5 Years, 12 Pivots (boundaryml.com)

Vaibhav Gupta and his co-founder Aaron reflected on their five-year journey filled with 12 pivots, ultimately leading to the development of BAML, a new programming language designed for leveraging large language models (LLMs). During this time, they experimented with various ideas—from a coding bootcamp to voice-based social tools—struggling to find product-market fit (PMF). They finally hit a breakthrough with BAML, which simplifies LLM usage and integrates with multiple programming languages, demonstrating significant potential with a growing base of enthusiastic users. This story highlights the resilience and adaptability required in the startup world, particularly within the AI community. By acknowledging their initial failures and missteps, Gupta emphasizes how rapid pivoting and learning from user feedback facilitated the creation of a more robust product. BAML’s unique offerings, like syntax compatibility across languages and user-friendly features, could reshape how developers interact with LLMs, positioning it as a significant tool for enhancing AI capabilities in software development. Gupta’s journey serves as a valuable case study in the importance of perseverance and customer focus in the fast-evolving landscape of AI and machine learning.