Selling My First Side Project
From helping friends with med school tests to selling my first startup. Here's what I learned along the way.
Hey, I’m Marco 👋
One person. One laptop. Building digital products in public on the road to €1M.
This post is part of Build in Public, a series from One Million Goal where I share everything behind the scenes — from the first line of code to the latest revenue update, with complete transparency.
March 9, 2020. As Italy entered its first lockdown, I found myself navigating not just a global pandemic, but also one of the most transformative experiences of my professional journey: selling my first side project.
Looking back, I never imagined that helping a few friends prepare for their medical school entrance exams would lead to a 6-figures exit and set me on a path toward even bigger dreams.
Today, I want to share the story of how my side project turned into a successful exit, and more importantly, what I learned along the way.
The Silicon Valley Spark
A decade ago, I was living in Sunnyvale, California, just ten minutes from the legendary garage where Apple was born. Working at Plug and Play, one of America's premier startup accelerators, I was surrounded by founders from across the globe, each chasing their own version of the Silicon Valley dream. It was here, amid the electric atmosphere of innovation and possibility, that I first caught the startup bug.
The experience changed me fundamentally. When I returned to Italy, I was determined to recreate that same innovative spirit in my hometown of Pordenone.
This led me to open a coworking space, but more importantly, it gave me the courage to start working on my own idea.
The Accidental Startup
Back in Italy, I noticed something interesting. Some friends were preparing for their medical school entrance exams, and I started helping them identify their knowledge gaps. That's when it hit me: why not create a tool that could help all university applicants prepare more effectively?
What started as a simple idea evolved into Ammesso.it, a platform designed to help students prepare for university admission tests. The first version was far from perfect - it was the definition of a Minimum Viable Product. But it worked, and more importantly, students loved it.
From Zero to Recognition
The growth was organic and explosive. Through word of mouth alone, hundreds of students started signing up. We reached a point where one in four medical school applicants in Italy was using Ammesso.it to prepare for their entrance exams.
The validation came not just from users, but from Apple itself which featured the app in their "School Essentials" category for three consecutive years.
It reached #1 in the Education category and became the 44th most downloaded app across all categories in Italy.
The Unexpected Turn
Then came March 9, 2020 - the first COVID lockdown. While the world was changing, something unexpected happened: companies started showing interest in acquiring Ammesso.it. Among them was Testbusters, a young, dynamic company that shared our passion for education.
The Exit Journey
I'll be honest: I had no idea how to sell a company. It was completely new territory. The questions were endless: How do you value a company? What should the terms be? What's the cost?
I was fortunate to have support from my accountant and Testbusters' CFO, who guided me through each step. After months of negotiations, we reached an agreement, and Ammesso.it became part of the Testbusters family.
The exit wasn't life-changing money (€220k) but it brought something equally valuable: validation and freedom. It was enough to make life more comfortable, to invest in new projects, and most importantly, to prove that my crazy idea of building side projects could actually work.
This moment taught me something crucial about exits: they don't need to be headline-grabbing multimillion-dollar deals to be meaningful. Success comes in different shapes and sizes, and sometimes, the real value isn't just in the final number, but in the doors it opens and the confidence it gives you to tackle bigger challenges.
Key Lessons
Start Before You're Ready: The perfect moment never comes. If I had waited until I felt fully prepared, Ammesso.it would never have existed.
Think Small to Grow Big: Start with an MVP and let real user feedback guide your development. Ammesso.it's first version was basic, but it solved a real problem effectively.
Focus on True Fans: Before chasing massive scale, find and nurture your core supporters. They'll become your most valuable advocates and source of honest feedback.
View Failure as Education: The startup journey is filled with setbacks. Each one is an opportunity to learn and improve.
Value Professional Support: During the acquisition, having experienced professionals guide me through the process was invaluable. Don't hesitate to invest in good legal and financial advice.
Looking Forward
This exit marked the end of one chapter but opened many new ones. Now, as I start my journey toward my One Million Goal, I carry these lessons with me. Whether you're just starting your first side project or considering an exit, remember that every step of the journey contributes to your growth as an entrepreneur.
The path from side project to exit isn't always straight, but that's what makes it interesting. It's about learning, growing, and eventually, knowing when to let go and move on to the next challenge.
Great story! Let’s meet next time I”ll be in Mansué!
Love the honesty of the story, Marco.
It was a nice read, and would love to learn more about the stories around building Ammesso.it 🙂
Hopefully you’ll write more about it!