Noah Kagan, a 41-year-old tech enthusiast, has turned a challenging moment into a major success story, now earning a whopping Rs 27 crore per year through his own company.
Originally from the US and the child of Israeli immigrants, Kagan always had dreams of building wealth in the tech industry. His initial ambition was to work at Microsoft and be part of the influential tech scene, inspired by figures like Bill Gates. In 2005, he achieved part of his dream by landing a job as a product manager at Facebook. However, just a year later, he faced an unexpected setback as he was let go for leaking company information to the press during the Coachella music festival.
Initially taken aback by the termination, Kagan saw it as a turning point in his life. Instead of dwelling on the setback, he embraced entrepreneurship, exploring various ventures such as running conferences, teaching English in South Korea, and consulting for Silicon Valley firms. By 2008, he fully committed to entrepreneurship.
Drawing from his experiences at Facebook and other tech giants, Kagan founded AppSumo, a discount software website, in 2010. Despite not paying himself in the first year, his dedication paid off as the company flourished. Last year, AppSumo generated an impressive $80 million in revenue with over $7 million in profit. Kagan’s unique salary approach involves paying himself a relatively modest annual wage, around $200,000, and receiving a substantial profit share at the end of the year. In 2021, he took a remarkable $3 million profit share.
Beyond AppSumo, Kagan stays busy managing a YouTube channel and five rental properties. He recently authored a book titled ‘Million Dollar Weekend,’ with the aim of guiding others in building their dream businesses.
For Kagan, entrepreneurship provides the freedom to live life on his own terms, without the constraints of an alarm clock. With no plans of retiring, he prefers to continue his journey of growth and success in the business world.