ChatGPT Fuels Million-Dollar Exodus: Ex-Google Talent Finds Startup Goldmine

Published 5 hours ago3 minute read
David Isong
David Isong
ChatGPT Fuels Million-Dollar Exodus: Ex-Google Talent Finds Startup Goldmine

Dhruv Amin and Marcus Lowe, former Google employees both aged 33, made a bold strategic decision to pivot their highly profitable startup, Create, in response to the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. Their initial venture, Create, a marketplace connecting startups with freelance software engineers, was highly successful, generating over $2 million annually and profitable "from day 1." However, the landscape of software development was on the brink of a revolution, prompting the duo to make a radical change.

The turning point arrived with the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. The dramatic leap in AI capabilities led Amin and Lowe to critically assess the future role of human software developers. By early 2023, they concluded that generative AI had the potential to automate significant portions of coding, posing a direct and existential threat to Create's business model, which relied heavily on human developer expertise. After months of intense deliberation, the co-founders made the difficult decision to shut down Create in October 2023. This involved laying off half of their seven-member team and severing ties with their network of freelance developers. Amin recalled the challenging period, stating, "Within two weeks, we were back to an empty office."

Undeterred, Amin and Lowe embarked on rebuilding their company from the ground up, this time with AI at its core. Their first iteration was an AI-powered tool capable of generating individual app components, such as forms and calendars. Building on this foundation, in April 2025, they launched a more sophisticated product: a platform designed to construct entire online businesses. This innovative tool could handle complex elements like backend systems and payment features, all without requiring any coding skills from the user. It was around this time that the company was rebranded as "Anything."

The rebranding and new product launch proved to be a significant turning point for the founders. Amin noted, "That was actually the moment where it felt like it really took off." Within a mere two weeks of its launch, Anything achieved an impressive $2 million annualized revenue run rate. Today, "Anything" is an AI "vibe-coding" startup that has garnered a valuation of approximately $100 million, following a successful $11 million funding round, as reported by CNBC Make It. The platform has already enabled non-technical users to create practical applications, ranging from AI hairstylist apps to oral health trackers, despite Amin's acknowledgment that the AI coding space is still "extremely early" and has received mixed reactions.

Reflecting on their journey, Amin described the decision to "go back to zero" as one of the toughest moments of his career. However, he believes the timing was crucial and that this challenging experience has forged a stronger company ethos. "It’s a useful founding story now: This company will stick through it, even if the technology shifts, even if the business model shifts. At the time, it was hard. Now, I can say with some pride: You don’t have to just take my word that we’re serious about what we’re trying to do here. We’ve painted it in blood, sweat and tears," he articulated. Looking ahead, Amin expressed optimism, stating, "I hope our hardcore pivots are behind us, at this point. Now, I think we’re just more in the [mindset]: Let’s execute, let’s take advantage of opportunity, and let’s really grow it."

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