Welcome back fellow investopreneurs!

A few episodes ago I shared how corny I am when it comes to doing things in ways that matter to me…

For example, the book was published on my bday…

The first major launch of the bootstrapper platform was on my mom’s bday…

… and now …

The most significant update of Bootstrapper.ai is officially live today - on my daughter’s bday!! 🥳 

This thing is simple.

This thing is elegant.

This thing just works.

And I am beyond proud of how we took the 20% of features that generated 80% of the value and just QUADRUPLED down on them in this release. 

How One Bootstrapper Built a 24/7 Content Machine

We’re living in a wild time. AI isn’t coming for your job... it’s handing you leverage. But most founders are still sleeping on it.

That’s why Nic Conley’s story hit home for me. On Episode 10 of Bootstrapping to Billions, Nic broke down how he went from Amazon employee to full-time creator... bootstrapping his way into a business that prints attention on autopilot using AI.

This isn’t theory. It’s proof that you don’t need funding, fame, or followers to win. You just need curiosity, consistency, and a system.

Here’s how he did it... and how you can too.

1. Start Small. Validate Fast. Stack Wins.

Nic didn’t quit Amazon with a master plan. He just started tinkering.

No code. No design. Just curiosity.
He built a tiny SaaS tool for newsletters on weekends. Sold it for $5K. Nothing life-changing... but it was the spark.

That’s the bootstrapper advantage... you don’t need a moonshot to prove momentum. You just need data that pays you back.

He calls it the “less risky” path... what I call being an Investopreneur:
Build while you’re still getting paid. Let your side project pay for its own validation. When it starts making money consistently... then you make your first exit... from your day job.

👉 The play:

• Start with what you’re good at (Nic’s “I can talk to people okay” became his content edge).

• Use your nights and weekends as your lab.

• Focus on real customers, not vanity metrics.

Revenue is the only real validation.

2. AI Made Building Easier. Distribution is Still War.

AI turned what used to take six months into something you can do in six hours.
No-code, low-cost, high-leverage.

But here’s the catch... creation is now cheap... attention isn’t.

“Distribution is the hardest part,” Nic told me.
He’s right. You can clone your output... but not your audience.

That’s why every bootstrapper has to think like a media company. You don’t just build products... you build distribution systems.

Find underpriced attention. Right now, that’s short-form video. It’s the new land grab... and it’s still early.

3. Turn AI Into Your Content Team

Nic found a way to skip filming entirely.
He built what he calls a “24/7 autonomous content machine.”

Here’s the breakdown:

1. Script Writing: Use ChatGPT or Claude to generate viral-style scripts in your own voice.

2. Voice Generation: Feed them into Fish Audio... it nails tone, pacing, emotion.

3. AI Avatar: Upload to HeyGen. Two minutes of recording = your “digital twin.” It talks, moves, and sells for you while you sleep.

4. Editing & Distribution: Hire freelancers to polish and post everywhere (TikTok, Reels, Shorts).

Result? 83,000 views without picking up a camera.

You can call that lazy... or you can call it leverage.

AI isn’t replacing creators... it’s multiplying them.

4. Win the Algorithm Game

TikTok isn’t magic... it’s math.

Nic treats it like training an AI model:
Scroll 15 minutes a day. Like, comment, save. Train your For You Page (FYP).

Then reverse-engineer what’s already working.
He finds viral formats with Calo Data, studies top-performing videos, and replays the winners in his niche... with his spin.

Don’t reinvent. Remix.

If you’re starting from zero, here’s the challenge:
🔥 Make a simple bet: start a fresh TikTok, post daily for 30 days, and study the data like it’s your investor report.

Most creators give up after three posts. That’s your moat.

5. Outsource Like an Owner, Not a Creator

Nic doesn’t edit. Doesn’t post. Doesn’t overthink.
He delegates.

His ops lead runs a team of five editors. They handle scripting, clipping, posting, and analytics.

Editing costs? $15–$100 per video. ROI? Unlimited.

And he turned that process into a service... creating AI videos for small businesses.
That’s the bootstrapper move... turn your system into a sellable product.

System... Service... Scale.

6. Stay Curious. The Tools Will Only Get Better.

Nic’s final advice:

That’s optimism with teeth.

This game isn’t about being first... it’s about being consistent while everyone else is distracted.

Every low-view video is data. Every failed idea is a rep.
The people who treat AI as leverage... not a gimmick... are going to own this decade.

The Takeaway

Nic’s story isn’t about getting lucky... it’s about building momentum with leverage.

He went from 9-to-5 employee to digital founder by stacking small wins, productizing his process, and letting AI multiply his effort.

That’s the bootstrapper way:

• Build while you earn.

• Automate while you learn.

• Distribute while you sleep.

You don’t need funding. You need leverage.

And right now, AI is the biggest leverage machine we’ve ever seen.

Build equity. Unlock capital. Exit with ownership.