NewsBite analysis · AI, Programming, StartupsDev.to

I've spent $60k worth of openai tokens via codex building a few apps. How can I now get users?

A developer recounts spending roughly $60,000 on OpenAI tokens while using Codex to prototype and assemble multiple apps. The post signals how token-based costs influence project scope and profitability, and it raises the pressing question of how to grow a user base given expensive API usage. The author hints at Ireland as a startup funding focal point, referencing Dev.to as a community where coders share experiences. The piece underscores two core tensions facing AI-powered developer tools: the ongoing cost of access to advanced language models and the challenge of achieving user adoption without heavy marketing spend. While the exact apps and monetization plan are not disclosed, the author’s request for actionable advice on user acquisition suggests a broader inquiry into how startups can balance cost control with growth in a tooling-heavy AI environment. The post contributes to a broader conversation about sustainable practices for building AI-enabled products, including cost-aware development, testing strategies, and low-friction pathways to early users. The dialogue around token budgets, the role of third-party platforms, and the importance of product-market fit in a cost-laden AI stack are central themes. The post does not present a solution but invites the community to share proven user-growth tactics that can compensate for high token costs, such as optimizing prompts, targeting high-value segments, leveraging open-source alternatives, or exploring revenue models aligned with usage. In sum, the article spotlights a practical reality of AI development: cost discipline must go hand in hand with go-to-market clarity to turn expensive experiments into viable products.