TechCrunch Startup News After Shopify bought his last startup, Birk Jernström wants to help developers build one-person unicorns
Jun 19, 2025
Explore the surge of one-person tech startups empowered by AI in this intriguing discussion. Discover how a new platform, Polar, is revolutionizing online sales by simplifying billing and taxes for individual developers. The insights shared reflect on the founder’s past successes at Ticktail and Shopify, showcasing the potential for solo entrepreneurs to thrive in today's digital landscape.
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Rise of One-Person AI Unicorns
- AI enables the emergence of one-person companies with billion-dollar valuations.
- Single-person AI-first businesses are rapidly growing across the tech industry.
Ticktail's Acquisition and Shopify Role
- Birk Jernström's startup Ticktail was acquired by Shopify for $17 million in cash.
- He then joined Shopify's new shop team, helped build the Shop app, and scaled its payment ecosystem.
From Shopify to Polar
- As he was about to become a father, Jernström left Shopify to start Polar.
- Shopify CEO Tobias Lütke and President Harley Finkelstein support Polar as angel investors.