Crux.ai

Crux is an intelligent content optimization platform that helps creators understand why content underperforms and gives them the tools to fix it, grow faster, and land sponsorships.

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📖 About the Project

Crux was built out of a real frustration. I’m a content creator myself, just starting out. I don’t post every day, but even with one video every 2 weeks, I noticed that my retention drops off fast. Views decline, engagement slows, and I’m left wondering what went wrong.

This isn’t just a personal problem. It’s something creators across platforms struggle with. Whether it’s small business owners trying to optimise Instagram content or influencers trying to improve their earnings, the problem is the same. People don’t always know what’s working, what’s not, and how to improve.

Crux exists to fix that. It helps creators:

  • Understand what they do well
  • Identify where they’re falling short
  • Take clear next steps to grow faster

Crux provides a performance diagnosis and pairs it with strategic recommendations and execution workflows. It’s not just about tracking views. It’s about becoming a smarter, more efficient creator.

🔧 How We Built It

We used:

  • React for the frontend interface
  • Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui for styling and components
  • Next.js (App Router) as our framework
  • TanStack Router for routing logic
  • PostgreSQL for storing user and video data
  • Google AI Studio and OpenAI for generating insights and prescriptions

We started with basic upload and link parsing, then built out the video analysis pipeline. The UI was rebuilt in less than a day to create a clean split-view between the video data and AI-generated insights. We also integrated a sponsorship matching engine that scans similar creators and connects users to brands based on their niche and content style.

🚧 Challenges We Faced

  • Getting the backend to deploy properly with PostgreSQL
  • Debugging platform-specific video data extraction
  • Building a real-time progress system with smooth loading feedback
  • Designing a layout that feels intuitive and fast for creators
  • Prompting the AI in a way that delivers clear, non-generic suggestions

🧠 What We Learned

  • A full UI overhaul is very possible within a day when the structure is solid
  • Video analysis is complex but achievable with the right tools and focus
  • Real-time feedback changes how creators understand their content
  • Good AI prompts are everything when trying to give creators useful insights

Crux is just getting started. We’re excited to keep improving it and see how creators use it to grow faster, pitch smarter, and build with clarity.

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