Merge pull request #983 from mbifulco/f/steal-these-ideas

feat: steal these ideas

Author: mbifulco

src/data/newsletters/steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product.mdx

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+---
+title: Steal these ideas to build new products
+excerpt: Pouring through an extensive list of publicly accessible APIs to find new ideas for your next product.
+date: 2025-03-12
+tags: [product, founder, apis]
+slug: steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product
+coverImagePublicId: newsletters/steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product/cover
+---
+
+## The Big Idea
+
+Ideas are easy, but focus and execution are hard. There are endless public APIs with real problems waiting for you to solve - all you need to do is find an audience and start shipping.
+
+## Steal These Ideas to Build New Products
+
+As cofounder of [APIs You Won't Hate](https://apisyouwonthate.com), I've seen the playbook work repeatedly: Find public data. Solve a specific problem. Ship it. From [global news APIs](https://apisyouwonthate.com/podcast/building-an-api-for-global-news/) to [accounts payable management](https://apisyouwonthate.com/podcast/how-mercoa-built-a-platform-for-accounts-payable/), the winners aren't inventing data—they're making it useful.
+
+Friends - these opportunities are _everywhere_, waiting for someone to execute.
+
+### Why This Matters: Value > Hype
+
+It's tempting to chase AI quick wins, but remember:
+- Existing data streams = sustainable business opportunities
+- Value-add to available information = competitive edge
+- Focused problem-solving > tech novelty
+
+### Case Study: Weather Data
+
+Weather apps are commodity products since [Apple killed Dark Sky](https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/31/21201666/apple-acquires-weather-app-dark-sky-shut-down-android-wear-os-ios) (RIP).
+
+There are plenty of untapped goldmines, like [NOAA](https://www.weather.gov/documentation/services-web-api) and [OpenWeatherMap](https://openweathermap.org/api) data for _specific_ use cases that people will pay for.
+
+**The opportunity:** Niche weather apps for specific use cases:
+
+- For pilots: Visibility conditions and wind patterns
+- For gardeners: Frost alerts and growing condition forecasts
+- For skiers: Snow quality predictions based on temperature patterns
+
+<Image
+  publicId="newsletters/steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product/weather"
+  alt="NOAA and OpenWeatherMap APIs"
+/>
+
+### Steal These Ideas
+
+#### **1. Nutritional Intelligence with Edamam API**
+
+[Edamam](https://www.edamam.com/) provides extensive APIs for nutritional data and analytics. The generic "calorie counter" app is done to death.
+
+**The opportunity:** Build specialized nutrition tools for:
+- Athletes tracking specific macros for performance
+- People with medical conditions requiring dietary monitoring
+- Parents checking if school lunches meet nutritional requirements
+
+<Image
+  publicId="newsletters/steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product/edamam"
+  alt="Edamam API"
+/>
+
+#### **2. Geolocation Magic with OpenAQ**
+
+OpenAQ offers real-time air quality data from thousands of stations worldwide.
+
+**The opportunity:** Create targeted apps for:
+- Real estate buyers evaluating neighborhood health metrics
+- Parents of children with respiratory conditions planning outdoor activities
+- Researchers correlating air quality with public health outcomes
+
+<Image
+  publicId="newsletters/steal-these-ideas-for-your-next-product/openaq"
+  alt="OpenAQ API"
+/>
+
+
+### The Secret Sauce: 3 Traits of Successful API Products
+
+1. **Specific audience** - Target a niche who will benefit from your product
+2. **Context transformation** - Don't just display data; interpret it and add value
+3. **Workflow integration** - Make your product available whenever and wherever it will be most useful
+
+...and price it accordingly. If you're saving news editors thousands of dollars every week, aim higher than $3.99/mo.
+
+---
+
+## Stop paying the app store tax.
+
+Sell your app on the web with lower fees and full control. As a merchant of record, Paddle handles payments, taxes, and compliance — so you can focus on what matters: building your app.
+
+Paddle acts as the reseller of your app, offering a solution similar to the App Store or Google Play Store but optimized for successfully selling your mobile app on the web, with significantly lower fees.
+
+[Start selling smarter with Paddle.](https://www.paddle.com/resources/mobile-app-monetization-guide?utm_medium=website&utm_source=partner&utm_campaign=core_conversions_fy2025_web_monetization_brand_awareness&utm_content=tiny-improvements)
+
+---
+
+## Resources for finding new ideas
+
+### Single APIs in your area!
+There's a great collection of APIs waiting to be used on GitHub called [public-apis](https://github.com/public-apis/public-apis)
+
+### Free design resources
+
+I came across [Unblast](https://unblast.com/) recently - self-described as _A growing library of free design resources made by the world's best designers._ Can confirm - it is an exceptional collection. Give it a look as you build your brand or collateral.
+
+### A chicken in every pot, and an SVG for every noun
+
+[The Noun Project](https://thenounproject.com/) started with a simple goal: create a visual language for the world by building a repository of single color icons _for every noun._ Hell yeah. I use it _all the time._ You can use any icon on the site for free with attribution; licensing is either a dirt cheap per-icon fee, or a very reasonable monthly subscription.
+
+---
+
+The future is in your hands. Go on and build something great.
+
+Give 'em hell,
+Mike