Full-Stack Developer for AI Restaurant Tool

We are building Menu Speed, an AI-powered web app that helps restaurant owners quickly create professional menus with choices while understanding their food costs, pricing, and profitability. Build a fast, AI-powered tool that lets restaurant owners create menus and instantly understand pricing and profit. The core experience is simple and fast: Users input or upload a menu → the system generates a clean, designed menu → and provides pricing suggestions and profit insights. We are looking for a strong full-stack developer to build the MVP and help shape the foundation of a scalable product. 🎯 What You’ll Build (MVP Scope) Speed Simplicity Input → AI → Output 1. Fast Menu Input Paste menu text Manual item entry File upload (PDF/image – AI extraction is a plus) Clean, simple UX for non-technical users 2. AI-Powered Menu Creation Generate formatted, professional menus Multiple style options (modern, classic, etc.) Optional AI-generated item descriptions 3. Pricing & Cost Logic Simple ingredient or item-level cost input Suggested pricing based on target food cost % Basic “what-if” price adjustments Per-item and overall profit insights 4. Menu Output Downloadable, well-designed menu (PDF) Clean layout options (not generic templates) 5. Simple Dashboard (V1) Profit summary Low-margin alerts Menu health overview 🧱 Technical Requirements Must-Have Full-stack development (frontend + backend) Strong database design (scalable for future modules) Secure authentication (user-owned accounts) AI integration (OpenAI or similar) File upload & processing PDF generation Suggested Stack (Flexible) Frontend: React / Next.js Backend: Node.js or Python Database: PostgreSQL / Firebase Hosting: AWS / Vercel ⚠️ Non-Negotiables You must build with scalability in mind (this is Module 1 of a larger platform) Clean, well-structured, maintainable code Full documentation (setup, architecture, maintenance) All code and accounts must be owned by us Staging environment before launch Milestone-based delivery with demos and approval checkpoints 📦 Deliverables Fully functional MVP (Menu Speed – Module 1) Complete source code transfer Deployment setup Documentation: Architecture overview Setup instructions Maintenance guide 🗓️ Milestones UI/UX Prototype Core App Setup + Authentication Menu Input System AI Integration + Menu Generation Pricing & Profit Logic Dashboard + PDF Export Testing + Launch Ready 💰 Challenge Budget $5,000 – $12,000 (flexible based on experience and approach) Open to milestone-based proposals. 💬 Who You Are Experienced full-stack developer (or small team) Have built SaaS tools, dashboards, or AI-integrated apps Strong communicator (very important) Able to think beyond code and contribute to product decisions Comfortable working independently Start your proposal with the word “Menu Speed” so I know you read the full post. 🧪 Nice to Have Experience with Restaurant tech or POS systems Strong UI/UX sense Experience building fast input workflows Previous similar tools 💡 How to Apply: Please include: Links to relevant projects (especially SaaS or AI tools) Brief explanation of how you would approach this build Your recommended tech stack Timeline estimate Any suggestions to improve the product 🔥 Long-Term Opportunity Menu Speed is the first module of a larger platform targeting thousands of restaurants. We are not looking for a one-time developer—we are looking for someone who can: Build this MVP the right way Continue into future modules Help scale the platform Build dependable site Be a founder of a great product. Bonus if you include a quick outline of how you would structure the build (frontend, backend, database, AI integration). If you understand how to build fast, intuitive tools for business owners and want to be part of something that can grow—apply.