In the bustling startup landscape of 2009, where venture funding was seen as the golden ticket to success, Paras Chopra took a road less traveled. Armed with a biotechnology degree and a deep passion for coding, Paras had a simple yet powerful goal: to create software that could solve real business problems, while staying profitable and independent. Fast forward to 2025, and Wingify, the company Paras built from scratch, had just been acquired for a jaw-dropping ₹1,660 crore. So, how did they do it—without a single penny of outside funding for 15 years?
Wingify Started With an Idea—and a Lot of Persistence
When Paras founded Wingify, he wasn’t an industry veteran or a serial entrepreneur. He was a curious coder who wanted to solve a specific problem: making A/B testing more accessible. A/B testing, which helps businesses optimize their websites and campaigns, was already a known concept. But the tools available at the time were clunky, complex, and far from user-friendly. Paras spotted an opportunity to simplify the process—something non-developers could easily use.
Visual Website Optimizer (VWO) was born out of this vision. Instead of requiring teams of engineers to set up experiments, VWO made it possible for marketers and designers to test website changes on the fly. Its no-code approach was revolutionary for the time. And crucially, it came with a free trial—a move that proved to be a masterstroke. Within a month, VWO was generating $4,000 in revenue, giving Paras validation that his idea had legs.
Focusing on Customers, Not on Capital
From the outset, Wingify made a deliberate decision: no external funding. While others were chasing seed rounds and Series A funding, Paras and his lean team focused on getting customers. They kept the pricing straightforward—$199 a month—and targeted a broad range of businesses, from small startups to large enterprises.
This approach allowed them to grow on their own terms. By the end of their first year, Wingify had already established a steady revenue stream. By 2011, they hit $1 million in annual revenue, proving that their product resonated globally. Microsoft, eBay, GE—some of the biggest names in the business—became clients. They didn’t sign up because of a flashy pitch deck or a well-funded ad campaign. They signed up because VWO worked.
Content as a Catalyst
Wingify’s marketing strategy was refreshingly simple: help people. Instead of pouring money into paid ads, they invested in high-quality content. Blog posts, guides, case studies, and how-to articles became their primary tools for attracting new users.
This approach paid off immensely. The content not only established Wingify as a thought leader in the conversion rate optimization (CRO) space, but it also drove organic traffic to their website. Prospective customers could see the value of VWO before even signing up. And because the content was genuinely useful, it created trust—something that’s hard to buy with ad dollars.
Staying Lean, Thinking Long-Term
While many companies were doubling down on rapid growth at all costs, Wingify remained laser-focused on profitability. They kept their team small and efficient, reinvested their profits into improving the product, and avoided unnecessary expenses.
By 2014, their revenue had grown to $8 million, with over 2,500 businesses across 80 countries using their platform. They had become a significant player in the market without a single round of funding. In the hyper-competitive world of SaaS, this was no small feat.
A Decade of Steady Climb
The years that followed were marked by consistent, strategic growth. Wingify didn’t chase every trend or try to expand recklessly. Instead, they refined VWO’s capabilities, integrating advanced features like AI-powered insights. They adapted to changing customer needs while staying true to their core mission: helping businesses improve their online performance with minimal hassle.
By 2017, Wingify’s revenue had crossed $15 million. By 2022, they were generating over ₹200 crore in annual revenue, with a profit margin of ₹58 crore. Their products were being used in more than 90 countries, serving thousands of customers. The formula was simple: build a great product, take care of your customers, and stay financially disciplined.
The Big Payoff
As the company entered its 15th year, it was clear that Wingify’s approach had paid off. They had become a global leader in the CRO market, with an enviable track record of profitability. And then, in January 2025, the announcement came: Everstone Capital was acquiring a majority stake in Wingify for ₹1,660 crore.
This wasn’t just a financial milestone; it was a validation of their bootstrapped journey. For Paras and his team, it was proof that you don’t need massive funding rounds or a “growth at all costs” mindset to succeed. They had built something truly valuable by sticking to the basics—solving a real problem, delighting customers, and running a tight, efficient operation.
Lessons for Every Entrepreneur
Wingify’s story is a testament to what’s possible when you focus on fundamentals. While many startups rely on venture capital to scale quickly, Wingify showed that sustainable, organic growth can lead to equally impressive outcomes. Their journey offers a few key takeaways:
- Start with a problem you deeply understand. Paras wasn’t just building software for the sake of it. He identified a specific pain point—complex A/B testing tools—and built a solution that addressed it directly.
- Let your customers guide your growth. By listening to users and refining their product based on real-world feedback, Wingify built a loyal customer base that stayed with them for years.
- Content can be your most powerful marketing tool. Instead of burning cash on ads, Wingify created valuable, educational content that brought customers to them organically.
- Profitability matters. By keeping costs low and focusing on profitability from day one, they built a business that could weather challenges and grow sustainably.
Looking Ahead
Wingify’s acquisition marked the end of one chapter and the start of another. While their bootstrapped journey set them apart, their legacy now serves as inspiration for countless entrepreneurs. In an industry that often equates success with how much funding you’ve raised, Wingify’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to play by those rules.
So, if you’re an aspiring founder wondering if you can succeed without outside funding, just remember: Wingify did it. And so can you.
