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This Week’s Idea: From Couch to Coach-Training Just Got Smarter, PLUS One Business Changing the Way You Eat

Extra Plus: I am getting paid to do nothing, how boring.

Author

Danny Garces
April 08, 2025 • Reading Time: 7 minutes

Did you know that back in 2005, Paul Graham had just finished giving a talk at Harvard titled “How to Start a Startup.” The students loved it—and afterward, a few approached him, asking for advice on building their own companies.

Instead of giving them money, or mentoring them one-on-one, Paul had a better idea: What if startups could be built like software? In small batches, with short feedback loops, and just enough funding to get off the ground?

So, over the summer, he and his co-founders created an experiment they called Y Combinator—a name borrowed from a nerdy concept in computer science that helps functions call themselves. They invested a few thousand dollars in a batch of young founders… and it worked.

That first batch included Reddit and Loopt. By 2024, YC has lauched over 4,000 startups, including AirBnb, Dropbox, Stripe, and more.

Moral of the story? Sometimes the best way to help people build companies… is to build a company that builds companies.

Or build a newsletter that helps launch companies.

Please help your founder friends launch something by sharing this with them.

— Daniel

In today’s email:

  • 🚀 Startups raising this week 💸

  • 💻 Get paid to do nothing 🤪

  • 👩‍🏫 From couch to coach-training just got smarter 📈

🚀 STARTUPS RAISING THIS WEEK 💸

Would you eat out of a dark kitchen? Dark kitchens have a bit of a reputation—think mystery meat and soggy fries. But Sizl, a Chicago based startup, is flipping that narrative.

With a cook-to-order model and real chefs (not just microwave wizards), they’re delivering fresh, restaurant-quality meals in under 30 minutes.

Ghost kitchen? More like gourmet kitchen on stealth mode.

I know you want to know the details, so here you go: Sizl raises $3.5M to expand its cook-to-order food delivery service. WOAH!

💻 GET PAID TO DO NOTHING 🤪

Buttery friends, I know we all dream about that passive income, get paid to do nothing concept.

Would you believe me if I told you that there is a high chance that you can now get paid to do absolutely nothing? All you have to do is join Google’s DeepMind AI company.

In a world of AI and computing power, that is the harsh reality for some AI researchers at Google’s DeepMind. Instead of letting top talent join competitors like OpenAI or Microsoft, Google is reportedly putting them on a year-long paid “do nothing” sabbaticals—thanks to strict noncompete clauses.

Sounds very dreamy… until you realize these minds are itching to be part of the fast moving AI industry race. In a world where innovation moves at warp speed, being sidelined can feel more like punishment than PTO.

🛋️ FROM COUCH TO COACH, TRAINING JUST GOT SMARTER 🤓

Don’t worry, the teachers are at your finger tips.

How many of you have just straight BOMBED a college exam?

HaHa, I have!

Will the real slim shady please stand up?

🎯 Uber, but for your Jump Shot

Playing a sport and being good at it literally comes down to the fundamentals. If you don’t know how to properly tie your shoe, you won’t know how to properly run with a ball. If you don’t know how to jump, your jump shot will help your team loose the NCAA March Madness tournament. Sorry, Houston. Anyone else see that jump shot?

“Dad, can you please teach me how to play basketball?” Don’t be that dad with no history playing the sport.

Need a basketball coach for your kid on a random Thursday? Open the ButterSports app. BOOM. Someone with a college level experience is at the park in T-30 minutes.

📉 Coaches are Burnt out. Athletes are Underserved

Parents, don’t depend on school programs, where often times the sports programs are stretched thin. You want your athlete to be the best in their sport, right?

Young athletes need that specialized help for their athletic needs. Whether it’s pitching, footwork, or agility. On-demand coaching bridges that gap.

No more crying to your kid’s soccer coach and demanding to know why your son is not getting the play time.

Private Training, Without the Country Club Price Tag

Yes, you can send your athlete to train with the olympic team or Barcelona soccer team. But they are only available on their schedule and location, not yours.

Most one-on-one sports training is expensive and hard to schedule. A gig-based marketplace democratizes access. Think AirBnb, but for basketball, soccer, football, and golf lessons.

“Hey Todd, I noticed Matthew’s golf abilities are superior to everyone’s since the start of the season. What is the secret?”

“ButterSports”.

Busy Parents, Meet Just-in-Time Coaching

Parents, why am I having to convince you that this is the next Amazon of sports?

You don’t have to commit to weekly sessions. Book 45 minutes or two hours with a soccer coach. The same way you order your food from Uber Eats. I see you.

Ex-College Trainers are Eager to Train on ButterSeats

Ex-athletes, D1 grads, and weekend warriors are all looking for flexible ways to earn income doing what they love. ButterSports gives them that ability, flexibility, and option to train the next Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tiger Woods.

butter ideas Pro Tip:

Share with your friends, family, bosses, and parents. Anyone really, but can you please send them something?

P.S: I am looking for a few followers, we are going to launch ButterSports next month. Please let me know if you would like to invest.

P.S: We aren’t kidding, thank you for sharing.

wanna butter along?

If you wanna support us, the #1 thing you can do is share butterideas.com. If you know anyone who’s a business minded person or into this kind of thing, please share this page with them!

After that, enter your email in any of the forms on the site. We send a once-a-week email that features one epic idea.

— Danny

P.S: Send this to 10 friends and win a limited gift.