The Blog
132 essays on people, prediction, playbooks — and how small teams create huge growth.
Not a traffic problem, not a feature problem, not a pricing problem. An activation problem.
Execution got cheap. Selection got expensive.
Raw intelligence is roughly fixed. The bottleneck around it isn't.
Everyone can now make anything. Almost no one can tell you what is worth making.
You don't need a 10-year plan. You need this week.
At Startup School, Boris Cherny - the creator of Claude Code - said they deleted more than 80% of Claude Code's system prompt. The model got…
How do you get people to notice what you're building?Founders keep asking this question—and for good reason. Funding is more competitive than ever. AI…
You've done it before. The exits. The bell. The 2 a.m. dashboards. And still, something in you paws the ground: one more time. This time to unicorn…
The bottleneck of every company used to be execution. AI ended that: code, campaigns, products, all rented by the token. But bottlenecks don't…
My great-grandfather was a sailor. He taught our family: before every storm or long voyage, you tighten the ship.I've always seen a company the same…
Today, AI can generate code faster and more consistently than any human alive. For the first time, we're producing code faster than humans can…
This week I read one of the best pieces on organizational design in the AI age. My friend Andrew Sheppard (investor at Transcend, former President of…
Every founder I know is spending more on AI this quarter than last — and that's a good thing. But here's where most early-stage AI founders are right now:
The Retreat Before the Next Quarter.
We are past the inflection point where software development shifted from human-led coding to agent-assisted creation, with AI tools generating 53% of…
Six months. $3.5M ARR. An $80M cash exit to Wix. Eight employees. Zero VC. A year ago, I featured Maor Shlomo here — the solo founder running 100 AI…
I am openly sharing the 21 operating principles for building enduring AI-first companies — and enabling more of us to participate in this new world of…
Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of Nvidia, recently sat down with the All-In crew. Everyone is trying to figure out the quiet rewrite of how we run…
The world is shifting toward HAAO (Human Assisted Autonomous Organization) with 3 communication layers: H2H (Humans to Humans), H2A (Humans to Agents)…
Last week with my co-founders, we wired up two agents to talk to each other and ship code. At one point we caught ourselves reminding them they did not…
Supercell was a platform to build multiplayer shooter games on Facebook. Discord was a mobile game company that raised a Series A — weeks before…
You are running two companies. Only one is visible to you.
What actually happened at 9:09am... Max typed four words into Discord: "Cassandra, current project status." By 9:11am he had a complete brief. What…
China is paying people to go solo. Idle data centers, free apartments, subsidized compute — the full bureaucratic engine, deployed to birth a thousand…
Human-Assisted Autonomous Organizations : HAAO Ludovic Bodin - Atomic Scaling
Everyone in my circle is talking about what robots can do for us. Last week I wrote: build for robots, not humans. This week — the operating model.
You know what's coming. Finding the audience beats building the product. The one-person unicorn is real. And now — it's time to answer the question…
The one-person unicorn just happened. Are you paying attention?
72 hours ago, a billion people tuned in to China’s Spring Festival Gala — think Super Bowl halftime show, but watched by a fifth of humanity, all at…
Something big is happening in AI—and most people will be blindsided. 72 hours ago, Matt Shumer (HyperWrite CEO) published an essay that exploded: 74…
🚀 3.2.1. Anything you Want ::: Atomic Scaling
First principles thinking is Elon's core operating system. Here's how he uses it:
Most founders see bloat and reach for automation. Big mistake. You're just making bad processes run faster.
This year calls for transformation, not just execution.
2025 was a year of transition. I moved my family 8,200 km after 21 years in Asia and returned to founder mode after 6 years as an investor. Many things…
As we step into a new year, the pressure to create the perfect annual plan is immense. But what if the traditional approach to planning is fundamentally flawed for those of us building the future? What if there’s a better way to achieve ambitious goals without the rigidity of a 12-month forecast?
Happy holidays, my friends. As the year slows down, I want to share a principle that has fundamentally reshaped how I think about business, wealth, and…
The most valuable products don't just grow user base. They build daily habits, compound value with each usage, and intelligence with each additional…
(How to Build Products People Can't Leave. Part 2 of 3: The Compound Effect) Want explosive growth? You need three things working together: daily habits + compounding value + network effects. This week: how to build products that get better every time someone uses them.
80% of new users abandon apps within three days. The reason? Most products compete on features when they should be competing on habit formation. The shift: Stop building feature lists. Start building daily rituals.
If You Want Reach, Don’t Start With Reach. Start by hard-wiring retention and monetization into the backbone of your product.
Every founder knows this moment: you’re staring at a problem that shouldn’t be solvable. Not with your resources, not with your timing, not with the hand you were dealt. And somehow, you solve it anyway.
As we dive deeper into the art of bending reality, we’ve explored what it means to be a Custodian (the vision), to master The Ultimate Game (the game)…
Life is a game. Entrepreneurship is gameplay. Most people? They’re playing like NPCs, stuck in someone else’s script.
I see entrepreneurs increasingly as world builders. They bent reality by first forming a coherent vision in their minds, then executing relentlessly until the world conformed to it. On Bending Reality. We begin with On Being Custodian, not just of capital, but of purpose.
One night in Shanghai, walking through the glowing streets with my friend Peter, co-founder of Angry Birds. He suddenly stopped, looked at me, and…
Last week we explored the Duality Edge: your greatest strength and biggest weakness are often the same quality, just viewed from different angles. The…
For years, I lived in contradictions. I thought I had to choose:
I’ll be honest. Sometimes I trick myself with good intentions. I say, “I’ll handle it later,” as if Future Me will magically have more time, energy, or courage. Truth is: Future Me isn’t coming. It’s just me, right now—deciding whether to face it, fix it, or finally let it go.
At its core, a company has only two jobs: 1. Build the product 2. Sell the product.
Here’s the truth: AI-native companies aren’t just outpacing SaaS — they’re rewriting the playbook. They’re growing 4X faster with 7–8X fewer employees per dollar of revenue.
When I asked Song the #1 secret he carried from three companies and billions in enterprise value created, his answer was instant: “The power of compounding.”
Last week I spoke with a Silicon Valley entrepreneur building a mobile game for the last 7 years.
In my last four newsletters, I’ve unpacked The Big Shift — three macro forces shaping the next 10–15 years: AI, Climate, and Civilization. These aren’t…
I’ve lived on four continents—born in Europe, educated in Canada, expat in Latin America (including El Salvador pre-Bitcoin), and over two decades in…
A few years back, I backed Hopium, a hydrogen-powered sports car startup. It went public and became of the fastest-growing company on the Paris Stock…
Happy Thursday! Let's dive into the Big Shift and the 3 Forces Reshaping Our World: AI, Climate, and Empires.
Welcome to a new Atomic Scaling series exploring the tectonic forces reshaping our world, reshaping how we live, work, and think. These aren't just…
Many entrepreneurs launch their ventures chasing a single dream: freedom The freedom to do what they want. With who they want. When they want. But as…
Most entrepreneurs embark on their journey in pursuit of freedom—the chance to live life on their own terms. But as businesses expand, ...
How a solo founder sold his 6-month-old AI startup for $80M. Instead of 50 employees, he ran 100 AI agents around the clock. That’s what Maor Shlomo did with Base44—built solo, sold to Wix for $80M+. Atomic Scaling is doing more with less. Here’s how.
Kylian Mbappé’s salary at Real Madrid? $34 million a year — that’s $650,000 per week. Zuckerberg just paid three times that — in signing bonuses — to…
Forget the macro. This is the bottleneck that nobody is talking about.
Too many founders mistake busyness for progress. But the real secret to success is leverage—not just effort. The most underrated skill every founder can joyfully master is Strategic Laziness.
Everyone dreams of scaling fast. Every 20 minutes on LinkedIn, someone brags about their AI stack, their 4-person team, and how they’re scaling to $15M…
The world order shift is happening — and yes, it might feel uncomfortable. It’s disorienting. But it’s also a massive opportunity. Especially if you learn to become not just a spectator — but a conduit.
As Nicolas’s coach, I watched his storytelling ignite his gaming startup’s rise—until that very superpower became a bottleneck. When you’re the only…
With initial checks from investors landing, I gotta say—as an entrepreneur, I love fundraising. It’s like entering a high-conviction tunnel. Your…
This edition explores building that critical energy — the moment the so-called outside world and the so-called inside world come together.
Stillness is not weakness. It’s strategy
One of the best case studies? Supercell. Each of their hit games was built by a team of just 3–7 people — and each generated over $1B. They’ve shipped five global hits not by adding layers of approval — but by removing them. They flipped the org chart.
You no longer need a large team, a CS degree, or VC funding to build something huge. A solo founder or small team with high agency and a clear plan can create a $1B company. We’ve moved from “credentialism” to “creationism.” The key trait now? Initiative.
We’ve entered the era of ultra-lean, high-output startups — we call them Atomic Scalers. Not bloated. Not bureaucratic. Just elite teams operating at warp speed.
Over the past 26 years as a “digital nomad,” one of the greatest joys has been the friends I’ve made across the globe, including in Italy. I quickly…
Scaling isn’t just about strategy—it’s about bold execution. The Atomic Scaling playbook is built around your WHY as a North Star, not just your WHAT…
As I wrap up a month in Singapore with Balaji and the NS crew—leading six Atomic Scaling workshops for both seasoned and first-time entrepreneurs—I was reminded of the #1 mistake most founders make: spending too much time building and not enough time selling.
Stillness decays, flow nourishes. Here are 3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question to consider this week…The best entrepreneurs and investors I know don’t…
I’ve been deep in vibes coding at Network State. In just days, I learned what would have taken me weeks alone—because I was surrounded by the right…
Spending time in Singapore for NS with Balaji, building my next startup with an incredible crew, reminds me: success isn’t luck—it’s a frequency. The…
I’m launching a new token focused on Wealth Creation & Re-Distribution and heading to NS with Balajis in Singapore. For the past five years, I’ve met…
Do you feel like me that something’s off with the world right now? I’ve launched 3 companies, invested in a dozen more, got 2 unicorns, and I still…
As I launch my new fintech company, I find myself this week in Hong Kong for the Consensus crypto conference. It’s clear that the biggest challenge…
"Amidst limited capital availability and the AI boom, I've gotta say, 'Atomic Scaling' is super relevant right now. Definitely worth checking out!" Julie Zhuo ex-VP Design at Facebook (Meta) Author of The Making of a Manager Co-Founder at Sundia
Great entrepreneurs create their own reality— in business, tech, and beyond. They don’t just imagine the future—they build it.
If you ditched fundraising for the next 90 days and went all-in on revenue, what one product or feature could you ship that your users would love and make VCs chase you instead?
As leaders, we often focus on either analytical skills or creative thinking. But what if I told you that true innovation comes from blending both?
Does your business run on prophecy or prediction?
What hidden opportunities within your current network or experiences could you explore to drive significant growth in your business this year?
What are your goals for 2025, and how will you measure success? More importantly, what can you achieve in the next 30 days to make that vision real?
I wanted to celebrate the incredible year that we have had at Atomic Scaling and share how our incredible community of founders has grown.
A list of the best books to read in 2025 for tech entrepreneurs
A powerful story is a force that can impact millions.
I've discovered a game-changing practice that drives exponential success: A consistent, focused weekly meeting.
Episode 140. of the Rise and Play Podcast with Sophie Vo Redefining Sustainable Entrepreneurship with Ludovic Bodin: From Blitz Scaling to Atomic Scaling
Many businesses struggle with revenue growth because they cast too wide a net. The reality is that the key to exponential growth lies in laser-focusing on your ideal customers.
Why do so many entrepreneurs feel trapped in the grind of their own businesses? It's because they believe that scaling means more hours, bigger teams, and constant hustle. (Also known as Blitzscaling) But what if I told you there's a strategy that allows you to grow smarter, not harder?
In the era of Atomic Scaling, companies like Supercell in Finland are rewriting the rules. They hit $1 billion in revenue in a mere 36 months with only 120 employees. Even more impressive, each of Supercell's billion-dollar products was developed by a team of just 2-5 people.
If you were to implement one AI-driven initiative in your startup this week, what would it be and how might it transform your company's performance and growth trajectory?
How can you better integrate storytelling with data-driven insights in your next project or presentation to inspire your team and drive impactful results? The most successful leaders are those who can think with both sides of their brain. Are you ready to become a whole-brain leader?
Building a blueprint for high performance teams is extremely important. Today I wanted to share my thoughts on high performance teams and my top 10 traits that I see in the best of the best.
A true billionaire isn't someone with a billion dollars, but someone whose ideas impact a billion lives. Focus on scaling your impact, not just your bank account.
How do you create a high performance culture with a growing company? Lets dive into Netflix's memo on culture to see how we can model our own companies to carry our impactful vision.
The EPIC framework (Employees, Profit, Impact, Cost) is a game-changer for businesses aiming to scale smartly. It's not about growing bigger, but about maximizing efficiency and impact.
Have you ever wondered what separates unicorns from the rest? It's often directly related to team performance. If you're wondering "How can I create a high performance organization". You have to start with a magical pair to build from. Learn how today.
Automation is the pro-level of prediction. Use data and AI to forecast trends, automate repetitive tasks, and make informed decisions. This frees up your time and energy to focus on creativity and strategy.
How I use a Scorecard to predict and improve my weekly outcomes.
What do Netflix, Supercell, and Telegram have in common? Talent Density
3 ideas, 2 quotes, and 1 question for you to consider this week 3.2.1: 🚀 How I Secretly Invest in "Magical Pair" for Atomic Scaling 🌟
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling: System
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling: Rules
A live product ships early, learns from real users and never stops improving. Three ideas on live operations, dynamic features and weekly metrics — plus two quotes and one question.
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling: Imagination
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling: Engagement
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling : Do the Work
3.2.1 - Atomic Scaling: Change
Strategy is resource allocation. Three ways a small team plans ahead, automates the repeatable, and improves every week — plus two quotes and one question.
Embrace Trust: surround yourself with people you can trust, and quit dealing with those who consistently undermine your confidence or integrity
Rhythm is how a small team stays aligned without meetings about meetings. Three ideas on cadence, time blocking and planning ahead — plus two quotes and one question.
Work smart, not hard: You don’t need to create a community. You can just piggyback on existing ones
Gamify the business, not just the product: weekly missions, five-star scores and real rewards for a small team — three ideas, two quotes, one question.
Make a list: Write down all the steps needed to create and deliver your service or product. Then list all the skills those steps require
Freemium Popularity: Freemium models are particularly popular in the realm of games, SaaS, software applications and internet-based businesses. This…
Retention is the cheapest growth a small team can buy. Three ideas on engagement, personalisation and community — plus two quotes and one question.
Strategic Audience Targeting: Identify and understand your target audience to tailor your marketing efforts effectively. By defining buyer personas…
I'm thrilled to share an exciting interview with you today, courtesy of Yodo1. We had a fantastic conversation diving into the concept of Atomic…
Thanks Gamemakers.com for hosting Atomic Scaling in an amazing interview, and a big thank you to Joseph Kim for facilitating the discussion!
Gratitude to Ariya Chittasy, Director at Egenesis Venture, for extending the invitation to interview me regarding my book, "Atomic Scaling"! It was…
Grateful to Mobidictum for the insightful interview on my book 'Atomic Scaling'! We discussed the 3P3R framework, and the transitioning from game…
Thanks VentureBeat for featuring Atomic Scaling in his article!
Human Capital Amplification: Your team is your most valuable asset. By empowering them, you amplify your business's potential for growth and innovation.
Forecasting Accuracy: Predicting future trends and market shifts is essential for staying ahead of the competition. Learn how to refine your…
The first 3.2.1 issue: why a playbook is the strategic framework that lets a small team run like a big one — three ideas, two quotes, one question.
