Side projects that became businesses
Every business here started after work or between classes.
The 5 to 9 tells the origin stories of businesses built alongside a job or a degree, before they became anyone’s main work. Each one comes with its numbers and its sources.
Browse the stories
Featured stories
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Photopea: The Student Hobby That Became a Free Photoshop
Ivan Kutskir started Photopea in 2012 as a hobby while studying in Prague. It took 7,000 unpaid hours…
Started 2012, as a hobby · Image editing
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ConvertKit: The Side Project Nathan Barry Almost Shut Down
Nathan Barry ran ConvertKit as a side project next to his book business. After 22 months it had…
Started 2013, beside a book business · Email marketing
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Chess.com: Built at Business School and After a Day Job
Erik Allebest built Chess.com while at Stanford Business School, and his co-founder coded it after work. No investor…
Started 2005, with the domain · Online chess
Story groups
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SaaS Companies That Started as Side Projects
Software companies that began as evenings-and-weekends projects, and what their first years looked like before they…
2 records
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Online Communities That Started as Side Projects
Online communities and social sites that began after work or between classes, and why a community…
1 record
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Marketplaces That Started as Side Projects
Marketplaces and job boards that began as side projects, often as a simple list or newsletter,…
1 record
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Digital Products That Started as Side Projects
Tools, books, templates, courses and games that began as side projects, built by one person or…
1 record
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Newsletters and Podcasts That Started as Side Projects
Newsletters, podcasts, blogs and channels that began as side projects, written or recorded in spare hours…
1 record