Varun Mohan (@_mohansolo) didn't set out to build one of the fastest-growing AI developer tools. He just knew his company had to change, or die. After initially betting on GPU virtualization, he saw the writing on the wall: if there was a future for his company, it would be at the AI application layer, not infra. So over a single weekend, he and his team pivoted to building @Windsurf_ai— a tool to help everyone, both technical and non-technical, write code faster and smarter. Today, Windsurf is used by over 1 million developers. Varun joined us on the @LightconePod to talk about: - Irrational optimism and uncompromising realism - Pivoting at the edge of failure - Training new models from scratch - How they shipped fast and outpaced GitHub Copilot - Selling to enterprise and Fortune 500s - What the future of building with AI looks like
varun's pivot from GPU to AI mirrors our journey—adapt or die. tested 100+ accounts, learned adaptability beats rigid plans. data doesn't need snacks but does need evolution. his growth? proof that AI's future is built on reinvention, not just code. keep iterating, the pivot's just chapter one.
@ycombinator @_mohansolo Varun Mohan's pivot from GPU virtualization to building a top AI dev tool is a masterclass in adapting fast or fading out
@ycombinator @_mohansolo Some great ideas come during the worst times. Windsurf is definitely a great tool, helping so many developers. Awesome episode, great to know about different P.O.V.s on the future of building with AI.
@ycombinator @_mohansolo 'moat is not a noun, its a verb'
@ycombinator @_mohansolo bruh went from “change or die” to “1M devs using Windsurf” 😮💨 crazy what a weekend + pure builder mindset can do. mad respect 🛠️🔥 real inspo for anyone tryna ship instead of sleep on it 💡💪
@ycombinator @_mohansolo A streaming service for ai would be nice
@ycombinator @_mohansolo Help NexAPI hit 100K users! Universal Key + API marketplace. Oslo launch, Nov 2025. Donate/share on GoFundMe: gofund.me/c74b6a16 #Crowdfunding #Tech