Starter Story I Built a $1M AI App [No Code] | Starter Story
Sep 27, 2025
David Bressler, creator of the no-code AI app For Real Bot, transformed his side project into a million-dollar success while juggling a full-time job. He shares his journey of building the MVP in just six weeks and leveraging Reddit for a viral launch, attracting thousands of users. Bressler discusses managing substantial OpenAI API costs, his innovative early monetization strategies, and how customer feedback shaped product development. He also delves into the challenges of standing out against industry giants like Microsoft and ChatGPT.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
From Excel Frustration To Product
- David built Excel Formula Bot (now For Real Bot) to help people work faster with data inside spreadsheets.
- The product evolved into three main features: chat AI in Excel/Sheets, formula generators, and a data analyzer for uploads.
Rapid Growth And Revenue Milestones
- After about 18 months, the app reached roughly 750,000 users and 5,000 paid unlimited customers.
- That run rate produced about $26,000 MRR at the time of the interview.
Built During A Six-Week Window
- David started the project during six weeks off while his youngest child would be bored and built the MVP in a few weeks.
- He balanced family, a senior full-time job, and many late nights to execute the idea.