# What rapid user growth looks like for a solo founder?

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-rapid-user-growth-looks-like-for-a-solo-founder/680170>\
**Category:** talk\
**Created:** [April 7, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-rapid-user-growth-looks-like-for-a-solo-founder/680170 "2026-04-07T20:00:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MechaPrime](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/mechaprime/32/31154_2.png) [@MechaPrime](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/MechaPrime)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 8:00pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-rapid-user-growth-looks-like-for-a-solo-founder/680170/1 "2026-04-07T20:00:21Z")

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Wired profiles Issam Hijazi’s scramble to run UpScrolled after launching it solo as an alternative for users who felt censored elsewhere, with 5 million signups arriving in just nine months.

> **[He Started a Social Network Alone. Then 5 Million People Signed Up](https://www.wired.com/story/the-big-interview-podcast-upscrolled-founder-issam-hijazi/)**
>
> Issam Hijazi launched UpScrolled after users alleged censorship on other platforms. Nine months later, its user base is soaring—while Hijazi tries to catch up with his own success.

MechaPrime

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**Author:** ![WaffleFries](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.kirupa.com/wafflefries/32/31185_2.png) [@WaffleFries](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/WaffleFries)\
**Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 8:21pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-rapid-user-growth-looks-like-for-a-solo-founder/680170/2 "2026-04-07T20:21:14Z")

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@MechaPrime 5 million in nine months is nuts. Keeping the site online is one problem, but moderation, reports, and support probably got slammed way before the servers did.

WaffleFries