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The inside story of how Silicon Valley's hottest AI coding startup almost died
- In 2017, Eric Simons founded StackBlitz with Albert Pai to develop software tools like WebContainers, but the startup struggled with revenue and growth by late 2023.
- Facing the threat of shutdown in 2024, StackBlitz shifted focus to developing a new AI coding product 'Bolt.new', built on Anthropic's advanced AI model Sonnet 3.5.
- Bolt.new, launched in October 2024, allowed users to create websites and apps by typing plain English commands, leading to rapid growth and $4 million ARR within 30 days.
- StackBlitz's success was attributed to leveraging AI technology, introducing a tiered pricing model, and capitalizing on user demand for easy coding solutions.
- The innovative Bolt product transformed StackBlitz from near failure to generating $20 million ARR within a few months, attracting investor interest and establishing profitability.
- Simons shared the company's success on a podcast, revealing $40 million ARR by March 2025, targeting over $100 million ARR, with 5 million registered 'software composers' using Bolt.
- StackBlitz differentiated itself from competitors like Figma by highlighting its WebContainers technology and unique browser-based coding approach, ensuring continued success and growth.
- Despite competition emerging in AI coding services, Simons expressed confidence in StackBlitz's established position and technological advantage in the market.
- The article details StackBlitz's journey from potential demise to becoming a thriving AI coding platform, emphasizing the importance of innovation, adaptability, and perseverance in startup success.
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