How Vikas Kookna Bootstrapped Chat Bot Builder to 7-Figure Success
Who is Vikas Kookna?
Vikas Kookna, co-founder of Chat Client, hails from a tech background and has spent over a year building the business, initially facing challenges before finding success through strategic pivots like offering whitelabel versions.
What problem does Chat Client solve?
Chat Client helps businesses create custom AI chatbots using their own data, making online customer interactions smoother and reducing the frustration of dealing with clunky, unhelpful bots.
How did Vikas come up with the idea for Chat Client?
The idea for Chat Client came from a mix of personal frustration and recognizing a market gap. The founders, with their tech backgrounds, often talked about how existing chatbots failed to meet user needs, especially in online shopping or customer support scenarios. This shared dissatisfaction led them to realize that their problem was not unique—many others likely felt the same way.
Through their observations, the founders saw an opportunity to improve these interactions significantly. Before diving in, they validated this pain point by discussing with others and concluded that there was a widespread demand for a better solution. They faced initial challenges in the ideation phase, such as questioning whether they could create something truly innovative, but they overcame this by focusing on refining their concept and welcoming feedback.
One key lesson they learned is the importance of perseverance and a willingness to adapt. By staying committed to their vision and remaining open to small pivots, they were able to evolve their idea into a platform that met a real need in the market.
How did Vikas build the initial version of Chat Client?
The development process of Chat Client involved using a tech stack consisting of Python, Next.js, and Java, taking about six months to build the initial version. The founders faced the challenge of ensuring seamless integration with various data sources like websites, PDFs, DOCX, and CSV files to create custom AI chatbots tailored to specific business needs. The initial development was tough, with the founders not generating significant revenue for several months and even contemplating selling the product. However, their persistence paid off when they decided to offer a whitelabel version, leading to significant growth and sales. This iterative process required continuous testing and configuration adjustments to improve user experience and functionality.
How did Vikas launch Chat Client and get initial traction?
Building an Online Community
To start generating interest around Chat Client, the founder utilized Twitter to share the journey and updates about the development process. By posting regular updates with hashtags like #BuildInPublic, the founder was able to engage with a community interested in tech startups and AI solutions. This transparency helped attract a niche audience that was eager to see the finished product and helped establish a following from the very early stages.
Why it worked: Building in public on a platform like Twitter allowed the founder to create a buzz and piqued the interest of potential customers by showcasing progress and challenges. This approach attracted other developers and business owners who valued being part of the product development journey.
Community Engagements and Demo Videos
The founder leveraged social media to share demo videos, highlighting Chat Client's features and benefits. These visuals were posted alongside engaging content focusing on how businesses could use the product to improve customer interactions. The posts included call-to-actions, encouraging users to visit the Chat Client's website.
Why it worked: Short demo videos provided potential users with a clear understanding of what Chat Client could do, effectively illustrating its value. This visual representation was crucial in demonstrating the product's capabilities without requiring a detailed explanation, making it accessible to a broader audience.
Whitelabel Version Sales
Instead of selling the whole product when revenue was slow, the founder decided to offer a whitelabel version of Chat Client. This pivot opened up a new revenue stream, securing seven sales at $5,000 each. Each whitelabel sale helped finance the further development of the original product and gradually increased organic growth.
Why it worked: The strategic pivot to provide a whitelabel version allowed the founder to continue funding the project and broaden the customer base indirectly through those purchasing the whitelabel versions. This approach breathed new life into the business at a time when it was crucial for maintaining momentum.
What was the growth strategy for Chat Client and how did they scale?
Whitelabel Sales
Chat Client experienced significant growth by selling whitelabel versions of their AI chatbot to other businesses. By offering a white-label solution, they allowed other companies to rebrand and integrate the chatbot seamlessly into their own systems. Initially, the founder sold a whitelabel for $5k, which not only generated revenue but also opened doors for more sales, as they went on to sell a total of seven whitelabels. This approach helped them gain traction without relying solely on direct consumer sales.
Why it worked: Selling whitelabel solutions allowed Chat Client to tap into new revenue streams and build partnership networks. It created opportunities for organic growth, as whitelabeled chatbots expanded their reach by being used by other businesses, thereby indirectly promoting Chat Client to wider markets.
Build in Public Strategy
The founder of Chat Client effectively employed a build-in-public approach by sharing the journey and challenges of developing the product on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter). This created transparency and allowed potential users and buyers to follow their progress and success story.
Why it worked: This strategy garnered interest and trust from the community by providing an authentic look into the development process. It helped to build a loyal following and increase organic traffic, attracting users who value transparency and are more likely to engage with the brand.
Social Media Promotion
Chat Client utilized social media platforms, particularly X, to promote their product and reach potential users. The founder shared updates, features, and promotional content about the AI chatbot, emphasizing its benefits and usability. Regular posts highlighted the integration capabilities and customer support features, helping to engage with a wider audience.
Why it worked: Social media provided a cost-effective way to communicate directly with the target audience, build brand presence, and boost engagement. The active social media presence helped in creating a community around the product, which was instrumental in driving organic growth and fostering brand loyalty.
Organic Growth through Product Feedback and Iteration
Chat Client focused on continuous product improvement, adapting based on user feedback, which was crucial for organic growth. The founder regularly upgraded the AI chatbot's features and ensured it met user demands. This iterative approach ensured that the product remained relevant and attractive to current and potential users.
Why it worked: By iterating on the product and responding to user feedback, Chat Client was able to improve customer satisfaction and user experience. This resulted in higher retention rates and better word-of-mouth referrals, further driving organic growth.
What's the pricing strategy for Chat Client?
Chat Client offers a free basic plan with paid plans starting at $12/month, providing advanced features and customization for AI chatbots tailored to business data.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Chat Client?
- Persevere Through Tough Times: The journey with Chat Client started rough, with offers to sell being tempting due to low revenue, but persistence led to finding potential and eventual growth.
- Embrace Small Pivots: Offering a whitelabel version instead of selling the entire product opened new revenue streams and transformed the business trajectory.
- Listen and Adapt to Feedback: Incorporating user feedback, such as changing fonts based on suggestions, helped improve the user experience and showcase responsiveness.
- Focus on Incremental Improvements: Consistent monthly enhancements of Chat Client have been key in attracting new users and buyers, emphasizing the importance of continual refinement.
- Seize Customization Opportunities: By allowing for custom AI chatbot creation tailored to specific business needs, Chat Client enhanced customer engagement and satisfaction.
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More about Chat Client:
Who is the owner of Chat Client?
Vikas Kookna is the founder of Chat Client.
When did Vikas Kookna start Chat Client?
2022
What is Vikas Kookna's net worth?
Vikas Kookna's business makes an average of $/month.
How much money has Vikas Kookna made from Chat Client?
Vikas Kookna started the business in 2022, and currently makes an average of .
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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