Instead of building a consumer-facing ChatGPT app, launch a service business that builds them for Fortune 500s. Large enterprises have the budget but lack the specialized skills to build on the new platform, creating "infinite demand" for capable development and design firms.
Business owners are overwhelmed by AI terminology. A consultant can create a personalized GPT ecosystem using their unique preferences, goals, and workflows. This service turns an executive's operational knowledge into valuable intellectual property, packaged as custom system prompts and GPTs they can use daily.
The rise of AI services companies like Invisible and Palantir, which build custom on-prem solutions, marks a reversal of the standardized cloud SaaS trend. Enterprises now prioritize proprietary, custom AI applications to gain a competitive edge.
The barrier to entry for building on the ChatGPT platform is remarkably low. Using modern AI-assisted coding tools, a solo developer or small team can realistically build and ship a working Minimum Viable Product for a ChatGPT app in under 30 days. This speed allows for rapid experimentation and iteration on new business ideas.
Inspired by standalone sites like bankstatementconverter.com, a major opportunity in the ChatGPT store is building apps that solve highly specific, painful business problems. An app that automatically finds all K1 tax forms in a user's Gmail is a prime example of a simple tool with massive value for a specific audience.
Higgsfield initially saw high adoption for viral, consumer-facing AI features but pivoted. They realized foundation model players like OpenAI will dominate and subsidize these markets. The defensible startup strategy is to ignore consumer virality and solve specific, monetizable B2B workflow problems instead.
Most successful SaaS companies weren't built on new core tech, but by packaging existing tech (like databases or CRMs) into solutions for specific industries. AI is no different. The opportunity lies in unbundling a general tool like ChatGPT and rebundling its capabilities into vertical-specific products.
The primary value of AI app builders isn't just for MVPs, but for creating disposable, single-purpose internal tools. For example, automatically generating personalized client summary decks from intake forms, replacing the need for a full-time employee.
Beyond its technical capabilities, OpenAI's app ecosystem within ChatGPT functions as a new distribution platform. For founders, this creates a strategic opportunity to build apps that serve as an interface layer to their product, opening a novel and potentially powerful channel for user acquisition and growth.
Many engineers at large companies are cynical about AI's hype, hindering internal product development. This forces enterprises to seek external startups that can deliver functional AI solutions, creating an unprecedented opportunity for new ventures to win large customers.
While OpenAI battles Google for consumer attention, Anthropic is capturing the lucrative enterprise market. Its strategy focuses on API spend and developer-centric tools, which are more reliable and scalable revenue generators than consumer chatbot subscriptions facing increasing free competition.