Marc Köhlbrugge
@marckohlbrugge Portugal89K followers
Serial maker behind BetaList, WIP and Startup Jobs, shipping online for 20+ years
BetaList, WIP, Startup Jobs +11
exit story · 2020 · marketing & seo tools
How Marc Köhlbrugge Sold Tweet Photo to Kevin (maker of CreatorKit and Top Nine) (2020)
Tweet Photo was built by Marc Köhlbrugge and sold to Kevin (maker of CreatorKit and Top Nine) in 2020 for $30K ($10K upfront plus up to $20K contingent on revenue over 24 months). At the time of the sale it made ~$135 MRR.
Key facts
- Buyer
- Kevin (maker of CreatorKit and Top Nine)
- Year
- 2020
- Price
- $30K ($10K upfront plus up to $20K contingent on revenue over 24 months)
- Revenue at sale
- ~$135 MRR
- Years operated
- 1.4 years
- Channel
- Direct sale
Why they sold: Tweet Photo earned little and was a small part of Marc's portfolio, and he had other priorities. He also saw platform risk because the product depended on Twitter and Facebook APIs.
The story of Tweet Photo
Tweet Photo automatically posted users' Instagram photos and videos natively to Twitter. The idea came from a 2017 blog post Marc Köhlbrugge wrote about a better way to share Instagram photos on Twitter. Interest in that post led him to build the product in just over a week, and he launched it on 12 December 2018.
A 'via tweet.photo' credit on every tweet drove most of its growth. Because posting was fully automatic, retention was close to 100%, and even celebrities used it. The generous free plan meant few users paid, and revenue was about $135 MRR.
In April 2020 Kevin, who was strategically interested because of his products CreatorKit and Top Nine, offered to buy it. They agreed on $30,000: $10,000 upfront and up to $20,000 more tied to revenue over the following 24 months. Marc wrote about the deal in August 2020.
Lessons Marc Köhlbrugge shared
- 1.A blog post can act as a validated MVP.
- 2.Built-in branding on user output can drive organic growth.
- 3.A free tier that's too generous can hold back paid conversions.
- 4.Products built on another platform's API carry real platform risk, and contingent payments can bridge a valuation gap.
Paraphrased from the maker's public posts and interviews (see sources).
The maker
See the Tweet Photo product page or Marc Köhlbrugge's full profile for everything they have built since.
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Sources
Facts are taken from the maker's and buyer's public statements and press coverage. Prices and revenue are shown only when publicly stated; self-reported figures are not independently verified.
Keep exploring
Tweet Photo acquisition FAQ
Who bought Tweet Photo?
Tweet Photo was acquired by Kevin (maker of CreatorKit and Top Nine) in 2020 from Marc Köhlbrugge.
How much did Tweet Photo sell for?
Tweet Photo sold for $30K ($10K upfront plus up to $20K contingent on revenue over 24 months), as publicly stated. At the time of the sale it made ~$135 MRR.
Why did Marc Köhlbrugge sell Tweet Photo?
Tweet Photo earned little and was a small part of Marc's portfolio, and he had other priorities. He also saw platform risk because the product depended on Twitter and Facebook APIs.
How long did it take Tweet Photo to get acquired?
Tweet Photo was sold about 1.4 years after launch, through a direct sale (sold directly to a buyer, often a competitor, customer or acquirer that reached out).
What did Marc Köhlbrugge learn from selling Tweet Photo?
A blog post can act as a validated MVP. Built-in branding on user output can drive organic growth.