The Koerner Office - Business Ideas and Deep Dives with Chris Koerner

Latest Episodes:

You Don’t Need to Be a Genius! Just Do This. w/ Sam | Ep. #160 Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

I’m back with Sam Thompson for part two of our two-part conversation (if you missed the first one, go check out Ep. #157). In this episode, Sam walks me through the custom task management app he built for himself using Lovable, and how it completely changed how he handles his time. We go deep on what makes good productivity tools and how to think like a “vibe coder”.

We also talk about how he sold his AI cooking app, how he's helping someone scale it, and why more businesses should start fast, test faster, and sell what people are already asking for. Toward the end, we riff on why people always pay for shortcuts, from dunk training posters to rucking programs (PDF), and how momentum is the most underrated asset for entrepreneurs.

You can find Sam on Twitter at @ImSamThompson and check out what he's building at unlimitedcontent.com.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

---
Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---

00:00 The Power of Momentum in Entrepreneurship
02:58 Selling Ideas and Business Models
05:51 The Reality of Make Money Online Offers
08:48 Understanding Customer Needs and Offers
12:14 Creating Value Through Digital Products
15:12 The Role of AI in Business and Marketing
17:56 Building Custom Solutions for Productivity
20:46 Navigating the Future of AI Influencers
24:05 The Importance of Task Management and Productivity

This Episode Will Change How You Think About Money | Ep. #159 Apr 21, 2025

Show notes

This is part two of my conversation with Shannon Jean, and it’s somehow even better than part one. Shannon’s a seasoned flipper, reseller, and liquidator who’s built real wealth by buying pallets of returned or surplus goods and reselling them, sometimes flipping phones for $9 million in profit.

In this episode, we talk about advanced tactics. Shannon breaks down how to build trust in an industry full of scams, how to spot undervalued products, why you should be okay with others making more money off your deals, and the mental frameworks that make resellers unstoppable. He shares wild stories, like the time he bought $2M worth of iPhones and sold them back to China for $11M.

We also talk about Facebook Marketplace testing, niche reselling and more. Whether you're trying to make $100 or $100,000 extra this year, the blueprint is in this episode.

If you missed it, go back and check out Part 1 (Ep. #156), and if you’re hooked, listen to his other appearances in Ep. #38, #41, #61, and #64.

You can find Shannon Jean on X at @shannonjean (https://x.com/shannonjean) - he posts about his $5 mastermind there, where he shares deals, advice, and great opportunities. He’s also the cohost of the Business Brain podcast, which you can find at businessbrain.show.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

00:00 The Power of Reselling
04:56 Building Credibility and Relationships
10:06 Learning Through Experimentation
14:53 Finding Your Niche in Reselling
20:09 Scaling and Managing Risks
24:51 Success Stories and Lessons Learned

What AI Tools Are Worth Your Time in 2025⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #158 Apr 18, 2025

Show notes

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik shares what he learned from 30+ conversations with entrepreneurs using AI in their businesses—what tools they’re using, what’s actually working, and some surprising patterns that came up. We also talk about how he built a full workflow using Google CoLab and OpenAI to analyze all the data.

I also share my experiment with a real-world billboard ad for the podcast, how I’m testing taglines with Facebook ads, and different ways I’m tracking the results. We even get into some fun ideas around using AI for things like relationship advice and business mediation.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Check out Limitless pendant here

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

---

Watch this on YouTube instead here: tkopod.co/p-yt
Ask me a question on or off the show here: http://tkopod.co/p-ask
Learn more about me: http://tkopod.co/p-cjk
Learn about my company: http://tkopod.co/p-cof
Follow me on Twitter here: http://tkopod.co/p-x
Free weekly business ideas newsletter: http://tkopod.co/p-nl
Share this podcast: http://tkopod.co/p-all
Scrape small business data: http://tkopod.co/p-os
---

00:00 Highlights
00:33 ChatGPT's Bias and Trustworthiness vs. Google
02:58 Seeking Unbiased Feedback from AI (and its Challenges)
07:38 AI for Business Mediation and Conflict Resolution
10:04 Most Popular LLMs and Their Use Cases (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity)
12:33 Claude’s Advanced Project Structure & Writing Strengths
15:02 Cursor vs. Replit: Coding Tools and Usability vs. Functionality
17:26 AI Tools Summary: Use Cases and Strengths by Model
19:52 Cleaning and Analyzing Podcast Transcripts Using AI & Google Colab
22:20 Automating Insights: Creating Lead Magnets and Quizzes with AI
24:40 The Importance of Data for Personal AI Assistants
27:07 Billboard A/B Testing Strategy for Podcast Growth
29:27 The Power of “Best” in Marketing and Ratings Psychology
31:54 Measuring Billboard Effectiveness via Download Geography
34:19 Saturating Small Cities with Ads: A Contagion-Style Growth Idea

This One AI Prompt Could Land You a $15K Client w/ Sam | Ep. #157 Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

This is part one of a two-part episode, keep an eye out for part two dropping next week.

I sat down with Sam Thompson and we went deep on how we're using the new ChatGPT memory update - from self-reflection prompts to turning it into a personal coach and therapist. Sam shared some killer use cases like a CIA-style report on himself and even a custom SWOT analysis.

Then we riffed on turning AI-generated images into real businesses. Sam told the story of a viral tweet he had about creating custom coloring books with ChatGPT, and we brainstormed dozens of B2B and home services ideas—like AI-powered landscaping mockups, remodeling postcards, and photo-personalized marketing that feels like magic.

You can find Sam on Twitter at @ImSamThompson and check out what he's building at unlimitedcontent.com.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

00:00 Exploring AI Opportunities in Business
06:58 The Impact of Image Generation Technology
12:09 Hyper-Personalization and Customization
20:07 Innovative Marketing Strategies with AI
29:49 Future of Home Services and AI Integration

Don’t Sleep on This Specific $0-to-Millions Reselling Strategy | Ep. #156 Apr 14, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Shannon Jean, who's built and sold over 10 companies, and we talked all about the art of reselling. He shared how he made $557K net profit selling luxury handbags, and why building systems is the real game—no matter what category you're in.

We covered how he connects directly with eBay and Poshmark execs to avoid account issues, how he uses liquidation sites like B-Stock, and why category only matters 30%—the rest is all systems and execution.

Shannon also dropped gold on customer service, like his “two tokens” method to de-escalate unhappy buyers, and how flipping industrial gear or niche apparel can create huge upside if you know how to sell it right.

Follow him on X (@ShannonJean), where he shares deals and posts about his $5 mastermind. He’s also the cohost of the Business Brain podcast at businessbrain.show.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Starting from Scratch: The Reselling Journey
03:00 Building Relationships: Networking for Success
05:54 Understanding the Market: Research and Strategy
09:13 Finding Your Niche: The Handbag Business
12:07 Customer Service: The Key to Repeat Business
15:05 Navigating Challenges: Dealing with Low Margins
17:55 The Power of Auctions: Finding Hidden Gems
20:46 Scaling Up: Systems and Processes for Success
24:08 Real-Life Examples: Success Stories in Reselling
26:55 The Future of Reselling: Trends and Opportunities

What Types of Ideas are Worth Chasing Today?⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #155 Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I talk about the exciting advancements of ChatGPT 4.0 image generation, highlighting its ability to now edit pictures and create incredibly realistic AI images. We brainstormed potential business ideas leveraging this new technology, then we discussed the fundamentals of business success, where Nik introduced his framework emphasizing competitive advantage within idea and execution (grit, distribution, fulfillment, knowledge). We debated the significance of a strong market versus having a unique edge and explored the concept of a barbell strategy, focusing on either full AI or completely no-tech ventures. Finally, we discussed the growing trend of rucking and identified several potential business opportunities in that space.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

---

00:00 The Rise of Image Generation Technology
02:59 Ashton Hall: The Viral Sensation
05:52 The Future of NFTs and Image Attribution
08:46 Innovative Business Ideas in Image Generation
12:05 The Importance of Competitive Advantage in Entrepreneurship
15:00 Navigating the Path to Entrepreneurship
17:56 The Barbell Strategy: AI vs. No AI
20:52 Learning vs. Doing: The Entrepreneurial Dilemma
24:12 Rucking: A New Trend in Fitness
27:07 The Power of Community and Influencer Marketing

Tariffs. Here's How to Make Money While Everyone Panics | Ep. # 154 Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

The United States is in Trump tariff turmoil, and while everyone's freaking out, I'm seeing opportunity. I don’t care about macroeconomics or politics, but I do care about business ideas. So in this episode, I walk through how to take advantage of what's happening right now. From using tools like Import Yeti and Jungle Scout to find hot products, to becoming a sourcing agent, launching a reverse engineering newsletter, or just figuring out where the next winners are coming from, this moment might be the nudge you’ve been waiting for.

Shopify URL suffix:

/?sort_buy=best-selling
/collections/all?sort_by=best-selling

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Economic Turmoil and Opportunity
03:02 Navigating Tariffs and Sourcing Strategies
05:56 Innovative Business Ideas Amidst Change
08:48 Historical Context: Success in Adversity
12:03 Embracing Made in America
13:02 Seizing Opportunities in Uncertainty

How to Build Your Next Business on Top of this New AI Tool That’s Blowing Up | Ep. # 153 Apr 07, 2025

Show notes

Use promo code TKOPOD for 20% off Gumloop.

I sat down with Max Brodeur-Urbas, founder of Gumloop, and got into all things AI automation. Max described Gumloop as an intuitive drag-and-drop tool where you can build powerful AI workflows without writing a single line of code, think Zapier, but supercharged with AI.

We explored how Gumloop isn't just great for automating tasks like web scraping and sales outreach; it's also a huge opportunity for people looking to start their own businesses or side hustles. Max shared how you can become an in-demand Gumloop expert, build an agency offering custom automation services, or even create businesses by white-labeling Gumloop flows. We also touched on real-world examples of individuals successfully monetizing their skills and ideas with Gumloop.

Max also gave us a sneak peek at their upcoming co-pilot feature that's designed to make creating workflows even easier and more accessible.

Connect with Max:

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Introduction to Gumloop and Its Value Proposition
02:59 AI-First Automation: The Future of Workflows
05:52 Real-World Applications of Gumloop
09:12 Understanding Automation: The Role of Workflows
12:05 Case Studies: How Businesses Use Gumloop
15:01 The Next Steps for Gumloop: Co-Pilot Feature
17:53 Challenges and Future Directions in Automation
23:08 Growth and Opportunities in AI Business
24:33 Identifying Exceptional Talent in AI
26:30 Creative Use Cases for AI and Automation
28:22 Building Scalable Workflows with Gum Loop
30:44 Expert Marketplace and Demand Dynamics
32:35 Transitioning from User to Expert
33:06 Automating Customer Engagement and Research
34:33 Sales Prospecting and Meeting Preparation
36:28 Leveraging Competitor Insights for Marketing
39:52 Programmatic SEO and Content Generation
42:44 White Labeling and Business Opportunities with Gum Loop
43:43 Choosing the Right AI Models for Tasks

How To Charge $1.5K/month Helping Businesses Use This Simple AI Device⏐Holdco Bros. Ep. #152 Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

HoldCo Bros are back! In this episode, Nik and I explore the idea of launching an AI implementation agency to help businesses effectively navigate AI tools. We also dive into the concept of using wearable devices, like the Limitless pendant, for automated medical documentation, potentially replacing scribes. Additionally, we brainstorm various different applications for this technology, including sales coaching, enhancing employee productivity, and more.

Learn more about Nik here: http://linktr.ee/cofoundersnik

Check out the Limitless pendant: Limitless Pendant

Share your ideas with us:

Nik@cofounders.com
Chris@cofounders.com

Timestamps below. Enjoy!

---

00:00 Embracing Entrepreneurship and AI
02:58 The Role of AI in Healthcare
05:47 Innovative Applications of AI Technology
09:10 Transforming Sales with AI
12:03 Leveraging AI for Personal Development
14:56 Deep Research and Its Implications
17:48 The Future of AI in Business

5 Core Business Lessons You Can't Afford to Miss | Ep. # 151 Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

Welcome to this solo episode where I'm trying something a little different by going solo and focusing on key business principles that I find to be really important. What I wanted to do differently was explain these ideas through relatable stories and analogies, something I picked up from my teaching days. I share several personal experiences and then break down the business lessons we can take away from them. We talk about the significance of a solid foundation versus just outward appearances, the value we assign to things based on effort, and even those hidden problems we might not see. Ultimately, it's about understanding different aspects of business and life through these everyday comparisons.

Timestamps below. Enjoy!
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00:00 Exploring Business Principles Through Analogies
04:49 Lessons from the Vasa: Stability vs. Appearance
10:06 The Value of Hard Work: Basketball and Business
14:53 Hidden Challenges: The Treadmill Analogy
20:13 Cleaning Up Messes: Life Lessons in Business

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