Formats · Length 30-90s · 9:16 · beginner

Founder build-in-public video: how to shoot, edit, and prompt it

A build in public video is a founder sharing one update, decision, or number from the company, mixing face, screen, and the real metrics.

By Sulan Zhang, co-founder of Vyra · Updated 2026-09-24 · Example: @sulansart

Platforms: TikTok, Reels, Shorts, X, LinkedIn, YouTube
Length: 30-90s
Aspect: 9:16
Difficulty: beginner
Gear: phone, screen recorder, your real numbers

We do these every week. Film it the day it happens.

At a glance


Best for	Early startups, indie hackers, solo founders, launches
Hook style	The number or the decision, "we killed pricing tiers yesterday, here's why"
Pacing	Face 5-8 seconds, screen 3-5 seconds, back and forth
Caption style	Phrase captions, big number cards
Music	Low, neutral
Shot list	Face take, handheld or at your desk. Screen recording of the product or dashboard. Metrics screenshot.
Common mistakes	Vague updates ("big week"). Numbers said but not shown. Too polished.

Structure

0-3s: the number or the decision
3-10s: context, one sentence
10-50s: what happened, face and screen alternating
50-65s: what you learned or what's next
65-75s: ask for input

How to shoot it

Same day as the thing happened.
Handheld, walking or at your desk, no setup.
Screen record the actual feature, chart, or message.
Say exact numbers. "1,240 users" beats "over a thousand".
Record one hook take with the number first.

How to edit it

Number card on screen within 2 seconds.
Cut to the screen recording when you describe the product.
Metrics screenshot with a zoom when you say the number.
Jump cuts are fine. Polish isn't the point.
End on a question.

Prompt it in Vyra

This is a build-in-public update. Cut it to 60 seconds, show the Stripe screenshot with a zoom when I say "four thousand dollars", and cut to the product recording when I talk about the new feature. Big bold number card for the first 2 seconds that says "$4k MRR". Captions in phrases.

Keep it raw, jump cuts are fine, no transitions. Low neutral music.

Variations

Weekly update, same structure, same day every week.
Launch day, hour by hour.
Post-mortem, what didn't work.

FAQ

Should I show real revenue? Real numbers are why people follow. Round if you have to, but show the screen.

How often? Weekly. Daily during a launch.

Can Vyra keep the same look every week? Yes. Once you've set a caption and card style, mention it in the next prompt or attach last week's video as the reference.