How This Founder Raised $6.5M in 90 Days (Without a Product)

Many founders believe that securing millions in funding requires a perfect product, a big team, or years of experience to raise money.

Browserbase proved that wrong.

In 90 days, founder Paul Klein:

• Went from a memo to a $6.5M pre seed + seed round

• Built a waitlist of thousands with zero product

• Became the “headless browser guy” on Twitter (yes, the 🅱️ emoji is everywhere)

Here’s how he pulled it off, and how you can apply these lessons to your own startup.

Step 1: Launch with a Manifesto (Not a Product)

BrowserBase started with a 3,000 word memo, not code. Paul wrote:

Then, he filmed a no-product video manifesto:

• Vibes over features: No demos, just Paul talking passionately about AI’s future.

• Symbolism: American flag backdrop, “secret plan” visuals (think Mission Impossible meets Steve Jobs).

• Big vision: “AI agents will need browsers to automate tasks, we’ll power that.”

Result: The video went viral on Twitter. Developers, investors, and AI builders DM’d Paul asking, “How do I get access?”

Lesson: People buy into why you exist before what you sell.

Step 2: Filter Your Waitlist Like a Nightclub Bouncer

Browserbase’s waitlist hit thousands fast. But Paul only let in the “100 true fans”:

• Avoided “vibe seekers”: Ignored passive signups.

• Prioritized rage: “If their email had swear words (‘I f**ing hate managing headless browsers’), they got fast tracked.

• Manual onboarding: Paul personally DMed top candidates to ask, “What’s your #1 pain point?”

Why it worked: Early users became evangelists. They gave brutal feedback, stuck around during bugs, and tweeted about wins.

Steal this: Don’t chase big numbers. Filter for intensity of need.

Step 3: Fundraise Like a Pro Athlete (90 Days, $6.5M)

Paul closed $6.5M in 90 days by:

• Building investor relationships 6+ months early: Met future leads before needing cash.

• Proving “maturity of thought”: Showed a clear path from memo → customer interviews → waitlist → revenue.

• Framing as an “AI index fund”: “Bet on us, and you bet on every AI company needing browsers.”

Key quote:

Step 4: Obsess Over Usage (Not MRR)

Many Twitter builders chase Stripe screenshots. Paul tracks:

• Browser automation minutes

• Weekly returning users

• AI agent runs per day

Why? Usage predicts retention. Revenue follows.

Example: They use Clerk for auth. Every week, Paul gets:

Lesson: If people rely on your product, revenue will follow.

Step 5: Become the “___ Guy” on Social Media

Paul’s Twitter bio: “The headless browser guy.” His strategy:

• Teach, don’t pitch: Shared browser automation hacks, WebLlama updates, and anti blocking tactics.

• Celebrate customers: Case study threads like “How [Customer] Built [Cool Thing] on BrowserBase”.

• Memes over ads: The 🅱️ emoji became a cult symbol.

Result: Competitors’ users slide into his DMs asking, “How do I switch?”

The Takeaway: Startups Are Earned in 30 Day Sprints

Paul’s mantra: “The next 30 days are the most important.”

To act on Browserbase’s playbook:

1. Validate with a manifesto before code.

2. Recruit 100 rage filled users who NEED you.

3. Fundraise on relationships, not desperation.

4. Track usage like MRR, retention is king.

5. Dominate a niche (be the ______ guy/gal).

BrowserBase’s success wasn’t luck. It was about having a clear vision, building a real community, and focusing on what mattered.

Until text time,
Omar Waseem

P.S. Want the full story? Watch my podcast with Paul here.

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