Look, we've all heard those startup fairy tales. But Mikael Yan's journey? It's the real deal - complete with failed projects, pivot points, and the kind of persistence that actually builds successful companies.
Here's how he turned ManyChat into the go-to platform for 400,000+ businesses who want to nail their their Auto-DM game.
The Early Fails (Yeah, We're Starting There) 🎢
Before Co-Founding ManyChat, Mikael made YouComedy. Think Pinterest-meets-YouTube with a sprinkle of memes. People loved it, but scaling? That's where things got messy. Then came Banan, a messaging app packed with fancy features like swipeable GIFs. Great engagement, zero viral growth. After four years of grinding, Mikael did something most founders won't admit to - he hit pause.
The "Oh Snap" Moment 💡
While everyone was chasing the next social media dragon, Mikael spotted gold in 2015: messaging apps were quietly taking over the world. When Telegram opened their API, he didn't just see an opportunity - he saw the future of business communication.
ManyChat: When Everything Finally Clicked 🚀
Here's the truth bomb: ManyChat wasn't just another tool. It was the answer to a problem every business had but couldn't solve: how to automate conversations without sounding like a robot.
The Numbers That Matter 📈
- Seed funding secured: $1M (and hit profitability faster than you can say "ROI")
- Series A from Bessemer: $18M (yeah, that Bessemer)
- Business users today: 400,000+ and counting
- Team growth: 3 people to 70+ in just two years
Why This Actually Worked 🎯
Let's break down what made ManyChat different:
- They focused on real user behavior instead of vanity metrics (looking at you, total downloads)
- They made chat automation accessible to businesses that couldn't code their way out of a paper bag
- They proved their value by solving actual problems: abandoned carts, customer support, engagement
Here's a Video of Mikael Sharing his Journey:
The Future Playbook 🔮
ManyChat isn't done. They're locked and loaded for WhatsApp and Instagram the moment those APIs open up. Why? Because Mikael knows something most founders forget: messaging isn't just about automation - it's about building real relationships at scale.
Want the TL;DR? Success isn't about getting lucky. It's about being smart enough to learn from failure, bold enough to pivot when needed, and focused enough to build something people actually want to use. In a world of overnight success stories, this is what real entrepreneurship looks like.