With the rise of AI, it feels like it’s easier than ever to create a product or a start-up, with tools like Lovable or Claude code anyone can create anything they want in seconds (maybe minutes).
So I think that’s why it feels particularly special to be reaching our 1st Birthday, it feels like a real milestone in this crazy AI world.
Dave and I have bootstrapped this business from the very beginning with no outside investment, only our blood, sweat, sometimes tears and the help of some really amazing people.
But before I shout out everyone I will give you what you really came here for and that is our gift to you to think you for being a part of this journey, for reading the ramblings of our AI drunk brains and generally being awesome. Please have one free course on us, we are giving away 365 courses, one for every day of operating. Use the code happybirthday at thegenaiacademy.com checkout.
Now, it’s time to do shoutouts, I am definitely going to forget people
1st, my business partner Dave Birss, it’s been a fun ride so far!
Ian Crocombe 🔜 Cannes 🏖️ for giving me really valuable AI advice when this was simply an idea and helping many steps of the way.
Steven Antoniewicz for helping me shape how we operated form one vert informative phone call.
Ivan Minic for putting us in touch with amazing creators
Bojan Stefanovic for designing the most amazing website and listening to me say constantly, “maybe I’m over thinking it.”
Sonia Saini for building our most amazing website and her extreme patience
For all the AI experts who took a chance on us and our idea of how to run a different type of business model and became the backbone of what we do. Adebola Olomo Alex Searle Anastasia Volkova Becky McOwen-Banks MBA Ben Chimoy Dr Eric Zackrison Ph. D. Dr Lollie Mancey , Dr Shama Rahman Erik Schwartz Hugo MC Pinto Ina Toncheva Isvari Maranwe Karrie Sullivan Magdalena Orascanin Mike Weston Rebecca Allen Tiffany St James Toju Duke
So many amazing mind blowing conversations with these people that continue to define how I think and feel about the AI industry and the transformation we’re living through.
To Rachel Smith & Lindsay Charman for working side by side with me and helping us grow and grow.
And to every single client that we have worked with, a huge thank you, and here’s to many more conversations as we expand and grow.
Thank you!
Helena, Co-founder, The Gen AI Academy
