Telegramic: The Road to 400k Users and a Successful Exit
Building a successful product is one thing, but scaling it to hundreds of thousands of users and achieving a successful exit is a completely different journey. This is the story of Telegramic, from its humble beginnings to becoming the go-to platform for Telegram discovery.
The Beginning
It all started in 2018 when I noticed a gap in the Telegram ecosystem. While Telegram was growing rapidly, there was no centralized place for users to discover quality bots, channels, and groups. The idea was simple: create a social directory that would help users find what they were looking for.
The Growth Phase
The initial launch was modest, but the response was immediate. Telegram users were hungry for discovery tools, and developers needed a way to showcase their creations. Within months, we had:
- 10k users - The first major milestone
- 50k users - Organic growth through word-of-mouth
- 100k users - Featured in major Telegram channels
- 250k users - Partnership with Telegram developers
- 400k+ users - Market leader status
Key Success Factors
1. Community-First Approach
We didn't just build a directory; we built a community. Users could submit content, rate quality, and engage with developers directly.
2. Technical Excellence
The platform was built with scalability in mind from day one. Django + PostgreSQL + Celery provided the foundation for handling millions of requests.
3. Strategic Partnerships
We actively partnered with major bot developers and Telegram channels, creating a network effect that accelerated growth.
4. User Experience
Simple, intuitive design that made discovery effortless. Users could find what they needed in seconds, not minutes.
The Exit Strategy
By 2023, Telegramic had become the de facto standard for Telegram discovery. We had:
- 400k+ active users
- Sustainable revenue model
- Strong market position
- Growing developer ecosystem
When acquisition offers started coming in, we knew it was time to consider the next chapter. The exit wasn't just about the money; it was about ensuring the platform could continue growing under new leadership with more resources.
Lessons Learned
1. Solve Real Problems
Telegramic succeeded because it solved a genuine pain point in the ecosystem. Users needed discovery tools, and we provided them.
2. Community is Everything
Building a product is one thing; building a community around it is what drives sustainable growth.
3. Technical Debt Matters
Investing in proper architecture from the beginning paid dividends when scaling to hundreds of thousands of users.
4. Timing is Critical
We launched at the perfect time - when Telegram was growing but lacked discovery tools.
The Future
While I'm no longer directly involved with Telegramic, the platform continues to thrive under new ownership. The new team has expanded features, improved the user experience, and continued growing the community.
What's Next for Me
The Telegramic experience taught me invaluable lessons about building and scaling products. I'm now focused on new ventures, particularly in the AI and mobile space, applying the same principles that made Telegramic successful.