Show HN: I built a site where 100k strangers each pay $1.99 to upload one photo

1•omara123•1h ago

Attempting to get 100,000 strangers to each pay $1.99 to upload one photo to a collaborative digital mural. Inspired directly by the Million Dollar Homepage but instead of anonymous pixels its real human photos that grow the mural in real time. Built in a single evening using AI tools. Stripe went live the same night. Currently on day 3. The internet experiment angle...does this concept still work in 2026? The Million Dollar Homepage sold out in 2005 with zero social media. This one is trying to do it with 195 Twitter followers and a reply game.

Comments

obayesshelton•1h ago

Why though... what benefit do I get for that $1.99

omara123•1h ago

Honestly... not much in the traditional sense. you get a permanent tile in a collaborative mural being built by 100,000 strangers. Your photo lives there forever. The sooner you are the better number you have and more visibility. No utility, no rewards, no promises. It's closer to buying a brick in a community wall than buying a product. Either that means something to you or it doesn't

omara123•1h ago

update: just added a $9.99 tier for photo + permanent external link on your tile. so now there's a tangible benefit for businesses and creators who want a permanent backlink. built it in about 20 minutes after someone else in the comments requested it. that's the honest answer to your question .. $1.99 is for people who want to be part of something. $9.99 is for people who want that plus a permanent link

omara123•1h ago

Happy to answer any questions about the build or the concept. Built the whole thing in one night using Base44, no code (i have zero coding skills). Stripe integration took about 2 hours. Currently the hardest part is distribution which is why I'm on HN at 9am.

xzmhxdxh•1h ago

Can you add a feature for external links?

omara123•1h ago

interesting idea.. so youre saying instead of just a photo you could attach a link to your tile? like clicking your tile takes you somewhere? could work as a way to let people add context to their photo. adding it to the list! want to see if the core concept gets traction first before adding features

omara123•1h ago

update: just added it. $9.99 for photo + permanent external link. tile becomes clickable and opens your URL :)

beardyw•1h ago

You reinvented The Million Dollar Homepage!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Million_Dollar_Homepage

Though, sorry to say, not as much fun.

omara123•1h ago

100% inspired by it lol.. mentioned that in the original post. the difference is pixels vs real human photos, and the mural only exists if 100k strangers actually show up. curious what would make it more fun for you though? genuinely open to it.

beardyw•45m ago

> mentioned that in the original post

Oops, sorry, yes twice! Would have saved me the effort of recalling it.

> what would make it more fun for you though?

Well the original had wildly varied sizes and garish saturated colours. Not very 2020s.

As an aside, you know of course you might get photos you wish you hadn't. The internet back then was just a bit more civilised.

omara123•40m ago

fair point on moderation and yeah i have a review queue before photos go live so nothing gets published thats "R" rated. and agreed the internet is a different place now. on the varied sizes.. interesting idea, hadn't considered making early tiles larger. might actually add that as an incentive for early adopters

omara123•44m ago

for anyone curious, just checked analytics. onetile.me is seeing its biggest traffic spike since launch. seems like HN readers are at least curious enough to click. appreciate the honest feedback in this thread either way

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Show HN: I built a site where 100k strangers each pay $1.99 to upload one photo

Comments

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