In a world where software still takes weeks to build and deploy, Bolt is turning that reality on its head.
Born from the team behind StackBlitz, Bolt isn’t just another coding platform — it’s an AI-native revolution redefining how web and mobile apps come to life.
With just a few words typed into a browser, anyone — from seasoned developers to complete beginners — can now build production-ready applications in minutes. And behind this movement stands Eric Simons, a founder whose belief in simplicity, speed, and accessibility has turned a struggling dev tool into one of the fastest-growing SaaS platforms on the planet.
The Vision That Sparked a Revolution
Eric Simons’ journey began long before Bolt’s viral rise. As the creator of StackBlitz, he had already built one of the most widely used browser-based code editors, empowering over 3 million developers worldwide.
But even with massive adoption, monetization lagged. StackBlitz earned under $1 million in annual recurring revenue — far less than what its impact deserved. Yet, hidden within its technology was a gem: WebContainers — a groundbreaking browser runtime capable of running full Node.js environments without any cloud setup.
That single innovation planted the seed for something much bigger.
What if, Simons wondered, anyone could build full-stack applications entirely inside their browser, powered by AI?
The Birth of Bolt
In mid-2024, Simons and his team decided to make a bold move. They took the power of WebContainers and paired it with Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet 3.5 to create something entirely new — a platform where users could describe what they wanted in plain English, and watch an app come alive instantly.
The result? Bolt.
A no-setup, no-installation, AI-powered app builder that could handle everything from frontend to backend — in the browser.
When Bolt launched in October 2024, the response was electric.
Without any major marketing push, it hit $60K in annual recurring revenue on day one, doubling the very next day. It was clear: the world was ready for AI-first development.
How Bolt Works: Coding at the Speed of Thought
Bolt’s magic lies in how it merges AI intelligence with browser innovation.
Using its prompt-to-code engine, users can describe an idea — “Build me a recipe-sharing app with profiles and comments” — and Bolt instantly generates the frontend in React, the backend logic through Supabase, and a fully deployable app ready to ship.
All of this happens locally inside the browser, powered by WebContainers, eliminating the need for cloud build servers or complex local environments. From there, apps can be deployed instantly to Netlify or integrated with Expo CLI for mobile builds.
It’s not just fast — it’s instant creation, where imagination meets execution in real time.
The Growth Story That Shocked the Industry
By early 2025, Bolt had become a phenomenon.
Over 1 million apps were deployed on the platform within months. Its user base crossed 3 million registered developers, with more than 1 million monthly active users — a level of engagement that most startups only dream of.
The company now generates over $40 million in ARR and is on track to surpass $100 million by the end of 2025, putting it in the league of the fastest-growing SaaS startups in history.
Its success stems not just from its technology but from its accessibility — Bolt’s usage-based pricing model invites everyone, from indie creators to enterprise teams, to build without friction.
The Founder’s Philosophy: Build for Builders
At the heart of Bolt’s rise is Eric Simons’ leadership philosophy:
build products that empower creators, not just coders.
Simons leads by staying close to the community that shaped StackBlitz’s early success. His team iterates in public, responding rapidly to user feedback and embracing the open-source spirit that got them here. Under his direction, Bolt continues to blur the lines between developer tools and creation platforms, integrating with design tools like Figma and expanding into advanced workflows that bring design and deployment closer than ever.
The Future of AI-Native Development
As Bolt continues to evolve, its ambitions are sky-high.
The team is exploring integrations that turn sketches and wireframes directly into functioning applications — transforming the creative process itself.
Simons envisions a world where building software feels as natural as describing an idea — where every business, designer, and creator can turn thoughts into products instantly.
Conclusion: A New Era of Creation
Bolt isn’t just a product; it’s a paradigm shift.
In less than a year, it has gone from a developer’s side project to a full-fledged movement redefining how software is imagined, built, and deployed.
Through AI-native design, WebContainer technology, and Eric Simons’ relentless vision, Bolt is showing the world that the future of software isn’t written — it’s generated.
