AI tool turning text instructions into Excel formulas.

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.

After handling loads of stress as an SVP of sales, Justin decided to step down from his job and start a consulting business. He started creating digital content from there on, and have been moving forward ever since, releasing courses, building a massive following, and double down on his solopreneurship efforts.

Justin Welsh developed his first flagship course, The LinkedIn Operating System, by focusing on three main hypotheses: pricing, course length, and production value. He set the price at $150, aiming for it to be an impulse buy, and kept the course under two hours to ensure higher completion rates, significantly surpassing the average course completion rate with his at above 45%. Welsh opted for a straightforward, low-production method, recording his content in a single take using Google Slides and Zoom, which allowed him to focus on delivering value rather than aesthetics. This approach reflected a bias toward action and simplicity, making the content accessible and engaging without unnecessary embellishments.

Justin posts 600 times a year on Linkedin, over 500 days in a row on Twitter, and recently shifted to a multi-page website to attract search engine traffic. He takes help of a friend to improve the site's SEO.

Stripo's founder, Dmytro Kudrenko, a seasoned programmer-turned-entrepreneur, identified a major gap in the email marketing industry when he realized HTML email design required coding skills that marketers usually lack. Launching in 2017, Stripo rapidly grew to one million users worldwide, generating approximately $400,000 in monthly recurring revenue by offering an intuitive, coding-free email template builder with seamless one-click exports to over 80 platforms.

As an experienced engineer who grew frustrated with the repetitiveness of software development, Miriam started brainstorming ideas for her next venture after leaving her job. She noticed a significant gap in the market: despite the growing demand for software engineers, many people found coding to be a challenging and time-consuming task. This observation sparked the idea of creating a platform that could make building software accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical skills.

Miriam initiated her exploration by joining an incubator program, where she refined her business idea through collaboration and research. She saw the potential of no-code tools during this period, identifying them as a practical solution to the global shortage of software engineers. With a co-founder facing similar challenges in the tech industry, they set out to develop a platform providing ready-to-use building blocks for software creation.

Before fully pursuing the idea, Miriam conducted market research and validated the concept by engaging with potential users and exploring existing no-code tools. Her engineering background helped her analyze the limitations and strengths of such tools. Feedback and insights from early testers guided the refinement of Softr, ensuring it addressed real-world needs while remaining user-friendly and intuitive. This iterative process was essential in overcoming initial challenges and led to the successful development of Softr, a platform that democratizes software building for non-coders.

Softr was built with a focus on simplicity and functionality, using Airtable as the initial backend. Mariam Hakobyan and her team crafted Softr to enable users to build web apps without code by employing a Lego-like approach where complex functionalities are modular building blocks. The development process spanned several months, with the first basic version launched as a website builder. The team faced challenges primarily in ensuring that the platform was intuitive yet powerful enough, which involved iterative feedback from the initial user base and continuous refinement. The product development wasn't without its hurdles, such as addressing skepticism about scalability and usability, but the focus on reducing the learning curve and addressing common developer pain points led to Softr's successful creation.

Community and Word of Mouth

Softr emphasized the power of community engagement and word of mouth to drive its growth. The founders actively participated in no-code and tech communities to share their progress, gather feedback, and iterate on their product. By fostering relationships within these communities, they built trust and generated excitement around Softr. They capitalized on inbound interest from potential users and leveraged existing customer networks to spread the word about their platform.

Why it worked: The no-code community thrives on sharing and collaboration. By immersing themselves in these circles, Softr tapped into a highly engaged audience that appreciated the straightforward approach to building software. The strong word-of-mouth marketing helped expand their reach and attract a mix of individual creators and business users who were excited about the possibilities Softr offered.

Product-Led Growth and Intuitive User Experience

Softr's growth is largely attributed to a focus on product-led growth, prioritizing an intuitive user experience that enables even non-technical users to build web applications quickly. By designing a platform that minimizes the learning curve, they encouraged more users to experiment and create, thereby expanding their user base organically.

Why it worked: An easy-to-use product lowers the barrier to entry for a greater number of users, driving adoption and retention. Softr's approach to product development reflects a clear understanding of user needs, making it simpler for individuals and businesses to see immediate results. This ease of use naturally encourages users to become advocates for the product, contributing to its growth.

Product Hunt Launches

Softr leveraged Product Hunt for several significant product launches. These launches helped generate substantial initial traction by reaching tech enthusiasts and early adopters interested in no-code solutions. Winning accolades on Product Hunt, such as becoming the number one of the month and even of the year, provided further validation and exposure.

Why it worked: Product Hunt is a platform known for its active community of tech enthusiasts who are eager to discover new and innovative products. Softr's successful launches on Product Hunt tapped into this audience, providing a boost in visibility and credibility. The recognition helped Softr capture the attention of potential users who value simplicity and innovation in software development.

Built-in Virality Through Free Plan and Branding

Softr offered a free version of their product with limited functionality, which still provided substantial value to users by allowing them to connect a custom domain. This approach not only attracted a wide range of users but also integrated a "Made with Softr" badge on free builds, creating a built-in virality loop as users shared their creations online, showcasing Softr's capabilities.

Why it worked: By offering a valuable free option, Softr removed initial cost barriers, encouraging widespread usage and experimentation. The branding element of the "Made with Softr" badge served as a subtle but effective marketing tool. As users shared their projects publicly, the badge acted as a silent promoter, helping to spread Softr's reputation and attract additional users seeking similar solutions.

AJ got the idea for Carrd out of a desire to branch out from his routine work of designing and coding website templates. This routine work had become too easy and almost monotonous, prompting him to seek a new challenge that would leverage his extensive skills in a fresh way.

He realized that while he was looking for something different to do, he still wanted to stay close to his core expertise in web design and development. He wanted to build for a simple idea that could serve a broad audience.

This drive to innovate within his domain, coupled with his recognition of users' desires for simplicity and efficiency in web building tools, spurred him to develop Carrd.

Here's how AJ likely approached building Carrd:

Static Site Generation: Carrd operates fundamentally as a static site generator, meaning that it creates websites by assembling static content files without server-side processing at the time of page loading.

Front-End Development: For the front-end, AJ used a mix of vanilla JavaScript and jQuery, which is indicative of his preference for a more hands-on approach to coding and a desire to avoid heavy frameworks that may introduce unnecessary complexity. Vanilla JavaScript and jQuery provide a solid foundation for creating interactive web elements and handling AJAX requests without the overhead of larger frameworks.

Responsive Design: Given AJ's history with HTML5 UP and responsive templates, he used responsive design principles to ensure Carrd sites would work across various devices and screen sizes. This would involve CSS media queries and potentially a framework like Bootstrap, or his own custom responsive design code.

Back-End and Infrastructure: he used a combination of server-side scripting (like Node.js, which complements his JavaScript expertise) and a lightweight database system (like MongoDB or even a relational database such as PostgreSQL or MySQL) for handling user accounts and site data.

AJ's approach to building Carrd underscores his ability to balance technical expertise with a practical, product-focused mindset, building iteratively, and responding to user feedback.

Twitter Launch

AJ began by announcing Carrd to his existing followers on Twitter, where he had built a substantial audience through his previous projects, HTML5 UP and Pixelarity. His followers were already familiar with his work and trusted his expertise in web design, making them a primed audience for Carrd.

This initial announcement helped generate immediate interest and sign-ups from his existing network, showcasing the importance of building and engaging with a dedicated follower base over time.

Product Hunt Launch

The real breakthrough in customer acquisition came from Carrd's launch on Product Hunt. Despite an early, unintended posting by a follower when Carrd was still in a "coming soon" state, AJ managed to officially launch it on the platform shortly after its public release.

This launch was meticulously planned to capitalize on Product Hunt's vast community of tech enthusiasts, early adopters, and influencers. The visibility from being featured on Product Hunt led to a significant surge in user sign-ups, site creations, and even Pro plan upgrades, far exceeding the traction generated from the Twitter announcement alone.

Even now, AJ’s recipe for awareness and distribution is very organic and very product-led. He hasn’t really done any marketing, relying instead on word of mouth and low-key viral elements within the experience like the branded URL and a “Made with Carrd” link that appears in each free website footer.

Before starting AutoMemes.ai, I was freelancing on Fiverr, creating custom video memes for brands and creators. While the work was fun, it was also repetitive and time-consuming—every meme meant searching for content, writing clever captions, and manually editing everything in CapCut. Around early 2025, AI tools were exploding in popularity. I saw people using AI to write articles, code apps, and even compose music. That’s when it hit me: "If AI can do all that, why not memes too?" That question turned into an obsession—and eventually, a product.

At first, I quietly automated part of the process and kept selling memes on Fiverr. Clients loved the results and kept coming back. That gave me the confidence to go all in.

I didn’t know how to code, so I used ChatGPT to learn and build the first version. The early users were actually my old Fiverr clients—and they’re still using the product today. That’s how I knew this wasn’t just a fun idea, it was a real business.

Unlike other projects I had started, this one solved a real pain I had personally experienced. That made all the difference.

Fiverr Order Confirmation

Growing AutoMemes.ai has been all about experimentation. Besides building in public on Twitter, I’ve tried multiple strategies across content, SEO, and creator partnerships.

Every day, I publish new meme templates on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and on my website, both to attract organic traffic and showcase what the tool can do. I also run niche TikTok meme accounts where every meme includes a visible watermark from AutoMemes.ai—this drives curiosity and clicks from people who want to know how the memes were made.

I offer all green screen templates for free as a lead magnet. These are especially useful for content creators looking for easy hooks. I also engage in Reddit communities where creators share meme ideas and resources. Giving value in those spaces has helped build trust.

100+ free green screen meme templates

I experimented with cold outreach on WhatsApp to indie hackers and creators from groups I’m part of—but I learned the hard way that this can backfire. I even got kicked out of a group for coming off too spammy. My advice: don’t cold DM strangers on WhatsApp. Instead, focus on giving value and building relationships.

I also run a newsletter where I share strategies and real-life case studies on how different businesses are growing on social media using meme marketing. It's another way to give value, stay connected with my audience, and keep learning together. It’s early, but the results are promising.

TikTok Growth Analysis @inflow

Right now, I’m testing sponsorships with green screen creators to drive traffic directly from viral content.

In the end, what’s worked best is creating useful, shareable content consistently—and making sure people know where it came from.

The idea for Syself came from firsthand experience with the challenges of managing Kubernetes at scale. Before starting Syself, I worked extensively in cloud infrastructure and DevOps, helping companies deploy and maintain Kubernetes clusters. I repeatedly saw teams struggling with complexity, high costs, and the steep learning curve of Kubernetes. Many businesses wanted the power of Kubernetes but lacked the expertise or resources to operate it efficiently. That’s when I realized there was an opportunity: What if Kubernetes could manage itself?

The "aha" moment came when I was helping a company migrate from a managed Kubernetes service to a self-hosted setup on a more cost-effective cloud provider. The migration was technically possible but incredibly tedious—provisioning nodes, configuring networking, ensuring updates wouldn’t break anything. It became clear that automation and simplicity were missing from Kubernetes management, especially for companies that wanted to optimize costs and avoid vendor lock-in.

My image

How We Built the First Version of Syself: Identifying the Core Problem & Market Need: Before writing a single line of code, I spent months talking to DevOps engineers, CTOs, and Kubernetes users to understand their biggest challenges. The common pain points were clear—Kubernetes was too complex, managed services like AWS EKS and GKE were expensive, and self-hosting Kubernetes required too much manual effort. Companies wanted automation, flexibility, and cost savings without vendor lock-in.

That’s when the idea for Syself Autopilot took shape. Our goal was simple: one command to create a production-ready Kubernetes cluster without the hassle of manual setup and management. Instead of competing with managed cloud services, we wanted to provide an open, cost-efficient alternative that worked on any infrastructure—especially on affordable providers like Hetzner.

Building an MVP (Minimum Viable Product): To move quickly, we focused on a single core feature: automated Kubernetes provisioning on Hetzner Cloud. We used Cluster API, an open-source Kubernetes lifecycle management tool, and built a custom controller to handle node provisioning and scaling. Instead of overwhelming users with too many options, we created a simple CLI tool that allowed them to deploy clusters with just one command.

Once we had the prototype, we tested it with real users—DevOps teams, startup founders, and Kubernetes enthusiasts. We collected feedback on usability, performance, and security, and then refined the product with bi-weekly updates. The key was iterating fast—we kept improving the tool based on real-world use cases and fixing pain points that surfaced during testing.

I actually did not start with MrScraper at first. I bought it from an Indiehacker named Kai. It happened in 2024 when I had plenty of cash sitting around from my profit from running my technical writing agency, penateam.com, and realized that scaling an agency is a pain in the butt.

I was googling on the internet and got hooked on the idea of flipping businesses instead of starting from scratch. Then, after interviewing many sellers from acquire.com. I decided to acquire MrScraper because it serves a big chunk of the market compared to other businesses I talked to and it was listed only for five figures back then, so I had nothing to lose.

After I acquired it, I realized that it had so much SEO traffic and people signed up, so I knew that people wanted this but could not figure out how to use it. So that is an "aha" moment that demand is there. I just need to make a better product.

Since I already have the first version of the product and an existing customer base, I already have some users to perform A/B test. I used a profit that I got from my agency, penateam.com, to hire a bunch of engineers from Asia to improve the product even more by looking at data from customers daily.

It took about 3 weeks to rebuild and launch our first improved product, and it was more painful than I thought. I need to step away a lot more from my agency and focus more building MrScraper.

At this moment, I realized that building SaaS is harder than building an agency. With an agency, you get guaranteed revenue every time you deliver a service. For SaaS, there is a high chance that no one would use your product even if you put in 100+ hours into it! And you also need to spend a lot of $$ for server, hiring a good team, convincing them to join and stay working with you, and many other headaches. It's completely different than the agency business model, where you can just simply run a business by yourself and stay profitable for as long as you want.

My image

We tried almost every channel possible, including SEO, X, Reddit, Facebook, etc. I even posted a desperate post on Reddit that went viral but was embarrassing, lol. I truly wanted to give up back then due to the high cost of employees and almost minimal revenue. This post made me an additional $500/month.

Then I checked all the data again, and the main revenue drivers were actually SEO and outbound to our ICPs; I understood that I could not serve all customers, so I doubled down on that and neglected all channels.

Andd thenn suddenly an enterprise client submitted an inbound ticket inquiring about a SEVEN FIGURES contract, and my MRR goes BRRRR!

This is also why I wrote this post: to get a high-quality backlink while sharing my journey. Thanks to Pat for this!

We're still pretty small compared to other players, though, and I am still trying to figure out the best and scalable strategy to grow the business, but so far, SEO and outbound are the best revenue drivers for MrScraper.

Digital hub offering software deals and resources for entrepreneurs.

Frustrated by traditional deal platforms taking up to 50% cut without contributing much, 22-year-old Jasper Cyan launched Deal Quokka, a streamlined marketplace offering over 20 million digital resources for entrepreneurs, making $15,000 in sales within the first 36 hours.

The development of Deal Quokka began with Jasper Cyan building a foundational version while managing setbacks with developers at Plasfy. The site was created on WordPress using the Elementor Page Builder, which Jasper favored for its simplicity and visual design capabilities. Over two to three weeks, he dedicated 14-hour workdays to develop a comprehensive platform that initially featured hundreds of digital products and resources he had previously created. To expand the offering, he licensed additional content from other vendors through lump-sum agreements, enabling the platform to provide a wide range of resources without incurring ongoing usage fees. This rigorous self-involved process allowed Jasper to maintain control over the creation and ensure the platform aligned precisely with his vision, although it required intense labor and learning to bring it to life.

Existing Customer Base and Upsell Strategy

Deal Quokka leveraged Jasper Cyan’s existing customer base from his design software company, Plasfy, to grow its audience. By integrating banners in Plasfy, the business was able to guide existing users naturally towards Deal Quokka. This strategy worked because it targeted an audience already familiar with the concept of deals and digital resources, creating a seamless user transition between the two platforms. The approach effectively capitalized on the trust and familiarity that users had developed with Jasper's previous products, thus reducing the acquisition cost and effort.

Why it worked: This strategy resonated due to the synergy between Plasfy and Deal Quokka's offerings and audience. Users who benefited from Plasfy's design tools were likely to find value in the diverse resources Deal Quokka offered, enhancing cross-platform appeal. Additionally, the non-intrusive nature of the upsell banners ensured a customer-friendly experience, thereby maintaining user engagement and interest without being pushy.

Word-of-Mouth and Community Engagement

Deal Quokka cultivated growth through fostering a strong community around its products. Jasper focused on building personal connections with users by infusing his presence throughout the platform, from personalized thank-you notes to direct interaction via Facebook groups. Moreover, the company launched a customer video testimonial campaign, offering cash prizes to participants who shared their experiences.

Why it worked: The personal connection and community-driven approach built a sense of loyalty and trust among users. When customers feel a brand is approachable and genuinely invested in their satisfaction, they're more likely to become repeat buyers and even advocates for the brand. The video testimonials added authenticity and relatability to the marketing, showcasing real user satisfaction that potential customers could trust.

Early Backer Exclusivity

During its launch, Deal Quokka offered a limited-time “Founders Platinum VIP” membership to its existing customer base. This exclusive early access not only provided a sense of urgency and scarcity but also turned early adopters into brand advocates. The cap on available spots, driven by practical limitations associated with licensing agreements, further enhanced the perceived exclusivity.

Why it worked: Exclusivity creates a compelling offer that leverages the psychological triggers of scarcity and urgency. It persuades potential customers to act quickly rather than procrastinate. The success of this initiative was evident in the swift selling out of the initial spots, validating the platform's value proposition and creating a core group of enthusiastic supporters who contributed to ongoing word-of-mouth promotion.

Component library streamlining web developers' landing page creation.

Manu, the founder of Aceternity UI, transformed a hobby of crafting beautiful web components into a booming business after noticing that people preferred ready-to-use code over explanatory blogs. With rapid launches and feedback-driven improvements, his Aceternity UI Pro reached $80k in revenue just two months post-launch, heavily leveraging platforms like Twitter and Product Hunt to build momentum.

Kyle Bigley started TxtCart after realizing the untapped potential in SMS marketing during his dropshipping days in college. He launched the AI-powered SMS marketing company in 2019, generating $1M ARR while still bootstrapped, and is on track for $3M ARR by 2026.