🧭 Ui Cheat Codes, Wordpress devs make $$$ and SleepTok (Founder's Compass)

Hello there and welcome to Founder's Compass, a good way to get oriented around the labyrinthian world of startups.

Tool of the week: Gemini 2.5

A new model is now available: Gemini 2.5.

Let’s forget for a second about LLM benchmarks and all the other crap. You know what Google actually has as an unbeatable advantage when it comes to their AI models?

Grounding with Google Search. Unlike the other models that can also search on the web, in Gemini’s case, it’s actually using the main search tool that most people use worldwide. This leads to much better results generally, making it ideal for, say, a fake-news checking app.

Video of the week: Ui/UX Cheat Codes

I always say: "The Devil’s in the details”. That’s even more true in Ui/UX design. Literally the difference between the shading of a single button can make or break your app. One extra step, and your adoption drops by 90%. You’ve got to really pay attention to these details. Here’s a quick dive through 8 details to make your products stand out:

Top 5 stories of the week

• ‘Vibe Coding’ Movement Considered Harmful

“Last month, I encountered a particularly annoying bug in my payment system. The code looked clean — (since ChatGPT had helped me write it). But when users started reporting random issues with their payments not being recognized, I couldn’t just paste the error into an AI and pray. I had to understand the underlying payment management logic and the exact request flow to fix it.”

• The state of the front-end and full-stack job market

“With a list of technologies and compensation, we can calculate which skills are most valued. Even after removing outliers, it’s a surprising list I can’t make sense of. Learn WordPress, y’all???”

• The Magic of Marketplaces

“From the start, marketplaces were more than centers of commerce—they were community hubs, physical spaces where people could gather to get things done. Over time, these evolved in form but remained central to everyday life. Today, physical marketplaces take many shapes: malls, trade shows, and farmers' markets, among others. Some marketplaces don’t look like marketplaces at all—they use brokers or market makers to intermediate, such as stock markets, real estate, advertising, and talent agencies.”

• How Cultural Differences Influence UX Design

“Western cultures, particularly those in the United States and parts of Europe, tend to prioritize individualism. This cultural trait is reflected in UX design through streamlined, minimalistic interfaces that emphasize ease of use and personal autonomy. Western designs often feature clean lines, simple color schemes, and straightforward navigation. The focus is on providing the user with a quick, efficient, and direct path to accomplish their goals, whether it’s buying a product or finding information.”

• Paralysed man stands again after receiving ‘reprogrammed’ stem cells

“Reprogrammed, or induced, pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are created by reverting adult cells to an embryonic-like state, from which they can be coaxed into developing into other cell types.

In this trial, iPS cells derived from a donor were used to create neural precursor cells. Two million of these were injected into each patient’s injury site, in the hope that they would eventually develop into neurons and glial cells.”

Updates from Creative Motion & ReaktorX:

WE ARE FULLY BOOKED for our Poli Edition of Vibe Coding. If you still want to attend, please register for ASE-version of the workshop:

https://lu.ma/8phtiu9s

Startup idea of the week: SleepTok?

Problem:

In today’s fast-paced world, quality sleep is often neglected. People turn to their phones, using podcasts, audiobooks, and videos to help them sleep, but these solutions often come with disruptive ads or content that doesn’t truly cater to their sleep needs.

Solution:

An AI-powered audio streaming app designed specifically for sleep. It curates personalized, ad-free playlists of calming music, soundscapes, and sleep stories to help users fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer, without interruptions.

How It Works:

1️⃣ Sleep Content Selection: Users select their preferred content type—calming music, soothing soundscapes, or narrated sleep stories.

2️⃣ AI-Powered Recommendations: The app generates long, seamless playlists based on the user’s preferences.

3️⃣ Adaptive Personalization: Over time, the app learns what works best for each user and fine-tunes the content for a more effective sleep experience.

Benefits:

✔️ Ad-Free, Seamless Experience: No interruptions—just smooth, calming content.
✔️ Personalized Sleep Support: Custom recommendations based on individual sleep habits.
✔️ Data-Driven Optimization: Integration with wearables allows the app to improve over time and offer more effective sleep aids.

Go-to-market:

🎯 Target Millennials and Gen Z (18–40), especially working professionals and students who use wearable devices to track health and sleep. Focus on digital marketing, influencer partnerships, and sleep-focused content.

Challenges:

⚠️ Content Licensing: Curating enough high-quality, sleep-friendly content without incurring high royalty fees could be challenging.
⚠️ User Retention: Ensuring that users continue using the app nightly and find real, lasting value.
⚠️ Competitive Market: Standing out in the crowded sleep and wellness app market with strong differentiation.

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