Guide · Tools

The AI startup stack

Widely used tools by job to be done. Pick one per job and get building.

These are widely used tools listed by name only, with no affiliate relationships and no endorsements. Features, free plans and prices change often, so check each tool's own site before you commit. You don't need all of them: one AI assistant, one way to build, one form tool and Stripe will get most MVPs live.

AI assistants

Research, writing, brainstorming, analysis, and running the prompts in the Prompt Library.

  • ChatGPT (OpenAI)
  • Claude (Anthropic)
  • Gemini (Google)
  • Grok (xAI)

AI research with sources

Web research that shows where answers come from. Always open and check the sources.

  • Perplexity
  • The browsing/search modes in the assistants above

AI coding & app builders

Build an MVP by describing it. Start with the spec prompt in the library.

  • Cursor (AI code editor)
  • GitHub Copilot
  • Replit
  • Lovable
  • Bolt.new
  • v0 (by Vercel)

Websites & landing pages

Launch a landing page with a waitlist in an afternoon, no code.

  • Carrd
  • Framer
  • Webflow
  • Squarespace

Hosting (for code projects)

Put a coded site or app online.

  • Vercel
  • Netlify
  • Cloudflare Pages
  • GitHub Pages

Forms, surveys & waitlists

Collect sign-ups, survey answers and pre-orders.

  • Tally
  • Typeform
  • Google Forms

Payments

Take payments, pre-orders and subscriptions.

  • Stripe (incl. Payment Links)

Automation

Connect your tools without code; add AI steps to workflows.

  • Zapier
  • Make
  • n8n

Databases & docs

Organize customers, notes and plans.

  • Notion
  • Airtable
  • Google Sheets / Google Workspace

Design & slides

Logos, social images, pitch decks.

  • Canva
  • Figma
  • Google Slides
  • Keynote

Video & demos

Record demo videos and walkthroughs.

  • Loom
  • Descript

Scheduling

Let people book interviews and demos.

  • Calendly
  • Cal.com

Email & newsletters

Waitlist emails and updates.

  • Mailchimp
  • Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
  • Beehiiv

Analytics

See what visitors and users actually do.

  • Google Analytics
  • Plausible
  • PostHog

Company setup (US)

Incorporation services and business banking. Compare options and get professional advice.

  • Stripe Atlas
  • Clerky
  • Firstbase
  • Mercury (business banking)

A simple starter stack

For a non-technical founder shipping in a 3- or 7-day program:

  1. Think & write: one AI assistant + the Prompt Library
  2. Validate: a form tool for a waitlist + a scheduling link for interviews
  3. Build: an AI app builder for the prototype, or a no-code site builder for the landing page
  4. Charge: a Stripe Payment Link for pre-orders
  5. Show: a screen recorder for the demo video + a slides tool for the deck