AI tool turning text instructions into Excel formulas.

The site was built in a no-code web application called Bubble.io. There is not one line of code that I wrote on the entire website.

David Bressler, the founder of Excelformulabot.com, came up with the idea while on paternity leave. After discovering the power of AI and its potential in Excel formulas, he realized there was a need for an AI-based Excel formula generator. With 1 billion Excel users worldwide, Bressler saw a big enough market and quickly built a barebone application that went viral and gained traction through Reddit, TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Since the launch in September 2022, the website has generated over $14K in monthly recurring revenue.

Excelformulabot was developed quickly to capitalize on the growing AI industry, with a minimalistic MVP built using the no-code platform Bubble.io. The initial version had basic functionality: an input field for user instructions, a button for generating formulas, an output field displaying the results, and a copy button. This barebone MVP took just a few weeks to build, reflecting David's urgency to harness the first mover's advantage in the AI space. He faced challenges related to unexpected high API costs due to viral exposure and immediately had to create a business model to manage costs efficiently. Feedback from the Excel subreddit was crucial for iterating on the initial version, which transitioned into a subscription-based platform with paywalls and logins over several months, demonstrating the effectiveness of user feedback in refining product offerings.

Viral Marketing on Social Media

Excelformulabot experienced significant growth through viral marketing, particularly on TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and Reddit. The platform gained traction when users began sharing it as a "website that feels illegal to know." The ripple effect from influencers and micro-influencers posting about Excelformulabot amplified the brand's reach substantially. The virality continued across different social platforms, leading to widespread recognition and traffic.

Why it worked: Viral marketing tapped into the power of social proof. When influencers shared their experiences, their followers were intrigued and inclined to check out the service themselves. The portrayal of the site as a secretive hack added a compelling element that spurred curiosity and shareability.

Influencer Collaborations

Direct engagement with influencers has been a crucial part of Excelformulabot’s marketing strategy. David Bressler reached out to influencers whose audiences aligned with the product's use case in areas like finance, data, and accounting. Collaborations were either based on free promotions or paid partnerships, typically ranging from $200 to $3K per engagement.

Why it worked: Engaging influencers allowed Excelformulabot to tap into established communities that trusted their recommendations. This strategy effectively positioned the product in front of targeted users who found immediate value in the tool, especially amidst audiences who frequently use Excel.

Organic SEO and Branding

Excelformulabot benefitted from organic search traffic, largely driven by people searching for terms like "Excel formula bot." The brand's presence as both the category creator and the main solution provider resulted in high exposure on search engines. The site also garnered backlinks from reputable sites, enhancing its organic search appeal.

Why it worked: The brand's dominance in its niche and the creation of targeted content helped capture users actively searching for AI solutions for Excel. Having a name that directly matched user intent searches significantly enhanced discoverability and credibility.

Email Marketing and User Engagement

For customer retention and reengagement, Excelformulabot deployed email marketing strategies. Personalized messaging was developed based on user interactions, such as the type of formulas searched and user engagement levels. These tailored emails helped retain paying customers as well as encourage trial users to convert.

Why it worked: Personalized email campaigns aligned closely with user behavior, increasing the relevance and impact of each communication. This approach fostered a sense of connection and ensured users saw continued value in maintaining their subscriptions.

Save an extra chunk of your annual income with tax-savvy strategies.

The idea for Savvy Nomad started when my co-founder, Jameson, was traveling in Morocco and met a group of Californian surfers who had been living abroad for years but were struggling with the complexities of the U.S. tax system. Jameson, with his background in accounting and experience in tax-free Nevada, saw an opportunity to help expats and digital nomads legally reduce their tax burden.

While I didn’t come up with the original idea, my journey to Savvy Nomad was shaped by my experience founding Taxarity, a startup focused on making taxation transparent and client-friendly through digitalization. My vision was to build a global marketplace where people could compare and seamlessly move between tax regimes with automated paperwork.

Because of my previous experience, I immediately saw the clarity of its value proposition—a service that directly helps nomads establish a legal tax residency in no-income-tax states without unnecessary complexity.

Instead of overcomplicating things, I focused on scaling, refining the offer, and optimizing pricing to create a profitable, sustainable business.

Now, Savvy Nomad generates $30K/month, helping hundreds of expats legally optimize their taxes while embracing location independence.

Failing at Taxarity was one of the best lessons I could have had—because it led me to build something that truly works.

The first step was researching existing solutions, and quickly realized that while there were options for full-time RVers and retirees, there was nothing built specifically for digital nomads and expats. That was our green light—we saw a clear gap in the market.

SavvyNomad started with around $15,000 in initial costs, and honestly, $13,000 of that went straight into legal fees and research. Since we’re dealing with tax residency and compliance, we had to make sure everything was airtight.

From day one, the business model was subscription-based, and it’s still the same today. It just makes sense—tax residency isn’t a one-time thing, so offering an ongoing service was the best way to provide real value while keeping revenue predictable.

We bootstrapped everything using our savings, which gave us full control over decisions without outside pressure. For building the product, we used Bubble for the application and Framer.com for the website, which helped us move fast without needing a full development team.

It took us three months to launch the first version, not because of technical challenges, but because of the crazy amount of legal details we had to sort out. We started with South Dakota, since it was already popular for tax residency, and later expanded to Florida, which offered even more benefits for nomads.

Honestly, it was harder than we expected—not because of the tech, but because of all the little nuances about residency and domicile laws in different states. But looking back, all that work paid off.

Our main growth channels have been SEO and Google Search Ads. These two bring in the majority of our customers, and over time, we’ve refined them to be highly efficient and scalable. We’ve also experimented with other strategies like influencer marketing, video content, and affiliate partnerships, but so far, these only make up a small percentage of new customers compared to search traffic.

One of our most successful strategies has been tapping into an unmet demand. Initially, our core focus was helping nomads establish domicile for tax savings, but we discovered that many Americans abroad needed a reliable U.S. residential address. We created a new landing page, ran targeted Google Search Ads, and it immediately took off. Now, it’s one of our main growth drivers, and we’re spending around $8,000 per month on Google Ads. This worked because we found a high-intent search market where no one else was running ads, allowing us to dominate the space with little competition.

Another major driver of growth has been content. I’ve personally written over 110 articles covering state residency, tax strategies, and U.S. expat taxation. I focused on deeply researching each topic and used LLMs to speed up the process while ensuring the content remained clear, practical, and easy to read. Most tax-related content is full of legal jargon, making it difficult for the average person to understand. Our articles stand out because they are written in a straightforward way, are well-structured with visuals to explain concepts, and go deep into specifics that people actually need.

The biggest lessons from growing the business have been the importance of building scalable acquisition channels early, listening to demand and adjusting accordingly, and understanding that high-quality content can drive long-term growth if done right. Initially, we didn’t plan to offer U.S. residential addresses, but when we saw the demand, we launched fast, and it became a major success. Writing detailed, well-researched content took time, but it has now become a consistent driver of traffic and leads.

Now, with SEO and paid search as our foundation, we’re continuing to scale and grow.

No-code software solutions for startups and enterprises.

Though I had some coding abilities it wasn’t enough to build the more advanced applications I wanted to build. So I came across Bubble, and started tinkering with it.

Jacob Klug, a 20-year-old entrepreneur, launched Creme Digital at 17 after realizing the power of no-code tools like Bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic. His high-school hustle turned into a $100k/month business, building apps for startups and Fortune 500 companies alike.

Creme Digital's approach to building software focuses on leveraging no-code tools, which enables rapid development cycles. The primary tools used in development include Bubble, WeWeb, and Xano. The agency's transition to a bi-weekly subscription model indicates an adaptive and iterative process, aligning with evolving client needs. The initial product versions are shaped through tight feedback loops, involving clients in the development process for continuous improvement, thereby reducing time-to-market to about two months. Building these solutions was initially challenging, especially with the founder balancing high school and business commitments, yet the use of no-code platforms significantly streamlined the process and overcame many technical challenges.

Referrals and Word-of-Mouth

A significant portion of Creme Digital's early growth can be attributed to referrals and word-of-mouth advertising. As they focused on delivering top-notch products, satisfied clients naturally shared their positive experiences with others. This approach helped the business gain credibility and trust in the market, leading to a steady influx of new clients without additional marketing costs.

Why it worked: This strategy leverages the principle of trust and personal testimonials, which are powerful drivers in the decision-making process for potential clients. By consistently providing high-quality service, Creme Digital ensured that their clients became advocates, thereby expanding their network organically.

PR and Media Engagement

Creme Digital worked to increase awareness about no-code solutions through public relations efforts, including media appearances and podcasts. By showcasing the capabilities of no-code tools, they reached audiences that may not have previously considered such technology, thus expanding their potential client base.

Why it worked: Media and PR efforts help in establishing thought leadership and educating the market on the value of no-code development. This exposure not only broadened their audience but also positioned Creme Digital as an expert in a niche field, making it easier to attract clients who were curious about or considering transitioning to no-code solutions.

Google Ads

Although in its nascent stages, Creme Digital experimented with paid advertising through Google Ads to drive traffic and generate leads. These ads helped reach potential clients actively searching for digital solutions, providing a direct channel to present their offerings.

Why it worked: Google Ads can effectively target individuals actively seeking digital transformation solutions, thus presenting a timely opportunity to introduce Creme Digital's capabilities. When combined with highly relevant keywords, these ads can drive qualified traffic, resulting in more targeted and potentially successful client acquisition.

Cold Email Campaigns

Acknowledging a top-of-funnel issue, Creme Digital launched cold email campaigns to increase their lead flow. These campaigns were designed to engage potential clients directly, informing them about the offerings and benefits of their services.

Why it worked: Cold emails, when crafted thoughtfully, can be an effective way to initiate contact with new leads. By providing clear, concise, and compelling information about their services, Creme Digital engaged prospective clients who might not have been reached through other channels. This approach helps in building direct relationships and generating interest among potential clients.

I asked the Bubble agency who had built our original platform if they knew any prompt engineers

In 2021, Jodie Cook leveraged her extensive content from books, articles, and podcasts to launch Coachvox AI, a platform allowing creators to build AI versions of themselves. After a 7-figure exit from her social media agency, she saw a need for creators to scale their impact without increasing workload, hitting 6-figures ARR pre-launch.

The development of Coachvox AI began with a tech discovery process that involved networking to gather expertise in artificial intelligence and prompt engineering. Jodie Cook reached out to a Bubble agency that had developed the original platform and consulted various contacts via LinkedIn to discuss potential solutions. The team transformation began with Matt, a technical lead who came on board, alongside a user experience designer to convert initial sketches into mockups. They transitioned from conceptual jottings and rudimentary PowerPoint diagrams into tangible mockups, laying the groundwork for the platform. Utilizing tools such as Basecamp, Google Cloud Storage, Vercel, OpenAI, and Jira facilitated the iterative development process. Building this AI product was challenging as it involved creating something distinctive in a competitive market, but the focus on creator-centric features guided the development process, which brought the initial version into reality relatively smoothly.

Forbes Contributor Articles

One of the most effective growth channels for Coachvox AI has been leveraging Jodie Cook’s Forbes contributor profile. This channel has been highly successful, accounting for about 25% of their signups. By intentionally focusing on creating content related to AI and entrepreneurship, Jodie drives significant traffic and leads to Coachvox AI. Forbes has an extensive reach, allowing her to connect with a large audience that is interested in AI tools, thereby cementing her authority and attracting relevant creators who are likely to sign up for Coachvox AI’s services.

Why it worked: Forbes articles attract a substantial readership, and by targeting the content towards AI in entrepreneurship, it naturally appeals to the target audience of creators, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs who are ideal candidates for Coachvox AI. This strategic content creation fosters organic interest and trust among potential users.

Twitter Engagement

Twitter has also proven to be a powerful acquisition channel for Coachvox AI. Jodie Cook actively engages with influential personalities in the AI space, collaborates with them, and gains introductions to their audiences. This approach not only extends Coachvox AI's reach but also increases its credibility by association.

Why it worked: Twitter's format allows for quick and direct interactions with a large network of AI enthusiasts and industry experts. By tapping into existing audiences through collaborations and mentions, Coachvox AI benefits from increased exposure and attracts users who are already interested in AI tools and solutions.

AI Tool Directories and SEO

Another significant growth strategy includes listing Coachvox AI in AI tool directories and optimizing their SEO to appear in relevant Google searches. This ensures that Coachvox AI is visible to users actively seeking AI-driven coaching tools.

Why it worked: AI tool directories are frequented by technology-savvy individuals looking for innovative solutions. By being present where potential customers are already searching, Coachvox AI increases its chances of being discovered by a targeted audience that is more likely to convert.

Networking and Recommendations

Coachvox AI also benefits from recommendations within creator membership groups and networks. By leveraging existing relationships and past networks, they manage to streamline their acquisition efforts effectively.

Why it worked: Leveraging personal networks and industry relationships facilitates warm introductions, which are generally more effective than cold outreach. Recommendations within trusted circles carry weight, making it easier to convert interested parties into paying customers. This strategy capitalizes on existing trust, reducing acquisition friction and enhancing customer retention.

Job board connecting employers with talented Filipino professionals.

We wanted to get an MVP up and running as soon as possible. After trialing multiple no-code marketplace builders, we landed on bubble.io to provide the first iteration of Permworks.

Permworks was founded by the co-founder of Gohock, who hired a virtual assistant from the Philippines named Daina. Recognizing the value of Filipino talent, the founder decided to create Permworks, a jobs board that connects employers with Filipino talent, making it easier for startups to access staff and focus on growth.

Building the first version of Permworks involved using a no-code platform, Bubble.io, which allowed the founders to rapidly develop a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). They opted for a pre-built template and customized it to fit their business needs, allowing them to go live within approximately 6-8 weeks. This MVP development phase was more challenging than anticipated, especially when integrating their specific business model with the existing template, which required continuous bug-fixing and functionality enhancements. User feedback was crucial in this phase; for instance, by interacting with employers, they were prompted to add a feature allowing users to shortlist applicants by simply clicking a heart icon, which significantly improved employer satisfaction with the platform.

Social Media and Online Communities

Permworks effectively utilized Facebook groups to reach Filipino job seekers. By posting job ads in specific groups like "Philippines Home-Based Virtual Assistants" and "Digital Marketing Jobs PH," they managed to attract significant attention, sometimes leading to 1,000 new sign-ups overnight. They extended their efforts to other platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn to build their brand presence.

Why it worked: Engaging with Facebook groups specifically targeted at Filipino job seekers helped tap into a community where potential candidates were already active. This strategy quickly generated traction and led to a high number of sign-ups, facilitating a large pool of job seekers for employers.

Competitor Piggybacking

Permworks initially attracted employers by reaching out directly to companies from a competitor's job board. By leveraging a conversion rate of 20-30%, they managed to migrate employers over to their platform, leading to their first paying clients.

Why it worked: This approach effectively targeted an existing pool of employers already seeking Filipino talent. By offering competitive pricing and services, Permworks was able to convert potential customers who were seeking similar solutions.

Word-of-Mouth and Referrals

Word-of-mouth referrals became a powerful channel for acquiring new customers. As Permworks established strong relationships with clients through exceptional service and support, satisfied employers began recommending the platform to other businesses.

Why it worked: Providing top-notch recruitment and compliance services built client trust and satisfaction, prompting employers to spread the word about their positive experiences. This channel organically increased their customer base with minimal additional effort.

Online Advertising

Permworks used online advertising, primarily through LinkedIn, to reach potential customers. By focusing on feed posts that provided educational content about hiring and engaging Filipino talent, they caught the interest of their target audience.

Why it worked: LinkedIn served as a strategic platform for reaching businesses and hiring managers interested in hiring remotely, ensuring ads were seen by those who could benefit most from Permworks’ services. The educational approach engaged employers by addressing common hiring concerns.

Bubble - holds most of the front/back-end of Hawk Prospecting

Mohamad Alasadi, a 19-year-old entrepreneur and blogger, came up with the idea for Hawk Prospecting while running his marketing agency. He realized the need for a low-budget tool that could help him find qualified leads and prospects. With a limited technical knowledge, he used a no/low-code site builder to build Hawk Prospecting, which has now gained traction and generated $1500 in monthly revenue within its first two months.

Mohamad Alasadi built Hawk Prospecting using a no/low-code tool, which allowed him to bypass the need for extensive coding expertise and reduce startup costs significantly. This platform enabled him to focus on constructing a functional and presentable product, despite starting with limited resources and technical knowledge. It took him roughly three weeks of dedicated daily work to develop the first version of the product, starting with core features like prospect contact information, and slowly adding other functionalities such as paid plans managed through Stripe. The initial prototype was basic, with a primary focus on functionality over aesthetics. However, the process was challenging, particularly when Alasadi faced the hurdle of implementing final features, for which he had to hire a freelance developer for $300, a stark contrast to the $50K quotes he initially received from developers.

Cold Outreach

Hawk Prospecting leaned heavily on cold outreach to acquire its early users. The founder, Mohamad, utilized his background in the marketing agency world to connect with agency owners. Every day, he reached out to agency owners on Facebook, LinkedIn, and through email automation. This approach helped him understand potential users' needs and refine his product accordingly.

Why it worked: Cold outreach allowed Hawk Prospecting to build personal connections with its target audience, receiving direct feedback that was crucial for iterating the product. By reaching directly to potential users, Hawk Prospecting could bypass traditional advertising costs, which was essential for a bootstrapped startup.

Product Hunt and AppSumo

To boost visibility, Hawk Prospecting was launched on Product Hunt, gathering initial traction. Following this, an opportunity to partner with AppSumo greatly accelerated their growth, providing free traffic and new users.

Why it worked: Both Product Hunt and AppSumo are platforms specifically geared toward tech-savvy and startup-friendly audiences. They offered immediate exposure to a large number of potential users who are actively looking for innovative tools, generating significant interest and sign-ups.

Networking and Community Engagement

The founder maximized the power of online communities and networks by engaging with agency owners and other entrepreneurs. He tapped into existing communities to identify pain points and gather crucial insights.

Why it worked: Networking and community engagement helped Hawk Prospecting tap into the precise needs of its users. By being part of targeted communities, the team could better understand user challenges, leading to a more tailored product that served the market effectively.

Organic SEO Efforts

Early on, Hawk Prospecting focused on organic traffic growth by listing the startup on various directories and writing content that linked back to their site to improve SEO.

Why it worked: These efforts helped improve search engine visibility and established domain authority, slowly increasing traffic over time. Organic SEO, while slow, provided a foundation for sustained traffic without spending heavily on ads, crucial for a startup with limited marketing funds.

Marketplace connecting businesses with no-code experts.

I started researching to understand what it was all about and got to Bubble.io - the most robust no-code web development platform today.

Sasa Janicijevic, the founder of Codemap.io, came up with the idea for his business after experiencing the frustrations of traditional coding and software development while working on his previous startup. After discovering the world of no-code development, Sasa saw an opportunity to create a marketplace that connects founders and organizations with pre-vetted no-code experts, allowing them to build their products faster and at a lower cost. Since launching in October 2020, Codemap has attracted dozens of expert applications and client projects, proving the strong demand for their services in the rapidly rising no-code industry.

The development of Codemap began with an intense focus on building directly in a no-code environment, leveraging tools like Bubble.io that allow for rapid development without traditional coding. Sasa Janicijevic, the founder, was able to create the first version of Codemap in a span of nearly three months, dedicating 12-14 hours daily to constructing the platform. This effort was considerably simplified by Sasa's previous two-year experience with marketplace businesses, enabling him to visualize the entire user interface and adapt existing concepts swiftly to fit Codemap’s unique objectives. The build process, while straightforward due to the no-code platform, came with challenges inherent to marketplace businesses, such as designing effective UX flows without prior prototypes or screen designs. Despite these challenges, this approach allowed for a comprehensive initial product launch on October 2, 2020, that extended beyond a minimal viable product in terms of features and functionality.

Social Media and Community Engagement

Codemap utilized various social media platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to reach their target audience. They actively engaged with communities dedicated to no-code and low-code development, such as the 100 Days of No Code and Nocode Devs. By participating in these communities and forums, they connected with potential customers who were interested in no-code tools and services. This approach helped them build a strong presence within the no-code movement and established credibility among users looking for no-code solutions.

Why it worked: Engaging with niche communities where potential customers are already congregating allowed Codemap to effectively target their marketing efforts. By positioning themselves as part of these communities, they were able to communicate directly with people who were most likely to benefit from their services, thus generating interest and attracting users to their platform.

Product Hunt Launch

When Codemap launched, they used Product Hunt as a platform to generate buzz and visibility. Launching on Product Hunt allowed them to reach a large audience of tech-savvy users who are always looking for innovative solutions. As a result, they received expert applications and client projects from the get-go, which was crucial for their early traction.

Why it worked: Product Hunt is a popular platform among early adopters and tech enthusiasts, making it an ideal platform for launching new tech products. By leveraging Product Hunt, Codemap tapped into a community that values innovation, leading to initial user sign-ups and project postings that helped jumpstart their marketplace.

Organic Growth and Word-of-Mouth

Codemap achieved significant growth without investing in paid marketing. Instead, they focused on organic growth by providing value through their platform and nurturing relationships within their community. Over time, word-of-mouth began playing a critical role in attracting new users, as satisfied customers and freelancers shared their positive experiences with others.

Why it worked: Focusing on organic growth allowed Codemap to stretch their marketing budget while still reaching a large audience. Word-of-mouth is a powerful endorsement; when users have a positive experience, they're likely to recommend the service to others, which helps build a reputable brand and sustain growth over time.