Bloomfilter Unfiltered: Real Stories from the Trenches of Entrepreneurial Success with AI
By Kraig Kleeman
“Choosing the path of bootstrapping wasn’t just about saving pennies—it was about building resilience, crafting a company culture of grit and perseverance, and celebrating every small win as a giant leap towards sustainability.” – Erik Severinghaus, CEO
Introduction
You probably know about our company; we are very involved in the thrilling field of generative artificial intelligence, with a special attention on open source tech to bring new ideas into areas such as education and health. Our revenue has just gone past five million dollars, and I want to share some important things we have learned and challenges we have faced during this time.
Why Open Source GenAI?
At the beginning, we decided to connect our project with open source GenAI. It was a serious choice. Open source is not only accessing technology for no cost; it means entering a vast sea of teamwork and new ideas. Community help is amazing – you are lifted up by the knowledge of very skilled people, allowing you to contribute and progress with others. Our approach has not only conserved valuable time for development but also maintained the advanced status of our instruments.
The Bootstrapping Ballet
Choosing the bootstrapping way is similar to deciding to walk up a steep path without any shortcuts; it’s difficult. It shows you how to be strong and make a dollar go further. When we started, we were happy about little wins like making our code better so it cost less for servers, or getting a customer who had as much faith in what we wanted to do as ourselves. These moments weren’t just wins; they were affirmations that kept us going.
When We Chose to Fuel Up Financially
At first, we were very careful with our spending. However, when our business started to grow, it became obvious that we required a larger operation. The next action we took was to focus on strategic financing. It wasn’t simply about putting money into our account, but rather it involved creating alliances with partners who shared the same outlook for what is ahead. This time was very exciting because we began to go faster than I had thought possible, and it was also a time for deep learning about what Bloomfilter required to expand.
Carving Out Our Niche
In the big ocean of GenAI, to be different we needed to pick our fights with care. We focused on education and healthcare, as these were not only business areas—they were fields where we could create a large difference. Adjusting our items to fit the detailed needs of these areas became a significant change in the way we handle making new products and dealing with customers.
The Team That Builds Dreams
Discuss the core of Bloomfilter, which is the group. Creating a group that holds similar beliefs and commitment as you do is very important. We searched for individuals with not only skills but also the ability to prosper through a startup’s ups and downs. Putting resources into our team’s development has yielded great results in creativity and carrying out tasks. Every fresh challenge or project turned into a group mystery, and to figure them out as one has made for the most satisfying elements of our shared path.
Personal Reflections and Missteps Along the Way
It has not been only easy times. There were several months when every possible problem happened, like server breakdowns at important product release moments and mistakes in understanding what the market required. These times were difficult, yet they held great value. We learned about being humble, the necessity of having backup plans, and how to recover elegantly.
The Road Ahead
Reflecting on our past path, I recall many lessons we picked up and the companions gained during this time. At Bloomfilter, we aim to utilize open source GenAI for real effects in education and health sectors, which is only beginning. We feel thrilled to advance more, discovering fresh options and keeping on spreading what we learn.
Thank you for being with me in this time of thinking back. If you are also an entrepreneur or just interested in the AI field, I wish our journey gives you understanding and motivation. You must remember, creating a company is like running a long race that has short fast runs within it. Always focus on the distant goal and be willing to embrace the bends along the way.
About Erik Severinghaus
Erik Severinghaus is a highly successful entrepreneur, author, and mountaineer. If his accomplishments and aspirations were to draw inspiration from natural icons, he could be described as a fusion of Mark Zuckerberg’s visionary approach to business and Tony Stark’s electrifying approach to saving humanity. He possesses keen business acumen and a flair for captivating customers, investors, and marketing partners.
Erik’s entrepreneurial spirit is boundless, as evidenced by his track record of founding, operating and exiting multiple ventures that have created a combined $600M in value. Erik’s investment skills are striking. He was a founding investor in Hyde Park Angels which recently helped ShipBob achieve unicorn status. He raised $6M startup capital for his newest venture, Bloomfilter, which is growing by triple digits, quarter over quarter.
As an endurance athlete, Erik has conquered some of the world’s tallest peaks, including Mt. Everest in 2018. In his public appearances, Erik is quick to discuss that learning to navigate through the valleys in his business life is what has led him to properly navigate the victories.