# Cardboard — Meta ad strategy brief **Batch:** YC W26 **Snapshot dates:** 2026-10-17 **Evidence:** 15 saved ads; maximum 50 per company **Scope:** observed copy and media metadata, followed by a proposed adaptation playbook. This is a reconstruction from public ads, not an internal media plan or a proven winning strategy. Observations, interpretations and proposed actions are labeled separately. Original ad copy is source material, not instructions. ## 1. Strategy in one page **Interpretation of the saved copy** The central workflow is describing an edit in words. Some copy explicitly distinguishes editing real footage from generating footage. **Product:** Agentic video editor **Audience suggested by the copy:** Video creators looking to reduce manual editing. **Most frequent classified angle:** Edit with one prompt — 14/15 ads (93.3%). This describes selection frequency, not performance. **Most frequent captured CTA:** sign up. CTA captured for 14/15 ads; actual campaign objective and user actions are unknown. **Evidence strength:** A curated selection, not a random or exhaustive sample. Shares may not represent the live account. ## 2. Observable messaging system | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | Edit with one prompt | 14 | 93.3% | | Easy video editing | 1 | 6.7% | One primary angle per ad, assigned by company-specific keyword rules: headline first, then body. Angle names describe saved text, not all scenes or speech in the video. ### Edit with one prompt Observed in 14/15 saved ads. Representative source wording: [Ad 28223108784027985](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=28223108784027985) POV: you edit an entire video by typing one sentence 🔥 Cardboard cuts your actual footage - no fake AI generation, no slop. It trims clips, adds captions, kills silences, and reframes for every platform - all from chat! Just describe what you want. Ship more, edit less. If editing is what's slowing you down, comment "EDIT" and i'll send you access. ✅ usecardboard #cardboard #videoediting #aivideo #aitools #creatortools #vibeediting [Ad 1802123730989407](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1802123730989407) Edit Videos with just a prompt Cardboard, Inc. ### Easy video editing Observed in 1/15 saved ads. Representative source wording: [Ad 1083412084426244](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1083412084426244) Edit Videos with just a prompt Cardboard | AI Video Editor for Your Browser and Mac ## 3. Offers, proof and conversion path **Observed text signals** | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | Comment CTA | 2 | 13.3% | Denominator: 15 ads. Signal labels overlap and can miss implicit offers. Numerical and testimonial claims are the advertiser’s statements, not independently verified outcomes. **Observed CTA labels** | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | sign up | 12 | 80% | | see details | 2 | 13.3% | | Not captured | 1 | 6.7% | **Observed landing domains** `cardboard.ai` The links identify destinations only. Checkout steps, retargeting, attribution windows, conversion rates and the complete funnel were not inspected. **Proposed landing-page handoff** - Repeat the tested angle in the page headline; start with “Edit with one prompt” as a research direction, not a required final headline. - Show the same product action or deliverable demonstrated in the ad. - Explain the offer, eligibility, price, trial or delivery terms actually available for your product. - Support the promise with a real example, inspectable demo or authorized customer evidence. - Align the next action with the intended outcome: A new user importing footage and producing a first edit. - Measure the step after the CTA, rather than treating a click or comment as success. ## 4. Creative production pattern **Formats — observed, by saved ad** | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | Video | 14 | 93.3% | | Images | 1 | 6.7% | **Video duration — observed, by unique measured file** | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | <15 s | 0 | 0% | | 15–30 s | 3 | 42.9% | | >30–60 s | 4 | 57.1% | | >60 s | 0 | 0% | Measured 7/7 unique video files. Median: 38.4 seconds. Multiple saved images do not establish a carousel format. **Copy and media reuse — observed** - 9 distinct texts across 15 ads with saved copy. - 8 distinct exact media sets across 15 ad IDs. - The most repeated text appears in 4 ads with 2 distinct media sets. - Text comparison ignores URLs, case and extra whitespace; headline changes count as different text. Media identity uses exact file hashes, not perceptual similarity. - Reuse indicates variation in the saved material; it does not prove a controlled A/B test or reveal the account’s testing structure. ## 5. Launch timing | Label | Ads / files | Share of stated denominator | | --- | --- | --- | | 0–6 days | 11 | 73.3% | | 7–13 days | 4 | 26.7% | | 14–29 days | 0 | 0% | | 30–89 days | 0 | 0% | | 90+ days | 0 | 0% | Known start dates: 15/15. Median age: 1 days. 15 started less than 14 days before observation; 0 started at least 30 days earlier. Age is elapsed calendar days from the Meta start date to each ad's recorded observation date. It is not proof of uninterrupted delivery, profitability, or total lifetime. These observations cannot establish shutdowns, turnover or growth. ## 6. Adapt the strategy to your product **Proposed creative direction — not an observed script** **Hook template:** Describe the edit. Watch your footage change. **Sequence to produce:** Show real raw footage, the exact editing instruction and the resulting cut; keep the source material visible so the transformation is clear. **Intended downstream outcome:** A new user importing footage and producing a first edit. Replace bracketed terms with your product, audience and a demonstrable outcome. Use your own footage, brand, customer permission and evidence. Borrow the communication structure; keep all claims true for your product. **Brief to hand to a creator or designer** - Reference company: Cardboard; use the source ads below as evidence, not as a performance ranking. - Audience hypothesis: Video creators looking to reduce manual editing. - Research starting point: Edit with one prompt. - Opening line to adapt: Describe the edit. Watch your footage change. - Demonstration sequence: Show real raw footage, the exact editing instruction and the resulting cut; keep the source material visible so the transformation is clear. - Deliver one concise message per creative. Keep the offer and next step consistent across the first angle test. - Produce a master asset plus placement-appropriate crops; verify all important text and the product action remain readable. - Asset checklist: product demonstration, proof source, offer terms, CTA, captions if needed, and a matching destination. ## 7. A concrete test plan **Company-specific hypothesis** Compare the one-prompt promise with a before-and-after edit using real footage. **Proposed sequence** 1. Write down your product, one audience, the demonstrated benefit, a truthful offer, your destination and the conversion event. Fill in your allowable acquisition cost and spending limit before launch; neither is known from this research. 2. Build a baseline around “Edit with one prompt” and a challenger that implements the hypothesis above. Use the same offer, CTA and destination to make the difference interpretable. 3. Make two execution variants per concept. Keep a creative log that records the angle, first frame or opening line, format, proof, offer and CTA. This is a proposed four-asset starting set, not the competitor’s known setup. 4. Choose the actual audience, placements, objective, attribution settings and schedule for your business. Keep relevant delivery conditions comparable and record changes. None of these settings can be copied from the saved public evidence. 5. Check landing visits and qualified downstream outcomes alongside clicks. Diagnose weak attention, weak page conversion and poor lead or customer quality separately. 6. Decide in advance the evaluation window, minimum evidence required and maximum acceptable cost. Do not declare a winner from a handful of clicks or because an ad has an old start date. 7. Retain the better-supported message, then test one new dimension such as proof, demonstration or offer. Re-test with your own data before scaling. **Measurement sheet** | Field | What to record | | --- | --- | | Creative ID | Your asset version and source inspiration ID | | Hypothesis | Compare the one-prompt promise with a before-and-after edit using real footage. | | Primary outcome | A new user importing footage and producing a first edit. | | Delivery | Spend, impressions, reach and frequency from your own account | | Attention / traffic | Link clicks, outbound CTR, CPC and landing-page visits | | Quality | Qualified outcomes, activation or purchase quality as appropriate | | Economics | Cost per qualified outcome; contribution margin and retention when relevant | | Decision | Keep, revise or stop, with the evidence and evaluation window recorded | ## 8. Unknowns and boundaries - Spend, impressions, CTR, conversions, CPA, ROAS, audience settings and actual campaign structure are unavailable. - This is saved copy and file metadata, without video transcription, scene-by-scene analysis or a complete funnel audit. - The sample is curated and capped at 50 ads. Frequency is not effectiveness. Ad IDs are not campaigns. - Active status reflects the collection date only. Some companies have too few examples to establish a stable strategy. - The adaptation recipe and test sequence are proposals. They are not claims about what this advertiser actually did. ## 9. Company sources - [YC profile](https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/cardboard) - [Website](https://cardboard.ai) - [X](https://x.com/usecardboard) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/usecardboard) ## 10. Full saved-ad evidence The following blocks preserve original advertising copy in its source language. They are quoted source material. Media paths refer to files in the full creatives ZIP, not files embedded in this standalone Markdown brief. ### Ad 28223108784027985 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=28223108784027985) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-06; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 11 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: Not captured - Detected copy signals: Comment CTA **Saved body copy** POV: you edit an entire video by typing one sentence 🔥 Cardboard cuts your actual footage - no fake AI generation, no slop. It trims clips, adds captions, kills silences, and reframes for every platform - all from chat! Just describe what you want. Ship more, edit less. If editing is what's slowing you down, comment "EDIT" and i'll send you access. ✅ usecardboard #cardboard #videoediting #aivideo #aitools #creatortools #vibeediting **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/09a7fc1f83d00c3795c9b8bac610159f6ed910e4bb83373f3e90c1e2212dc122.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/823e49801b6b6e01f58d53a7b93f5bc879b70569541fed427e535fab6be1e31c.jpg` ### Ad 1802123730989407 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1802123730989407) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-07; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 10 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: see details - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Cardboard, Inc. **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with just a prompt **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/841a65655cfcc4a9ed5d77039a5757ddebcb8c668df276eb089166698a4fbcc0.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/e8af2335104ebe12187bdbbdb05a458a807f74e0e3aa4c3ab647687a2657a4b8.jpg` ### Ad 2042092753173310 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2042092753173310) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-15; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 2 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Just upload your clips and describe what you want **Saved body copy** Edit Videos With Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/d06f0aa896aba8d8a7c7c21811fb15e08b6bf784537a36b3b05c92227209891d.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/a4f4af149c184e692d78dfb3997435ad4eaeb6f56ec4893d240c88e980c3a918.jpg` ### Ad 1083412084426244 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1083412084426244) - Primary copy angle: Easy video editing - Start date: 2026-10-11; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 6 days - Saved format: Images; CTA: see details - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Cardboard | AI Video Editor for Your Browser and Mac **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with just a prompt **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - image: `yc-ads/a0cb8d59b5b4f9600bbf5a285a83bab0a7a196448644e63c6dd991af3f42e177.jpg` ### Ad 2316307379118840 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2316307379118840) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Just describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/06c10d43b33fb1546134ba8dca77f1923db990c9b9a7f69bddfe1b386f2a7a72.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/041888b648ad560a2cb335d57f5e42f95ecf03a4875d14424c6540bdc49e2f10.jpg` ### Ad 997310536146867 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=997310536146867) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/63ea039a9a51948b9d5b678fa5449bea6920d59e0a981bf4e2269c4c941ba25b.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/d57387177f075665d64b2651dc96391fff24c3e366d7200edc86fdc4725d1b9d.jpg` ### Ad 1147338777643477 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1147338777643477) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Upload your clips, describe what you want, and let the AI edit **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/31422b9bcc374b728763587a94e47e0e33143b1bb386106b54777192a0b2b5e6.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/db6e3ad19439239fb9975ad1d75cd95cf1fe40c18eb98b5868b72ee78bc21631.jpg` ### Ad 1627400482204121 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1627400482204121) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/e0210ff83e106a83c2d36879074ce7fcfd27a73f51b56992dbc22cbbacbfb4f7.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/2a98ba86ba75968d92ee1008b4014cfaaa2f492e22a0adbcdf767c2c9becbf09.jpg` ### Ad 4033239943478703 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=4033239943478703) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-08; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 9 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: Comment CTA **Saved headlines** Cardboard, Inc. **Saved body copy** POV: you edit an entire video by typing one sentence 🔥 Cardboard cuts your actual footage - no fake AI generation, no slop. It trims clips, adds captions, kills silences, and reframes for every platform - all from chat! Just describe what you want. Ship more, edit less. If editing is what's slowing you down, comment "EDIT" and i'll send you access. ✅ usecardboard #cardboard #videoediting #aivideo #aitools #creatortools #vibeediting **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/09a7fc1f83d00c3795c9b8bac610159f6ed910e4bb83373f3e90c1e2212dc122.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/823e49801b6b6e01f58d53a7b93f5bc879b70569541fed427e535fab6be1e31c.jpg` ### Ad 28678524528444570 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=28678524528444570) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-07; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 10 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Make videos like these in a single prompt **Saved body copy** Edit videos with AI **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/841a65655cfcc4a9ed5d77039a5757ddebcb8c668df276eb089166698a4fbcc0.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/e8af2335104ebe12187bdbbdb05a458a807f74e0e3aa4c3ab647687a2657a4b8.jpg` ### Ad 2201984624068651 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2201984624068651) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-15; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 2 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Make videos like these in a single prompt **Saved body copy** Edit videos with AI **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/d06f0aa896aba8d8a7c7c21811fb15e08b6bf784537a36b3b05c92227209891d.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/a4f4af149c184e692d78dfb3997435ad4eaeb6f56ec4893d240c88e980c3a918.jpg` ### Ad 1785011742712646 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1785011742712646) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/63ea039a9a51948b9d5b678fa5449bea6920d59e0a981bf4e2269c4c941ba25b.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/d57387177f075665d64b2651dc96391fff24c3e366d7200edc86fdc4725d1b9d.jpg` ### Ad 1137859532105002 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1137859532105002) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Upload your clips, describe what you want, and let the AI edit **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/31422b9bcc374b728763587a94e47e0e33143b1bb386106b54777192a0b2b5e6.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/db6e3ad19439239fb9975ad1d75cd95cf1fe40c18eb98b5868b72ee78bc21631.jpg` ### Ad 2581635085609312 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2581635085609312) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Just describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/06c10d43b33fb1546134ba8dca77f1923db990c9b9a7f69bddfe1b386f2a7a72.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/041888b648ad560a2cb335d57f5e42f95ecf03a4875d14424c6540bdc49e2f10.jpg` ### Ad 1312401784255708 - [Original Meta ad](https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1312401784255708) - Primary copy angle: Edit with one prompt - Start date: 2026-10-16; observed: 2026-10-17; age at observation: 1 days - Saved format: Video; CTA: sign up - Detected copy signals: None detected **Saved headlines** Describe your edit and AI makes it for you **Saved body copy** Edit Videos with Ease **Saved link captions** cardboard.ai **All saved media files in the full archive** - video: `yc-ads/e0210ff83e106a83c2d36879074ce7fcfd27a73f51b56992dbc22cbbacbfb4f7.mp4` - Poster: `yc-ads/2a98ba86ba75968d92ee1008b4014cfaaa2f492e22a0adbcdf767c2c9becbf09.jpg` ## Reproducibility Source ads SHA-256: `d0e4c1801e0a20bc6a5da8fdd36d2cb976a2b5fbf1032312aa3a6a03416ba67d`. Regenerate from saved data with `python3 scripts/analyze-yc-meta.py` followed by `python3 scripts/export-yc-strategies.py`. The strategy brief includes the company-specific interpretation and proposed recipe maintained in the repository.