How two tech workers built a $4 million side hustle using AI

David Emelianov and Jordan Gaston, software engineers at major tech firms, managed to sell their inbox-cleaning app, Trimbox, for $4 million while keeping their full-time jobs. By leveraging AI to automate coding, customer support, and legal preparation, the duo bypassed the need for outside investment or a large staff.

The project began in 2020 after Gaston noticed his mother struggling to manage a cluttered email inbox. He developed a prototype, which Emelianov later refined into a Chrome extension. As the pair balanced careers at companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and various FinTech firms, they treated the app as a disciplined weekend venture. By the time they decided to sell late last year, the business had reached $232,000 in monthly recurring revenue.

Efficiency was the primary driver of their success. Rather than hiring designers or additional developers, the co-founders utilized ChatGPT to convert their web codebase into a mobile application. They also implemented an AI-driven customer support system that handled inquiries independently, only escalating complex issues to the founders. When it came time to exit, they again turned to AI to simulate market valuations and draft complex legal inquiries, significantly reducing their reliance on expensive consultancy services. For Emelianov and Gaston, the strategy proved that maintaining a stable career while bootstrapping can be a viable path to a significant financial windfall.