Meta’s “creepy” new Ray Bans, Beehiiv teams with Discord, AND a visit from Lovable CEO Anton Osika! | E2181
Timestamps are as accurate as they can be but may be slightly off. We encourage you to listen to the full context.
Podcast Summary
This episode features a return interview with Anton Osyka, CEO of Lovable, a no-code AI platform that allows non-technical users to build software applications. The conversation begins with a discussion of Meta's new AR glasses with heads-up displays and haptic controls, exploring the future of augmented reality and privacy concerns. (17:02) Anton shares remarkable growth metrics, revealing Lovable has scaled from 4 million to over 100 million ARR in just months since his February appearance on the show.
- Main themes include the democratization of software development through AI, the emergence of AR as mainstream technology, and Stockholm's rise as a unicorn-producing tech hub
Speakers
Jason Calacanis
Host of This Week in Startups and accomplished angel investor. Jason is the founder of the TWIST angel syndicate with over 11,000 members and has invested in companies like Uber, Robinhood, and Thumbtack. He's also the author of "Angel: How to Invest in Technology Startups."
Alex Wilhelm
Co-host and former editor-in-chief at TechCrunch. Alex brings deep expertise in startup analysis and financial reporting, having covered thousands of funding rounds and exits during his tenure at the leading tech publication.
Anton Osyka
CEO and founder of Lovable, the AI-powered no-code platform. Previously served as a founding engineer at Sauma Labs (recently became a unicorn) and as CTO of a company that raised $20 million from top VCs. Based in Stockholm, Sweden, Anton is leading the charge to democratize software development.
Key Takeaways
AI Will Surpass Human Security Expertise Within 18 Months
Anton boldly predicts that AI systems will be twice as secure as human security experts for standard software applications within 18 months. (24:00) This represents a fundamental shift where humans will no longer be trusted to write secure code, similar to how computers became essential for space missions in the 1960s. The context behind this prediction stems from AI's ability to systematically scan and identify security vulnerabilities without the human tendency for errors. This takeaway suggests that organizations should begin preparing for AI-first security approaches while still maintaining human oversight for critical applications.
Spec Work 3.0: The New Path for Young Professionals
The conversation reveals how young professionals can bypass traditional hiring bottlenecks by creating value upfront using AI tools. (39:40) Jason describes how team members proactively built solutions and presented them to management, leading to career advancement. This mirrors the historical "spec work" movement in design but represents a new paradigm where anyone can demonstrate technical capability. Young professionals should embrace this approach by identifying repetitive tasks, building solutions using platforms like Lovable, and presenting completed work to superiors as proof of initiative and capability.
Community Building Drives Platform Success
Lovable's 106,258-member Discord community with 8,744 active users demonstrates the power of grassroots community building. (43:00) Anton reveals they're on track to run 300 in-person events about Lovable by year-end, mostly organized by community members. The educational aspect is crucial - users teaching each other how to master the platform creates a flywheel effect. Successful platforms should invest in community infrastructure, provide recognition for power users, and create structured onboarding journeys for new community members.
Stockholm's Unicorn Factory Model
Stockholm has produced an extraordinary number of unicorns (Klarna, Spotify, King, Truecaller) from a population of only 10 million people. (51:00) Anton attributes this to a culture of long-term thinking, deep engineering talent, and serious product focus rather than chasing trends. The key insight is that successful startup ecosystems require alumni from previous unicorns who reinvest their wealth and expertise into new companies. This creates multiple generations of successful entrepreneurs, with each cohort building upon the last.
Revenue Velocity in the AI Era
Lovable's growth from 4 million to over 100 million ARR in under a year represents the new speed of software adoption in the AI era. (18:00) This acceleration occurs because AI tools provide immediate value at low price points ($25/month), have global distribution through the internet, and solve real bottlenecks for users. The lesson for entrepreneurs is that when product-market fit combines with AI capabilities and existing infrastructure (payment rails, hosting, etc.), growth can happen at unprecedented speeds.
Statistics & Facts
- Lovable has grown from 20,000 paying customers in February to nearly 400,000 paying customers (20x growth), reaching over $100 million ARR. (18:00) This represents one of the fastest SaaS growth rates ever recorded.
- Stockholm, with only 10 million people in Sweden, has produced multiple unicorns including Klarna, Spotify, King (Clash of Clans), and Truecaller, demonstrating the highest per-capita unicorn production rate globally. (50:00)
- Lovable's Discord community has 106,258 members with 8,744 currently online, and the company is on track to run 300 grassroots in-person events by year-end. (43:00)
