How a Side Hustle Link-in-Bio Tool Became a 6-Figure Acquisition

Turning a Simple Idea into a Digital Product

In 2019, Abzal Assembekov was working a full-time developer job. On nights and weekends he built an Instagram automation service, then shifted again to a link-in-bio tool called ContactInBio. He didn’t have investors or fancy offices, just a question: what tool did he pay for as a user? That curiosity sparked a lean, code-driven side project.

Early Failures and Lessons Learned

Abzal’s first company raised $65K but only broke even by 2017. That flop taught him to research markets before coding. Instead of guessing features, he talked to potential users and noted they needed a fast way to share multiple links from one page. This reframed his approach.

Building ContactInBio

He bought ready code, customized it, and launched within weeks. A few Instagram and Facebook ads drove the first signups. He also answered link-in-bio questions on Quora, and posted ContactInBio on ProductHunt and BetaList. Monthly recurring revenue hit $700 in no time. A policy update from Instagram shut down his automation tool, but users stuck around for the new link page. users was surprised by how lean it ran.

Growth Tactics

Rather than fancy PR, Abzal focused on targeted ads and organic traffic from Q&A forums. His copy hit pain points: “Tired of swapping links? Get one page.” He tracked signups, tweaked designs, and listened to feedback. By 2021 he had 110,000 users and 1.5 million monthly visits.

The 6-Figure Exit

In early 2021 ContactInBio earned more than his full-time salary. He quit his job, connected remotely with Taplink in the CIS region, and sold the business. No office meetings. No conferences. A streamlined remote deal and funds arrived within weeks. He logged off ContactInBio and started Many.bio.

Key Takeaways

• Pick ideas you already spend money on to confirm demand quickly and avoid wild guesses.
• Turn failures into market research: interview users before building features.
• Use lean code purchases and minimal ads to launch fast without big budgets.
• Answer questions on platforms like Quora to capture organic interest from early adopters.
• Let side projects out-earn your full-time job before quitting, then negotiate acquisitions remotely.
• Maintain control by bootstrapping, no investor pressure means you decide when and how to sell.