Problem (Pain Level: 8/10)
“I want to use my API with Claude or Cursor, but I need to build an MCP server from scratch?” - A new barrier every API developer faces in the AI agent era.
Current pain points:
- Manual Work: Even with OpenAPI specs, you must develop MCP servers separately
- Learning Curve: Time spent learning MCP protocol and SDK usage
- Deployment Complexity: Hosting and registry registration require separate steps
- Maintenance Burden: Manual sync when APIs change
- Fragmented Ecosystem: Tools like Specli (local CLI) and Mpak (package management) are disconnected
Target Market
Primary Target: API-owning companies, SaaS startups, AI agent developers
Market Size:
- MCP Ecosystem: Tens of thousands of MCP servers exist as of 2026
- AI Agent Market: Expected to reach $100B+ by 2028
- API Management Tools Market: $4B+ (2026)
- MCP Python SDK: 9.7M monthly downloads
Pain Intensity: Demand surges as MCP becomes the standard
What is MCP Forge?
A one-stop platform that auto-generates and instantly deploys MCP servers from a single OpenAPI spec URL.
Core Concept:
# MCP server deployment in 3 steps
$ mcpforge create https://api.example.com/openapi.json
✓ OpenAPI spec analyzed (23 endpoints)
✓ Generating MCP server...
✓ Deployed!
🎉 Use it in Claude Desktop right away:
mcpforge://example-api-server
# Or just paste the URL in the web dashboard
Differentiators:
- One-Click Deploy: Enter OpenAPI URL → MCP server goes live instantly
- Auto-Sync: MCP server auto-updates when API changes
- Managed Hosting: No separate server needed
- Registry Integration: Auto-register to MCP registries
- Specli + Mpak Combined: Supports both local execution and package distribution
Competitive Analysis
| Competitor | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|
| Specli | OpenAPI → local executable | No hosting/deployment |
| MCPM.sh | MCP server package management | No server generation |
| OpenAPI Generator | Client/server code generation | No MCP support |
| FastMCP | Python MCP framework | Manual development required |
Opportunity: No full-stack solution combining generation + hosting + deployment
Competition Level: LOW - Emerging market, first-mover advantage
MVP Development
Timeline: 4 weeks
Tech Stack:
- Language: TypeScript (Bun runtime)
- Backend: FastAPI or Hono
- MCP Generation: Leverage Specli logic
- Hosting: Cloudflare Workers or Fly.io
- Auth: API Key + OAuth
MVP Features:
- OpenAPI spec parsing and analysis
- Auto-generate MCP server code
- Serverless deployment (managed hosting)
- Claude Desktop integration guide
- Dashboard (API list, usage metrics)
Future Features:
- Custom domain support
- Auth proxy (API key management)
- Webhook-triggered auto-redeploy
- Team collaboration and permissions
Revenue Model
Model: Subscription + Usage
Pricing:
- Free: 1 API, 1,000 calls/month, mcpforge.io subdomain
- Pro ($29/mo): 10 APIs, 50,000 calls/month, custom domain
- Team ($99/mo): Unlimited APIs, 500,000 calls/month, 5 team members
- Enterprise (Custom): Self-hosted, SLA, dedicated support
Revenue Projections:
- 6 months: $3K-10K MRR (growing with MCP ecosystem)
- 12 months: $15K-40K MRR (with enterprise customers)
Risk Analysis
| Risk | Level | Mitigation |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | LOW | Both OpenAPI and MCP are standardized specs |
| Market | MEDIUM | Demand varies with MCP adoption rate |
| Execution | MEDIUM | Large players (Anthropic, Vercel) may enter |
Key Risk: Anthropic or Vercel could launch similar services
Recommended For
- Developers familiar with API development and OpenAPI specs
- Those with serverless architecture experience
- Those interested in the MCP ecosystem and early market positioning
- Those with B2B SaaS operations experience
- Those strong in DevOps/infrastructure automation
If you’re starting a side project with this idea or have other thoughts, please share in the comments!