Meet the man who growth hacked his app to 1M downloads
The Startup Ideas Podcast - A podcast by Greg Isenberg

Categories:
Join me as I chat with Chris Josephs, Co-Founder of Autopilot, as we discuss his frameworks and strategies for growth hacking startups. Learn his step-by-step formula to building and converting attention, affinity, and authority into brand loyalty and startup growth. Timestamps: 00:00 Intro03:20 Chris’s Viral Formula Overview08:13 Step 1: Build Niche Meme account with Authority 14:36 Step 2: Find Creative ways to build loyalty and vitality19:18 Step 3: Getting free press23:54 UFC Sponsorship Retrospective28:23 How Chris would build a meme account40:49 Startup Idea: Twitch for Online Shopping46:52 SIP success stories 1) Chris doesn't see himself as a marketer or growth guy. He's a SOCIAL ENGINEER.• His focus? Reverse engineering virality and creating formulas for content that EXPLODE on social media. 2) The Pelosi Tracker origin story:• Built meme pages with millions of followers• Focused on politician stock trades• Translated virality into a real product (Autopilot app)Key insight: Memes + Authority = Powerful combo 3) Chris's framework for building viral meme pages:a) Create an account with a clear, catchy nameb) Engage as a "reply guy" on relevant topicsc) Do deep, investigative journalism to build credibility• Marry memes with authority to become THE go-to account in your niche. 4) The UFC sponsorship case study:• Sponsored the event (base layer of credibility)• Sent a fake Nancy Pelosi to the fight• Drove a Cybertruck with "Pelosi 2024" around Vegas• Goal: Maximize surface area for virality and build brand loyalty5) Chris's viral formula:• Each additional stunt increases chances of going viral:a) UFC sponsorship alone = 10% chanceb) +Fake Pelosi = 15% chancec) +Cybertruck stunt = 20% chance• Keep adding elements to boost your odds! 6) Key to monetizing meme pages:• Don't just post funny content. Mix in authority-building posts to be taken seriously.• High engagement does not mean High monetization• Authority + Engagement = winning formula7) Startup idea alert: Live shopping streams for Gen Z women • Imagine: The Twitch of online shopping, where influencers livestream their browsing & purchasing decisions.• Huge potential here. Who's gonna build it? 8) Growth hack: Build relationships with journalists• Create an email list of reporters in your niche• Regularly send them high-quality, relevant info (no selling!)• Become their go-to source for stories• Free press = Priceless marketing 9) Remember: Consistency is key in building your brand.• Find your angle (like Autopilot's "Pelosi 2024 - Invest like a politician") and double down on it.• Create moments, build loyalty, make people LOVE your brand. Want more free ideas? I collect the best ideas from the pod and give them to you for free in a database. Most of them cost $0 to start (my fav)Get access: https://www.gregisenberg.com/30startupideas 🎯 To build your own portfolio businesses powered by community you might enjoy my membership.You'll get my full course with all my secrets on building businesses, peer-groups to keep you accountable, business ideas every single month and more!Spots are limited.https://www.communityempire.co/📬 Join my free newsletter to get weekly startup insights for free:https://www.gregisenberg.com/70,000+ people are already subscribed.To improve your rankings your business on Google and using AI for SEO, sign up tohttp://boringmarketing.com/FIND ME ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregisenbergInstagram: https://instagram.com/gregisenberg/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gisenberg/FIND CHRIS ON SOCIALX/Twitter: https://x.com/ChrisjjosephsAutopilot: https://www.joinautopilot.com/Pelosi Tracker: https://x.com/PelosiTracker_