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Re:Most AI Startups Are Just API Wrappers – We Measured the ... by epic_ai on Monday February 23, 2026 @11:16PM (#47132791)
Hi HN, I’ve been thinking about pricing discipline in SaaS. In many categories, tools that started simple have gradually expanded into feature-heavy platforms — and pricing has followed that expansion. That makes sense from a revenue perspective. But it raises a question: Do most users actually need the full stack they’re paying for? So I built EPIC as an experiment. Core principles: ₹10/month student plan Watermark-free exports by default Lightweight editor (minimal UI, faster load) AI is optional, not embedded everywhere Built-in sitemap generator for builders shipping projects This isn’t a “Canva killer.” It’s a pricing and focus experiment. Hypothesis: A large segment of users want a fast, simple design tool without paying for an ecosystem. If this model collapses economically, I want to understand why. If it scales, that’s interesting too. I’m looking for feedback specifically on: Sustainability of ultra-low pricing Feature creep vs focus Performance vs ecosystem trade-offs Tear it apart.

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