Solo founder, $80M exit, 6 months: The Base44 bootstrapped startup success story | Maor Shlomo | Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth (private feed for websong16@gmail.com)

In this episode of Lenny's Podcast, Lenny Rachitsky interviews Maor Shlomo, the solo founder of Base44, an AI app-building platform recently acquired by Wix for $80 million. Maor shares his journey of building Base44 in just six months, bootstrapping the company, and achieving rapid growth. He discusses the origin of the idea, his approach to product development, growth tactics that worked (building in public, incentivizing users to share their creations), and the tech stack he used. Maor also provides insights on being a solo founder, the importance of velocity, and the acquisition process, emphasizing the significance of community, building something you enjoy, and the potential of AI in software development.

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Solo founder, $80M exit, 6 months: The Base44 bootstrapped startup success story | Maor Shlomo

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth (private feed for websong16@gmail.com)

Introduction to Base44 and Maor Shlomo's Entrepreneurial Journey

The Genesis of Base44: Solving Personal and Organizational Needs

Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Being a Solo, Bootstrapped Founder

Productivity Stack and Competing in a Crowded Market

Ambition, Organic Growth, and the Anti-Empire Mindset

Early User Acquisition and the Power of Building in Public

Key Growth Strategies: Community, Building for Specific People, and Velocity

Doubling Down on What Works: LinkedIn, Incentives, and the Hackathon for Good

Tech Stack and Activation Strategies

The Acquisition Process: Chemistry, Culture, and the Importance of Being Fine with Walking Away

The Iran-Israel War and Final Advice for Founders

Solo founder, $80M exit, 6 months: The Base44 bootstrapped startup success story | Maor Shlomo

Lenny's Podcast: Product | Career | Growth (private feed for websong16@gmail.com)

00:00Introduction to Base44 and Maor Shlomo's Entrepreneurial Journey

Introduction to Base44 and Maor Shlomo's Entrepreneurial Journey

07:59The Genesis of Base44: Solving Personal and Organizational Needs

The Genesis of Base44: Solving Personal and Organizational Needs

14:55Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Being a Solo, Bootstrapped Founder

Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Being a Solo, Bootstrapped Founder

22:53Productivity Stack and Competing in a Crowded Market

Productivity Stack and Competing in a Crowded Market

34:08Ambition, Organic Growth, and the Anti-Empire Mindset

Ambition, Organic Growth, and the Anti-Empire Mindset

40:06Early User Acquisition and the Power of Building in Public

Early User Acquisition and the Power of Building in Public

47:17Key Growth Strategies: Community, Building for Specific People, and Velocity

Key Growth Strategies: Community, Building for Specific People, and Velocity

55:05Doubling Down on What Works: LinkedIn, Incentives, and the Hackathon for Good

Doubling Down on What Works: LinkedIn, Incentives, and the Hackathon for Good

1:04:18Tech Stack and Activation Strategies

Tech Stack and Activation Strategies

1:15:25The Acquisition Process: Chemistry, Culture, and the Importance of Being Fine with Walking Away

The Acquisition Process: Chemistry, Culture, and the Importance of Being Fine with Walking Away

1:24:28The Iran-Israel War and Final Advice for Founders

The Iran-Israel War and Final Advice for Founders