The $80M Solo Founder: What the Base44 Acquisition Tells Us About the Future of Software, Startups, and AI
Wix, the publicly traded website builder, acquired a tiny, six-month-old startup called Base44 for $80 million in cash.
So why is this such a big deal?
Because Base44 wasn’t built by a team of Stanford dropouts or backed by blue-chip VCs. It was created by one guy. Maor Shlomo. A solo founder, a solo shareholder, and for the first six months was basically a solo operation.
This isn't just a startup success story. It’s a proof point for a seismic shift that AI leaders like Sam Altman and Dario Amodei have been predicting: that we’re entering the age of solo founder unicorns.
From Side Project to $80M in Six Months
Shlomo, a developer from Israel, started Base44 in January as a side project.
By June, the app had:
250,000 users
Monthly profits of $189,000
A growing roster of B2B clients including eToro and SimilarWeb
And an $80M acquisition offer from Wix
Not bad for something built without venture funding.
But maybe the most impressive part? He shared $25 million of that windfall with his eight-person team despite owning 100% of the company himself. That’s not just success. That’s leadership.
So What Does Base44 Actually Do?
Base44 is built on a concept called “vibe coding.”
The platform allows non-technical users to build full-fledged applications by simply describing what they want in natural language.
You don’t write code.
You don’t integrate third-party APIs.
You don’t deploy anything manually.
You just describe your idea and Base44 builds it. It’s powered by LLMs and AI agents that handle everything from:
Database architecture
User authentication
API connectivity
Deployment
It’s intent-driven software development. A full-stack product team, compressed into a single conversational interface.
And people loved it. The adoption was rapid and mostly organic. Word of mouth alone got them to 10,000 users in the first few weeks.
Why Wix Bought It
Wix has been steadily transforming itself from a website builder into a broader AI-powered digital creation platform. Base44 slots perfectly into that vision.
CEO Avishai Abrahami called the deal a “pivotal milestone,” praising Base44’s “cutting-edge tech,” “market traction,” and “visionary leadership.”
But it wasn’t just Wix chasing Base44. Shlomo actively sought a partner, saying:
“Despite the amazing growth, we couldn’t organically get to the scale and volume we needed.”
He wasn’t giving up. He was leveling up. Wix had the infrastructure, distribution, and capital to take Base44 global.
And they’re not folding Base44 into the Wix mothership either. The product will continue as a distinct brand and business, with access to better support, more B2B features, and faster product velocity.
The Bigger Picture is Solo Founder, Powered by AI
This isn’t just about one deal. It’s about a new model of entrepreneurship.
AI would allow tiny teams or even individuals to build software products at massive scale.
Base44 is proof that we’re already there.
The economics of building have changed:
One founder can launch faster than a 10-person team.
Profitable businesses can scale without VC.
Tools like Base44 eliminate traditional bottlenecks in app development.
We're witnessing the emergence of a new founder archetype: Lean. Fast. Solo. Augmented by AI.
It’s not about having the biggest team or the most funding anymore. It’s about having the right tools and knowing how to ride the wave.
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