My website makes $34K/month (built in 3 hours)

Key Concepts

• Cursive Directory: A website built to help developers discover and find new ideas and rules for the Cursor IDE.
• MVP (Minimum Viable Product): The most basic version of a product that can be released to users to gather feedback.
• Bootstrapping: Funding a startup with personal savings or revenue from the business itself, rather than external investment.
• Building in Public: Sharing the development process and progress of a project openly with the community.
• Open Source: Software whose source code is made available for anyone to view, modify, and distribute.
• Profit Margin: The percentage of revenue that remains after deducting costs.
• Tech Stack: The set of technologies used to build and run an application.
• Discoverability: The ability for users to easily find what they are looking for within a platform.
• AI-generated website world: A contemporary landscape where artificial intelligence plays a significant role in website creation.
• Merchant of Record: A third-party service that handles payment processing and assumes legal responsibility for transactions.

Cursive Directory: A Weekend Project Generating $35k/Month

This summary details the creation and success of the "Cursive Directory," a project built by Pontis and his friend Victor. The directory, designed for Cursor IDE developers to find new rules and ideas, was built in a weekend and now generates $35,000 per month with exceptionally high profit margins.

Genesis of the Idea

The idea for the Cursive Directory emerged during Pontis's flight to France. He noticed a lack of a centralized platform for discovering Cursor rules, with information scattered across obscure GitHub gists and forums. This gap in discoverability sparked the concept for a dedicated directory.

Rapid Development and Launch

Upon landing, Pontis immediately contacted his friend Victor. They collaborated for approximately three hours to build the initial version of the directory.

• Tools Used:
  • Figma: Used by Victor for initial design mockups.
  • Next.js: Pontis used this framework for the initial project setup.
  • TypeScript: The project was built using TypeScript for enhanced code quality.
  • JSON: An initial hard-coded JSON file was used to populate the directory with rules.
  • Vercel: The application was deployed on Vercel for quick hosting and deployment.
• Domain Acquisition: Pontis secured the "cursordirectory.com" domain, which he considered a valuable asset.
• Iterative Approach: While the core build took three hours, the team continued to iterate and improve the product. Their existing familiarity with each other's design and coding styles ("DNA") facilitated this rapid iteration.

Strategy for Rapid Shipping

Pontis emphasizes the importance of shipping quickly, even if the initial product isn't perfect. He advises:

• Identifying Quick Wins: Recognizing opportunities for fast development alongside long-term projects.
• Commitment and Action: Dialing in on an idea and actively seeking solutions that can be implemented swiftly.
• Launching Without Overthinking: The Cursive Directory was launched with minimal expectations, allowing for immediate user feedback and iteration.

Growth and User Acquisition

The Cursive Directory experienced rapid growth, attracting millions of visitors. Key strategies for this success included:

• Posting on X (formerly Twitter): Initial promotion on X, leveraging their practice of "building in public" and sharing code openly. This resulted in significant impressions (e.g., 1 million on one post).
• Hacker News Feature: The directory was posted on Hacker News and reached the front page, driving substantial traffic.
• YouTube Coverage: Several YouTubers began featuring the Cursive Directory in their videos, further increasing visibility.
• Knowledge Sharing: Pontis and Victor consistently shared knowledge and insights related to Cursor development, building a strong developer following.
• Open Source Contribution: All rules are merged on GitHub, reinforcing the open-source ethos and community involvement.

Design as a Competitive Advantage

Pontis highlights the crucial role of design in the Cursive Directory's success. He believes that in the current landscape of easily replicable websites, design is a key differentiator.

• Design Philosophy:
  • Simplicity: Keeping the design clean and uncluttered.
  • Personal Preference: Building something that resonates with the creators' aesthetic.
  • Pattern Recognition: Identifying and learning from successful design patterns.
  • Learning from Others: Studying websites that are admired and adapting elements.
• Leveraging Existing Assets: Pontis and Victor utilized a pre-existing design system and reusable components from their previous startups, which significantly accelerated the design process.
• Importance in the AI Era: Pontis states, "Design is more important than ever, especially in this fast-paced AI generated website world." He argues that while creating websites is easy, design is what sets them apart.

The Relevance of Directories in 2025

Despite the perception that directories might be outdated, Pontis asserts their continued viability, especially when targeting the right audience and solving a fundamental problem.

• Timeless Problem: The core function of a directory—helping users find what they need—remains relevant.
• AI World Synergy: In the current AI-driven environment, where developers are actively seeking solutions and information, directories like the Cursive Directory shine by aggregating valuable resources.
• Catching the Wave: Identifying and capitalizing on trends where a large audience has a shared interest is key to attracting visitors and opportunities.

Cursive Directory Features and Business Model

Pontis demonstrated the Cursive Directory, showcasing its functionality and revenue streams.

• Core Functionality:
  • Rule Discovery: Users can browse, copy, and apply various Cursor rules to their editor.
  • Filtering and Searching: Options to filter by interest, view popular or official rules, and search for specific items.
  • User Accounts: Enabling users to register, create accounts, and submit their own rules.
  • Community Voting: Users can upvote interesting rules.
• Business Model:
  • Paid Job Ads: Companies can pay to list job openings.
  • Featured MCPs (Meta-Contextual Plugins): A significant driver of growth, allowing users to find and extend their Cursor experience. These can also be paid for featured placement.
  • Custom Rule Generation: A feature allowing users to upload their package.json (similar to JavaScript dependencies) to generate tailored Cursor rules for their specific websites. This addresses the developer need for customization.

Tech Stack and Operational Costs

The Cursive Directory utilizes a lean and efficient tech stack focused on minimizing friction and maximizing development speed.

• Key Technologies:
  • Next.js: For the frontend framework.
  • TypeScript: For robust code.
  • Shadcn/ui: For UI components.
  • Resend: For email services.
  • Open Panel: For analytics.
  • GitHub: For version control.
  • Vercel: For hosting.
  • Polar: A merchant of record for handling payments, particularly beneficial for European companies.
  • Cursor: Used for coding.
  • Notion: For product management.
• Philosophy: The chosen tools adhere to a "no servers, no friction" philosophy, prioritizing rapid building and shipping.
• Operational Costs: The total operational cost is approximately $525 per month, with an impressive 99.8% gross profit margin.

Advice for Aspiring Builders

Pontis offers a concise yet powerful piece of advice for anyone looking to build online projects:

• "Start." He emphasizes that commitment to building and iterating leads to creating one's own luck. The process involves shipping, sharing, and continuous improvement.
• No Such Thing as Failure: Every build, regardless of outcome, provides learning opportunities that pave the way for future steps.

Conclusion and Call to Action

The Cursive Directory serves as a compelling example of how a simple idea, executed rapidly and with a focus on user needs and design, can achieve significant financial success. The narrative underscores the power of quick iteration, community engagement, and strategic promotion in the digital product space. The video also promotes "Starter Story Build," a program designed to help individuals leverage AI tools to build and launch their own projects quickly.