The (Not-So-Secret) Dream of Solo Devs: Building the Next Unicorn
Let’s Be Honest
You can say:
“I’m doing this for the passion.”
“Just to learn.”
Or even:
“It’s just a fun little side project.”
But deep down?
Every line of code holds that tiny, dangerous potential…
the power to change the game.
💥 Let’s not kid ourselves:
Who doesn’t secretly dream of building something huge?
It All Starts with ONE Damn Line of Code
At first?
It’s nothing.
One line. Two lines.
A console.log that finally shows what you wanted.
Then you keep going.
Late nights. Endless weekends.
Bugs that make you question your life choices .
Each line?
A small step toward something bigger.
Every. Single. Time.
The Truth
We tell ourselves:
“It’s just a side project. No pressure.”
But if you're serious about building?
It’s never just about shipping.
It’s because deep down, you KNOW:
There’s a chance you’re onto something huge.
And that spark?
It keeps you coming back.
Chasing Unicorns: The Myth, The Reality, The New Rules
So… What’s a Unicorn, Really?
In the startup world, a unicorn is a privately held company valued at over $1 billion USD.
The term was coined in 2013 by Aileen Lee to describe how rare these massive success stories were—like spotting a mythical creature in the wild.
Today? The herd has grown… but unicorns are still exceptional beasts.
They’re the ultimate symbol of tech success: a product that not only works but explodes—scaling fast, making waves, and leaving competitors in the dust.
The Cold, Hard Stats
~1,250 unicorns worldwide (2025)
20% are SaaS
50%+ are pure tech (SaaS, Fintech, AI…)
Combined valuation: $4.5 trillion USD
Average time to unicorn status: 6–8 years
Average funding raised: $300M+ before unicorn status
Fastest unicorn: Bytedance (TikTok) hit $1B+ in under 2 years
~90% of startups fail before ever getting close
The odds?
Roughly 0.00006% of startups become unicorns.
Yep, that’s 6 out of every 10,000.
Reality Check
Most unicorns don’t just happen.
They’re backed by:
Big teams (think 50+ employees early on)
Massive VC rounds (Series A, B, C…)
Powerful networks (access to money, media, mentors)
Product-market fit that’s dialed in like a laser.
In short? They’re not built in a garage overnight. 🚫
BUT… every so often, someone flips the script.
The outsiders.
The solo founders.
The no-funding rebels who grow something huge against the odds.
They exist. They’re rare—but damn, when they hit, they inspire.
TL;DR: It’s Not a Fairytale… It’s a Battlefield
Chasing unicorns isn’t about magic.
It’s about grit, precision, and relentless execution.
Most of us won’t make it.
But the dream? It keeps us pushing—because that tiny spark is all it takes to start a wildfire.
This isn’t a storybook quest.
It’s a fight against dragons—the obstacles, the doubts, the brutal odds.
But we chase unicorns anyway.
Because even if they’re rare, they can be caught.
Why Do We Chase It?
The ultimate achievement:
Building something that truly matters. Something that leaves a mark.Passion:
Code is just the tool. What drives us is the belief we can change a small—or big—piece of the world.Impact & recognition:
Creating something people actually want to use. Something indispensable.The dream of independence:
Owning your life. Your rhythm. Your vision. No permissions needed.
The Must-Have Ingredients to Aim for a Unicorn
A clear vision + flawless execution
Extreme resilience (an iron mindset)
A gigantic market (no way around it)
Demonstrable traction (ideas aren’t enough)
The ability to build a solid team (even if you start solo)
Ability to raise (or generate) funds
Good timing & a bit of luck (always)
✅ Check 5+ boxes? Let’s go.
Not there yet? Keep grinding—nothing’s set in stone.
My Unicorn? She’s White… With a Flaming Mane
I already talk about it like it exists. Because in my head… it already does.
Her name? SocialRally.
A unique SaaS, built by hand, solo.
Right now, SocialRally has all the ingredients—or better yet, the DNA and the guts—to become one.
I haven’t unveiled everything yet. The mystery is still thick… but one thing’s for sure:
This project doesn’t just have the potential to become a unicorn… it can birth other unicorns too. 💥
Yes, I talk with the conviction of someone who’s already won.
Why? Because I’ve put in the work. Long hours. Doubt-filled days. But always with a clear vision.
And because I KNOW that if I execute well, if I stay the course, I’m heading straight toward that dream.
In the past?
Building a unicorn solo was pretty much science fiction.
You needed a full team:
Design,
Back + front devs,
Marketing,
Customer support,
Translation… everything.
But now? AI changes the game.
Code generation, content, translations, SEO, UI/UX… everything can be accelerated, optimized, automated.
And that changes EVERYTHING
➡️ The solo dev of today… is quickly becoming a one-person army.
➡️ The next big success story? Might just be built by someone alone… with AI at their side.
It could be you. It could be me. We’re still waiting… but it’s coming. And oh, it WILL.
AI is changing the game and making solo dreams more possible than ever.
The solo dev of today is no longer alone—not really.
Because every new tool, every AI assistant… is a teammate in disguise.
And while most unicorns so far were built by teams with funding and infrastructure,
here’s the truth: every legendary company starts the same way—
a spark,
a vision,
and relentless execution.
Ready for some badass stories to fuel your fire?
Some Examples (For the Road)
Canva
Started in 2012 as a simple drag & drop design tool. Now: 100+ million active users, valuation: $40 billion USD.
Slack
Born out of a failed game project. Pivoted to internal messaging ➔ Now: $2B+ annual revenue.
Notion
Quiet for years, then exploded by focusing on flexibility & community. Valuation: $10 billion USD.
Shopify
Originally? A small snowboard e-commerce store. Today? The global e-commerce SaaS leader, powering 800,000+ stores, valuation: $60B+ USD.
Zapier
Launched by 3 guys, no VC at the start, fully remote. Now: 600+ employees, 1,400+ integrations, estimated valuation: $5B+ USD.
It’s easy to look at these unicorns and forget how they started: humble beginnings, quiet launches, zero buzz at first. I haven’t built a unicorn (yet!)—but I know what those early struggles feel like.
I know—it might seem strange to aim for a unicorn while shouting into the void. No network, no traction, no buzz… yet. But honestly? That’s the reality for almost every solo founder at the start.
We show up, again and again—especially when no one’s watching—because that’s how you build the foundation.
But let’s be real: showing up is just the beginning.
At some point, building in silence isn’t enough. You have to reach out, connect, and push your work into new spaces—whether that’s through partnerships, strategic visibility plays, or simply getting your first real users talking.
That’s the game: keep showing up, keep building, but also keep looking for leverage points that get you out of the void.
And if you’re reading this… hey, welcome to the ground floor.
And I’m not just saying that—I’ve lived it. When I started my sailing tour business 5 years ago in Bacalar, Quintana Roo (Mexico), I was just another new face in a crowded tourism market. I posted, I shared, I promoted… often into complete silence. That’s where the idea for SocialRally first sparked.
But I kept showing up. In three languages. Over and over. And today? Adorable Sailing is a 5-star business, recognized and respected. Bang. 💥
What About You?
What’s your story?
Are you deep in code right now, chasing a wild idea?
Or maybe doubting, wondering if it’s even worth it?
Wherever you are—building, struggling, winning—keep pushing.
You don’t need permission. You don’t need a crowd.
You just need to show up, again and again.
Drop your project, your dream, or your current battle in the comments.
Let’s make some noise.
Drop a comment—because big things start with small steps.
Sources & References:
Unicorn count & valuation:
CB Insights Unicorn Tracker (2025)
https://www.cbinsights.com/research-unicorn-companies
20% SaaS & Tech dominance:
SaaS Mag Report 2024
Crunchbase Industry Stats (cross-checked)
$4.5 trillion valuation total:
Global Unicorn Club (Hurun Research Institute, 2025)
CB Insights valuation update
6–8 years to unicorn average:
TechCrunch & Crunchbase research articles (multiple founder interviews + funding analysis)
90% startup failure rate:
Failory Startup Failure Report
Case studies (Canva, Slack, Notion, Shopify, Zapier):
Company blogs + case studies
Forbes / Crunchbase company profiles
Indie Hackers interviews & features
