Startups For the Rest of Us Episode 783 | Bootstrapping ScrapingBee to $5M ARR and an 8-Figure Exit
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Jul 15, 2025 In this discussion, Pierre de Wulf, co-founder of ScrapingBee, shares his journey of bootstrapping a web scraping SaaS to $5 million in ARR and achieving an eight-figure exit. He reveals the pivotal moments that led to rapid growth, going from $7K to $1M ARR in just 15 months. Pierre also reflects on the emotional rollercoaster post-sale, shares lessons learned from earlier failed startups, and discusses the importance of building a scalable content strategy. He delves into the complexities of handling legal challenges and navigating the sale process.
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Why They Chose to Sell
- Pierre and Kevin chose to sell ScrapingBee as they were tired and ready for something new after many years in web scraping.
- They also wanted to sell while the business was strong before growth slowed or declined, considering life changes and personal priorities.
Exit Day Was Anticlimactic
- When the exit money hit Pierre's account, it was anticlimactic and more a relief than excitement due to the remote, stressful closing day.
- He celebrated quietly with a long walk and by sharing the news with family and team.
Lego Sets as Celebration Trophies
- After hitting $5 million ARR, Pierre bought a bunch of Lego sets as his celebratory "trophies."
- He enjoyed indulging in something fun and relatively affordable compared to typical luxury items.