Cypher AI - Startup Advisor & System Design Expert

Your AI-powered startup advisor, AI infrastructure expert, and system design guide. Built with OpenAI's Realtime API for interactive voice conversations.

Overview

Cypher AI is an intelligent voice-powered assistant designed specifically for entrepreneurs, developers, and startup teams. It combines expertise in startup strategy, AI infrastructure, and system design to help you build and launch successful applications.

🚀 What Cypher Can Help You With

• Startup Strategy: Business planning, MVP development, market validation, go-to-market strategies
• AI Infrastructure: LLM deployment, vector databases, model selection, prompt engineering
• System Design: Scalable architecture, microservices, cloud deployment, performance optimization
• App Launch Planning: Product roadmapping, technical architecture, user acquisition, monetization
• Funding & Growth: Investor pitching, business model design, growth metrics, scaling strategies
• Team Building: Hiring strategies, technical leadership, team scaling, engineering best practices

✨ Features

• 🎙️ Voice Conversations: Natural voice interactions using OpenAI's Realtime API
• 🧠 Expert Knowledge: Specialized in startup advisory and technical architecture
• 🎨 Modern UI: Clean, responsive interface with dark/light theme support
• ⚡ Real-time: Instant voice responses and interactive guidance
• 🔒 Secure: Direct OpenAI API integration with environment variable configuration

🛠️ Quick Setup

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18+ installed on your system
• OpenAI API key with Realtime API access
• Modern web browser with microphone permissions

Installation

1. Clone the repository

   git clone https://github.com/carloscisnerosjr/cypher.git
   cd cypher

2. Install dependencies

   npm install

3. Configure environment variables

   Create a .env.local file in the root directory:

   # Copy the example file
   cp .env.local.example .env.local

   Then edit .env.local and add your OpenAI API key:

   NEXT_PUBLIC_OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

4. Start the development server

   npm run dev

5. Open your browser

   Navigate to http://localhost:3000

🎯 How to Use

1. Grant Microphone Access: Allow your browser to access your microphone when prompted
2. Click "Connect & Launch with Cypher": This establishes a connection to OpenAI's Realtime API
3. Start Talking: Ask Cypher about any startup, AI, or system design topics

Example Conversations

• "Help me plan my AI-powered app launch"
• "What's the best architecture for my startup?"
• "How do I validate my product idea?"
• "Guide me through my go-to-market strategy"
• "What AI infrastructure do I need for my chatbot?"
• "How should I design a scalable backend?"

🏗️ Technical Architecture

• Frontend: Next.js 14 with React 18
• Styling: Tailwind CSS with custom components
• Voice AI: OpenAI Realtime API (WebRTC)
• UI Components: Custom components with Framer Motion animations
• State Management: React hooks and context
• TypeScript: Full type safety throughout

📁 Project Structure

cypher/
├── app/                    # Next.js app directory
├── components/             # React components
│   ├── ui/                # Reusable UI components
│   └── ...                # Feature components
├── lib/                   # Utility functions
├── cypher-app.tsx         # Main application component
├── .env.local.example     # Environment variables template
└── README.md              # This file

🚀 Deployment

Deploy to Vercel

1. Push to GitHub (already done)
2. Connect to Vercel:
   • Go to vercel.com
   • Import your GitHub repository
   • Add your environment variable: NEXT_PUBLIC_OPENAI_API_KEY
   • Deploy!

Environment Variables for Production

Make sure to set your environment variables in your deployment platform:

NEXT_PUBLIC_OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here

💡 Tips & Best Practices

• Clear Audio: Use a good microphone and speak clearly for best results
• Specific Questions: Ask detailed questions to get more targeted advice
• Iterative Conversations: Build on previous responses for deeper insights
• Save Important Advice: Take notes during conversations for later reference

🔒 Security & Privacy

• Your OpenAI API key is stored locally and never transmitted to our servers
• All voice data is processed through OpenAI's secure infrastructure
• No conversation data is stored or logged by this application

🛠️ Development

Available Scripts

• npm run dev - Start development server
• npm run build - Build for production
• npm run start - Start production server
• npm run lint - Run ESLint

Adding New Features

1. Components go in /components
2. Utilities go in /lib
3. Main app logic is in cypher-app.tsx
4. Styling uses Tailwind CSS classes

🐛 Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Connection Failed

• Verify your OpenAI API key is correct
• Check that you have Realtime API access
• Ensure stable internet connection

Microphone Not Working

• Grant microphone permissions in browser
• Check browser microphone settings
• Try refreshing the page

Environment Variables

• Ensure .env.local file exists
• Verify the API key starts with sk-
• Restart the development server after changes

🤝 Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Test thoroughly
5. Submit a pull request

📄 License

This project is open source and available under the MIT License.

🙏 Acknowledgments

• Built with OpenAI's Realtime API
• UI components inspired by modern design patterns
• Voice interaction powered by WebRTC technology

---

Ready to build your startup? Connect with Cypher and start your journey! 🚀