Solo founder sells AI app builder for $80M, now at $200M a year

Maor Shlomo, a 31-year-old former Israeli Intelligence Corps officer, started an AI app builder called Base44 as a side project in January 2025. Six months later, Wix bought it for $80 million in cash. Inside Wix, it has reportedly grown from about $3.5 million in yearly recurring revenue to a $200 million run-rate, with about 2 million users.

How it started

Shlomo funded the project with roughly $10,000 to $20,000 of his own money. Most of it went to fees for using AI models. He had no investors and no co-founder, and he owned 100% of the company. The article says it reached $1 million in yearly recurring revenue in three weeks.

What Base44 does

You describe the app you want in plain language, and Base44 builds it. That includes the screens, the database, user logins and the hosting, so the app is live on the internet. Many similar tools write code and leave the rest to you.

• A client portal
• A simple CRM, which tracks customers and sales
• An internal dashboard
• A booking tool

Why it grew so fast

Growth was mostly organic, as users shared what they had built. Wix, which has 250 million users, gave it a much bigger audience. Wix ran a Base44 ad in the Super Bowl in February 2026. In June 2026, Base44 launched Base1, its own AI model for building apps. Customers reportedly include eToro and Similarweb. Shlomo's payout is tied to milestones through 2029.

What it costs

There is a free tier. Paid plans run $16, $40, $80 and $160 a month when billed annually. Usage is metered in credits. Exporting your app's code is available from the $40 Builder plan up.

What to watch out for

• Complex, heavily custom products can outgrow it.
• Credit costs can surprise heavy users.
• Researchers have flagged security flaws across AI builders, Base44 included. Those were patched.
• Building on Wix's platform raises a long-term lock-in question.

What to do

A business owner can try the free tier on a low-risk tool, such as a client portal. Before real customer information goes in, check how security is handled, whether you can export your code, and what heavy use would cost in credits.