Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?
I'm Bhanu Teja, an independent maker who thrives on building software that solves real-world problems. My journey of creating bootstrapped SaaS products has led to the founding of SiteGPT and Feather. SiteGPT is an innovative AI-powered chatbot that dives deep into your website's content to offer fantastic customer support. Feather, on the other hand, is a tool that empowers anyone to easily design and build their own landing pages, with absolutely no coding knowledge required.
What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?
The world of software development has always fascinated me, and creating things has been my passion for as long as I can remember. My career began with a traditional role as a software developer, but the confines of the corporate structure felt stifling. I longed for the freedom to pursue my own ideas and build products that would have a tangible impact.
The inspiration for SiteGPT stemmed from a frustration I had with generic chatbots. Most seemed to rely on superficial, often frustratingly irrelevant responses. This sparked the idea: what if a chatbot could truly understand the unique offerings and nuances of a specific website? I saw an opportunity to revolutionize customer service with a product that could provide genuinely helpful and personalized interactions.
Feather was born out of recognizing the ever-growing demand for individuals and businesses to easily establish a strong online presence. I observed that many people lacked the technical know-how to build landing pages, and I wanted to create a solution that could bridge this gap. Feather's mission is to democratize the process of landing page creation by providing an intuitive, user-friendly platform.
Take us through the process of building the first version of your product.
Building both SiteGPT and Feather presented unique challenges, but the journey was incredibly rewarding. The process involved seemingly endless hours behind the screen, tirelessly coding, debugging, and battling those occasional bouts of late-night, caffeine-fueled existential crises. There were definitely moments when doubt gnawed at me, but an unshakeable belief in my ideas always pulled me out of those ruts.
The development phase for SiteGPT centered around training the AI model to accurately understand and synthesize the content of a given website. This involved complex natural language processing and careful curation of training data. For Feather, the focus was on striking a beautiful balance between a powerful feature set and an accessible, drag-and-drop interface that even the most tech-averse person could comfortably navigate.
Describe the process of launching the business.
The launch of each product was a whirlwind of excitement and nerves. With SiteGPT, I initially used the power of early access discounts and targeted outreach to attract those first crucial customers. I knew the value my product delivered, but getting those first users to trust in my vision was paramount. Feather's launch strategy relied more heavily on building anticipation through pre-launch marketing efforts and carefully crafted announcements designed to generate buzz.
Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?
My unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction has been the cornerstone of my success. I actively solicit feedback and use it to constantly refine both SiteGPT and Feather, ensuring they address the evolving needs of my users. Additionally, pricing my products competitively has made them accessible to a wider range of individuals and businesses, fueling growth while maintaining an ethos of inclusivity within my business model.
How are you doing today and what does the future look like?
I'm incredibly proud to have recently surpassed the $100K MRR (monthly recurring revenue) milestone – a testament to the hard work and dedication I've poured into my ventures. My ultimate goal is to reach the $1 million MRR mark by the end of the year. The future is full of possibilities, and I'm brimming with excitement to further expand the capabilities of SiteGPT and Feather. I'm also always on the lookout for new ideas, seeking further opportunities to empower individuals and businesses with the tools they need to thrive.
Crossed $100k revenue in Feb 2024 🤯
— Bhanu Teja P 🪶 (@pbteja1998) March 1, 2024
This is our first $100k Revenue month.https://t.co/QbPKIdGYDK revenue in Feb -> $95khttps://t.co/vpkSKh8yDd revenue in Feb-> $7.7k
Every year, February is usually the best month for me.
The same repeated this year, too.
We made more… pic.twitter.com/LvEcZqlzxQ
Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?
My entrepreneurial journey has been an extraordinary teacher. Here are some of the most valuable lessons I've learned along the way:
- Customer focus is everything: To succeed, you need to have a deep, almost obsessive understanding of your customers' pain points and tailor your solutions accordingly.
- Iteration is your best friend: Constant improvement, driven by user feedback, is the lifeblood of a great product.
- Build something you believe in: Genuine passion for your product will sustain you through the inevitable challenges.
Focus on providing real value: Chase substance over hype, and let your product's quality speak for itself.
