Welcome to the One Person Unicorn – a newsletter about AI, automation, and the future of work for small businesses.
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What is a One-Person Unicorn?
Unicorns, according to legend, are rare and special creatures. As such, the term is commonly used to describe something that has those characteristics.
In the world of startups and venture capital, the ‘unicorn’ moniker has a more specific definition: A company that reaches a valuation of $1 billion or more. A one-person unicorn is a company that achieves this while being run entirely by just one individual.
Can a one-person company realistically achieve such a valuation?
OpenAI CEO, Sam Altman (and his tech-CEO buddies) think so.
In a 2024 interview with Alexis Ohanian (co-founder of Reddit), Altman said:
“We’re going to see ten-person billion dollar companies pretty soon – like billion dollar valuations. In my little group chat with my tech CEO friends, there’s this betting pool for the first year that there’s a one-person billion dollar company – which would have been unimaginable without AI – and now, it will happen.”
The growth and success of a business has long been measured by the number of its employees (among other things). But what relevance does that metric have in an era where efficiency is key?
Why is that the name of this newsletter?
I’ve called this newsletter ‘The One Person Unicorn’ because it perfectly illustrates how AI and automation are redefining what it means to be a ‘small business’.
To be clear, I’m not suggesting trying to create a billion dollar company all by yourself.
But the idea that a one-person (or even 10-person) unicorn might be possible, tells us:
- The potential of this technology is unprecedented and we’re just getting started.
- The size of a business is no longer linked to or limited by its headcount.
- AI and automation are becoming increasingly viable and cost effective alternatives to hiring in many industries.
The growth and success of a business has long been measured by the number of its employees (among other things). But what relevance does that metric have in an era where efficiency is key?
Agility is considered one of the greatest advantages of low-headcount businesses. And it is with this agility that we have the opportunity to rapidly adopt these new technologies and outpace competitors who are slower to act.
Agility will also be crucial for workers who sit at the other end of the equation.
What to expect from ‘The One Person Unicorn’ newsletter
The One-Person Unicorn is here to help you reimagine what’s possible with AI and automation.
With each newsletter that follows, I’ll share news, data, case studies, software, strategies, and thought provoking insights that will empower you and your business to become more productive and profitable by working smarter, not harder.
By leveraging these tools, small businesses can remain agile, competitive, and ready to scale on their own terms.
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About the author
Pete Hogg is the founder of MQLFlow, an AI automation agency helping small businesses implement practical strategies to scale smartly. With over a decade of experience, Pete specialises in helping businesses achieve more by working smarter, not harder.