10 Startup Ideas You Should NOT Build in 2025

Introduction

Welcome to the dark side of innovation, where the only thing scarier than the ideas are the people who thought they were worth pursuing. I'm Roasty the Fox, your guide through this haunted house of startups that never should have seen the light of a pitch deck. In the world of entrepreneurship, not all ideas are created equal, some are the awkward uncles hiding in the attic of your business plans. Today, I’m unmasking the top 10 worst startup ideas for 2025. Brace yourselves for a foray into concepts so misguided, they could only be born from a late-night brainstorm session fueled by too much caffeine and not enough sense.

According to our data (and my own disbelief), each of these ideas scored a cringe-worthy 1/100. They're the bottom of the barrel, the burnt toast of startup concepts. Stick around, and I’ll show you why you shouldn’t just avoid these ideas, you should run from them like your business depends on it.

1. Uber for pets but if they don't pay you eat the pets

Score: 1/100

Let's kick things off with a concept that's less "business model" and more "plot of a horror movie." Imagine Uber for pets, but with a twist so dark it would make Quentin Tarantino say, "Too far, buddy." Here’s a news flash: if your startup idea involves eating customers' pets as a collections policy, you've not only missed the market, you've missed the decade. Anonymous submitted this gem, which we've rated as ☠️ Roasted for its sheer audacity to exist.

What makes this idea a non-starter? Besides the obvious legal and ethical red flags, there's the minor issue of having absolutely zero market appeal. Throw in some animal rights protests and a potential SWAT raid, and you're left with a business model that's DOA.

Verdict: This is a felony, not a feature.

Suggested Pivot: None. Unless you want to pivot to something that doesn't involve a misdemeanor.

2. tesst

Score: 1/100

You know that feeling when you mean to say something important but you just... don't? Welcome to tesst, where the idea is as incomplete as its spelling. Submitted by another Anonymous genius, this one scored a solid 1/100 for being nothing more than keyboard noise.

Why does this not work? Because "tesst" isn't a word, let alone a business. There's no target market, no pain point, and certainly no product. It’s like showing up to finals and handing in a blank paper. If your idea is this underdeveloped, might I suggest turning off your computer and going outside for inspiration?

Verdict: Not an idea: just keyboard noise.

Suggested Pivot: Try writing a real startup idea. Spellcheck optional, context required.

3. hello world

Score: 1/100

Ah, hello world, the universal baby’s first code. This isn’t a startup; it’s what you type when your brain fires its first neuron. Submitted by yet another Anonymous, it scored a 1/100 for being the most basic of basics, barely even a syntax test.

This isn't an MVP; it's not even a letter of intent. Unless you're trying to win the award for "Most Minimalist Idea Ever," you need to go back to your drawing board and bring something, anything, that resembles a solution to a real-world problem.

Verdict: Not an idea: just a syntax test.

Suggested Pivot: Pick an actual problem faced by a real audience, and describe how you'd solve it with software.

4. pick up delivery for pigeons that can't fly

Score: 1/100

This isn't just for the birds, it's an idea that’s flown the coop. Unless you're targeting the highly niche market of flightless pigeons, this idea is more Pixar plot than profit potential. Submitted by Anonymous, and scoring 1/100, this idea is a masterclass in missing the market.

Do you even need to ask why this doesn’t work? The total addressable market is zero, unless there’s a secret society of pigeon rehabilitation therapists hiding somewhere. There’s no urgency, no user, and definitely no revenue.

Verdict: This is a feature for a Pixar movie, not a business.

Suggested Pivot: Consider an AI-powered tool for urban wildlife rescue coordination.

5. ciao

Score: 1/100

Here's a startup idea that's as fleeting as its name. ciao is the Italian word for "hello" or "goodbye," and it's about as substantive as a word in passing. Another Anonymous submission that got a 1/100 for, well, not being a startup idea at all.

This isn’t a business; it’s more like a farewell to investor interest. There’s no target, no plan, no market, just a single word standing awkwardly alone. If minimalism was your aim, you’ve succeeded, but not in the way you hoped.

Verdict: Not an idea, not a feature, not even a typo worth funding.

Suggested Pivot: Try submitting an actual startup idea. Start with a problem, a user, or literally any context.

6. https://rushd.tech/

Score: 1/100

Anonymous strikes again with a submission that’s less of an idea and more of a digital shrug. You gave me a URL, and nothing else. This scores a 1/100 for what might be the closest thing to pitching vaporware.

What’s missing? Everything. No pain point, no audience, no market research. If this is your elevator pitch, you'll find your audience hitting the emergency stop. URLs are not startups; they’re just the beginning of what could be an idea.

Verdict: A URL is not a startup. Try again with an actual idea.

Suggested Pivot: None. Come back when you have a sentence, not just a domain name.

7. Vetanvil.com

Score: 1/100

Another Anonymous masterpiece, Vetanvil.com scores a 1/100 for being a domain name without a purpose. It's like presenting a blank canvas and calling it art without even a brush stroke.

This isn't a startup; it's a receipt from GoDaddy. There’s no problem you’re solving, no user you're targeting, and no reason why anyone should care. If you want feedback, give me substance: who, what, and why?

Verdict: A domain name is not a startup. Try again.

Suggested Pivot: Start by describing the actual problem you want to solve and who cares about it.

8. Wat yu zrnem

Score: 1/100

Wat yu zrnem is another Anonymous entry scoring a 1/100 for being what can only be described as a keyboard slip-up. It's not stealth mode; it's just indecipherable.

There’s no startup here, just a cryptic message that sounds like the beginning of a bad password. Without context, there’s nothing to evaluate, and nothing to build. Come back with a coherent sentence, and maybe we can talk.

Verdict: Not an idea, just a typo with ambition.

Suggested Pivot: Try submitting a coherent sentence that describes a real-world problem, user, or need.

9. Hello

Score: 1/100

Hello is the submission that wins the award for the leanest startup idea. It’s literally just a greeting, and that's all there is to it. Anonymous gave us this gem, which scored a 1/100 for being aggressively underwhelming.

What’s lacking? Everything, no problem, no user, no product. Unless you’re targeting a market of people desperate for acknowledgment, this is not even close to a feature.

Verdict: Not an idea, just a noise.

Suggested Pivot: Try submitting an actual problem statement, target user, or even a vague industry.

10. I want a worke

Score: 1/100

Finishing off our list with a bang, or more like a whimper, I want a worke is another Anonymous submission that leaves us wanting… a complete sentence. Scoring a 1/100, this is less of a startup idea and more of an autocorrect fail.

What does this mean? Who knows. There's no user, no product, no value proposition, just an unfinished thought that feels like it accidentally wandered into a pitch session.

Verdict: You missed the idea and the keyboard.

Suggested Pivot: Finish the sentence. Then explain who, what, and why.

Conclusion

There you have it, the hall of fame for startup ideas that should never, ever grace a pitch deck. These submissions teach us that clarity, context, and a real-world problem are foundational to any serious business idea. While some of these were amusing, none had the substance needed to survive in the real world.

As you venture into your own entrepreneurial journey, remember: validation is key. Don't let your idea become another placeholder in the graveyard of bad pitches. Dive into research, understand your market, and, above all else, finish your sentences. For those brave enough to innovate, the first step is to ensure your concept is sound and your value proposition clear.

As always, I’m Roasty the Fox, and I’d love to see you dream big, but make sure those dreams are rooted in reality.

Written by Walid Boulanouar. Connect with them on LinkedIn: Check LinkedIn Profile