The $0 AI Startup Stack: Build a Business Without Spending a Dime

1. Market Research: Perplexity Free + Google Trends

Validate your business idea with cited research from Perplexity. Check demand trends with Google Trends. Total cost: $0.

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2. Business Plan: ChatGPT Free

Generate business plans, financial projections, and go-to-market strategies. Custom GPTs available for startup planning. Total cost: $0.

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3. Website: WordPress.com Free + Canva Free

WordPress.com offers a free website. Canva creates your logo, social headers, and marketing materials. Total cost: $0.

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4. Content Marketing: ChatGPT Free + Claude Free

ChatGPT for outlines and brainstorming. Claude for polished writing. Together they handle all your content needs. Total cost: $0.

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5. Email Marketing: Mailchimp Free (500 subscribers)

Mailchimp’s free tier handles up to 500 subscribers and 1000 emails/month. Enough for early-stage growth. Total cost: $0.

6. Social Media: Buffer Free + ChatGPT Free

Buffer free handles 3 social channels. ChatGPT generates all your social content. Total cost: $0.

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7. Automation: Make Free (1000 ops/month)

Make’s free tier includes 1000 operations/month. Automate lead capture, email responses, and data workflows. Total cost: $0.

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8. Analytics: Google Analytics + GSC

Google Analytics for traffic. Google Search Console for SEO. Both completely free and essential. Total cost: $0.

9. Development: GitHub Copilot Free (students) + VS Code

If you are a student, Copilot is free. VS Code is always free. Build your MVP without spending on dev tools. Total cost: $0.

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10. Total Monthly Cost

$0/month for a fully functional business stack. Upgrade individual tools only when free limits become a bottleneck.