Photo AI

The step-by-step playbook behind Photo AI, built only from the sourced facts we found (7 facts, each with its evidence label and link), plus a copy-paste replication prompt for Claude or ChatGPT.

1. The order they did it in

1. ~2 months of build before launch. Self-reported source
2. Feb 10, 2023: launch. Self-reported source
3. Mar 2026: $105K/mo revenue, $80K/mo profit. Self-reported source

2. How they got customers (more growth methods)

1. Shares revenue publicly (e.g. the Mar 2026 "$105K/mo" post, 1.5M+ views). Self-reported source

3. Stack + monthly costs

1. Single PHP file, index.php, 40,870 lines (Mar 2026). Self-reported source
2. Implied monthly costs ≈ $25K (revenue $105K − profit $80K, Mar 2026). Our derivation, not a disclosed cost sheet. Estimate source

4. What didn't work (skip these)

1. "Heavy procrastination" because the project was complex; a friend pushed him to ship. Self-reported source

Doubts we flagged

• Widely quoted cost breakdowns ($12K/mo Replicate, $40 VPS) come from third-party write-ups, not the founder. Not used.

5. Copy-paste replication prompt

You are my AI co-founder. Help me replicate the playbook behind Photo AI, using ONLY these sourced facts (evidence label in brackets):

GROWTH METHODS (in order):
- Launched with a single X post on Feb 10, 2023 (1.7M+ views per levels.io). [self]
- Positioned as an evolution of his earlier AvatarAI.me, which "still runs/sells really well". [self]
- Shares revenue publicly (e.g. the Mar 2026 "$105K/mo" post, 1.5M+ views). [self]

STACK & COSTS:
- Single PHP file, index.php, 40,870 lines (Mar 2026). [self]
- Implied monthly costs ≈ $25K (revenue $105K − profit $80K, Mar 2026). Our derivation, not a disclosed cost sheet. [estimate]

TIMELINE:
- ~2 months of build before launch. [self]
- Feb 10, 2023: launch. [self]
- Mar 2026: $105K/mo revenue, $80K/mo profit. [self]

WHAT DIDN'T WORK:
- "Heavy procrastination" because the project was complex; a friend pushed him to ship. [self]

Task: 1) Ask me 5 questions about my skills, audience, budget and niche. 2) Map each fact above to an equivalent action for my niche. 3) Produce a week-by-week plan to my first dollar, with the cheapest tool for each step. 4) Flag which steps depend on advantages I may not have (audience, timing, capital). Do not assume any fact beyond the list.