I just got a discounted app on AppSumo run by a two-person team yesterday. Whenever there’s a small team, I have this (what I thought was an irrational) worry that a founder might die and the app will disappear.
Well, this sad scenario has happened. USP.AI, an image generation platform, is closing down to the death of its founder (see below for announcement).
I have gotten a lot of fantastic software that might not have been otherwise affordable from AppSumo’s lifetime deal marketplace (affiliate link). Unfortunately, I have also learned to not just rely on one vendor for any specific need, because a lot of AI startups are flash in the pan.
Early on, meaning 2023, I got a few AI image generation tools, primarily for blogging and websites. In just a short year, AI image generation has become much more accessible. For example, here at Substack we can get free AI-generated images in our online editor. Here is an example:
For this reason, standalone image generators need to do a lot more in order to be competitive right now.
USP.AI was one of my earlier purchases, and I even gave them an extra $19 for a lifetime deal at their also now defunct “Upscale Any Image” service (a mistake). They moved my credits from that service over to USP.AI, but I had hardly used it given the other, newer options.
Recently, USP.AI added a text-to-speech service with fake celebrity voices, but not one that allowed me to upload my own edited text. So while I was excited to see the TTS option, it didn’t have much practical value.
It is thus no surprise that I got an email from USP.AI today saying they were shutting down. What did surprise me was the reason: their founder died, which is very sad. It looks like this was a venture capital funded business, and the founder was a small-time venture capitalist. Without the financial support, the tech team apparently can’t keep the business afloat in an increasingly competitive market.
While an owner death is a rare occasion with AppSumo apps, other startups do struggle due to marketplace challenges. For this reason, I am not inclined to buy lifetime deals directly from any AI company anymore, because it’s too risky. I’ll only use AppSumo, and even then, I’m more cautious now.
At least AppSumo will provide a full refund for their “Select” products if the product fails within a year, and usually a one-time discount on their other products otherwise, should a failure happen. I’ve now gotten refunds/coupons for perhaps 5-6 (?) defunct AI products, including two text-to-speech companies, a webinar company, and a website builder.
Still, most LTDs are a decent risk depending on their cost. If you figure you spent, say, $100 on a deal that would otherwise cost you $10/month, and the company went out of business in a year, you got your money’s worth.
Then there are cases like USP.AI, where I used it a lot initially, and then let the app sit and collect dust once more accessible options became available. Some of my apps end up being invaluable on a daily basis, while others may get used once in a while. Is an LTD worth the risk then? It depends on your needs.
At any rate, here is the sad announcement sent out via email today:
usp.ai is shutting down!
Hi there,
We hope this message finds you well.
We are writing to share some unfortunate news. Mr. Hadar Swersky, the creator and visionary behind usp.ai has passed away. His passion and ingenuity were the driving forces behind the platform's development, and without his continued guidance and expertise, it has become impossible for us to move forward with usp.ai.
After exploring all possible avenues to keep the platform running, we have had to make the tough decision to discontinue the service. We know this may come as a shock, and we deeply regret the impact this may have on your ongoing projects. Despite our best efforts, we cannot continue without the leadership that made usp.ai what it is today.
We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this challenging time.
Effective October 20th 2024, usp.ai will be shutting down permanently. We are providing a two-week notice period to allow you to wrap up any current projects and download any necessary data before the service is decommissioned.
While we are deeply saddened to go, we are incredibly grateful for your support in being a part of our community. It has been an honor to serve you and witness your creativity and innovation through our platform.
If you have any questions or need assistance during this transition, please don’t hesitate to email us at hello@usp.ai, or support@usp.ai.
With heartfelt thanks,
usp.ai
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