How to Build an AI Startup in 2026: From Idea to $1M Revenue
The AI startup playbook has fundamentally changed. In 2020, you needed $2M in seed funding to build an AI product. In 2026, a solo founder can go from idea to $1M ARR in under 18 months—with less than $10,000 in total investment. The tools have commoditized. The models are available via API. The distribution is online. What’s scarce now is good judgment: knowing what to build, how to position it, and how to acquire customers without burning cash on marketing that doesn’t convert. Here’s the complete playbook I’ve seen work across 23 AI startups I’ve advised in the past 18