Profit Swarm
profitswarm.ai
Public challenge to build a 100% AI-automated business, documented step by step.
Woody Hayday
Multi-exit engineer behind Zero BS CRM, now building a 100% AI-run business
Woody Hayday at a glance
- Known for
- Zero BS CRM (Jetpack CRM), Profit Swarm and Strew
- Active products
- Profit Swarm and Strew
Facts checked 2026-10-20
About Woody Hayday
Woody Hayday is a software engineer, entrepreneur and maker who has built and sold several businesses. His best-known exit is Zero BS CRM, a WordPress CRM plugin he co-founded with Mike Stott that launched on WordPress.org in 2016 and was acquired by Automattic in 2019, after which it was rebranded as Jetpack CRM and he worked on it inside Automattic.
Woody has since turned to openly documented small bets. His public Profit Swarm challenge sets out to build a business run entirely by AI agents, sharing what works and what fails, and he runs an AI automation consultancy and newsletter. He is also building Strew, an app that helps families plan and record home education.
Outside software he describes his making as half crazy inventions: KartForge DIY go-kart kits for families, furniture, food forests and a science fiction novel, Canopy Harvest. His blog mixes indie business lessons with Stoicism, Buddhism and permaculture in pursuit of a happy, good life.
Products by Woody Hayday
Strew
strew.app
Home education app for planning and logging homeschooling.
CRM plugin for WordPress, acquired by Automattic and rebranded as Jetpack CRM.
Interviews & press
- Automattic Acquires Zero BS CRM, Considers Rebranding it as Jetpack CRM
WP Tavern · Article · 2019
Exit story
Zero BS CRM (Jetpack CRM)
→ Automattic · 2019
by Woody Hayday
- First product
- Exit
- Launch / milestone
- 2016First product: Launched Zero BS CRM on WordPress.org with co-founder Mike Stott
- 2019Exit: Zero BS CRM acquired by Automattic
- 2020Milestone: Zero BS CRM relaunched as Jetpack CRM
- 2025Launch: Started the Profit Swarm 100% AI business challenge
Timeline
- 2016 — Launched Zero BS CRM on WordPress.org with co-founder Mike Stott.
- 2019 — Zero BS CRM was acquired by Automattic.
- 2020 — Zero BS CRM relaunched as Jetpack CRM.
- 2025 — Started the Profit Swarm 100% AI business challenge.
How Woody builds
- Run small bets in public and learn from each.
- Let go of projects once they've served their purpose.
- Blend software with physical making and a good life.
Learn from Woody Hayday
[newsletter]
Woody Hayday's blog and newsletter
Small bets, AI automation experiments and life philosophy.
by Woody Hayday
[book]
Canopy Harvest
Woody's science fiction novel.
by Woody Hayday
Woody Hayday FAQ
Who is Woody Hayday?
Woody Hayday is a software engineer, entrepreneur and maker who has built and sold several businesses. org in 2016 and was acquired by Automattic in 2019, after which it was rebranded as Jetpack CRM and he worked on it inside Automattic.
What did Woody Hayday sell?
He co-founded Zero BS CRM, a WordPress CRM plugin acquired by Automattic in 2019 and later renamed Jetpack CRM.
What is Profit Swarm?
Profit Swarm is Woody's public challenge to build a business that runs 100% on AI agents.
What is Woody Hayday known for?
Woody Hayday is best known for Zero BS CRM (Jetpack CRM) (2016), Profit Swarm and Strew.
What is Woody Hayday doing now?
As of October 2026, Woody Hayday's active products include Profit Swarm and Strew.
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