I Built an AI Business Plan Generator - Here's What I Learned
Source: Dev.to
The Problem with Business Plans
Every entrepreneur knows the struggle: you have a brilliant idea, but turning it into a professional, investor‑ready business plan feels overwhelming. Traditional approaches require:
- Weeks of market research
- Complex financial modeling
- Professional writing and formatting
- Multiple revisions
Enter AI‑Powered Business Planning
I built PlanForge AI to solve this exact problem. It generates comprehensive business plans in minutes, not weeks.
Key Features
- Executive Summary Generation – Captures your vision in compelling, investor‑ready language
- Market Analysis – AI‑powered research on your target market and industry
- Financial Projections – Realistic forecasts based on your business model
- Pitch Deck Creation – 12‑slide pitch deck ready for investors
The Tech Stack
- Frontend: Next.js 16 with App Router
- Styling: Tailwind CSS
- Auth: NextAuth.js with Google OAuth
- Database: Neon PostgreSQL with Drizzle ORM
- AI: OpenAI GPT‑4
- Payments: Stripe
Lessons Learned
- Start with the wizard – Breaking the input into small steps dramatically improved completion rates
- Structured prompts – Using JSON schemas for AI output ensures consistent formatting
- Tier‑based access – Freemium with usage limits is the sweet spot for this market
What’s Next?
- Export to PDF/DOCX
- Collaborative editing
- Integration with pitch deck tools
- Industry‑specific templates
Would love to hear your feedback! What features would make business planning easier for you?