Bubble Raises $100M: No-Code Platform Challenges Technical Co-Founders

The Potential of Democratized Software Development

Within Silicon Valley, a common discussion revolves around the extent to which global GDP is limited by a shortage of computer science expertise and technical skills. Consider the number of startups that could emerge if significantly more individuals possessed coding abilities and could realize their entrepreneurial visions. Furthermore, how many administrative procedures could be streamlined with greater developer presence across all industries?

Barriers to Widespread Coding Proficiency

The answer is undoubtedly substantial, yet significant obstacles remain. Computer science presents inherent complexities, and despite legislative efforts to integrate coding into school curricula, the demand for skilled software engineers continues to far exceed the available supply.

Bubble: Empowering No-Code Development

Bubble is not simply capitalizing on a trend; it aims to democratize software development and foster the creation of new businesses. Its platform allows individuals – regardless of coding experience – to construct modern web applications through an intuitive drag-and-drop interface. This interface facilitates the connection of data sources and other software components into a unified system.

A Significant Investment in the Future

This ambitious undertaking has recently attracted substantial investment. Bubble announced that Ryan Hinkle of Insight Partners spearheaded a $100 million Series A funding round. Hinkle, a managing director at the firm, focuses on growth buyout and growth SaaS investments.

From Bootstrapped Beginnings to Series A

The size of this funding round reflects Bubble’s journey. The company operated as a bootstrapped entity for a considerable period before reaching its current scale. Co-founders Emmanuel Straschnov and Josh Haas dedicated seven years to product development and refinement before securing a $6.5 million seed round in June 2019, led by SignalFire. Notably, Insight Partners initially expressed interest in Bubble as early as 2014, culminating in a deal seven years later.

Platform Expansion and Growth

Since the seed round, Bubble has consistently expanded its capabilities. As a no-code platform, the absence of a specific feature could hinder application development. “Our business revolves around features,” Straschnov explained. “Our users, while non-technical, maintain high expectations.” He highlighted the introduction of a plugins system, empowering the Bubble community to contribute custom additions to the platform.

Timing and Accelerated Adoption

The platform’s maturation coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, a period marked by individuals seeking new skills and improved career prospects. Straschnov reported a surge in Bubble usage beginning in March and April 2020, with revenue tripling over the subsequent 12 months.

Focus on Startup Creation

Bubble’s core mission for the past eight years has been to assist individuals in transforming their ideas into viable startups. The company posits that numerous venture-backed companies could be launched using Bubble, eliminating the need for a large, dedicated engineering team.

Differentiating from Other No-Code Solutions

Unlike some no-code tools geared towards internal corporate applications, Straschnov emphasizes Bubble’s continued focus on supporting new companies. “[We’re] not prioritizing the enterprise market at this stage – we aim to replicate the trajectory of AWS and Stripe from five years ago,” he stated. Bubble intends to grow alongside its emerging customers as they scale.

Pricing Structure

Bubble offers a tiered pricing structure based on application performance and scale. A free tier is available, with professional plans starting at $25/month and reaching $475/month for the premium offering. Enterprise pricing and student discounts are also provided.

Investing in Education and Community

Bubble plans to allocate a significant portion of its new capital to education. While the platform is user-friendly, designing a web application can be daunting for beginners, especially those without technical backgrounds. The company intends to create more instructional videos and documentation, as well as forge partnerships with universities to increase student adoption.

Competition and Value Proposition

Despite the growing investment in the no-code space, Straschnov believes that “I don’t view other no-code platforms as direct competitors… our primary competition remains traditional code.” He acknowledges the increasing use of the “no-code” label but asserts that few companies share Bubble’s specific focus, offering a unique and compelling value proposition.

Team Growth and Future Plans

Bubble has doubled its headcount since the pandemic began, expanding from approximately 21 employees to 45. The team is primarily located in New York City, but operates remotely with members in 15 states and France. Straschnov indicated that the company will aggressively hire technical talent to further develop the product using the newly acquired funds.