How a Data Analyst Built a $1M No-Code AI Startup From Scratch ?

In mid-2022, while on paternity leave, David Bressler, a data analyst, noticed something curious.
Colleagues kept messaging him for help with Excel formulas again and again.

It wasn’t just a one-time thing; it was a pattern.
And that made him wonder: why do so many people struggle with this, and why isn’t there an easier way?

That thought stuck. Eventually, it turned into an idea:
What if AI could write Excel formulas for you?

Building Without Code

There was just one problem: David didn’t know how to code.

Instead of letting that stop him, he turned to no-code tools.
Using Bubble.io, he built a quick MVP, an app that could convert plain English into Excel formulas and SQL queries.

He called it FormulaBot.
It wasn’t fancy, but it worked and that was enough to test the waters.

The Viral Moment

David decided to share his creation on Reddit, hoping a few people might find it helpful.
What happened next exceeded every expectation.

The post went viral overnight.
More than 100,000 people visited the site, crashing his servers and spiking his OpenAI API bill to $5,000 in just a few days.

Most people would’ve panicked David pivoted.
He introduced a freemium plan: free basic access and a paid plan for unlimited use.
That single decision turned chaos into a business model.

The Growth Curve

The internet did the rest.

A TikTok influencer with millions of followers mentioned FormulaBot, driving another viral wave.
Soon, it was featured on Product Hunt, Reddit, and multiple tech forums.

How did David grow?

• Optimized for SEO, targeting people searching for “Excel formula help”

• Added integrations with Google Sheets and Excel

• Expanded to include data analysis, report generation, and sentiment analysis

With each update, FormulaBot became more powerful and more valuable.

The Results

• Over 1 million users worldwide

• 5,000+ paying subscribers

• $30,000 in Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)

• A valuation exceeding $1 million
  
  All bootstrapped. All built with no-code tools.

The Lesson

You don’t need a massive team or VC funding to build something meaningful.
You need curiosity, resourcefulness, and the courage to ship fast.

David’s journey with FormulaBot is proof that a simple idea, executed well, can turn into a million-dollar product even if you start from your living room on paternity leave.

That’s it for this one.
Keep chasing the small ideas they often turn into the ones that change everything.

Catch you soon,
– Sweekar Koirala

P.S.
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