September 2023 Summaries

At first blush, transitioning from traditional Android developer to no-code developer might seem unconventional, but for Youssef Elkhayami, it made perfect business sense. He discovered Bubble, a platform that allowed him to quickly build and ship apps without extensive coding knowledge. With Bubble, he was able to join his growth marketer partner in building faster and more efficient apps, which eventually grew into Minimum Studio, a team of 10 developers who all code but rely heavily on Bubble for most projects. Youssef has built around 150 Bubble apps, including the notable Realkit app with custom plugins that showcased its technical capabilities. He attributes his career success to Bubble, which enabled him to build an amazing remote team and unlock new opportunities in his life. When asked for advice, he emphasizes the importance of "building sh*t" and encourages those considering a no-code career to take action and start building immediately.

The first-ever user conference of Bubble, BubbleCon, will be held virtually and in-person in New York City from October 24 to 25, 2023. In-person tickets are sold out, but virtual attendance is free and can be registered anytime before the event. To get the most out of the experience, attendees should fill out their profile with a headline that describes themselves, build a custom agenda of sessions they want to attend, and connect with others through the event chat and virtual booths. The conference will feature keynotes, fireside chats, community panels, and exclusive sessions for virtual attendees, including speed-networking opportunities and a chance to talk to the internal Bubble development team.

Bubble's VP of Product, Allen Yang, has been with the company for over four years, previously working at Google and Better Mortgage. He leads a team responsible for driving product and business forward, as well as nurturing a strategy that enables Bubble's user base to thrive. Allen believes in wearing multiple hats and being adaptable, which he credits to his experience working in smaller companies where everyone pitches in. He emphasizes the importance of making data-informed decisions, figuring out impactful priorities, and leveraging user feedback to drive product development. With Bubble's growing presence and maturity, Allen is excited about the company's future trajectory, particularly its potential to make significant changes and impact with a strong team behind it.

The rise of generative AI and no-code technologies is expected to usher in a new phase of tech innovation, potentially empowering decentralization and massive empowerment. However, this shift also raises concerns about the risks inherent to AI-driven tools, such as intellectual property issues, biased training data, and limited understanding of what these tools are creating. To mitigate these risks, it's essential to build AI-driven no-code tools intentionally, with a focus on learning from rather than copying, and to ensure that they are designed with transparency, accountability, and flexibility in mind. By adopting principles such as repeatable work, separating research from development, and prioritizing data security, developers can create AI-driven no-code tools that empower creators while minimizing the risks associated with these technologies. Ultimately, the goal is to harness the transformative potential of AI-driven no-code while ensuring they serve the greater good.

BubbleCon, the first-ever user conference by Bubble, will take place on October 24-25, 2023, with hundreds of attendees joining live in NYC and thousands tuning in virtually. The event features a packed schedule of mainstage sessions, including keynotes from co-founders Josh Haas and Emmanuel Straschnov, fireside chats with product leaders, panel discussions on AI and no-code, and immersive experiences like Demo Day Pitch Competition and Live AMA with the Bubble Founders. Virtual attendees will also have access to exclusive content, networking opportunities, and a virtual speed networking session. The conference aims to bring together industry leaders, expert speakers, and the vibrant Bubble community for learning, networking, and inside looks at Bubble's vision for the future.

The BubbleCon conference is approaching, with a mix of in-person and virtual experiences. Attendees can join remotely from anywhere at any time to participate in breakout sessions or watch live events. Virtual attendees will have access to special features such as virtual networking events, the ability to connect with other no-code developers through chat, and front-row seats to live panels. The conference also offers a free ticket option for those who cannot attend in person, along with a relaxed dress code policy allowing attendees to choose their own attire. The full agenda will be shared soon, featuring panels from Bubble business owners and experts, as well as keynote speakers like Emmanuel Straschnov.

Bubble has obtained a SOC 2 Type II report and strengthened its GDPR compliance, meeting top-notch security standards and equipping businesses with greater administrative controls as they scale. This milestone is followed by the introduction of Bubble for Enterprise, a platform designed to enable large teams to take control of development, expedite time to value, save on costs, empower non-technical team members, and more. The Enterprise plan combines bespoke features with advanced features, including single sign-on, centralized billing, and security measures such as DDoS protection and custom Cloudflare settings. This new platform aims to serve large customers better, clearly demonstrating Bubble's capabilities for serious, performant applications, and solidifying its position in the market.

The Immerse team has announced a new cohort of product mentors, all of whom are highly experienced entrepreneurs and developers with expertise in no-code tools. These mentors have been matched with the members of the sixth Immerse cohort, which consists entirely of women and femme-identified founders, to provide one-on-one technical guidance and support. The mentors come from diverse backgrounds, including public interest startups, angel investors, and members of no-code agencies, and have demonstrated their ability to lead and innovate in various industries. They offer valuable guidance, expertise, and experience to help the Immerse cohort unlock their full potential and bring their product visions to life.

Carrd is a no-code website-building tool designed for individuals, freelancers, startups, and small businesses seeking to create simple, one-page websites such as personal sites, landing pages, and portfolios. It offers a user-friendly interface with a robust template gallery and the ability to integrate with payment processors like Stripe and PayPal. Carrd's pricing plans range from a free basic option to a Pro Plus plan at $49 per year, each offering varying levels of features and site limits. While Carrd excels in creating aesthetically pleasing single-page sites, it lacks the comprehensive functionality of multi-page platforms like Bubble, which supports back-end workflows and more complex applications. For those needing more extensive website capabilities, alternatives like Squarespace, Wix, and WordPress, or tools like Bubble for more dynamic applications, may be more appropriate. Carrd is particularly beneficial for those who prioritize ease of use and affordability in creating straightforward web presences.

Thunkable is an app development platform launched in 2016, enabling users to create native mobile apps for Android and iOS, as well as mobile-responsive web apps, through a visual programming interface akin to Scratch. It is designed for a wide audience, including educators, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists, allowing them to build and publish apps on Google Play and Apple App Stores. Thunkable offers various subscription plans, ranging from a free tier to more advanced options like Pro, Team, and Business, each providing different levels of storage, project capacity, and branding capabilities. Compared to Bubble, another no-code platform, Thunkable supports native app development but lacks the backend database functionality and user management features that Bubble offers. While both platforms provide community support and educational resources, Thunkable's interface is more focused on block-based logic, whereas Bubble offers more flexibility with workflows and database integration.

Consenna, a UK-based partner services agency, has successfully partnered with Airdev, a Bubble Gold agency partner, to leverage Bubble's no-code platform for creating customized software solutions for major IT brands like HP, Dell, and Lenovo. Initially relying on traditional consulting and out-of-the-box software, Consenna shifted to Bubble to meet the increasing demand for tailored solutions, due to its rapid prototyping capabilities and scalability. This transition enabled the development of innovative projects such as a custom CPQ platform for Lenovo, streamlining complex sales processes, and the HP for Education programme, a large-scale marketplace for device trade-ins. As Consenna expanded beyond consulting, it launched platforms like Catalyst to facilitate email marketing campaigns, demonstrating how Bubble's technology has enhanced their ability to deliver creative and efficient enterprise solutions. This collaboration has positioned Consenna to set new standards in innovation and efficiency within the industry.