My Monumental Year: From Hostel Hustle to AI Builder (2024–25) — Farza Style ⚡️
2024–25 was monumental for me.
Not because I made headlines.
Not because I raised funding.
Not because I had some insane “overnight success” story.
But because I became a builder.
Like… for real.
This is the real story:
From a cramped hostel room in Surat → to shipping AI tools → to making real revenue.
No fluff.
No motivation poster energy.
Just the raw grind.
The Starting Point: Hostel Room 202 🛏️
My “office” was Hostel Room 202.
One small window.
Three beds jammed together.
And zero guarantee life was going to work out.
It was chaotic.
It was loud.
It was messy.
But that room had one thing that mattered:
Ambition > comfort.
That’s where everything started.
Networks: People > Pixels 🤝
At that phase, I learned something most people take years to understand:
The people around you are worth more than any course.
I met friends from totally different worlds:
- Diamonds 💎
- Development 💻
- NFTs 🧠
- Builders from Germany 🇩🇪, Vietnam 🇻🇳, and right here in Surat 🇮🇳
We’d stay up late swapping ideas.
Debating projects.
Brainstorming like maniacs.
Sleep? Optional.
Momentum? Mandatory.
Big lesson:
Your network is compound interest.
It starts slow… then explodes.
From Scrolling to Shipping 🚢
While most people were scrolling endlessly…
I was building.
I started ugly. Real ugly.
- First websites with WordPress + Elementor
- Running basic email campaigns
- Helping creators launch newsletters
- Zoom + WhatsApp calls with SaaS founders just to learn the game
Was it polished? Nope.
Was it perfect? Not even close.
But it was action.
And action compounds.
🔥 No waiting for perfection. Just shipping.
Newsletters & Email: Owning the Audience 📩
Then I went deep into newsletters + email marketing.
Tools that became my playground:
- ConvertKit
- SparkLoop
- Beehiiv
Cold emails. Warm intros. Trial and error.
A lot of “why is nobody replying 💀” energy.
But the lesson was insane:
Owning an audience = leverage.
Not going viral.
Not flexing views.
Just something sustainable that you control.
Hackathons: Pressure Builds Monsters ⚔️
Hackathons changed me.
Shipping under pressure forces you to stop overthinking and start moving.
Deadlines are magical.
You build ugly MVPs.
But they work.
And that’s what matters.
I won 2 international hackathons in the US 🏆🏆
And yeah… got rejected by VCs too.
But honestly?
That’s a badge of honor.
Lesson:
✅ Shipping beats fantasizing
✅ MVP > Manifestation
✅ Build now, perfect later
Quiet Wins: AI Tools + Real Revenue 💰
While all this was happening, I was building quietly.
Projects that actually moved the needle:
- AI Image Tools → creative workflow automation
- AI Reels Generator → faceless content automation
- Newsletters → curated content that keeps audiences hooked
- Ad Funnels → ₹500 tests → real user acquisition
These weren’t unicorn “change the world” ideas.
But they did something better:
They got users. Paying users.
No hype.
Just results.
The Breakthrough: GenReels Takes Off 🚀
One project stood out:
My AI Reels Generator → GenReels
Numbers that hit different:
- 99+ videos generated
- 58+ creators onboarded
- First paying users secured ✅
And when I saw the message:
“Congrats, your plan is active.”
Bro.
That’s a builder’s high.
If you’ve ever been in the trenches, you know the feeling:
It’s not money.
It’s proof.
📸 [Image: First subscription activation screenshot]
Who I Am (Quick Personal Download) 🧠
Because why not.
- Age: 23
- Location: Surat, India
- Mindset: full builder mode
- Favorite Game: GTA Vice City (GOAT nostalgia)
- Fandom: Marvel 🦸♂️
- Pride: Gujarati roots 🔥
Still just getting started.
But the roots keep me grounded.
Final Push: Build Through Doubt ⚡️
If you’re building quietly right now…
Feeling behind…
Second-guessing everything…
Here’s the truth:
Most people quit right before momentum hits.
So keep going.
Ship consistently.
Trust compounding.
Let the work speak.
This year turned me from:
Dreamer → Doer
Consumer → Builder
Scrolling → Shipping
What’s your builder story?
Drop it below. Let’s connect.
Thanks for reading.
Onward to 2026 🚀🔥