Base44

Full apps with a database, auth and email generated from a prompt. Built largely by one person, profitable on its own revenue before acquisition, and now the clearest data point for how fast a solo AI product can move.

Who built itMaor Shlomo had run a company before: he founded the data startup Explorium at 23 and was its CEO for seven years, then left and started building products again. Base44 took no outside money — he has said he turned down the Israeli funds that approached him, because the business was already profitable. At the Wix sale the company had six employees, all but one of whom had joined in the previous 30 days, and he stayed on as CEO.

1. 01

   Building in public as the go-to-market

   Progress was posted continuously. The audience accumulated in parallel with the product, so launch day was not day zero.

2. 02

   Charging early

   Revenue arrived while the product was still rough. That money funded the build and, more importantly, proved the willingness to pay.

• Solo plus agents is now a viable company shape, not a stunt.
• Distribution can be built before the product is finished.