Where AI Meets Ambition
MLV Forge is an AI-native workforce platform connecting college students with companies seeking high-quality, cost-effective work. Students join virtual "startup teams" to execute real business projects using cutting-edge AI tools built directly into the platform.
- For Companies: Get marketing, research, and analysis work done at 80% lower cost with AI-augmented Gen Z talent
- For Students: Earn $20-30/hour while building your portfolio through real client work guided by AI mentors
- For MLV: Generate $50K+ MRR within 6 months through transaction fees (25%) and SaaS subscriptions
- Next.js 16 project setup with TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS v4 with custom design system
- Comprehensive Prisma database schema (20+ models)
- Core utility libraries (AI, Stripe, database)
- Landing page with MLV Forge branding
- Environment configuration
- Git repository initialization
- Clerk authentication integration
- Company dashboard and profile setup
- Student dashboard and profile setup
Phase 2: Project Posting & Browsing (Weeks 4-5)
- Company project posting form with AI assistance
- Student project browsing interface
- File upload system (S3/R2)
- Project filtering and search
Phase 3: Applications & Matching (Week 6)
- Student application flow
- AI matching algorithm
- Team formation system
- Email notifications
Phase 4: Project Workspace (Weeks 7-8)
- Real-time chat with Pusher
- File sharing system
- Task management
- AI assistant integration
- Deliverable submission
Phase 5: Payments & Reviews (Weeks 9-10)
- Stripe Connect escrow system
- Student payout system
- Rating and review system
- Earnings dashboard
Phase 6: Polish & Launch (Weeks 11-12)
- Comprehensive testing
- Performance optimization
- Analytics and monitoring
- Beta user onboarding
- Framework: Next.js 16 (App Router, React 19)
- Styling: Tailwind CSS v4
- Fonts: Inter, Space Grotesk, JetBrains Mono
- Icons: Lucide React
- Animations: Framer Motion
- Forms: React Hook Form + Zod
- Runtime: Node.js 20+
- Database: PostgreSQL (with pgvector extension)
- ORM: Prisma
- Authentication: Clerk
- AI: Anthropic Claude 3.5 Sonnet
- Payments: Stripe + Stripe Connect
- Real-time: Pusher
- Storage: AWS S3 / Cloudflare R2
- Hosting: Vercel
- CI/CD: GitHub Actions
- Monitoring: Sentry
- Analytics: Vercel Analytics
Primary: #0066FF (Electric Blue)
Secondary: #6B46FF (Deep Purple)
Accent: #00F0FF (Cyber Cyan)
Success: #00FF88 (Neon Green)
Warning: #FF6B35 (Warning Orange)
Error: #FF3366 (Error Red)- Headings: Space Grotesk (Bold/Medium)
- Body: Inter (Regular/Medium/SemiBold)
- Code: JetBrains Mono
- Dark-mode first
- Glassmorphism effects
- Subtle gradients
- Neumorphic elements
- Smooth micro-interactions
The platform uses 20+ interconnected models:
- Users: Both companies and students
- CompanyProfile: Company information and subscription
- StudentProfile: Student details, skills, and earnings
- Projects: Posted projects with AI embeddings
- Applications: Student applications to projects
- Teams: Project teams (solo or multi-person)
- WorkspaceMessages: Real-time chat
- WorkspaceFiles: Shared files during projects
- Tasks: Project task management
- Deliverables: Final submissions
- Reviews: Post-project ratings
- Payments: Escrow and payment tracking
- Transactions: Student earning history
- AIConversation: Persistent AI chat history
- Node.js 20+
- PostgreSQL with pgvector extension
- npm or pnpm
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/TimHL5/MLV-Forge.git
cd MLV-Forge
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Set up environment variables
cp .env.local .env.local.example
# Edit .env.local with your API keys
# Set up database
npx prisma generate
npx prisma db push
# Run development server
npm run devOpen http://localhost:3000 to see the landing page.
The .env.local file should include:
# Clerk Authentication
NEXT_PUBLIC_CLERK_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=
CLERK_SECRET_KEY=
# Database
DATABASE_URL=postgresql://...
# Anthropic AI
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=
# Stripe
STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=
NEXT_PUBLIC_STRIPE_PUBLISHABLE_KEY=
STRIPE_WEBHOOK_SECRET=
# File Storage
S3_ACCESS_KEY=
S3_SECRET_KEY=
S3_BUCKET_NAME=
S3_REGION=
# Pusher
PUSHER_APP_ID=
NEXT_PUBLIC_PUSHER_KEY=
PUSHER_SECRET=
NEXT_PUBLIC_PUSHER_CLUSTER=
# App
NEXT_PUBLIC_APP_URL=http://localhost:3000- 5 active companies
- 25 active students
- 10 projects posted
- 5 projects completed
- $3,000 platform GMV
- $2,500 MRR
- 20 active companies
- 100 active students
- 50 projects posted
- 30 projects completed
- $21,000 platform GMV
- $10,000 MRR
- NPS: 50+ (students), 60+ (companies)
This is currently a private project in active development. Contribution guidelines will be added once the MVP is complete.
Proprietary - All rights reserved.
Built with ❤️ using AI-powered development