Introduction

A solo founder built an AI startup alone, hit fast growth, and sold it for $80M in under a year. Here is how it actually happened.

What's the problem it solves?

Most startups move slow, burn cash, and depend on big teams and funding. Base44 shows how one person can build, grow, and exit fast using AI, focus, and smart choices.

Quick Summary

Base44 was built by one founder who left the VC-backed world to move faster and stay in control. Instead of raising money or hiring early, he used AI to do the work of a full team.

He spent months building a complete product, not a rough demo. When it launched, users could ship real apps right away. That quality helped the product spread without ads or a sales team.

Growth came from building in public on LinkedIn, talking directly to early users, and using small communities for feedback. In about six months, Base44 reached 300K users and $3.5M ARR. Wix bought it for around $80M soon after.

Key Takeaways

• One person can now build what used to need a full team
• Speed and focus matter more than fundraising
• A finished product beats an ugly MVP in crowded markets
• One strong channel is better than many weak ones
• AI can replace early hires if used well
• Keeping costs low gives you more control and options

What to do

• Build a product that feels complete for one clear user group
• Avoid fundraising if it slows you down
• Pick one channel and go all in on it
• Share your building process in public to earn trust
• Use AI to automate support, content, and admin work
• Track AI costs early and keep them tight

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