The Kid Programmer Who Became Millionaire

Summary

At just 17, Australian programmer Nick Deroo became a millionaire after selling his app to Yahoo for $30 million. His journey began at 12, learning coding and launching his first app. By 15, he attracted a significant investment for his innovative summarization app, which led to Yahoo's acquisition. Despite early success, Nick faced challenges with subsequent ventures, prompting him to seek therapy and reevaluate his approach to entrepreneurship. Now 27, he works as a product lead at Twitter while completing his PhD, emphasizing the importance of mental health and balance in life.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Nick Deio became a millionaire at just 17 after selling his app to Yahoo for $30 million.
• 📚 His journey began at age 12 when he developed an interest in programming and technology.
• 📱 The launch of the iPhone in 2007 inspired Nick to learn coding, leading him to self-educate through books.
• 💻 Nick's first app, 'Touchwood,' launched at age 12, marking his entry into the world of app development.
• 🚀 At 15, he created 'Trimit,' an app that summarized articles, which gained significant attention from investors.
• 💰 Nick became the youngest person to receive venture capital funding at 16, thanks to a $300,000 investment from Lee Ka-Shing.
• 📈 After rebranding 'Trimit' to 'Sule,' the app gained millions of users and attracted Yahoo's interest.
• 🧘‍♂️ Despite his success, Nick faced mental health challenges, prompting him to seek therapy and practice meditation.
• 🔄 Following the acquisition, Nick worked at Yahoo, contributing to the successful Yahoo News Digest app.
• 🧩 At 27, Nick now serves as a product lead at Twitter and is pursuing a PhD at Oxford University.

Q & A

What significant achievement did Nick Deio accomplish at 17 years old?

At 17 years old, Nick Deio sold his app to Yahoo for $30 million, making him one of the youngest self-made millionaires.

What inspired Nick to start coding at such a young age?

Nick was inspired to start coding after the launch of the iPhone in June 2007 and wanted to create apps that could be launched globally.

What was the name of Nick's first iOS app, and what was its purpose?

Nick's first iOS app was called 'Touchwood,' which was a simple virtual piece of wood that users could touch for good luck.

How did Nick's app 'Trimit' gain significant attention?

Nick's app 'Trimit,' which summarized articles into shorter sentences, gained attention from billionaire investor Li Ka-shing, who invested $300,000 in it.

What were some key changes made to 'Trimit' after the investment?

After the investment, 'Trimit' was redesigned and renamed to 'Sule,' which led to a significant increase in its user base and interest from major companies.

What role did Nick take on at Yahoo after the acquisition of 'Sule'?

After the acquisition, Nick joined Yahoo as one of their youngest employees to help build and enhance the app they acquired.

What challenges did Nick face with his new venture 'Sphere'?

Nick faced challenges with 'Sphere' as it struggled to gain traction, leading to issues like unproductive user engagement and ultimately not achieving the same success as 'Sule.'

How did Nick address the mental health challenges he faced after his initial success?

Nick sought therapy and began meditating to help manage the stress and emotional challenges that came with entrepreneurship.

What pivot did Nick's company 'Sphere' make, and what was the outcome?

Nick's company pivoted to become a social Q&A website similar to Quora, which eventually attracted the attention of Twitter, leading to its acquisition.

What are Nick's current pursuits as of the time of the interview?

As of the interview, Nick is working at Twitter as a product lead and is also finishing his PhD at Oxford University.