LS #39: AI startups that make millions in months
Hi there,
I study viral LinkedIn posts to learn what clicks, helping you craft content that resonates.
In this issue, you'll find:
The 3 high-performing posts in tech this week
AI startups that make millions in months
LinkedIn post template and memes
The 3 high-performing posts this week
1. The hiring process has officially become a joke
Why this post?
This post went viral, receiving 2.4k likes in 4 days. It received 250 more engagement and views than Krupesh's previous posts.
This post leverages narrative storytelling to deliver a powerful message about workplace humanity:
BREAKDOWN
Opens with the formal "Dear HR," creating the feel of an open letter
Uses the stunningly simple "He waited" as a re-hook that demands further reading
Employs short, rhythmic paragraphs that build emotional momentum
Captures the psychological experience of job seeking with vivid details ("refreshed his emails every hour")
Uses stark, simple sentences ("Three weeks passed. No response.") to emphasize the emotional weight
Shifts from narrative to moral clarity with "Here's the thing" transition
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN POST:
Start with a direct address that immediately identifies your audience
Begin with an ultra-short emotional hook (2-3 words)
Use third-person narrative to create universality
Build emotion through specific, relatable details
Transition from story to message with a clear pivot phrase
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
Dear Manager, She tried.
Dear Customer Support, He just needed help.
Dear CEO, They believed you.
Dear Startup Founder, They trusted you.
Dear Social Media, She was real.
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2. How to make $300 in the next 3 hours using only your laptop
Why this post?
Another post that went viral this week—it got 7.2k likes in 2 days and performed 35-90 times better than Liam’s other posts this week.
A perfect satire of viral get-rich-quick content.
BREAKDOWN:
Opens with an attention-grabbing headline promising quick money ("$300 in the next 3 hours")
Uses a numbered list format that mimics legitimate "how-to" content
Builds a plausible but increasingly demanding set of tasks that create tension
Sets up realistic early steps anyone could follow (open laptop, find domain)
Gradually escalates to more difficult tasks (generate 50 articles, build backlinks)
Creates the perfect setup with "Once you've done all this:"
Delivers an unexpected punchline that completely subverts expectations
Uses extreme brevity in the punchline for maximum comedic impact
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
How to lose 20 pounds in 1 week without exercise:
How to built a million-dollar business with zero funding:
How to get 10,000 followers on LinkedIn this weekend:
The easiest way to double your productivity tomorrow:
How to become an expert in any field in 7 days:
3. I've been chatting with a bunch of young founders lately and a curious theme keeps cropping up.
Why this post?
This post performed 6-45 times better than Hari's other posts this week.
A startup wisdom through a seasoned founder's perspective.
BREAKDOWN:
Opens with a conversational hook that suggests observed patterns ("chatting with young founders")
Establishes credibility subtly through the phrase "decades in the trenches"
Structures content with short, digestible paragraphs for easy mobile reading
Uses empathetic understanding ("I very much get it") before delivering the challenging truth
Pivots with "But here's a little secret" to signal valuable insider knowledge
Creates powerful contrast between ideas (easy) and execution (challenging)
Uses vivid language to describe the founder journey ("daily grind," "stormy nights")
HOW TO CREATE YOUR OWN POST:
Begin with a personal observation that hints at shared wisdom
Show empathy before challenging conventional thinking
Create a clear "turning point" that signals your core message
Balance validation with challenging truths
Include specific details of the struggles you're describing
POST IDEAS FOLLOWING THIS TEMPLATE:
I've been reviewing hundreds of portfolios lately and noticed something interesting about designers who get hired...
After analyzing our last 50 client meetings, I spotted a pattern in the ones that converted to sales...
I've been mentoring new marketers for years, and there's one mistake almost all of them make initially...
While judging startup pitches last month, I noticed a striking difference between funded and unfunded founders...
After interviewing hundreds of candidates, I've observed a consistent trait in people who advance quickly...
AI startups that make millions in months
Just observed something remarkable in the AI startup space:
We are in the era of micro-teams with mega-impact.
Submagic
→ $8M ARR in under 20 months
→ Team: 14 employees
→ Profitable
BoldVoice:
→ $8.5M revenue
→ 8 people
→ Profitable
Arcads AI:
→ $5M revenue
→ 5 people
→ Profitable
Lovable:
→ Nearly doubled revenue from $17M to $30M
→ In less than a year
What's happening here?
Two main insights:
1. What do they have in common besides AI?
It’s how they grow.
They went viral on social media early on.
It helped them gain initial traction and momentum.
It seems to be a pattern:
↳ A new way of using AI in a process + going viral on social media.
And second insight...
2. AI startups are rewriting the rules of scaling:
- Tiny teams
- Massive revenue
- Quick profitability
- Exponential growth
The old "you need 100 people to hit $10M" rule is dead.
We're witnessing a new paradigm:
- AI handles the heavy lifting
- Small teams focus on core innovation
- Less overhead, more output
- Faster decision-making
- Rapid iteration
The result?
5-12 people building what used to require 50-100.
This isn't just efficient.
It's revolutionary.
Post Template: Hard Truth Template
You can use the template below to create content faster with AI. Just provide your context and copy the template. It will help you create content following a viral post structure.
Template:
The hardest thing to get right on [PLATFORM]?
[CHALLENGE] (and how to bounce back after a break)
This past [TIMEFRAME]?
I wasn't [ACTION_1]. I wasn't [ACTION_2].
And honestly, [REASON] just got in the way.
If you're also:
→ Feeling [EMOTION_1] for falling off your [ROUTINE]
→ Wondering if people even noticed you [ABSENCE_DESCRIPTION]
→ [NEGATIVE_THOUGHT] because it's been a while
Then let me remind you:
You're [IDENTITY]. You're allowed to [POSITIVE_PERMISSION].
And here's how to pick it back up:
→ [STRATEGY_1]
→ [STRATEGY_2]
→ [STRATEGY_3]
And when you're ready to build momentum again:
→ [MOMENTUM_TIP_1]
→ [MOMENTUM_TIP_2]
→ [MOMENTUM_TIP_3]
→ [MOMENTUM_TIP_4]
I'm back now, and I'm [POSITIVE_ACTION] again.
Not [UNREALISTIC_STANDARD], but [REALISTIC_APPROACH].
Because the people you [VALUE_VERB] won't remember the [NEGATIVE_ASPECT].
They'll remember the [POSITIVE_ASPECT] you consistently bring.
So if you've been [STATE] too, don't stress. Just take the first step and keep going.
P.S. [ENGAGEMENT_QUESTION]
LinkedIn Memes
Cutting employees pay
Why is this person overhearing conversations of 5 year olds?
That's a wrap for today.
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Your compadre,
Anton "LinkedIn growth strategies" Cherkasov