In partnership with
Don’t get SaaD. Get Rippling.
Remember when software made business simpler?
Today, the average company runs 100+ apps—each with its own logins, data, and headaches. HR can’t find employee info. IT fights security blind spots. Finance reconciles numbers instead of planning growth.
Our State of Software Sprawl report reveals the true cost of “Software as a Disservice” (SaaD)—and how much time, money, and sanity it’s draining from your teams.
The future of work is unified. Don’t get SaaD. Get Rippling.
In 1998, if you wanted to start an online side hustle or business, there was no cheap or easy way to do that. How times have changed.
Today, there is a shopping list of free and low-cost tools to launch and scale a moneymaking venture. I’m going to share some of those tools with you today.
Now more than ever, it is critical that you learn and launch another income stream.
And it is Venture AIX Money’s Mission to help you.
To help us do that, your feedback is important. Share your questions and feedback at: [email protected]
Here’s to your success,
Hugh Lee Johnson, Publisher of Venture AIX Money
How AI Is Creating a New Class of Online Entrepreneurs (And Why You Should Join Now)
Remember when starting an online business meant hiring a web developer, a graphic designer, a copywriter, and maybe selling a kidney to afford it all?
Yeah, those days are officially over.
We're witnessing the biggest gold rush since... well, since the actual internet happened. Except this time, you don't need a computer science degree or a trust fund. You just need curiosity, a laptop, and access to AI tools that are literally free.
Let me show you what's happening right now—and why waiting even six months could mean missing the boat entirely.
The New Entrepreneur Blueprint (Spoiler: It's Simpler Than You Think)
Here's what used to take a team of five people and $50,000:
Building a professional website
Creating marketing content
Designing graphics and logos
Writing sales copy
Managing customer service
Analyzing business data
Here's what it takes now with AI: You, a few hours, and $0.
I'm not exaggerating. The entrepreneurs crushing it right now aren't necessarily smarter or more experienced. They just figured out how to use AI as their unfair advantage.
Why Right Now Is Your Golden Window
The "Early Adopter Advantage" is still available—but not for long. We're in that sweet spot where:
Most people are still hesitating. While others debate whether AI is "taking over," smart entrepreneurs are building six-figure businesses using it as their secret weapon.
The tools are incredibly powerful but still free. Companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google are literally giving away technology that would have cost millions just five years ago.
The learning curve is disappearing. You don't need to understand how AI works any more than you need to understand combustion engines to drive a car.
Real Ways AI Entrepreneurs Are Making Money Right Now
Let's get specific. Here are actual business models people are launching:
Digital Product Creation
Using AI to write and design eBooks, courses, and guides
Creating printable planners and templates
Developing social media content bundles
Building newsletter templates and email sequences
Service-Based Businesses
AI-powered content writing for businesses
Social media management using AI scheduling and creation
Virtual assistant services enhanced with AI tools
Business consulting with AI-driven insights
Creative Ventures
Custom AI-generated art and designs
Personalized children's books
Marketing materials for local businesses
YouTube scripts and video concepts
The beautiful part? You can start any of these with zero upfront investment.
Your Free AI Toolkit (No Credit Card Required)
Here are the exact tools successful AI entrepreneurs are using right now:
ChatGPT (Free Version)
Perfect for: Writing content, brainstorming ideas, creating outlines
Start here: Ask it to create a business plan for your idea in 10 minutes
Claude (Free Version)
Perfect for: Longer documents, detailed analysis, strategic planning
Try this: Have it review and improve your business pitch
Canva AI (Free Plan)
Perfect for: Creating professional graphics, social posts, and presentations
Quick win: Design your first product cover in 15 minutes
Perplexity AI (Free)
Perfect for: Research, market analysis, finding trends
Use it to: Discover what people in your niche are actually searching for
Notion AI (Free Trial)
Perfect for: Organizing your business, creating databases, and project management
Start with: Building your content calendar
Your 30-Day Action Plan (Because Waiting Is Expensive)
Week 1: Discovery & Setup
Pick ONE business idea that excites you
Create accounts for the free AI tools above
Spend 30 minutes daily learning one tool
Week 2: Creation
Use AI to create your first digital product or service offering
Design your basic branding (logo, colors, style)
Write your first 5 pieces of content
Week 3: Launch Prep
Set up a simple landing page (Carrd.co is free)
Create your social media presence
Build an email list using free tools like MailerLite
Week 4: Go Live
Share your offering with the world
Engage with your first customers
Collect feedback and iterate
Will you make $10,000 your first month? Probably not. But you'll make $0 if you never start, and the entrepreneurs I coach who follow this plan typically see their first sales within 60 days.
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Here's the truth most people miss: AI isn't replacing entrepreneurs. It's removing the barriers that kept regular people from becoming entrepreneurs in the first place.
You don't need to be "techy." You don't need a business degree. You don't even need to be particularly creative—AI can help with that part too.
What you DO need:
Willingness to learn (even just 30 minutes a day)
Consistency (showing up even when it's not exciting)
The courage to start before you feel "ready"
The people winning right now aren't waiting for perfect conditions. They're using AI to build, test, and improve as they go.
Your Next Step
The AI revolution isn't coming—it's here. The question isn't whether AI will change entrepreneurship (it already has). The question is: Will you be part of the new class of entrepreneurs it's creating?
Start with just one tool this week. Pick one from the list above, spend 20 minutes exploring it, and create something—anything. A social post. A product idea. A business plan sketch.
Want weekly strategies, tool recommendations, and real-world success stories from AI entrepreneurs? Join the Venture AIX Money community, where we break down exactly how to turn AI into your personal money-making machine.
The best time to start was six months ago. The second-best time? Right now, today, this moment.
Your future self will thank you for not waiting.
What's one AI tool you're curious to try first? The hardest part is always starting—but starting is also how every successful entrepreneur's story begins.
LEARN, GROW & PROSPER
with:
DIGITAL PUBLISHING INSIDER
A 1:1 Coaching Session for solopreneurs and side hustlers who launch and grow an online digital publishing business