#29: How Two Hustlers Built and Sold Their Side Project
Discover how two hustlers turned their passion project into an acquisition!
In today's sizzling issue from our Build community, we're sharing the electrifying journey of two of our builders, Wahab and Vatsal, who recently sold their side project. Although the sale wasn't a life-changing amount, their experience and adventure have set them to take bigger entrepreneurial strides ahead. It is just the first milestone in their builder journey.
🤩 Built a product and scaled it to 15K+ monthly active users
😍 Product built by them was among the "Top 5" on Product Hunt
💸 Sealed the deal with an acquisition within three months
Wahab & Vatsal: Collaborated, built & sold their side project in three months
Wahab Shaikh and Vatsal Sanghvi were sitting on the fence about building a side hustle a few months ago. But they've since transformed into unstoppable builders. Hailing from Mumbai and Gujarat, respectively, with backgrounds in Computer Engineering and Electronics & Electrical Engineering, these two hustlers have honed their skills through freelancing, startup adventures, and corporate experiences. The duo recently SOLD their side project, proving that anything is possible with the right attitude and teamwork.
Their journey to success is a testament to the power of synergy and persistence. We can't wait to dive into their thrilling story with you! 🤩
Sowing the seeds of becoming a builder
From the beginning, Vatsal had an entrepreneurial spirit, which he tested by starting a company during college. Although it made him a cool ~$40,000 in two years, sustaining and growing it proved challenging, and he eventually shut it down. Vatsal then embarked on a career path that began with an internship at Goldman Sachs and continued with a three-year stint at Flipkart.
But the entrepreneur in Vatsal was itching to break free. That's when he discovered Build, an online community and cohort to launch a side hustle. Joining in September 2021, he sought to lower the barrier to creating great products without committing to full-time entrepreneurship.
Build provided Vatsal with a collaborative community that offered feedback and, most importantly, motivation. His first side project, TwitrBnB, a Twitter-based house-hunting bot, addressed his personal struggle of finding a flat in Bangalore post-Covid. Despite being non-technical, Vatsal gained the confidence to build through the project's positive reception. This experience led him to join Entrepreneur First as a Founder in Residence, solidifying his love for building products and working on 0-1 ideas across domains.
On the other hand, Wahab began his career by working on freelance projects during his final year of university in June 2021. Once he graduated in 2022, he sought opportunities to build on the internet by collaborating with talented and motivated individuals, making Build the perfect choice. He joined the cohort in September 2022. His first side project wasn't a tech product; he addressed his problem by creating a reading accountability club. Through discussions, feedback, and collaborations, Wahab became a top builder, ready to solve problems by developing innovative solutions.
As their paths converged at Build’s community, the stage was set for a game-changing collaboration between these two powerhouse builders!
From a weekend Build to getting their side project acquired
Vatsal was on a roll, embarking on a building frenzy with little regard for the immediate monetary gain. He launched various informational products and Community Hunt, a platform to discover top-notch communities from around the globe. Collaborating with fellow builders from Build and gaining a following on Twitter, Vatsal was making a name for himself.
Meanwhile, Wahab concentrated on his first side project, sharing his journey on Twitter and attracting freelance offers and an internship opportunity at a Web3 startup. Both Vatsal and Wahab were quickly becoming indispensable Build community members, shipping products and mentoring new builders. However, their paths hadn't crossed much until they attended Build Weekend (a weekend stay-in event in Bangalore, where builders build and launch a side project in 48 hours) in October 2022. Meeting face-to-face for the first time, their collaboration and discussions ignited an interest in working together.
Spotting an opportunity in the trending generative AI space, they teamed up with other builders to create Avatarize. While it was a complex project that took a few weeks, Wahab found himself diving deep into the world of AI text generation. One fateful WhatsApp conversation with Vatsal led to the inception of a fun project: Aipickuplines—a web app generating GPT-3-powered pickup lines.
The duo had a blast building Aipickuplines and focused only a little on the results. But to their surprise, the project took off!
They also got $100 from Buildspace.
While AIpickuplines kept growing organically, Vatsal and Wahab felt they had done justice to the original idea. Not planning to turn Aipickuplines into a full-fledged startup, they explored the possibility of finding a buyer. They turned to Acquire and, within days, received offers. After some negotiation, they closed a deal that rewarded their time and effort. While not a life-changing sum, Wahab and Vatsal emerged as 100x better builders than anyone hesitating to start a side hustle.
Together, they experienced the complete cycle of ideating, discussing, deliberating, pivoting, building, launching, acquiring users, and finally selling—a journey that makes them true Hustlers! 🚀
As their collaboration flourished, Vatsal and Wahab successfully launched Proface by Avatarize, which was met with an enthusiastic reception. With their sights set on the future, they're eager to develop even more innovative products, aiming to achieve a substantial monthly recurring revenue (MRR). Their remarkable journey demonstrates the power of synergy and the potential of side hustles when driven by passion and determination. Keep an eye on this dynamic duo—they're just getting started, and we can't wait to see what they build next!
"Never be discouraged if a product already exists for your idea. We found similar generators online when we first thought of AI Pickup Lines. Still, we forged ahead, knowing that our unique personal touch would set us apart. Embrace the fun of building side projects, not startups, and let go of expectations like acquisitions. Remember, the best learning comes from doing—AIPL was our gateway to AI products, and we discovered everything along the way. So dive in, and create something amazing!"
- Wahab & Vatsal
Hustlers Insights of the Week
Embrace collaboration and community: When embarking on a side hustle, connecting with like-minded individuals and leveraging the power of a community can be game-changing. Vatsal and Wahab's story shows how joining a community like Build can lead to collaboration, inspiration, and support. By engaging with others, they expanded their network, shared ideas, received feedback, and ultimately met each other at Build Weekend. This powerful connection led to successful projects like Aipickuplines and Avatarize, proving that collaboration and community are essential for side hustle success.
Balance passion and pragmatism: When pursuing a side hustle, it's essential to balance your passion for the project and the practical aspects of building and launching it. Vatsal and Wahab focused on enjoying the process of creating their projects. Still, they also understood the importance of setting realistic goals and expectations. Their Aipickuplines project was built for the fun of it, without the pressure of turning it into a startup. This mindset allowed them to fully engage in the creative process while also being open to opportunities like selling the project when the right offer came along. By combining passion and pragmatism, you can maximize your side hustle's potential without being overwhelmed by unrealistic expectations.
Add your unique touch to your projects: Don't be discouraged even if your side hustle idea seems similar to existing products or services. What sets your project apart is your unique perspective and personal touch. Wahab and Vatsal discovered that while other pickup line generators existed, they could create something distinctive and engaging with AI Pickup Lines. By infusing your side hustle with your creativity, passion, and personality, you can make it stand out and resonate with your audience. Remember, your unique approach will make your side hustle a memorable and rewarding endeavour.
Ready to kickstart your own side hustle adventure?
Join our upcoming Build cohort and dive into an exciting world of collaboration, innovation, and success. Don't miss your chance to learn, grow, and transform your ideas into reality. Secure your spot today and take the first step toward becoming the next Wahab and Vatsal!
Resources of the week
Frontier AI: A newsletter that gives you all you need to know about the advancements in AI technology.
Crushed Content: A weekly newsletter for useful tools, tactics and trends across sales, marketing, tech, and strategy.
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