How to build an AI startup in 20 minutes - Part 1

How to Build an AI Startup App in Under 20 Minutes: Part 1

At Maiv AI, we help founders and CTOs bring their AI startup ideas to life quickly and effectively. In Part 1 of our video series, we dive into the foundational steps for building an AI-powered startup app in less than 20 minutes. This guide walks through the process of using ChatGPT, Supabase, and Vercel, along with the ShipFast template, to create a functional AI startup app.

Step 1: Essential Tools for Building Your AI App

To get started, you'll need to have the following tools ready:

1. Node.js (v18 or higher) – Install Node.js for the backend of your app.

2. ChatGPT Subscription – You'll use ChatGPT to generate the app's assets, including images and text.

3. OpenAI API Key – Get a subscription to the OpenAI platform and generate an API key to make API calls to your AI model.

4. Supabase – This will serve as the database that stores user data generated by your app.

5. GitHub Account – Use GitHub to store and manage your code.

6. Vercel Account – Vercel will be used to deploy your app and make it accessible online.

7. ShipFast Template – This template costs around $200 and works on top of Next.js, allowing you to quickly create a web app.

Step 2: Generating Your AI Startup Idea and Assets

Once you have all the tools, it's time to generate your AI app idea and assets using ChatGPT:

1. Generate Your AI Idea – Ask ChatGPT for a startup idea. For this example, we came up with “FinWiz,” an AI-powered personal finance advisor.

2. Create a Name – ChatGPT helped us generate the name “FinWiz.”

3. Generate Images – Use ChatGPT to generate images for your landing page and app icon.

4. Write a Call-to-Action – Use ChatGPT to create a compelling call-to-action for your landing page, such as “Take control of your finances today with FinWiz, your personal AI-powered financial advisor.”

Step 3: Setting Up the ShipFast Template

Now that you have your assets and copy, it’s time to set up ShipFast:

1. Clone the Repo – Begin by cloning the ShipFast repository into a folder named “FinWiz.”

2. Switch to the Supabase Branch – Since we’re using Supabase for database hosting, switch to the Supabase branch of the repo.

3. Install Dependencies – Make sure you're running Node.js version 18 or higher, and install the required dependencies for ShipFast.

Step 4: Configuring Supabase for Your AI App

Supabase will be used to store user data, such as emails for your mailing list:

1. Create a New Project – In the Supabase dashboard, create a new project called “FinWiz.”

2. Add API Keys to Environment Variables – Copy the API keys from Supabase and paste them into your .env file. This includes:

   • The anon key for public access.

   • The service role key for administrative functions.

   • The Supabase project URL.

Make sure you never commit your .env file to GitHub, as this could expose your API keys to others.

Step 5: Running the App Locally

With everything set up, you can now run your AI startup app locally:

1. Launch the App – Run the following command to start the app locally:

   • npm run dev

2. Open Localhost – Once the app is running, navigate to localhost:3000 in your browser to view the app.

3. Customize the Landing Page – Replace the default copy, images, and assets with the ones generated by ChatGPT for your app.

Step 6: Deploying the AI App with Vercel

Finally, deploy your app using Vercel:

1. Push Your Code to GitHub – Store your app’s code in a GitHub repository and ensure that your .env file is excluded.

2. Deploy with Vercel – Connect your GitHub repo to Vercel and deploy your app. Vercel will make the app available to users around the world.

Why Speed Matters in Building AI MVPs

At Maiv AI, we believe in the power of building AI MVPs quickly. The faster you can prototype and launch, the quicker you can gather feedback and iterate on your idea. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be able to bring your AI idea to life in under 20 minutes and start engaging with users.

Ready to build your AI app? Contact Maiv AI today, and let’s get started on your next AI-powered MVP.

Explore More AI App Tutorials with Maiv AI

Want to learn more? Watch the full video series on how to build AI-powered startup apps in under 20 minutes:

• Watch the full playlist here

Subscribe for Part 2!