Host paid prototype demos that clients can't ghost—get paid per interaction.
Freelancers building API tools waste weeks creating unpaid prototypes only for clients to ghost them after demos.
Freelancers upload and host live API prototypes behind paywalls, charging clients for demo access and interactions. Clients pay small fees to test without commitment, ensuring freelancers are compensated upfront. Track usage and automate payouts to eliminate ghosting after unpaid demos.
Freelance developers building API tools and prototypes
Pay-per-demo gating with real-time interaction analytics, tailored for API prototypes unlike general hosting platforms.
professional
Securely upload and deploy live API prototypes with one-click hosting.
Create custom pay-per-view or subscription gates for demos.
Real-time logs of client interactions, API calls, and session data.
Stripe payouts triggered by demo fees collected.
View earnings, demo views, and client engagement metrics.
White-label demo pages with freelancer logo and domain.
Embed paywalled demos on personal sites or portfolios.
AI-generated reports on prototype performance.
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| text | No | |
| role | text | No |
| stripe_id | text | Yes |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| user_id | uuid | No |
| name | text | No |
| url | text | No |
| price_per_demo | int | No |
| created_at | timestamp | No |
Relationships:
| Column | Type | Nullable |
|---|---|---|
| id | uuid | No |
| prototype_id | uuid | No |
| client_ip | text | Yes |
| api_calls | int | No |
| ended_at | timestamp | Yes |
Relationships:
/api/prototypesCreate new prototype
/api/prototypes/:idGet prototype details
/api/sessions/:prototype_id/startStart paid demo session
/api/dashboardFetch user analytics
/api/payoutsTrigger payout
No payouts, $0.10/demo fee to DemoVault
100 sessions/month
None
| Month | Users | Conversion | MRR | ARR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 100 | 2% | $70 | $840 |
| Month 6 | 800 | 5% | $1,400 | $16,800 |
Host live API demos behind paywalls. Clients pay to play, you get paid instantly.
Post in r/forhire and IndieHackers with a free beta invite; DM 10 freelance API devs from Twitter searches for 'building API prototype'; offer first month free for testimonials.
Easy hosting
No paywalls or freelance focus
Built-in monetization for prototypes
Network effects from growing demo library and freelancer testimonials.
Explosion of AI APIs increases demand for quick prototypes amid freelance market growth.
Hosting unreliable prototypes
Use Vercel previews + health checks
Low adoption by freelancers
Free tier + targeted outreach
Stripe payout delays
Test thoroughly pre-launch
Success: 15 confirm ghosting issue
Success: 5 prototypes hosted
Success: 100 signups
Other validated startup ideas you might find interesting
Never miss TechCabal articles again—search and recover 404 pages instantly.
Your personal vault for TechCabal links—auto-recovers 404s forever.
AI revives lost TechCabal pages—summarize, rewrite, recover.
Generate client proposals that justify premium pricing for custom AI over free LLMs
Benchmark free LLMs vs your custom AI to win higher-paying clients
Smart pricing calculator & scripts to defend custom AI rates against free LLM demands