I sold my AI tool for $35,000 (Reddit Post)

[Crissco]

THIS IS NOT MY POST. I just saw this on reddit, i thought I would share.
____________

I sold my AI tool for $35,000​

Hey Entrepreneurs, Marc here.
Last month I wrote here about how sold a habit tracker for $10,000 in October.
Earlier this month, I got $35,000 in my bank account after selling a landing page maker with AI. Here's the story:

- April 2023:
Just like everyone, I get massive FOMO with AI.
I played with GPT and decided to build a landing page generator with AI:
Input text and the AI prefills a template with copy and AI-generated images.
I'm working on it with a good friend of mine named Martin.
- May:
The product is called LandingAI. It's an MVP but we launched and made ~$8,000.
Unfortunately, Martin and I had different visions for the project so we forked.

- June:
LandingAI is the name of a big corp (bummer) so I rebranded it to MakeLanding.
I ditch 90% of the code because users want a very different product:
So here I am, building an entire website builder powered with AI...

- July:
I launched again, but made a BIG mistake:
I swapped the one-time payment for a monthly subscription and got $20 MRR for 15k visitors...

1. If you can avoid subscriptions, do it
2. New pricing means new positioning—users compared the app to Framer & Webflow

- August:
I removed the subscription and sales came back: ~$7,000 in 3 months.
But I realized this was going nowhere...
- September:

• I don't use the product
• The market is gigantic and crowded

As a solopreneur, nothing is more important for me than building cool stuff for people I care about.
And I didn't really care about this big market so...
- October:
I called my friend Dan and he said: SELL. He was right.
I bought my shares of LandingAI from Martin and listed MakeLanding on Acquire: Asking $38,000 for $14,000 TTM (3x profit)
Within hours, I received dozens of NDAs and a buyer started the process
After a few weeks of NDA, LOI, Escrow, etc. the buyer sent the money but...
Only a fraction of the transaction. Then he ghosted me. So I canceled the transition. Back to Acquire...
Luckily, in 24 hours I got another buyer!

- November:
Within weeks, the money was in my bank account.
The buyer and I never called, just a few messages. It's mind-blowing.

My takeaways:

1. Don't build AI products just because
2. Don't go on a massive market you don't care
3. Sell if you don't know how to grow the product

It's my 3rd acquisition this year. I love the freedom of build, sell, repeat.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/186nc6f

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/Entrepreneur/comments/186nc6f/i_sold_my_ai_tool_for_35000/

 

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[circleme]

Vjot xet ep opvisitvoph sief, vjeplt gus tjesoph vji usohopem dupvipv gsun siffov jisi.

O'n qmezoph esuapf raovi e cov xovj TeeT qsodoph sidipvmz epf ov ot upi ug vji jesfitv vjopht vu hiv sohjv onju. O xupfis jux uvjist vjopl ecuav vjot vuqod, et vji UQ nipvoupif, vjev vji tactdsoqvoup-suavi fofp'v xusl uav ev emm gus jon, cav vji mogivoni-fiemt fu.

O qistupemmz fu puv moli upi-uggt/mogivoni-fiemt ev emm. Vjiz esi cef gsun e detjgmux-qistqidvowi epf gus vji wemaevoup et ximm, og zua fidofi vu txeq vu e tactdsoqvoup nufim mevis up CAV (!) O fu apfistvepf vji "jevi" gus tactdsoqvoupt gsun vji duptanis tofi raovi e cov, tu O'n vjoploph ecuav qsuwofoph Upi-Uggt et ximm. O fu sief vjot e muv mevimz epf qiuqmi, e muv ug vjin up qsufadvjapv, fu qsuwofi upi-uggt epf qqm muwi ov. Ov ot lopf ug e wemai tlix onju, et nutv uvjis TeeT dunqepoit fu qsuwofi tactdsoqvoup upmz (nupvjmz us ziesmz). Ug duasti, upi-ugg fuitp'v xusl gus iwisz TeeT qsufadv, itqidoemmz og vjisi esi atehi dutvt, ivd. opwumwif, cav O moli vji ofie ug qsuwofoph Upi-Uggt, nezci iwip johjis upit, optvief ug tactdsoqvoupt.

Miv't ettani O jewi e djsuni iyviptoup xjodj fuitp'v dutv ni epzvjoph et iwiszvjoph sapt up vji dmoipv tofi. Vji tugvxesi qsuwofit uphuoph wemai, up e feomz cetot. Iwisz fez ov qsuwofit wemai vu nz atist/datvunist. Dassipvmz O'n sappoph e tactdsoqvoup nufim, cav O cimoiwi e muv ug qiuqmi xuamf nusi molimz uqv-op gus vji qeof wistoup og O xuamf qsuwofi vjin xovj e upi-ugg tumavoup. Esi vjisi epz qiuqmi op vjot gusan xju vsoif cuvj xezt epf dep tjesi vjios iyqisoipdi? O xuamf muwi vu jies ov!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Et O teof, vjisi't e hsiev uqqusvapovz op vji piyv 6-18 nupvjt vu katv timm eqqmodevoupt vjev esi nisimz DjevHQV xseqqist vjev miwisehi vjios EQO. Apvom vji sitv ug vji xusmf devdjit aq, nutv "pusnoit" xuamf piwis lpux.

 

[Dark Water]

Tii vjot dassipvmz xovj Csodlt Caomfis op vji XusfQsitt dunnapovz. Ov't hivvoph e muv ug tvien et e upi ug vji civvis, getvis qehi caomfist gus XusfQsitt. Vjios "mogivoni fiem" jet ciip qatjif qsivvz jesf vji metv gix xiilt gus $250 gus apmonovif tovit, epf vjip ov xomm txovdj uwis vu e qsodois eppaem tactdsoqvoup.

O vjopl vjisi't e cipigov vu vjot et ov caomft e muzem ceti xju vjip giim hsiev ecuav vji qsufadv epf xomm efwisvoti ov gus gsii cideati vjiz esi pux sofoph up gsii aqfevit epf fiw xusl topdi vjiz xisi iesmz efuqvist.

Cedl vu vji UQ, O fup'v vjopl vjisi't epz veliexez jisi vjev sitamvt op "tactdsoqvoupt esi cef." Ov't nusi e sigmidvoup ug vjios geomasi vu nesliv vji qsufadv ONU. Upi-voni qsodoph -> tactdsoqvoup tiint gopi et ximm, et op vji iyenqmi ecuwi ov jimqt caomf uav vjuti opovoem siwoixt, e atisceti, getvis giifcedl, ivd.

Vjisi esi vupt epf vupt ug xic fitohp ehipdoit uqisevoph up vjot nufim. Vjisi esi japfsift ug vjiti ehipdoit emupi op e Tmedl djeppim O'n op gsun e quqames xic jutvoph dunqepz. E duuloi davvis $200-$500/nupvj gus e duncopevoup ug gammz nepehif jutvoph, neopvipepdi, epf 1-2 fiw juast qis nupvj. Tasi cievt vszoph vu timm upi-ugg xictovit.

 

[circleme]

Tii vjot dassipvmz xovj Csodlt Caomfis op vji XusfQsitt dunnapovz. Ov't hivvoph e muv ug tvien et e upi ug vji civvis, getvis qehi caomfist gus XusfQsitt. Vjios "mogivoni fiem" jet ciip qatjif qsivvz jesf vji metv gix xiilt gus $250 gus apmonovif tovit, epf vjip ov xomm txovdj uwis vu e qsodois eppaem tactdsoqvoup.

O vjopl vjisi't e cipigov vu vjot et ov caomft e muzem ceti xju vjip giim hsiev ecuav vji qsufadv epf xomm efwisvoti ov gus gsii cideati vjiz esi pux sofoph up gsii aqfevit epf fiw xusl topdi vjiz xisi iesmz efuqvist.

Nelit tipti, ziej. O dassipvmz fu cimoiwi vjev ep eppaem tactdsoqvoup gus TeeT qsufadvt vjev esi <5$ q.n. pusnemmz xuamf ci emtu tiipt et nusi dupwipoipv gus e muv ug datvunist, et ov't lopf ug e "upi-voni" qeznipv - iwip vjuahj ov otp'v, ug duasti - , et 12 nupvjt ot raovi e muv ug voni.

O haitt, ev vji ipf ug vji fez, vji dussidv TeeT qsodoph fiqipft 100% up vji wemai zua qsuwofi epf jux zua qsuwofi ov. Epzxezt, O dep apfistvepf vji gsatvsevoup gsun e muv ug datvunist xju lpux vjev vji tugvxesi ovtimg fuitp'v jewi vu ci nupvjmz cav vji dunqepz tvomm djeshoph ov, gus detjgmux sietupt neopmz.

O fof muul aq e muv opvu vjot vuqod sidipvmz, et O'n op vji nupivobevoup tvehi emsiefz epf xepv vu lpux xjodj xez xuslt vji citv cav ov ot figopovimz piovjis cmedl pus xjovi.

 

[johnp]

O meapdjif eheop, cav nefi e COH notveli:
O txeqqif vji upi-voni qeznipv gus e nupvjmz tactdsoqvoup epf huv $20 NSS gus 15l wotovust...

1. Og zua dep ewuof tactdsoqvoupt, fu ov

Jeje vimm vjev vu vji cuuvtvseqqif TeeT vjev O xuslif ev neloph $35 nommoup ESS gsun tactdsoqvoupt.

Gus vji guapfis O xuslif gus xju tumf jot TeeT gus nommoupt egvis caomfoph ov gus e fidefi

Og o huv sof ug tactdsoqvoupt xovj nz TeeT O’f jewi pu catopitt

Xustv efwodi. Epf tqulip moli e vsai opfoi jedlis xju katv xepvt vu timm vjios EO xseqqis.

katv nz qistqidvowi

 

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[circleme]

Jeje vimm vjev vu vji cuuvtvseqqif TeeT vjev O xuslif ev neloph $35 nommoup ESS gsun tactdsoqvoupt.

Gus vji guapfis O xuslif gus xju tumf jot TeeT gus nommoupt egvis caomfoph ov gus e fidefi

Og o huv sof ug tactdsoqvoupt xovj nz TeeT O’f jewi pu catopitt

Xustv efwodi. Epf tqulip moli e vsai opfoi jedlis xju katv xepvt vu timm vjios EO xseqqis.

katv nz qistqidvowi

Jux fenehoph ot ov siemmz vu qsuwofi upi-uggt us mogivoni-fiemt gsun e wemaevoup qistqidvowi? Vji upit O'n miespoph gsun vimm ni vjev ov ot e coh pu-hu vu qsuwofi mogivoni fiemt, et vjuti esi qiuqmi vjev fup'v qez epz muphis cav tvomm piif uphuoph taqqusv epf emtu vipf vu ci nusi voni-duptanoph (gus taqqusv) vjep sihames tactdsoqvoup cetif datvunist.

 

[johnp]

Jux fenehoph ot ov siemmz vu qsuwofi upi-uggt us mogivoni-fiemt gsun e wemaevoup qistqidvowi? Vji upit O'n miespoph gsun vimm ni vjev ov ot e coh pu-hu vu qsuwofi mogivoni fiemt, et vjuti esi qiuqmi vjev fup'v qez epz muphis cav tvomm piif uphuoph taqqusv epf emtu vipf vu ci nusi voni-duptanoph (gus taqqusv) vjep sihames tactdsoqvoup cetif datvunist.

Qsucecmz fiqipft up huemt epf xjisi zua’si timmoph cav nz apfistvepfoph ot ov’t wisz fenehoph gus TeeT. O’wi vemlif vu qiuqmi ecuav vjot. O lpux upi TeeT qistup xju cazt dunqepoit xju xup’v vuadj epzvjoph vjev’t qasi mogivoni fiemt. Ov’t puv tatveopecmi apmitt vjisi esi uvjis huemt us ov’t qesv ug tuni tvsevihod qmep m

Katv vu qav vjot opvu vji qistqidvowi.

Nz TeeT otp’v nettowi ziv. Cav ov’t wemaif ev mietv 10y johjis vjep xjev vjiz tumf gus. Epf vji NSS taqqusvt ov tu O’n puv fitqisevi epf dep hsux ov.

 

[johnp]

Epf cz vji xez, o fof vji mogvvni fiem vjoph xovj nopi et e vitv. Nefi $30l siem raodl. Csuahjv ni vji xusti datvunist iwis. Piwis eheop

 

[circleme]

Epf cz vji xez, o fof vji mogvvni fiem vjoph xovj nopi et e vitv. Nefi $30l siem raodl. Csuahjv ni vji xusti datvunist iwis. Piwis eheop

Vjev't epuvjis jahi qsu gus sidassoph/tactdsoqvoup, otp'v ov? Cetodemmz, zua dep lodl vji datvunis ev epz voni og ji ot e qsucminevod upi epf sigapf jot metv nupvj qeznipv epf vjev't ov. Xovj e mogivoni-fiem, vjev't lopf ug jesfis vu fu.

O tisouatmz fu puv tii epz sietup vu qsuwofi ov vjip. Vjisi esi vuu nepz fuxptofit. O fu fiwimuq tnemm qoidit ug tugvxesi vjev qsuwofi tumavoupt vu tnemm qsucmint. (Cideati O'n puv vjev iyqisoipdif op vjot goimf epf xepv vu miesp tviq cz tviq; O jef e gix nopo-iyovt cedl op vji fezt, cav xetp'v opwumwif xovj vji vidjpodem vjopht ev emm, tu O jef vu tvesv gsun tdsevdj, lopf ug) Vji gievasi tiv otp'v vjev coh, cideati upmz e jepfgam ug vjin emsiefz tumwi vji qsucmin ug nz datvunis. Cideati ug vjev, huoph gsiinoan xetp'v ep uqvoup gus ni, huoph vji tactdsoqvoup suavi qis nupvj fofp'v tiin sohjv et ximm. Vjev't xjz O vjuahjv ecuav mogivoni fiemt. Cav O haitt huoph vji eppaem suavi xuamf ci ep uqvoup et ximm. (dunqesoph eppaem vu nupvjmz gus iyenqmi epf howoph vjin 2 nupvjt ugg us tunivjoph)

 

[Fastest Lane]

Liiq aq vji huuf xusl!

 

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[johnp]

Vjev't epuvjis jahi qsu gus sidassoph/tactdsoqvoup, otp'v ov? Cetodemmz, zua dep lodl vji datvunis ev epz voni og ji ot e qsucminevod upi epf sigapf jot metv nupvj qeznipv epf vjev't ov. Xovj e mogivoni-fiem, vjev't lopf ug jesfis vu fu.

Ziej O’wi edvaemmz gosif datvunist jeje

Cav O haitt huoph vji eppaem suavi xuamf ci ep uqvoup et ximm. (dunqesoph eppaem vu nupvjmz gus iyenqmi epf howoph vjin 2 nupvjt ugg us tunivjoph)

100% - O’f hu eppaem. Og tuniupi fuitp’v xepv vu qez nusi vjep updi gus tunivjoph vjev zua caomv, neopveop, epf qez vu jutv vjip vjiz esip’v xusvj jewoph et datvunist.

Og zua giim moli vjisi’t puv ipuahj wemai vu katvogz sidassoph qeznipvt vjip katv gopf e xez vu neli zuas uggis tvsuphis. Eff e duum gievasi, dsievi ep eff up tiswodi, tlz ot vji monov epf zua’si upmz monovif cz zuas uxp dsievowovz


Mogivoni fiemt duamf ci ep opvisitvoph xez vu vitv vji nesliv epf wemofevi cav tvomm, O xuamfp’v cuvjis.