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Feb 11, 2024 · 16m · starter-story

I Built a $1M AI App [No Code]

David Bressler · 12m spoken Pat Walls · 2m spoken
0:00 / 0:00
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gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this interview, entrepreneur David Bressler shares how he built FormulaBot—an AI-powered spreadsheet application generating over $26,000 in monthly recurring revenue—from a no-code side project into a defensible, multi-feature SaaS business while overcoming API cost spikes and big tech competition.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Pat holds 16.6% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Pat as informed peer 1.0 Guest teaching 2.0 Guest disagreement 0.0 Pat pushing back 0.0
05100:0010:001:08–4:13 · Pat as informed peer 1/10 Overview and Metrics of FormulaBot Pat invites David to share his background and metrics in an open, conversational style. David provides a clear breakdown of FormulaBot's revenue, user base, and origins during paternity leave.4:13–6:23 · Pat as informed peer 1/10 Building the MVP with No-Code Tools Pat asks how a non-technical founder built the MVP before introducing a promotional interlude. David explains leveraging Bubble.io and YouTube tutorials to build the initial product.6:23–9:47 · Pat as informed peer 1/10 Viral Launch on Reddit and User Explosion Pat prompts David on user acquisition and monetization. David recounts his viral Reddit post, the shock of a $5,000 OpenAI bill, and scrappy early monetization tactics.9:47–15:34 · Pat as informed peer 2/10 Product Evolution and User Research Strategy Pat inquires about customer research and surviving competition from copycats and major tech players. David explains his live user call strategy and evolving the product beyond basic ChatGPT functionality.15:34–16:06 · Pat as informed peer 0/10 Conclusion and Starter Story Micro SaaS Guide A brief solo outro by Pat delivering a closing message and call to action for the Starter Story Micro SaaS report.1:08–4:13 · Guest teaching 2/10 Overview and Metrics of FormulaBot Pat invites David to share his background and metrics in an open, conversational style. David provides a clear breakdown of FormulaBot's revenue, user base, and origins during paternity leave.4:13–6:23 · Guest teaching 2/10 Building the MVP with No-Code Tools Pat asks how a non-technical founder built the MVP before introducing a promotional interlude. David explains leveraging Bubble.io and YouTube tutorials to build the initial product.6:23–9:47 · Guest teaching 3/10 Viral Launch on Reddit and User Explosion Pat prompts David on user acquisition and monetization. David recounts his viral Reddit post, the shock of a $5,000 OpenAI bill, and scrappy early monetization tactics.9:47–15:34 · Guest teaching 3/10 Product Evolution and User Research Strategy Pat inquires about customer research and surviving competition from copycats and major tech players. David explains his live user call strategy and evolving the product beyond basic ChatGPT functionality.15:34–16:06 · Guest teaching 0/10 Conclusion and Starter Story Micro SaaS Guide A brief solo outro by Pat delivering a closing message and call to action for the Starter Story Micro SaaS report.1:08–4:13 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Overview and Metrics of FormulaBot Pat invites David to share his background and metrics in an open, conversational style. David provides a clear breakdown of FormulaBot's revenue, user base, and origins during paternity leave.4:13–6:23 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Building the MVP with No-Code Tools Pat asks how a non-technical founder built the MVP before introducing a promotional interlude. David explains leveraging Bubble.io and YouTube tutorials to build the initial product.6:23–9:47 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Viral Launch on Reddit and User Explosion Pat prompts David on user acquisition and monetization. David recounts his viral Reddit post, the shock of a $5,000 OpenAI bill, and scrappy early monetization tactics.9:47–15:34 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Product Evolution and User Research Strategy Pat inquires about customer research and surviving competition from copycats and major tech players. David explains his live user call strategy and evolving the product beyond basic ChatGPT functionality.15:34–16:06 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Conclusion and Starter Story Micro SaaS Guide A brief solo outro by Pat delivering a closing message and call to action for the Starter Story Micro SaaS report.1:08–4:13 · Pat pushing back 0/10 Overview and Metrics of FormulaBot Pat invites David to share his background and metrics in an open, conversational style. David provides a clear breakdown of FormulaBot's revenue, user base, and origins during paternity leave.4:13–6:23 · Pat pushing back 0/10 Building the MVP with No-Code Tools Pat asks how a non-technical founder built the MVP before introducing a promotional interlude. David explains leveraging Bubble.io and YouTube tutorials to build the initial product.6:23–9:47 · Pat pushing back 0/10 Viral Launch on Reddit and User Explosion Pat prompts David on user acquisition and monetization. David recounts his viral Reddit post, the shock of a $5,000 OpenAI bill, and scrappy early monetization tactics.9:47–15:34 · Pat pushing back 0/10 Product Evolution and User Research Strategy Pat inquires about customer research and surviving competition from copycats and major tech players. David explains his live user call strategy and evolving the product beyond basic ChatGPT functionality.15:34–16:06 · Pat pushing back 0/10 Conclusion and Starter Story Micro SaaS Guide A brief solo outro by Pat delivering a closing message and call to action for the Starter Story Micro SaaS report.

speaking balance: gold is Pat, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Pat 31.8% · guest 68.2%0:00 · Pat 31.8% · guest 68.2%3:00 · Pat 15% · guest 85%3:00 · Pat 15% · guest 85%6:00 · Pat 18.6% · guest 81.4%6:00 · Pat 18.6% · guest 81.4%9:00 · Pat 6% · guest 94%9:00 · Pat 6% · guest 94%12:00 · Pat 0% · guest 100%12:00 · Pat 0% · guest 100%15:00 · Pat 48.5% · guest 51.5%15:00 · Pat 48.5% · guest 51.5%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 11:45 Frustration with copycats and race to the bottom

David expresses his annoyance at competitors carbon-copying his exact UI, branding, and pricing immediately after launch.

 Hardest push from Pat ▶ 11:39 Pressing on SaaS competition

Pat challenges David to explain how FormulaBot survives in a market flooded with inevitable clones and tech giants.

 Biggest teaching moment ▶ 10:35 Hands-on customer feedback hack

David educates the audience on how offering to solve complex Excel spreadsheets live on phone calls gave him invaluable product insights.

 Pat holds their own ▶ 5:38 Connecting MVP execution to business frameworks

Pat synthesizes David's success into actionable lessons for founders building micro-SaaS businesses from scratch.
the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicPat as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementPat pushing backWhy
Overview and Metrics of FormulaBot 1200 Pat invites David to share his background and metrics in an open, conversational style. David provides a clear breakdown of FormulaBot's revenue, user base, and origins during paternity leave.
Building the MVP with No-Code Tools 1200 Pat asks how a non-technical founder built the MVP before introducing a promotional interlude. David explains leveraging Bubble.io and YouTube tutorials to build the initial product.
Viral Launch on Reddit and User Explosion 1300 Pat prompts David on user acquisition and monetization. David recounts his viral Reddit post, the shock of a $5,000 OpenAI bill, and scrappy early monetization tactics.
Product Evolution and User Research Strategy 2300 Pat inquires about customer research and surviving competition from copycats and major tech players. David explains his live user call strategy and evolving the product beyond basic ChatGPT functionality.
Conclusion and Starter Story Micro SaaS Guide 0000 A brief solo outro by Pat delivering a closing message and call to action for the Starter Story Micro SaaS report.

Statements from this episode (7)

Assertion Not checkable as stated
FormulaBot hit 750,000 users, 5,000 paid subscribers, and $26,000 MRR
“The application has been around for about a year and a half, and during that time, there's now roughly about 750,000 users. And of those seven, 550 K, there's about 5000 people that pay for unlimited access to tool. And during that time, it's reached about 26,…”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 1:56
Disclosure
OpenAI suggested the name 'Excel Formula Bot' in July 2022
“While ChatGPT wasn't around then, the actual technology was. I actually asked the OpenAI application. I said, hey, I'm thinking about building this app. What's a good name for it? And one of the names it suggested was Excel Formula Bot.”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 2:59
Disclosure
FormulaBot shifted from 100% Bubble no-code to just 5-10% no-code
“At that time, the whole app was in bubble. It was a hundred percent no code. Probably up until maybe four or five months ago, it went from a hundred percent no code to now it's about, I would say, like five or 10%.”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 5:18
Assertion Not checkable as stated
FormulaBot racked up $5,000 in OpenAI API costs in a few days
“I blew through like 5000 dollars in open AI API costs in days.”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 7:57
Disclosure
Bressler did free spreadsheet work on calls to get user feedback
“Even if they're not a paying customer, I'm going to Take this, but guess what? I'm going to do it with you on a phone call and I'll do your work for you. But every time I do it, they have to hop on a call with me and they have to ask questions about what they …”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 11:08
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Microsoft simultaneously sent a cease-and-desist and reached out for add-on integration
“Microsoft actually reached out to me. They reached out to me twice. One for a cease and desist. And the other one, it was someone that was on their add-ons team.”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 12:42
Assertion Not checkable as stated
FormulaBot sees 5% churn, with 10% of churned users leaving for ChatGPT
“I have about five percent churn. 10% of the reason as to why people churn is because of ChatGPT.”
David Bressler Feb 11, 2024 ▶ 14:12
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