Video — primarily YouTube — is the highest-effort and longest-compounding channel on this site. Founders here usually committed to weekly uploads for 6-18 months before anything moved, then watched a single video accumulate views and signups for years. The playbooks below show what that looks like in practice: tutorial-led SEO, evergreen "how I" essays, creator partnerships, AdSense as a side revenue layer. Almost none of these founders went viral. They built a back catalog of useful content, ranked for narrow queries, and the search engine did the rest. Video isn't a launch strategy — it's a moat strategy. If you want fast results, this isn't the channel. If you want a channel that still works in three years, look closely at the cadence below.
Video
YouTube, podcasts, TikTok-as-video — the slow-compound channel with the longest tail.
Neuro
Functional energy gum and mints for focus and performance
Sheets & Giggles
Direct-to-consumer eucalyptus bed sheets and bedding brand
boot.dev
Interactive online learning platform for back-end software engineering skills
Charlie Chang (YouTube Channels)
Personal finance YouTube creator monetizing via affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and AdSense
ListKit
B2B lead database with verified emails for cold email outreach campaigns
Neural Frames
AI music video generator for indie and hobby musicians
Swim University
Online education site teaching homeowners how to care for pools and hot tubs
ShipFast
Next.js boilerplate codebase for indie developers to ship startups faster
Arvo
AI-powered SEO tool for marketing agencies and business owners
Pckgr
One-click app deployment for IT admins using Microsoft Intune
Monai
AI-powered voice-input expense tracking app for mobile (iOS)
Cursor Directory
A searchable directory for Cursor IDE rules, MCPs, and AI coding resources
Data Fetcher
Airtable extension that connects and auto-syncs external APIs into your database
Follow Buddy
App that safely shows who unfollowed you on Instagram using export data
Locked
Gamified habit/focus tracker app with XP, leaderboards, and characters
Bulk Mockup
Photoshop plugin that automates bulk mockup creation for print-on-demand sellers
Coherence
Mobile breath work app that helps users regulate their nervous system
Setter AI
AI appointment setter that follows up and qualifies B2B leads instantly via phone
Floga
Mobile app for yoga teachers and practitioners to build and practice sequences
The Pathless Path
Self-published book about leaving the corporate "default path" to find meaningful work
Hush Blankets
Premium weighted blankets and sleep products sold direct-to-consumer online
Clip.co (Smart Nonsense)
Animation studio and agency funding founders' own viral YouTube Shorts content
Thomas Frank Notion Templates
Notion productivity and creator templates sold via YouTube content funnel
V (Veed.io)
Browser-based video editing tools for trimming, cropping, and basic edits