Silicon Valley Bank Crash: The Catalyst for GitFlash Innovation
Dear Readers,
Today, I reach out to you not only to share a story of innovation and productivity but also to reveal a tale of adversity and resilience. The road that led me to create GitFlash was anything but smooth.
Celebrations and Catastrophes
Our journey started on a high note. We had a team in place, committed to joining Salesmachine full-time. We had just launched in February and saw fantastic engagement numbers on the Salesmachine product. It seemed like we were poised for a significant breakthrough.
And then, disaster struck.
The Silicon Valley Bank, a backbone of the tech industry and a critical pillar of our funding structure, collapsed on March 10th, 2023.
The entire startup world went silent, as if someone had hit the pause button. Funding was not just tight; it was virtually non-existent. Limited Partners (LPs) began to question the sanity of their General Partners (GPs). It was a dark time, a time when many lost hope.
The Turning Point: Embracing GPT-4
March 14th marked a pivotal moment, the release of GPT-4 and ChatGPT Plus. I was fortunate enough to gain access to the developer API a week later. But the atmosphere was still thick with desolation, uncertainty, and desperation. I felt isolated, as if I was left to navigate this uncharted territory all alone.
https://twitter.com/OpenAI/status/1635687373060317185?s=20
However, adversity often breeds innovation. On March 16th, I sent out a tweet detailing how I used ChatGPT to build a pitch deck with Upwork and AI. And it went viral.
https://twitter.com/nocodechris/status/1636471304399343616?s=20
This pivotal moment led to the birth of GitFlash. I started breaking down our growth agenda into OKRs, sub-OKRs, projects, tasks, and ultimately into 'flash jobs' using the intelligence of GPT-4. Then, I outsourced these flash jobs on Upwork. It was a meticulous and exhausting process, but I was driven by the power of necessity and the glimpse of hope ignited by my viral tweet.
From Pain to Progress: The GitFlash Effect
Looking back now, the sight of 1953 tasks seemed intimidating, a massive mountain to climb. But it stirred something deep within me - a newfound energy, a spark of inspiration. The detailed breakdown spurred my subconscious into action.
We got very far with the standard GPT-4 api, but then forked and implemented babyAGI by Yohei Nakajima on April 17th:
https://twitter.com/nocodechris/status/1647752582255849473?s=20
Today, I'm proud of our progress. We've outsourced flash jobs in multiple dimensions, built tools, made sales, and created unique solutions.
We have 20 days to go until the end of the quarter, but the achievements are already commendable. The once painful process has now become an incredible journey of triumph over adversity.
A few highlights:
Revenue with paying customers 🎉
Developed and executed a pilot sales strategy to generate leads and manage the sales funnel.
Implemented advanced AI technology (RLHF, fine-tuning, vector databases)
Identified and tested 3 growth channels in Q2 (Twitter, Email newsletter, Whatsapp)
Optimized entire AARRR funnel of product (private beta)
Implemented personalized onboarding (including high-end materials and processes)
The GitFlash system, born out of the most challenging times, has proved its worth. As I look forward to the next quarter, I am excited to continue harnessing its power.
I want to thank everyone who stuck with us during this tumultuous time. Your collaboration, resilience, and drive have been instrumental in overcoming obstacles and moving forward. Let's continue breaking down barriers, redefining norms, and turning adversities into opportunities.
In retrospect, our journey is a stark reminder that the darkest hour is often just before the dawn. We didn't just survive, we learned to thrive amidst adversity. And we are ready to face whatever the future brings with the same resilience and grit.
To resilience and innovation,
Chris Strobl