IN THIS WEEK’S NEWSLETTER:

• 😱 Want to Find Your Next Million Dollar Startup Idea?

• 🚀 How to Register a TLD for Your Brand

•  ✅ 5 Lessons I Learned to Help Scale My Businesses

• 🔥 AI Tool of the Month

• 🔍 Is it Time to Sell?

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes 42 seconds

Listen to this newsletter👇

Want to Find Your Next Million Dollar Startup Idea? 4 Keys Secrets Revealed

In Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat., we start with this one big question.

Business is like the big bang - the decisions you make at the start shape your future for years, even a lifetime. Yet so few take the time to think it through.

To be honest?

I didn’t either.

I grew up in a family of farmers.

Right after college, I was back on the family farm, hoeing raspberry bushes day after day. After a year of mind-numbing weeding, we’d spend an hour picking one flat of berries and sell it for $20.

Not exactly scalable.

With all those hours and callouses, we probably made less than minimum wage. But all that time in the fields gave me time to think.

I saved what I could, piled on some credit card debt and student loans (don’t judge me), and added a $12,800 loan from my mom to launch my first business.

We opened a software rental store right when demand was taking off, and it did well, until a new Canada/US trade law banned software rentals, and we shut down in 13 months.

But during that time, we launched a bulletin board service (think “internet before the internet”), which quickly grew into the second largest in the country, evolved into an internet company, a hosting company,

Fast forward past plenty of crash-and-burns and big wins - 20 years later, I was standing at MIT teaching 60 entrepreneurs how to pick the right idea to start.

Back then, I had no clue what I was doing, just like most entrepreneurs.

But those 20 years taught me one thing: picking the right idea changes everything. If you’ve read the book, you know.

If not, here’s your short formula to pick a great idea:

1. Find a problem. Problems are everywhere, but you need to pay attention. The best way? Get a job in an industry you love. When you’re in the trenches, you see problems all over. Binge-watching Netflix? Not so much.

2. Pick an idea that can scale. Sounds obvious, but it’s not unless you step back and think. Scaling that raspberry farm wasn’t going to happen (land, equipment, labor). Scaling an internet access company? Easier, but still limited by infrastructure and local demand. Scaling a digital platform like a gTLD (.com, .club or .ca)? Now that’s freakin’ unlimited scaling.

We’ve built a free GPT tool for you to test your idea. But here’s the next piece:

3.  Protect what you scale. Most people think about protection after they succeed (patents, trademarks, etc.), but you can bake defensibility in from the start.

Take my prior company, the gTLD .club (sold to GoDaddy Registry).

We had unlimited inventory, and even though Amazon and Google launched .group and .team, if someone wanted .club, we were the only ones who had it.

Once customers used it for their email and website, they couldn’t switch, giving us pricing power.

Think of ideas you can protect out of the gate. Check out our GPT to test your moat here.

4. Act on it. This is where most people stop. Ideas are worthless unless you act on them. We built an official workbook on Amazon with the most comprehensive checklist ever to take your idea and launch it.

I once had a multibillion-dollar idea years before the market did, and I didn’t take action. It’s still a great idea, and next month’s email will tell that story.

Thankfully I have successfully started, scaled, and exited over a dozen multimillion dollar companies.

And let me tell you this: it is easier to come up with a great idea than you might think.

Now scaling…that is tough.

Ideas are everywhere.

Pay attention!

When you find yours, act on it!

Don’t be the idiot who sees someone else launch it and say “that was my idea”.

Based on the #1 Best Selling, Award Winning Book: Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat. which you can get at Amazon here, with over 30 global awards, making it the most awarded book on

entrepreneurship ever published, including Best Independent Business Book 2025 (IPPY) and Best Book on Entrepreneurship 2025 (Axiom).

Or check out the ultimate startup workbook with the most comprehensive list of actionable ideas to get started here which we discounted for this week only on Amazon for this week at $9.99 on Amazon here.

— Colin C. Campbell

Disclaimer: Startup Club and its AI resources are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Consult a qualified lawyer for legal matters.

📢 Today’s Clubhouse!

Don’t miss today’s clubhouse at 2pm EST- The Ultimate Startup Checklist

In this session, we’re breaking down the essential steps every founder needs to launch with confidence and clarity.

• What should be on your startup checklist (and what to skip)

• How to stay lean while building a solid foundation

• Tools and habits that set early-stage founders up for success

✅ 5 Lessons I Learned to Help Scale My Businesses

Back in 1996, after our internet access and content company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in Canada, my brother and I were approached by someone who introduced us to EO.

I had no idea that such an organization of like-minded founders who support each other through the sometimes turbulent rollercoaster ride of entrepreneurship even existed.

Here are 7 key lessons I learned from EO that helped me scale:

1. Start vs. Scale Require Different Playbooks

In 2006, our public company was flatlining. A board member even suggested replacing me as CEO. I reached out to a fellow EO member who introduced me to Patrick Thean of Rhythm Systems. We implemented two days of strategic planning, 90 days of execution, daily huddles, core values, goal setting and more — we really went all-in.

The result? We tripled in size within a few years and sold the company to a Fortune 500 firm at a 125% premium to our stock price.

2. Hire Based on Personality

At an EO University, I discovered the DISC personality profiling system, a self-assessment tool that helps identify individual behavioral styles.

I had each member of my team take the test and suddenly understood why some thrived and others struggled. It became our game-changing hiring philosophy. We built incredible teams by aligning roles with personalities.

3. Get Comfortable Presenting in Public

Like most entrepreneurs, I dreaded public speaking. But through EO—where I presented at events and within my Forum—I gained the confidence to handle Initial Public Offering (IPO) roadshows and investor pitches.

4. Learn to Lead Leaders

Leading high-level leaders can be as challenging as herding cats. Entrepreneurs and most great executives tend to be strong-willed with a dominant personality. In other words, they are not “Yes” people. They tend to challenge you, which can be frustrating, but if you can manage that while simultaneously inspiring and aligning them, you can scale a company beyond what you imagined.

5. Delegate Responsibilities, Not Tasks

In Start mode, you do it all yourself. In Scale mode, you empower leaders to do what needs to be done. The key factor here is to assign outcomes—not checklists.

I even discovered a hidden benefit: You get to sleep at night. Your team might be up worrying about the details at 3 am—but you won’t.

Bonus Lesson: Learn From Others

Back when I was a hotshot twenty-something entrepreneur, I thought I knew it all. I didn’t. EO taught me how to scale by learning from others.

Read all 7 tips on Entrepreneurs Organization

🔥 Register a TLD for Your Brand: The Opportunity is Fast Approaching

A Brand Top-level Domain (TLD) is a type of internet domain name that is associated with a specific brand trademark. Unlike generic TLDs such as “.com”, “.org,” or “.club”, a Brand TLD is the authentic brand extension of a trademark, enabling it to be extended to customers and partner supply chains. 

In a word, a Brand TLD means “Trust”. For the trademark owner, the key attributes are full ownership, security and control over a massively scalable, brand-authentic digital identity.

Why Apply to Own a Brand TLD?

1. Security Enhancements

One of the primary benefits of owning a Brand TLD is enhanced security. Cybersecurity threats are an ever-present concern. Phishing, domain spoofing, and other malicious activities can damage a brand’s reputation and erode consumer trust. A Brand TLD allows for rigorous security and automation to protect digital assets and customer interactions.

• Reduced Risk of Phishing and Spoofing

• Enhanced Control Over Domain Management

• Network Security

2. Brand Authenticity and Trust

In an era where brand authenticity and trust are paramount, owning a Brand TLD can significantly enhance a company’s credibility and trustworthiness. Consumers are more likely to engage with brands that offer transparent and consistent digital experiences. A Brand TLD provides a clear and unmistakable indication of the brand’s identity, fostering a sense of trust among users.

• Consistent and Memorable Brand Messaging

• Professionalism and Legitimacy

3. Marketing Communications

Effective marketing communications are crucial for brand success in the digital age. A Brand TLD offers unique opportunities to enhance marketing efforts and reach target audiences. 

• Customized Campaigns and Subdomains

• Improved SEO and Online Visibility

• Enhanced User Experience

4. Return on Investment

The application fee to ICANN is projected at US$227,000. Including vendor services and internal resource allocations, the capital cost to apply will range from $300-$400K, depending upon your approach and the extent of your planning commitment. Ongoing costs are estimated between $75-$100K annually, varying with the scope of activities defined in your strategy. 

While the capital and operating costs may initially appear high, they are far outweighed by the long-term strategic benefits. The return on investment for a Brand TLD is compelling.

🚨 Learn how a gTLD can boost visibility, trust, and long-term value. → here

🔥 AI Tool of the Month

Want to create a hit song for your community, your startup, or even your significant other you can do it with an app on Mureka.

5 Tips to Creating a Hit Song with AI

1. Know your audience.
   If it’s for entrepreneurs, understand what motivates and inspires them. What moves them?

2. Pick a music genre you like.
   Do you love the ‘80s sound? Or maybe 2000s EDM? Choose something that resonates with you.

3. Write lyrics that connect.
   Start with a blank page – paper or digital. Don’t jump into AI just yet. You know your audience better than any model.

4. Use AI as an editor.
   Paste your draft into Claude or ChatGPT or just write it out in Mureka which has a pretty good editor. Let AI clean it up, then refine it yourself.

5. Drop it into Mureka.
   Run multiple versions until you’re happy. Mureka makes it easy to rerun variations though (frustratingly) it doesn’t let you edit an existing song… yet. They say that’s coming.

I wrote a song for Entrepreneurs on Fire.

I wrote one for Startup Club.

I wrote one for our 29th wedding anniversary, and I wrote one for my coach who runs a Fort Lauderdale Crossfit Gym called Riptide.  

I just can’t stop!

Bonus Tip:
When you’ve made a great song, you’ll know. I had one stuck in my head all night—and that’s when I realized AI-written songs could be as powerful as human-made ones. At least to the listener.

🚨 Check it this article out on Mureka

🚀 The Journey to CEO Success

This month's featured podcast: Live Friday, July 11th on LinkedIn Patrick Thean speaks to Randy Carr, CEO of World Emblem, who shares how he scaled his family business into the world’s largest patch producer—now making 1 million emblems a day for brands like Levi’s and Cintas.

Listen on LinkedIn, or stream the episode as a podcast! 

📅 This Month’s Clubhouse Schedule!

Startup Summer is our series designed to help founders spark ideas, launch fast, and build smarter—all season long!

Friday July 18th 2pm: Startup Summer: Catch a Wave and Launch the Startup

This session takes a look at why summer is the perfect time to start something new. We’ll explore the energy, focus, and freedom that can help founders go from idea to launch fast.

Friday July 25th 2pm: Startup Summer: Ideas that can Scale

Not all startup ideas are built to last. In this conversation, we’ll break down what makes an idea scalable, repeatable, and worthy of your time—and how to test your idea before you build.

Friday August 1st 2pm: Startup Summer: Build a Moat

How do you protect your startup from competitors? This session dives into strategies to build a strong moat—through tech, branding, community, and more—to defend your edge and grow with confidence.

🚀 Is it Time to Sell?

Time to Sell Index: → 22 out of 100.

What does this mean?

The IPO market's heating up but is it time to sell?

Based on our latest estimates, TTSI has jumped from 6.8 out of 100 last year to 22 out of 100 today. This is a significant improvement but still indicates a buyer’s market rather than a seller’s market.

While the IPO market is recovering, valuations for smaller companies tend to lag 6-12 months behind IPO rebounds.

Additional factors, such as lower interest rates, private equity activity, and venture capital flows, can also impact acquisition opportunities.

Read my full analysis here

🔥 Check Me Out on TikTok!

@startupclubhq

At 90 years old, Reebok founder Joe Foster shares the secret to lasting success. Not profit. Not power. Not prestige. Fun. Because when yo... See more

🚀 How to Support Startup Club

Thank you for reading along for another issue of the StartUp Club newsletter!

You can further support StartUp.Club by:

1. Sharing it with a friend or fellow entrepreneur! We’ve got a great referral program!

2. Responding to this email and letting me know what you think.

3. Picking up your copy of Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat.

And if you made it this far, thank you for reading.

I hope you enjoyed this edition of the StartUp.Club Newsletter.

— Colin C. Campbell

Entrepreneur Fact: Did you know Gen X own 49% of US small businesses. Baby boomers own 30% and millennials own 21%.