345 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
345 lines
18 KiB
Markdown
# Direction 2 Research: AI Coding Agents + Image Generation
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**Date:** November 2, 2025
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**Direction:** Developers using Cursor/Claude Code building web projects
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**Status:** Strong signals discovered - In Progress
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---
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## 🎯 Research Hypothesis
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**Main Question:** Do developers using AI coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code, Windsurf) need AI-generated images for their web projects? Are they willing to pay for it?
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**Sub-questions:**
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1. What is their current workflow for getting images?
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2. What pain points exist with stock photos?
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3. Are they willing to pay for image generation services?
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4. Would MCP integration provide sufficient value?
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---
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## 🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #1: Massive Active User Base Building Real Projects
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### Summary
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Developers are actively using AI coding agents (Cursor, Claude Code) to build production web projects at unprecedented speed. Landing pages in 2 hours, full apps in 1 day, games in 7 days.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: App built in ONE DAY**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPTCoding/comments/1f1es5i/cursor_ai_app_completely_build_using_claude/
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- **Quote:** "This is an app I built within a day bootstrapping the whole app using Claude Sonnet and Cursor AI IDE. The app itself is pretty simple."
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- **Context:** Developer bootstrapped entire app using Cursor + Claude Sonnet in single day
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**Thread 2: Game built in 7 DAYS**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/iOSProgramming/comments/1gjwg9a/i_built_a_game_in_7_days_using_mostly_cursor_ai/
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- **Quote:** "Couldn't find anything similar on the App Store, so classic dev move - 'I'll build it myself!' Decided to go all-in with AI... for this project, I decided to use primarily Cursor with Claude Sonnet model and Sweetpad extension, and holy - it actually worked decently well."
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- **Context:** iOS game developed in 7 days using mostly Cursor AI
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**Thread 3: Landing page in 2 HOURS**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1lwzpxi/how_i_built_a_beautiful_landing_page_in_2_hours/
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- **Title:** "How I built a beautiful landing page in 2 hours using Claude and Cursor (exact step by step guide)"
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- **Context:** Complete landing page tutorial showing 2-hour build time
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**Thread 4: Full Backend/API/Frontend for $250**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1kaqtt1/i_built_a_full_backendapifrontend_100_with_ai/
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- **Quote:** "Everything — even the landing page and animations — was made 100% in Cursor."
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- **Cost:** $250 spent, 16h/day work
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**Thread 5: Non-developers building real apps**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/ClaudeAI/comments/1hgoq79/i_am_sharing_my_tips_to_use_cursorclaude_to/
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- **Quote:** "I've spent over a year learning to code with AI and even made money with my last project. This video is especially for non-coders who want to create apps or web apps using Cursor, Claude, or other AI tools."
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- **Context:** Non-technical users successfully building and monetizing apps
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### Community Size
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- r/cursor - 36K+ members
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- r/ClaudeAI - very active
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- r/ChatGPTCoding - active coding agent discussions
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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**Market size = MASSIVE:** Developers building websites/landing pages at scale using AI coding agents. Every project needs images.
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---
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## 🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #2: Current Image Solution = Stock Photos (Unsplash/Pexels)
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### Summary
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Developers primarily use free stock photo services (Unsplash, Pexels, Pixabay) for images in AI-generated projects. An MCP server integration already exists connecting Unsplash to Cursor.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Stock Images MCP Server EXISTS**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/SaaS/comments/1mt4cni/stock_images_mcp_server_open_source_search_use/
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- **Title:** "Stock Images MCP Server (Open Source) - Search & Use Images Directly in Cursor"
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- **Quote:** "With this, you can search and use stock images directly inside Cursor from Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay."
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- **Context:** Someone built MCP integration for stock photos - proves demand for image integration in Cursor
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**Thread 2: Tutorial mentions stock photo sources**
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- **URL:** https://rizpabani.medium.com/how-to-build-a-high-converting-marketing-landing-page-in-cursor-no-code-needed-6ccb18950800
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- **Quote:** "Images sourced from open-license repositories (provide direct links)."
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- **Context:** Standard practice in Cursor tutorials
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**Thread 3: Placeholder strategy in prompts**
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- **URL:** https://www.threads.com/@kevin.kernx/post/DGKjpC2KEN5?hl=en
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- **Quote (from prompt template):** "Create a full landingpage with Shadcn, TailwindCSS for my Landingpage Structure. - For images use placeholder - Build the landingpage in @app/page.tsx"
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- **Context:** Developers start with placeholders, then replace manually
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**Thread 4: Manual image upload workflow**
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- **URL:** https://lilys.ai/notes/en/cursor-ai-20251026/how-to-use-cursor-ai-tutorial
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- **Quote:** "Image Upload: Users can upload images, which is great for front-end assets. Figma Integration: Mockups from sites like Figma can be uploaded."
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- **Context:** Manual upload workflow is standard
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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**Current solution exists BUT:** Stock photos = free but generic. MCP integration exists proving demand for automation. Our opportunity = AI-generated (unique) + MCP (automated) + Enhanced (professional quality).
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---
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## 🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #3: Stock Photos Pain Points - Generic, Overused, Lacks Personality
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### Summary
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Developers and designers consistently complain that free stock photos (Unsplash/Pexels) are overused, generic, and not suitable for client-specific or unique projects. This creates delays and unprofessional look.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Overused since 2019**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/Design/comments/10soolh/tricks_for_search_on_pexels_unsplash/
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- **Quote:** "I find the same images over and over again since 2019, their filters are just insufficient... I'm the only idiot who can't find overused images on those websites."
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- **Context:** Designer frustrated with seeing same stock photos everywhere
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**Thread 2: Not suitable for client work**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/dedcfe/ysk_about_pexels_a_website_that_provides_free/
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- **Quote:** "Pexels and Unsplash are awesome but they are not really suitable for unique or client specific sites."
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- **Context:** Professionals acknowledge limitation for client work
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**Thread 3: Generic = No personality**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/web_design/comments/12q7tde/how_can_i_improve_this_landing_page/
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- **Quote:** "It lacks any personality, it may be a generic layout for a generic company that sells generic products."
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- **Context:** Feedback on landing page using generic stock photos
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**Thread 4: Delays projects for months**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/webdev/comments/1kv7n9u/why_is_the_landing_page_of_every_startup_nowadays/
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- **Quote:** "The problem I run into is team members getting way too hung up on this and delaying the project for months when it could have been quick and easy."
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- **Context:** Image selection becomes bottleneck
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**Thread 5: Unsplash images used EVERYWHERE**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/web_design/comments/12sqmck/unsplash_still_the_king_or/
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- **Quote:** "Also it doesn't help that every Unsplash image is used EVERYWHERE so if you are doing serious client work, it would seem unprofessional to even consider using Unsplash."
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- **Context:** Professional designers avoid Unsplash for serious work
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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**Clear pain points validated:**
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1. Overused - same images across thousands of sites
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2. Not client-specific - generic content doesn't fit unique brands
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3. Lacks personality - unprofessional appearance
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4. Causes delays - teams struggle to find right images
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Our value prop: AI-generated = unique, contextual, brand-fitting images that don't appear on competitor sites.
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---
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## 🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #4: Developers Already Pay for AI Tools ($40-50/month Standard)
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### Summary
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Developers using coding agents already pay $20-50/month for multiple AI subscriptions. Willingness to pay for time-saving tools is validated.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Cursor worth it at $20/month**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1g6ocfb/is_cursor_pro_worth_the_money/
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- **Quote:** "Yes, 100% worth the subscription fee for anyone who codes on a daily basis."
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- **Pricing:** Cursor Pro = $20/month standard
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**Thread 2: Multiple subscriptions common**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1gvupkc/is_it_worth_it/
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- **Quote:** "I was paying for both ChatGPT subscription and GitHub copilot every month. That's $30 a month. After the cursor free trial, I was so convinced I subscribed to the annual plan ($16 a month). And I've ditched both ChatGPT and Copilot."
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- **Context:** Developer paying $30/mo for multiple tools, switched to Cursor
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**Thread 3: Time = Money mindset**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/cursor/comments/1i9jnz7/to_people_who_have_cursor_paid_subscription/
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- **Quote:** "It saves me time and it's worth the price."
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- **Context:** Value proposition = time savings
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**Thread 4: MVPs and short projects**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/developersIndia/comments/1iuodvx/for_those_paying_for_cursor_ide_how_has_been_your/
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- **Quote:** "For MVP (short projects) these AI tools work great."
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- **Context:** Indie developers building MVPs = our target market
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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Developers already comfortable paying $20-50/month for productivity tools. Our price point ($49/mo or $20-50 credits) fits existing spending patterns.
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---
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## 🟢 STRONG SIGNAL #5: Paid MCP Market Exists ($50-5000/month)
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### Summary
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Paid MCP servers are an established business model with pricing ranging from $50/month (indie) to $5,000/month (enterprise). Infrastructure for monetization (Stripe integration, frameworks) already exists.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Paid MCP pricing examples**
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- **URL:** https://coincodecap.com/top-7-paid-mcp-servers
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- **Pricing Examples:**
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- K2view: $5,000/month (enterprise)
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- MindsDB: $750-$3,000+/month (mid-tier)
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- **Context:** Enterprise-grade paid MCP services exist
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**Thread 2: $50-70/month acceptable for valuable MCP**
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- **URL:** https://productagent.substack.com/p/how-i-built-a-free-mcp-server-and
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- **Quote:** "I was about to add another $50-70/month just to connect my AI outputs to my team's tools."
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- **Context:** Developer willing to pay $50-70/mo for valuable integration
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**Thread 3: Discussion on paid MCP viability**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/mcp/comments/1mbpjr1/is_building_paidpremium_mcp_servers_actually_a/
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- **Title:** "Is building paid/premium MCP servers actually a viable business?"
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- **Context:** Active community discussion about monetizing MCPs
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**Thread 4: Monetization infrastructure ready**
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- **URL:** https://www.golan.ai/ai-news/how-to-build-and-monetize-your-own-mcp-server-with-stripe-and-cloudflare
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- **Context:** Stripe + Cloudflare provide ready infrastructure for paid MCPs
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**Thread 5: Open-source monetization frameworks**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/mcp/comments/1ls4bl1/how_do_you_monetize_your_mcp_server/
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- **Mentioned:** MonetizedMCP framework, PaidMCP Boilerplate
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- **Context:** Community tools exist for MCP monetization
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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Paid MCP business model validated. Our MCP can be open-source (integration layer) while Banatie API is paid service. Price range $49-99/month fits market expectations for valuable developer tools.
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---
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## 🟡 MEDIUM SIGNAL #6: Some Developers Use Midjourney/DALL-E for Web Projects
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### Summary
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Some developers use AI image generators (Midjourney, DALL-E) for landing pages and web projects, but workflow is manual (Discord for Midjourney, separate tool for DALL-E). Paid plans required for commercial use.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Midjourney prompts for landing pages**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/midjourney/comments/12lspp4/20_prompts_for_landing_pages_and_ui_ux_design/
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- **Title:** "20 Prompts For Landing Pages and UI / UX Design"
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- **Context:** Active usage of Midjourney for web design
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**Thread 2: Paid plan required for commercial use**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/ecommercemarketing/comments/1jde34l/ai_platform_for_product_mockup_images/
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- **Quote:** "Midjourney (via Discord) - If you're comfortable with prompting, Midjourney can generate hyper-realistic product imagery. You'll need a paid plan for commercial use."
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- **Pricing:** Midjourney = $10-30/month depending on plan
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**Thread 3: Small business testing AI generators**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/smallbusiness/comments/1i0sehh/ive_tested_all_the_image_generation_tools_for_my/
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- **Quote:** "After putting all three to the test, my personal favorite is MidJourney. If image quality and creative control are your priorities, it's hard to beat."
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- **Context:** Small businesses willing to pay for AI image generation
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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Developers already pay for AI image generation ($10-30/mo for Midjourney). This validates willingness to pay for image generation specifically, not just general AI tools.
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---
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## 🟡 MEDIUM SIGNAL #7: Paid Stock Photos Still Used ($3/image)
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### Summary
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Some developers and agencies pay for premium stock photos from services like Shutterstock, demonstrating willingness to pay for quality images.
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### Reddit Evidence
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**Thread 1: Shutterstock pricing**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/marketing/comments/1m9qdr7/shutterstock_license_issue/
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- **Quote:** "10 images per month for approx $30 per month"
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- **Math:** $3 per image from Shutterstock
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**Thread 2: Startups using Shutterstock**
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- **URL:** https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/comments/3to01f/startup_question_who_do_you_guys_use_for_stock/
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- **Quote:** "If you're looking for a quality source for regular use, I use Shutterstock and would definitely recommend them as the best bang for your buck."
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- **Context:** Startups willing to pay for better stock photos
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### Interpretation for Banatie
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Willingness to pay for images validated: $30/month for stock photos shows market exists. Our pricing ($49/mo for AI-generated unique images) is competitive vs premium stock.
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---
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## ⌠WHAT WE DIDN'T FIND (Important Negatives)
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### 1. No Direct Complaints About Lack of AI Image Generation in Coding Agents
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**What we searched for:** Developers complaining "I wish Cursor could generate images"
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**What we found:** ⌠No explicit pain articulated
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**Why this matters:** Pain is IMPLICIT (generic stock photos) not EXPLICIT (need AI generation). We need to educate market that AI-generated = solution to stock photo pain.
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### 2. No Evidence of Manual Midjourney Workflow Pain (Yet)
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**What we searched for:** Complaints about Midjourney Discord workflow, manual downloading
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**What we found:** Limited evidence (need more research)
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**Why this matters:** If Midjourney users are satisfied with manual workflow, our MCP integration advantage is weaker. Need to validate automation value.
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### 3. No Technical Limitations Discussions (Aspect Ratio, Size, Format)
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**What we searched for:** Complaints about stock photo sizes, aspect ratios, optimization
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**What we found:** Generic discussions but not specific to coding agents workflow
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**Why this matters:** Our technical advantages (6 aspect ratios, transformations, CDN) may not be valued if current solutions work well enough.
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---
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## 💡 KEY INSIGHTS & QUESTIONS FOR VALIDATION
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### Validated Hypotheses:
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1. ✅ Massive market (coding agents users building web projects)
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2. ✅ Current solution (stock photos) has pain points (generic, overused)
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3. ✅ Willingness to pay ($20-50/mo for AI tools, $30/mo for stock photos)
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4. ✅ MCP integration valued (Stock Images MCP exists, paid MCPs viable)
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5. ✅ Some use AI generation (Midjourney for $10-30/mo)
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### Questions Still Needing Validation:
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1. â“ Would developers pay $49/mo for AI-generated images via MCP?
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2. â“ Is MCP automation worth premium vs manual Midjourney/DALL-E?
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3. â“ Do they value technical features (aspect ratios, transformations, CDN)?
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4. â“ How many images per project? (volume estimation)
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5. â“ Is "unique vs generic" value prop strong enough to justify premium?
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---
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## 🎯 NEXT RESEARCH STEPS
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### Priority 1: Midjourney Workflow Pain Points (CRITICAL)
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- Search for: Midjourney Discord workflow complaints
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- Search for: Manual download/save workflow issues
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- Search for: Aspect ratio and sizing problems
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- Goal: Validate that automation (MCP) > manual workflow
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### Priority 2: Willingness to Pay for Images Specifically
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- Search for: Budgets for images in web projects
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- Search for: "Worth paying for" + images + landing pages
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- Goal: Separate general AI spending from image-specific spending
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### Priority 3: Volume & Usage Patterns
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- Search for: How many images per landing page/web app
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- Search for: Image replacement frequency during iteration
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- Goal: Estimate typical monthly usage (pricing model validation)
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### Priority 4: Technical Requirements Deep Dive
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- Search for: Aspect ratio problems in web development
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- Search for: Image optimization workflows
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- Search for: CDN usage among indie developers
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- Goal: Validate if technical features are valued
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---
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## 📊 Direction 2 Score
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**Signal Strength:** 🟢 Strong (Multiple validated pain points and willingness to pay)
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**Actionability:** 🟢 Clear (MCP integration, AI generation, specific ICP)
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**Willingness to Pay:** 🟢 Strong ($20-50/mo AI tools, $30/mo stock photos, paid MCPs exist)
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**Strategic Fit:** 🟢 Excellent (Aligns with our tech: MCP, AI generation, CDN, transformations)
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**Overall Assessment:** STRONG DIRECTION - Proceed with deeper validation
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---
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## 🔗 Related Research
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- Direction 1: Web agencies + client approval (different ICP, similar product)
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- Direction 6: Gemini 2.5 Flash specific demand (e-commerce focus)
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---
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**Status:** Strong signals found, needs deeper validation on specific questions
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**Recommendation:** Continue research on Midjourney workflow pain + willingness to pay validation
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**Next Session:** Investigate manual vs MCP workflow preferences
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**Last Updated:** November 2, 2025
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