focus on what they do best. Ajith Govind and Avinash Joshi, co-founders of Cactus, explain: 'The idea for Cactus emerged from personal experiences. We both became fathers and started working with private chefs. We saw firsthand the intense operational demands they faced. Those shared experiences and insights into the broader challenges solopreneurs encounter inspired us to launch Cactus.' Ajith brings a strong foundation in data science and firsthand experience scaling a previous YC-backed company—giving him deep insight into business growth and operational pain points. Avinash's engineering prowess and experience in building products for major companies like Unilever, Pepsi, and Nestle make him an invaluable asset. is consumer-first and AI-native. With no downloads required, brings AI to where 97% of Americans already are multiple times a day: in their chats. And with collaborative AI features, allows groups to plan trips, book restaurants, and set reminders—seamlessly and together. Founded by three friends Rushi Shah, Prahar Patel, and Paras Maniar, was born out of frustration with how tech often adds complexity instead of reducing it. 'I built the first version just for fun—as a personal travel companion to help me find hidden vegetarian restaurants while backpacking solo in Spain and Portugal,' Rushi recalls. 'It was ridiculously simple but solved a real problem. Then friends started asking to add the AI to their group chats. The magic? No one had to download a thing. AI just showed up where they already were." Arjun Lalwani and Helly Shah, co-founders of Approval AI, are tackling one of the most frustrating parts of homeownership: the slow, opaque, and stressful mortgage process. 'The mortgage process in the U.S. is broken,' Arjun says. 'Rates aren't transparent, paperwork is repetitive, and buyers are bombarded with lender spam before they even understand what they're signing up for.' As first-time homebuyers—with technical backgrounds—they found the process confusing, inefficient, and severely lacking in transparency. That personal pain inspired the creation of Approval AI, which uses AI to streamline and simplify the mortgage journey for others. The founding team blends deep technical expertise with hands-on industry experience. Arjun built large-scale commerce products at Google, including YouTube Shopping. Helly comes from a multi-generational real estate family and has experienced the mortgage process from every angle: as a developer, broker, and buyer. She's a licensed mortgage broker, a former software engineer at Google Maps, and previously built real-time trading systems at Goldman Sachs. Bereket Engida, Co-Founder and CEO of Better Auth, is on a mission to solve one of the oldest—and still unsolved—problems in software: authentication. Deeply embedded in the TypeScript ecosystem, Bereket has built a wide range of apps and open-source libraries. Now, alongside co-founder KinfeMichael Tariku, he's developing a comprehensive, framework-agnostic authentication solution built specifically for TypeScript. 'Even though auth is one of those age-old problems,' Bereket says, 'it's still surprisingly only half-solved. It continues to be a pain to implement, and as a developer myself, I've felt that pain over and over again. It's not that there aren't options—it's just that the choices aren't great.' The goal is to empower developers to build secure, enterprise-grade authentication systems without relying on third-party services—giving teams full control over user data while accelerating innovation. Justin Lee and Linus Talacko are building Den with a bold vision: to make AI agents accessible and useful for all knowledge workers—not just engineers. The idea began when Linus, then CTO and co-founder of Lyrebird Health (one of Australia's fastest-growing startups), saw firsthand the productivity gains engineers were achieving with tools like Cursor and Windsurf. But when it came to non-technical teams, existing solutions like Slack's Agentforce and Relevance AI fell short. Frustrated, Linus started building internal agents for his entire company. What began as a side project quickly evolved into a new mission. Justin stepped in and convinced Linus to embark on a 20+ year journey to fundamentally reshape how knowledge work is done. Their long-term vision? Teams of 10 orchestrating swarms of 1,000+ AI agents—freeing up human talent to focus on creativity, judgment, and decision-making. Their mantra: empower the first 10-person unicorn. Inspired by platforms like Shopify and Atlassian that provide infrastructure for others to build on, Den aims to become the superstructure for AI-native teams to scale smarter and faster. Supreet Deshpande, Sahitya Sridhar and Rajashekar Vasantha, co-founders of SynthioLabs, are building voice AI medical reps for pharma commercial and medical teams to engage with their most important stakeholders—doctors and patients. Pharma spends billions annually on sales and medical representatives, yet most physicians—especially those in community settings, who make up the majority of the market—never hear from one. The result? Missed engagement, slower adoption, and lost revenue where it matters most. SynthioLabs is building voice AI medical reps that help pharma scale physician engagement in ways traditional field teams cannot. Their AI reps deliver compliant, on-demand medical info —and capture rich data on physician needs and concerns at scale. The team includes ex-McKinsey and ex-ZS life sciences experts, as well as AI researchers from AWS. They have worked with 10 of the top 20 pharma companies and bring over a decade of experience in life sciences. These companies are about to present their ideas on Demo Day this week—the moment they've been working tirelessly toward. But what have they learned along the way? And how has their vision evolved since the beginning? 'The community', says Justin Lee, Co-Founder of Den. 'Unmatched loyalty, generosity, and ambition.' He adds, 'It feels like having the entire world at your back—from GPs to batchmates.' Den's company vision has evolved significantly: from a no-code, multiplayer agent builder for non-engineers to building an Agent Marketplace for sharing and selling agent workflows. Supreet Deshpande, Co-Founder and CEO of SynthioLabs highlights, 'Honestly, the best part about YC is the pace and the clarity it brings.' Founders are pushed to move fast, cut out the noise, and make decisions in days rather than months. And, of course, there's the 'founder energy.' When they started, SynthioLabs focused on using AI to help pharma companies reach more physicians—especially those often overlooked. But as they went deeper, they discovered a bigger opportunity: bringing consumer-grade customer obsession to pharma. Now, they aim to become the platform for all customer engagement in pharma, closing the gap between what physicians and patients expect as consumers—and what they currently experience from the industry. Going through Y Combinator has been instrumental for Cactus, primarily by driving focus on achieving product-market fit. 'However, one of the most underrated benefits is the belief factor,' says Ajith Govind. 'It instills confidence in founders to aim higher—to see themselves as the next big success story, like Airbnb.' Cactus originally launched as a marketplace connecting private chefs with families. But the founders quickly realized the real challenge was not the connection—it was what happened afterward. That insight led to a pivot: Cactus now builds AI-powered business automation tools. The company's new vision is to develop an AI Copilot that runs an entire business on autopilot—freeing up solopreneurs to focus on what they do best and capture more opportunities. Rushi Shah, CEO of puts it simply, 'The best thing about Y Combinator is speed and focus.' He adds, 'In ten weeks, we 10x'd our user base, stayed laser-focused on product development, and pushed ourselves to get more done every week—regardless of company size, funding, or stage.' As Demo Day approaches, one thing is clear: this generation of YC founders isn't just building companies—they're reshaping industries. Fueled by urgency, guided by clarity, and supported by one of the strongest founder communities in tech, these startups are turning ambitious ideas into scalable, world-changing products. Whether it's simplifying mortgages, reimagining healthcare engagement, or putting AI in the hands of solopreneurs and everyday users, the YC spring batch (X25) is a glimpse into the future—faster, smarter, and more founder-driven than ever.
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Feedcoyote Launches Collaborative Networking App for Freelancers
Feedcoyote launched a collaborative networking app for Freelancers. The app was created to spur more earning opportunities and foster collaboration in the freelance ecosystem. Feedcoyote is a platform for freelancers, solopreneurs, and small to medium-sized businesses. The app is designed to drive success for these groups by providing networking, collaboration, and project management, all in one place. Built around the idea that freelancers don't have to hustle alone, Feedcoyote is a place where they can find each other and connect while working on their next gig. Networking and Social Features App users get started by building a profile that showcases their areas of expertise to connect with other freelancers, professionals, and businesses. This feature can be utilized to develop new relationships and grow a professional network in the freelancing community. Feedcoyote aims to foster a collaborative space where freelancers can connect and offer their skills and expertise to partner on projects by bringing all freelancers under one roof. The app is designed to streamline these project collaborations and promote an inflow of gig opportunities to enhance productivity and earning potential for freelancers. Beyond the work, Feedcoyote's app also includes a social aspect where users can share insights, talk about experiences, and engage with a like-minded community. The networking features the platform incorporates into its app allow freelancers to build their portfolio and professional relationships. Project Management and Productivity Tools Feedcoyote is a comprehensive app that offers tools to support the full scope of freelancer engagement. As freelancers develop relationships and projects, the app has integrated tools to support their work and collaborations. The app's project management features include CRM tools that allow freelancers to oversee projects. They can keep up with communication in one place as they work with partners and use integrated tools to stay organized with calendars, contract management, and simplified invoicing and payments. Freelancers looking to share project ideas and enlist help have a dedicated space on the app to post their projects and attract new collaborations. Those looking for professional opportunities can respond to those posts with proposals showcasing their skills to Feedcoyote's growing network of users. That network has grown by 540%, reaching 108,000 users across several countries. Personalized Professional Development As freelancers discover gigs and potential partnerships, the app offers familiar, user-friendly functions to keep track of those opportunities, like saving and favoriting posts. In addition to searching for work independently, Feedcoyote provides personalized gig recommendations to users that align with their skills and preferences to help them find more earning opportunities as they grow. The app aims to support professional growth with the Feedcoyte Learning Hub. The hub is meant for new freelancers to learn how to navigate the gig economy and for experienced professionals to stay sharp with growing content. An All-in-One App for Freelancers Feedcoyote is an all-in-one app that provides freelancers with the space and tools to connect, collaborate, and manage projects. Through tool integrations and features, it offers an efficient way for freelancers to keep up with gigs and partnerships. It also helps these professionals stay competitive and grow their earnings in the freelancer ecosystem. The Feedcoyote app is available today on the App Store and Google Play. Media Contact Company Name: Feedcoyote Contact Person: Dr Stevens Bonhomme Email: Send Email State: Kentucky Country: United States Website: Press Release Distributed by To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Feedcoyote Launches Collaborative Networking App for Freelancers
