I Built an AI Business Plan Generator - Here's What I Learned

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

1. Executive Summary Generation - Captures your vision in compelling, investor-ready language
2. Market Analysis - AI-powered research on your target market and industry
3. Financial Projections - Realistic forecasts based on your business model
4. 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

1. Start with the wizard - Breaking the input into small steps dramatically improved completion rates
2. Structured prompts - Using JSON schemas for AI output ensures consistent formatting
3. 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?