How Two friends used AI and $185 to build a startup and later sold it for a $150000
Generated over $66K in just 7 months
Sal Aiello and Monica Powers had a vision to build an AI technology that could help entrepreneurs validate ideas quickly. With just $185 and the powerful ChatGPT AI assistant, they founded DimeADozen - an AI startup that would go on to generate over $66k in 7 months before being acquired for $150k.
The unlikely success story began when Aiello and Powers met at a Y Combinator startup event. Despite having limited resources and experience, their passion for technology gave them the courage to get started immediately.
Within 4 days of ideation, they created an AI-powered research tool powered by ChatGPT. By refining their questions, they discovered ChatGPT's untapped potential to interpret ideas and provide comprehensive analysis.
Leveraging Aiello's tech experience and Powers' design skills, they launched DimeADozen to help founders validate concepts fast. For just $39, customers received detailed reports analyzing their ideas - saving time vs traditional methods.
Word quickly spread of DimeADozen's ability to efficiently analyze concepts. Revenue soared to $66k with minimal expenses of only $185 for domains, hosting and databases.
Last month, the couple achieved the ultimate validation when DimeADozen was acquired for an impressive $150k by Felipe Arosemena and Danielle de Corneille. The buyer's plan to dedicate resources full-time shows how AI is transforming industries.
Aiello and Powers will continue advising the company, spending just 5 hours weekly on the project they bootstrapped from an idea to a lucrative exit. Their story inspires how creativity and technology can empower ambitious visionaries to achieve the improbable.
The extraordinary success of DimeADozen shows how transformative AI is becoming for both businesses and individuals. With tools like ChatGPT advancing by the day, anyone with a bold concept and technical skills can potentially bring their ideas to life.
Aiello and Powers are living proof that you don't need substantial funding or connections to found a highly lucrative startup. Their willingness to take risks and think creatively helped turn a simple validation tool into a $150,000 business in under a year.
