Zero-Budget Dev with AI & Automation Skills: What Would You Build First?

xuso18f

Newbie
Joined
Jul 23, 2025
Messages
28
Reaction score
7
Hi everyone,

I’m new here and could really use your advice. I have hands-on experience with:


  • Java, HTML, CSS, SQL & MongoDB
  • Automation with n8n (Docker)
  • Connecting APIs (WhatsApp, OpenAI, Telegram, etc.)
  • AI image/video generation (Kokoro TTS, Stable Diffusion, ComfyUI)
  • Data management with NocoDB (Airtable-style) and MinIO
  • Deployments on my own domain via Cloudflare, a VPS & self-hosted Docker

I’ve got plenty of time and motivation but almost zero budget to invest. I’m not sure which direction makes the most sense right now.


Instead of generic tips, I’d love to know:


  1. If you were in my shoes, what would you build first? What service or product would you prototype on day one?
  2. How would you structure your MVP to get a paying client as quickly as possible, without spending on ads?
  3. Which niches or micro-services have you personally found easiest to sell with minimal upfront cost?
  4. What concrete steps or process would you follow over your first 2–4 weeks to go from idea to first invoice?

Any personal experiences, real-world examples or “here’s exactly what I’d do” advice would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance!
 
Hi everyone,

I’m new here and could really use your advice. I have hands-on experience with:


  • Java, HTML, CSS, SQL & MongoDB
  • Automation with n8n (Docker)
  • Connecting APIs (WhatsApp, OpenAI, Telegram, etc.)
  • AI image/video generation (Kokoro TTS, Stable Diffusion, ComfyUI)
  • Data management with NocoDB (Airtable-style) and MinIO
  • Deployments on my own domain via Cloudflare, a VPS & self-hosted Docker

I’ve got plenty of time and motivation but almost zero budget to invest. I’m not sure which direction makes the most sense right now.


Instead of generic tips, I’d love to know:


  1. If you were in my shoes, what would you build first? What service or product would you prototype on day one?
  2. How would you structure your MVP to get a paying client as quickly as possible, without spending on ads?
  3. Which niches or micro-services have you personally found easiest to sell with minimal upfront cost?
  4. What concrete steps or process would you follow over your first 2–4 weeks to go from idea to first invoice?

Any personal experiences, real-world examples or “here’s exactly what I’d do” advice would be massively appreciated. Thanks in advance!
I’ll be replying to all your suggestions, putting them to the test, and sharing my real-world experiences and results as I go.
 
Back
Top