For indie hackers and makers
Side project launch video, built from your URL in under 90 seconds
You shipped the thing. Now you need a launch video that does not eat your whole weekend. Paste your project URL and Rendrio writes the script, animates your screenshots, and outputs a clean MP4 you can drop into a Show HN post or launch tweet.
rolling
Scene 01 · Hook
The film Rendrio would cut for a Side Project
01
Hook
02
Problem
03
Solution
04
Features
05
Proof
06
Call to act
The problem
The launch is tomorrow and you have no video
You spent months on the code and zero minutes on the launch asset. Screen recordings look rough, and learning a video editor the night before launch is not happening. You need something polished now, not a weekend project on top of a project.
Your demo GIF undersells everything
A silent 3-second loop does not explain what your tool does or why it matters. People scroll past it. You need a real narrative that hooks, states the problem, and shows the payoff, without you recording your own voice or face.
You are a solo builder, not a video person
There is no marketing team, no motion designer, no budget for an agency. Every hour on video is an hour not shipping features. You want launch-grade visuals without touching a timeline or paying hundreds for a freelancer.
What a Side Project video is for
Product Hunt launch day asset
Drop a 16:9 video at the top of your Product Hunt listing so hunters instantly grasp the value. The 6-scene structure hits the hook and features fast, which matters when makers are skimming dozens of launches in one morning.
The launch thread on X
Lead your announcement thread with a 1:1 or 9:16 cut that autoplays in the feed. A branded motion video stops the scroll far better than a raw screenshot, and it makes a one-person project look like a funded startup.
Show HN and Reddit posts
Embed the MP4 or link it so curious developers see the product moving before they click through. A tight explain-tone script answers what it does and who it is for, cutting the questions you would otherwise field in comments.
How to make a great Side Project video
Lead with the problem, not the tech stack
Makers love talking about how they built it, but viewers care what it solves. Pick the explain or pitch tone so the script opens on the pain your project kills, then reveals your tool as the fix. Save the stack details for the README.
Match the ratio to where you post
Use 16:9 for Product Hunt and YouTube, 9:16 for a TikTok or Reels teaser, and 1:1 for the X feed. The Pack unlocks all three from one generation, so you can cut a version for every launch channel in minutes.
Keep the URL polished before you paste
Rendrio builds from your live site, so tidy your hero headline, screenshots, and brand colors first. A clear value prop and a clean landing page produce a sharper script and better on-screen visuals than a half-finished page will.
Questions
Do I need a finished landing page first?
You need a live URL with your core message, a screenshot or two, and your brand colors visible. Rendrio reads the site to write the script and pull visuals. A rough page still works, but a clear hero headline and clean screenshots produce a noticeably better launch video.
Can I make a video before I have any users?
Yes. The social proof scene adapts to what your site offers, so it can highlight your value or early traction instead of fake numbers. Many makers launch with the video first to attract those first users, then regenerate later once real proof exists.
How much does a launch video cost?
You can preview for free with no card. A free signup gives 3 generations plus 1 HD render. A Single Render is 9 dollars for one HD export, and the Pack is 29 dollars for 5 generations and 5 renders across all three ratios. Credits never expire.
Is this a screen recording of my app?
No. Rendrio uses motion graphics and your branded screenshots in a Stripe or Linear launch-video style, not live screen capture or talking heads. It animates your real site imagery with a scripted voiceover and music, so the result looks designed rather than recorded.
Make a video for
See it on your Side Project
Paste your URL and roll the first take, free.