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- This Week’s Idea: You Don't Own a House, Why Own a Sofa? The Business of Renting Comfort and Why Saving Restaurants is an Honorable Thing
This Week’s Idea: You Don't Own a House, Why Own a Sofa? The Business of Renting Comfort and Why Saving Restaurants is an Honorable Thing
Yes, I hate furniture in general, don't you?
Danny Garces
April 29, 2025 • Reading Time: 9 minutes
Did you know I just paid a large amount of money for my neighbor’s “air rights”?
Ya! I have a beautiful view of the mountain and don’t want my neighbor building up. I will become very upset if they build up, and I can no longer see the mountain.
The art of “air rights” is actually super common. Developers do this all the time when proposing to build skyscrapers.
But did you know you can sell the dirt under your house, too?
Friends, it’s called subsurface rights - and in some cities, big companies are paying millions to tunnel under your property for fiber internet lines, subway systems, and even underground storage. Yay faster online gaming.
The cool thing about this is that you still own your house.
The next cool thing about this is that they now own the empty space 50 feet below yours.
The last cool thing about this is that you get a fat check for doing absolutely nothing.
Free money, ayye?
I truly care about you, so here is the Butter Ideas Tiny Catch:
With Butter Ideas, you’re actually in good hands (I know). In some places, if you sell your subsurface rights, you also lose the right to sue if the underground project causes cracks or shifts in your building later. (Lawyers eating good tonight).
Moral of the story?
Even the nothingness under your feet could be someone else’s gold mine.
NOTE: For 10 years of bad luck, don’t share this with your friends. Share with your friends, gain 1 Million years of good luck.
Every Tuesday at exactly 10 AM MST, we DIG YOU UP a few ideas that seem strange today… but could be the next billion dollar exit tomorrow.
Upgrade now, steal a future billion-dollar idea tomorrow: www.butterideas.com/upgrade
In today’s email:
🧨 Startups raising this week 💸
🆒 Cool, you’re saving restaurants 😎
🪑 Your furniture is generating millions
🚀 STARTUPS RAISING THIS WEEK 💸
Trash mountains…Labor shortages…Recycling centers desperate for workers?
Glacier says: “Don’t worry, we’ve got a robot arm for that.”
Started by two founders who realized no one wants to stand at a conveyor belt picking out dirty yogurt cups — this startup just raised $16M from Ecosystem Integrity Fund, Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund, and more.
The tech? Robot arms powered by computer vision that can spot 30+ types of trash faster (and more accurately) than a human with a weak stomach.
They’re already working in SF, LA, Chicago, Detroit, Phoenix, and Seattle — now selling the tech or letting facilities lease-to-own. While people are calling it the beginning of a cleaner and smarter recycling industry.
Us at Butter Ideas call it: Saving the planet… one robot flick at a time. Boom!
🆒 COOL, YOU’RE SAVING RESTAURANTS 😎
Blackbird Labs says: “Don’t worry, we’ve got a blockchain for that.“
Bro — what even is the blockchain? In 5 words ready?
A digital, shared, secure, and changing record. Don’t worry, you’re not the only one.
Founded by the guy who founded Eater and Resy, this startup raised $50M from Spark Capital, Coinbase Ventures, Amex Ventures, and a16z.
What is the tech behind these big moves?
A slick payments & loyalty app that rewards diners while letting restaurants keep more of their money — built on Coinbase’s Base blockchain.
Already working with 1,000+ restaurants in NYC, SF, and Charleston (yes, Charleston is their secret test lab).
This is truly a win-win for small businesses and loyal foodies.
Wait, did I forget to mention how much they raised? $50M. Not too shabby.
Friendly reminder: Please be nice to me and share this with your friends.
🪑 YOUR FURNITURE IS GENERATING MILLIONS
Don’t worry, your furniture is making you $$$…
“Sweetie,” the executive said. “And I just dropped the phone for a minute.”
Last week at Pizza & 40’x Kara Goldin, the founder of Hint, told a story that fired me up.
The setup goes like this:
In 2004, Kara Goldin was drinking 10 Diet Cokes a day, had bad acne, and was tired all the time. Wanting to change her diet while also not giving up her love of tasty beverages, she started making her own water by boiling fruit skins and mixing the oils with water. She called her concoction Hint.
Okay, so we aren’t actually going to discuss Hint’s watered down drink. I would actually like to discuss how AI is disrupting the art coloring industry.
Nope, just made that up. On today’s Butter Ideas Billion Dollar Idea Giveaway:
More people are renting apartments (not buying homes) — but they still want beautiful, flexible living spaces.
Do you get what I am throwing at you? You will. Here is your second chance, luxury living spaces, without the hefty price tag up front. Makes sense?
👻 Check this out: An Epidemic of Home Ownership
I told everyone not to buy homes and instead rent apartments. I think they listened to my advice, because the whole world is now only renting. I might be the biggest influencer in the world…
It is true, home ownership rates are down specially for those young millennials and Gen Z. Renting is the new orange.
🆕 New Idea, AI Furniture that can Talk?
No matter how crazy, there is always crazier. I am proposing that we launch furniture that can talk…
Ha, gotcha! No, traditional furniture doesn’t make sense. Why? It is pretty simple.
Traditional furniture buying is a serious joke. It is way too expensive, hard to move, outdated easily, and doesn’t talk to you using AI.
🤔 Imagine (Talking Furniture) This…
“Hey Danny, did I lose weight today?“
Danny the chair responds with, “You weighed much more today than yesterday, when you sat on the sofa. No.” Maybe the move is not talking furniture, but actually talking furniture that roasts you. Hmmmm.
Well imagine the world where you can rent stylish, high-quality furniture for short term. Think leasing a car, but furniture. (I just pulled a switch-a-roo on ya)
But wait, there’s absolutely more.
If you go to my upgrade page, and upgrade your subscription status, you will receive a big hug from me. I will personally travel to where you live and give you a hug. Don’t believe me? You will.
For real though. I’m adding value to your life in endless ways. Help out a friend here, the white messenger pigeons are going on strike if I don’t pay them more! 🕊️
💰 What is for Dinner? A Bag full of Money
I am about to say three words that will make you happy. Ready? Monthly recurring revenue. Say that three times as fast as you can. The finance nerds might call it MRR.
So basically you would as a furniture owner, host your furniture for rent. You would charge a small monthly subscription fee, help with delivery (add on+$), and provide an optional buyout at the end.
“What about furniture stores?” Yes, they can also come in and rent out their furniture. Everyone wins here.
This opportunity is exciting because the overall furniture industry generates between $120-$125 billion dollars every year. Let’s tap into that industry, now you have made yourself an automatic billionaire overnight.
People love that experience of coming home to a professionally staged home with beautiful furniture and amazing lighting. The part that no one is talking about, is that literally everyone hates moving furniture. Now add remote work to this, where are you going to store this furniture when you don’t need it?
So yes—furniture-as-a-service (faaS) is not just a lifestyle choice. It’s a legit business model with compounding potential.
💰 Oh, You Wanted a Billion-Dollar Idea?
Hey now. I can’t be giving you these out for free every week. But here you go.
Let’s say you aren’t into hosting your furniture to get rented out. That is fine. What you can do, is create the online marketplace where people can rent furniture online. Think the Amazon of furniture rentals or the Ebay of rental tables.
Mic’ Drop. 🎤
Butter Ideas Pro Tip:
Share with your friends, family, parents, and or enemies. But please share.
They might just think you are the most innovative person in the room, but they won’t know your secret. I got you.
P.S: Welcome friends, we are hiring. Our community is growing, so looking for help! We love you, see you next week!
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— Danny
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