We Lost 5 Big Bids...So I Built an AI Ad Script Generator (and Turned It Into an App)

We lost 5 big bids as the industry shifted.
So I built a tiny AI ad script generator—and it turned into an app idea.

After missing out on about five major bids, I spent a Friday and Saturday night building a simple 30-second ad script generator—a thin wrapper around OpenAI’s API. That small win became my first complete “micro project,” sparked more tools, and eventually led us to explore turning it into a full app: Epicly. Over the next year, we worked nights and weekends shaping the brand and vision while looking into automating more of the production process for brands that need fast content.

- The industry shift cost us around five big bids—and motivation took a hit
- Built a 30-second ad script generator over one weekend
- Used it as a thin wrapper around OpenAI’s API
- First complete micro project after only small automation scripts for video work
- Built additional small tools to rebuild momentum
- Tori suggested turning the generator into a full app: Epicly
- Spent about a year on nights/weekends doing naming, URL, brand guidelines, and vision exercises
- Began exploring how to automate more of the production process while acknowledging the ongoing need for art and custom work

Watch next:
- Lost Generation | Are we the new Hemingway era of Creatives?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyjquEFDVpc
- Ambition without Aim: Why Creators Crash and Burn: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGctsD16_7w
- Vegeta's delusions are the secret to his insane work ethic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbbEo_KTw5Q
- Delusions of Grandeur vs. Impostor Syndrome: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISSBzQIkXyk

Playlists:
- Driven to Create Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyjquEFDVpc&list=PLm_X9BbBBS12vhz7L4yrRPDfQ_2eF2MQt

Connect with us:
- Medium: https://medium.com/@paulmelluzzo
- Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/01wAW1GbLms8bu1atrds9K
- Website: https://www.paulmelluzzo.com/podcast
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/driventocreate_podcast/
- Inquiries: https://driventocreatepodcast@gmail.com

#AI #Marketing #Automation