how i built zerocode while still in college
building a startup while juggling coursework at iit bombay wasn't easy, but it taught me invaluable lessons about persistence, time management, and the power of solving real problems. here's the story of how zerocode came to life.
the spark of an idea
it was during my third year at iit bombay when i first noticed the problem. i was working on a project for the entrepreneurship cell, and we needed a simple app to manage event registrations. the development team was overwhelmed, and it would take weeks to build something that seemed so straightforward.
i remember thinking: "why does it take so long to build something so simple? what if non-technical people could just describe what they want and get a working app?"
"the best startups solve problems that the founders themselves have experienced."
late nights in the hostel
the initial prototype was built during countless late nights in my hostel room. while my roommates were sleeping, i was hunched over my laptop, trying to figure out how to parse natural language and convert it into functional code.
the first version was incredibly basic—it could only create simple forms and basic crud operations. but when i showed it to a few friends, their reactions were priceless. they couldn't believe they could create a working app just by describing it.
the early tech stack
- frontend: react with a custom drag-and-drop interface
- backend: node.js with express for api handling
- ai/nlp: openai's gpt models for natural language processing
- database: mongodb for storing app configurations
- deployment: aws for hosting and scaling
balancing academics and startup life
managing coursework while building a startup was one of the biggest challenges. iit bombay's curriculum is demanding, and i couldn't afford to let my grades slip. here's how i managed:
- time blocking: dedicated specific hours to academics and startup work
- leveraging breaks: used semester breaks for intensive development sprints
- study groups: collaborated with classmates to stay on top of coursework
- professor support: some professors became mentors and advisors
the first users
getting the first users was both exciting and terrifying. i started with fellow students who needed simple apps for their projects. the feedback was brutal but invaluable:
what didn't work
- • the interface was too complex for non-technical users
- • generated apps were slow and buggy
- • limited customization options
- • poor mobile responsiveness
what users loved
- • the core concept of describing apps in natural language
- • instant preview of changes
- • no need to learn coding
- • fast iteration cycles
the pivot moment
after six months of development, i realized that the original vision was too broad. users wanted different things, and trying to be everything to everyone was making the product mediocre.
the pivot came when i noticed that most users were building similar types of apps: event management, inventory tracking, simple crms. instead of trying to build a general-purpose platform, i focused on these specific use cases first.
lessons learned
start small, think big
don't try to build everything at once. focus on one core feature and make it exceptional.
user feedback is gold
every piece of feedback, especially the negative ones, is an opportunity to improve.
technical debt is real
moving fast is important, but don't ignore code quality. it will catch up with you.
network effects matter
being at iit bombay gave me access to an incredible network of talented peers and mentors.
where we are today
today, zerocode has evolved far beyond that initial prototype. we've processed thousands of app creation requests, have users across multiple countries, and have raised funding from prominent investors.
but the core mission remains the same: democratizing software creation and making it possible for anyone with an idea to bring it to life.
for aspiring student entrepreneurs
if you're a student with a startup idea, don't wait until after graduation. the resources, network, and freedom you have in college are invaluable. start building, start learning, and start failing fast.
the journey won't be easy, but it will be worth it.
building a startup in college? i'd love to help. reach out and let's chat about your journey.