Investor's note
On Deck’s mission is to empower founders and builders to bring their ideas to life by giving them the tools they need to make it happen — whether that’s talent, funds, or a helping hand. To make this mission possible, On Deck built the No-Code Fellowship — a community where non-technical founders and builders of all backgrounds come together to learn alongside each other while bringing their entrepreneurial ideas to life — without code.
Enter Bubble: the no-code platform whose goal is to make the web-building process more accessible through an extensive suite of visual coding tools. Bubble has quickly established itself as one of the most powerful no-code platforms for creating digital products — web apps, marketplaces, social networks and more — and touts a robust and devoted community to prove it.
The natural overlap between On Deck No-Code (ODNC) and Bubble’s missions inevitably brought the respective teams together from day one. Per Bubble’s co-founder Emmanuel Strachnov:
“Bubble and On Deck are completely mission-aligned. We share the mission of fostering entrepreneurship everywhere. I’m super excited that our first cohort together is now turning into the first of a series of many more. ”
Since Bubble partnered with ODNC during its launch in 2020, Bubble has become a staple among the On Deck community, with On Deck fellows leveraging Bubble’s building power on a daily basis. But how exactly did this partnership come to be, and how did it impact the On Deck and broader no-code community? Read on for the details of how On Deck and Bubble have worked together to increase entrepreneurship, and what’s on the roadmap for this powerful partnership.
Note: This is part of a series where we talk to On Deck Founders alumni about the companies they’re building and what it will take to propel them to the next level. Consider joining our incredible community of founders who have launched over 1000 companies worth over $9B. Apply here.
How we came together as fellow No-Coders
Bubble is a powerful and versatile platform embraced by millions of no-code builders and makers. With Bubble, you can prototype, launch, iterate, and scale software products like websites, apps, and entire marketplaces with pixel-perfect designs, complex data structures, and engaging interfaces — all without writing a single line of code.
At ODNC, we initially approached Bubble because we noticed the versatility and scalability of the products built on the platform. Since we’ve introduced Bubble to the ODNC community, we’ve witnessed incredible adoption, with around 80% of our fellows expressing a strong interest in learning and using Bubble for their no-code projects.
Bubble’s impact
Two years into our partnership, we’re incredibly proud to showcase a few ODNC fellows building their companies on Bubble — and we’re talking about companies that managed to raise funds and gain substantial traction in their industries.
- Emily built OtterSpace — a resource for DAOs to level-up the experience for their community — which ended up winning first place at the On Deck No-Code Demo Day this March, and also raising $3.5M in pre-seed funding.
- Anita, one of our top ODNC fellows, built Biyo — a dynamic portfolio builder for creators — entirely on Bubble, and raised $125,000 through ODX, On Deck’s startup accelerator.
- Rebecca built Remi — a platform that helps remote teams co-create their culture using asynchronous team building rituals and bonding experiences — and raised €1.2M in funding through ODX.
- Jake built Swapstack — a marketplace that allows advertisers to programmatically advertise across a series of targeted newsletters — registering $500,000 of gross merchandising value every year. Jake also raised $125,000 through ODX.
- Stephen built Tiny Acquisitions — a marketplace to buy & sell every kinds of digital assets for $100k or less — which crossed 6,000 users, more than 300 listings, and was even awarded a Golden Kitty on Product Hunt as top side project of 2021!
It’s astounding to think that these are just a few of the 70+ projects that came out of the partnership between On Deck and Bubble. Raising millions of dollars in funding and revenue, onboarding thousands of customers, and making an undeniable dent in the no-code indie market are feats to be celebrated, and the fact that all of this has been done without writing code is an achievement in and of itself. Some of our top no-coders have even taken it one step further, becoming certified Bubble instructors, like Shiku and Kelly (who also helped build Candor).
At On Deck, our fellows love the exclusive Bubble perks they get when enrolling through our programs, and the spirit of service that is unique to our culture and community. Bubble’s features embody this culture of generosity and empowerment, and we’re excited to continue supporting Bubble as a core partner of our value proposition.
What’s next for Bubble and On Deck?
As no-code partners, we are constantly finding ways to bring more people into the no-code ecosystem.
To that end, On Deck has launched a brand new program, On Deck No-Code Foundations (ODNCF), a 4-week, beginner-friendly program for busy professionals and founders who want to learn the ropes of no-Code and leap straight into action building projects.
ODNCF aims to introduce many more people to the possibilities of no-code. Our mission is to enable talented professionals and entrepreneurs to turn ideas into businesses without code, and join the no-code revolution we love so dearly.
If you’re interested in learning the foundations of Bubble and no-code alongside an intimate and welcoming community of peers, apply today! We can’t wait to have you and help you showcase your creations to the entire world.