Spatial computing is the new mobile computing. We are witnessing the same revolution that we experienced with new generation touchscreen phones. The winners will be the builders who took the opportunity to create the next giants of this new industry. To get started, there’s no better way to start with side business & hustle. Enough to gain your freedom & independence and to generate your first passive income. Here is the action plan and the 5 most interesting types of side business to build in Spatial Computing, inspired by the most successful side businesses.
First off, let’s define what a “side business” is for those who might not be familiar. A side business is a venture you develop alongside your main activity. This could be alongside university studies, a full-time job, or even during your retirement (Yes, many retirees maintain an online side hustle 😂).
A side business is a great way to dip your toes into entrepreneurship without making drastic decisions that might put too much pressure on you — something that isn’t feasible for many.
Here’s my take: if you’re aiming to build a highly ambitious business and you’re full of energy, dynamic, and have minimal life commitments, go ALL IN. That means 100%, not 50% or 20% (which is what you’d put into a side business). Going all in will push you faster and harder. The sense of urgency and chaos, while intimidating, can be a significant accelerator. But, if you have commitments or just aren’t ready for that level of intensity, I totally get wanting to start on the side and I encourage you to go for it.
When it comes to your organization, know that a side business still requires a fair amount of work. All my side businesses took up my weekends and evenings for about 6 to 8 months before taking off. Be aware of what you’re getting into. If you enjoy it, the time will fly by and you’ll want to do more!
This brings us nicely to the next point: Enjoying what you do.
Choosing a side business should be driven by what you love, what interests you, what obsesses you.
If you’re reading this newsletter, you’re probably pretty interested in spatial computing. So let’s take it a step further. Here are five types of side businesses you can develop:
1. Niche Communities
Communities are easy to start and grow, and they’re very easy to monetize. This is the first type of side business I often recommend, especially in spatial computing. The idea is to bring people together in a very specific niche, even more precise than spatial computing. It could be spatial designers, spatial developers, spatial marketers. You can narrow it down further: spatial designers for Apple Vision Pro focused on UX, for example. Decide your roadmap and how you’ll monetize this audience: Premium access? External partnerships? Paid associated tools?
2. Niche Courses
Like communities, creating a course is quite easy and quick. There’s no technical barrier, which is why it’s one of my top side business recommendations. Again, the key is to focus on a very specific topic: How to develop a game on Apple Vision Pro? How to design a Quest app? Be precise. Be focused. And most importantly, be ready to become the go-to expert in your area. If you want your side business to last, you need a personal content strategy that aligns with your business’s editorial line. You need to be personally recognized as a “good developer” to offer a “good course”.
3. Templates & Scripts
Another easy-to-launch side business with great potential involves creating pre-made scripts dedicated to spatial computing. Platforms like Envato list digital assets such as scripts, designs, audio tracks, etc. You can list spatial application scripts (Apple Vision Pro), dedicated logos, or even spatial sounds.
4. Viral Applications
Many people aim to develop complex and costly spatial applications. If you want to start a side business, I’d recommend focusing on creating a small, easy-to-develop app with viral potential. You could offer in-app purchases with a premium tier to monetize the app. Look to viral iPhone apps for inspiration. For example, right now there are viral apps helping people find clothing colors that match their skin tone. Maybe there’s a concept like that for VR?
Remember, 80% of the work is in distribution.
The WowDance app I mentioned earlier could explode if it were distributed more. A few TikTok videos could make it go viral!
5. Micro Tools
The last type of side business that is easy to launch and has potential is the creation of micro-tools specialized in spatial computing. This could be as simple as a niche job board platform that allows companies to find spatial computing freelancers (such as Spatial Freelance). There are many other ideas that can be easily monetized. We can discuss these further in the community — I have a list of over 30 micro-tools that can be easily monetized. Again, distribution is key. Don’t start developing a tool you can’t distribute 🙂 .