Perplexity AI RunPod Powers Perplexity
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Jan 21, 2026 Explore the fascinating rise of an AI cloud provider that turned a basement GPU rig into a powerhouse with $120 million in annual revenue. Hear how founders harnessed community engagement, leveraging Reddit posts to convert beta users into loyal customers. Delve into their vision for a developer-first platform and the intense competition they face in the evolving landscape of AI. The story of bootstrapping versus venture capital funding makes for a compelling discussion on modern startup dynamics.
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Basement GPUs Became An AI Startup
- Jaeden Schafer recounts RunPod's origin from a basement GPU rig repurposed after Ethereum mining slowed.
- The founders turned mining hardware into AI servers and built RunPod to fix a poor GPU software stack.
Reddit Beta Users Drove Early Growth
- The founders grew users by posting on Reddit and giving free access for feedback.
- Within nine months they hit $1 million revenue and quit their jobs.
Bootstrapping Built Resilience
- RunPod avoided debt by partnering with data centers on revenue-share instead of raising early VC.
- That restraint let them scale without free tiers and maintain GPU availability for users.