Replit's CEO says anyone can build an app in an afternoon with AI — and it's powering a new wave of solo startups

In a groundbreaking shift, solo entrepreneurs are harnessing the power of AI to transform their ideas into profitable applications with astonishing speed. Amjad Masad, the CEO of Replit, highlighted this trend during a recent episode of the 'Big Technology Podcast.' He emphasized that anyone can create an app in just a few hours if they have a solid prompt, stating, "You can just have a prompt and have an app. I'd suggest dedicating at least an afternoon to really focus on your first creation. Once you take that step, everything else will follow." Replit, a platform that enables users to build applications using AI-assisted prompts and code completion tools, has experienced remarkable growth. The company reported a staggering increase in its annual recurring revenue, soaring from $10 million at the end of 2024 to over $100 million by mid-2025 — a tenfold rise in under six months. Masad coined the term "vibe coding" to describe this innovative approach, which allows individuals to create software by simply writing natural language prompts that AI translates into functional code. While this process lowers the barriers to entry for many, he cautioned that it still requires effort and iteration. "It’s not magic. People need to invest time in learning prompt engineering and understanding the nuances of AI models, which can be unpredictable," he explained. This new wave of app development is opening doors for non-technical creators, with users from diverse fields, including healthcare professionals and ride-share drivers, stepping into the tech space. Masad shared a compelling example of a British doctor who developed a comprehensive health-tracking app for less than £100, significantly below a quote of £100,000 from an agency. Masad envisions that this revolution in solo startups could help combat the decline in entrepreneurship, stating, "If you're aiming to build a company that can provide a sustainable income, we're on the verge of achieving that." The impact of tools like Replit is profound, as they empower individual creators to realize their potential. Rebecca Beach, a former UX designer, reported doubling her income to $20,000 a month by selling AI-generated digital products, stating, "Before vibe coding, creating a single course or printable could take me weeks or months. Now, I can whip up a printable workbook in under 20 minutes." Therese Waechter, who runs the online sticker shop Otto's Grotto, also credited vibe coding with enhancing her Shopify storefront, which led to a revenue boost. "I was able to code in a wholesale catalog and add customizations without needing developer assistance. This increased trust in my brand with government clients and has enhanced my sales of high-margin products." Even those with no prior experience are getting involved. For instance, Business Insider's Alistair Barr successfully built a functioning e-commerce site with his daughter in just six hours using the AI tool Bolt, all while relying solely on natural language prompts without writing any code. Despite the enthusiasm surrounding vibe coding, some industry experts remain cautious. GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke noted that while AI facilitates startup launches, non-technical founders may struggle to scale their businesses without developer support. Similarly, Bob McGrew, former research chief at OpenAI, pointed out that prototypes created via vibe coding often need to be rewritten entirely by human engineers to achieve full functionality.