Thunkable is a no-code app development platform that empowers anyone to design, develop, and publish custom, native mobile applications for iOS and Android without writing a single line of code. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Thunkable co-founder and CEO Arun Saigal to learn more.
Arun Saigal’s Background
Could you tell me more about your background? Saigal said:
“My name is Arun Saigal, and I’m the co-founder and CEO of Thunkable, the no-code platform for building native mobile apps. Basically, we turn “I wish I had an app for that” into a reality for anyone with a device.”
“I hold an S.B. and M.Eng from MIT and have held roles at Google, Khan Academy, Quizlet, and Aspiring Minds. In 2018, I was named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for Consumer Technology along with my co-founder, WeiHua Li.”
“Outside of work, I conduct orchestras (including the San Francisco Civic Symphony), play viola, mridangam, and trombone, and beatbox in several SF-based music groups. I also recently went viral for a rap showcase at San Francisco Tech Week (yes, I did rhyme ‘AI’ with ‘so fly’).”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Saigal shared:
“When the app-building market began to develop, my co-founder and I bet that mobile apps would become ubiquitous but that only a small number of people would have the technical skills to build them. This would hinder most smartphone users’ ability to shape their own mobile experiences.”
“We asked ourselves whether there was a way for everyone, even those without technical experience, to build mobile apps. Thunkable was born from this question.”
“Since Thunkable launched back in 2016, AI has advanced significantly, and we’ve now rebuilt the platform from the ground up with a decade of learning, launching what our entire team believes is making an impact in democratizing access to app-building for those without a software engineering background.’
Favorite Memory
What has been your favorite memory working for the company so far? Saigal reflected:
“My favorite memory at the company thus far has been seeing people’s lives impacted by building apps they never thought possible.”
“Just this morning, we talked to a student who said what he has learned is ‘Do not limit yourself. Saying you can’t do something will make you think that you can’t do it.’ But you can.”
“We’ve also built an amazing team here at Thunkable. The team has achieved amazing milestones and product launches together. When we launched Thunkable ✕ in 2018, we all came to the office at 4:30am and watched the product and then the news go live across the globe and it was amazing to feel the energy amongst our group. The same goes for our 2022 announcements and our big launch with Thunkable AI this past March.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Saigal explained:
“Thunkable’s flagship product is our no-code platform for building fully native iOS, Android, and web apps. The latest version we released this past March, called Thunkable AI, adds powerful AI capabilities on top of the existing drag-and-drop builder. Key features include:
— AI Project Generation (describe your app in plain English, and the AI spins up a working starting point)
— Discuss Mode (an AI co-pilot that talks you through logic and UI decisions in real time)
— Visual Editor for direct edits and managing asset such as images, audio, and fonts
— Automated App Store and Google Play publishing, which handles the full submission process, not just prototyping”
Challenges Faced
Have you faced any challenges in your sector of work recently, and how did you overcome those challenges? Saigal acknowledged:
“Early on, one of the biggest challenges was that the no-code space was still very nascent, so a large part of our effort went into educating users on the power of no-code and showing that apps built with Thunkable were truly production-ready. More recently, the landscape has become much more crowded with the rise of AI and vibe-coding tools, so the challenge has shifted toward helping users understand how and why Thunkable is the complete solution for native mobile app creation.”
“We’ve addressed that by leaning into what makes our platform stand out: end-to-end native mobile app creation. Rather than only focusing on code generation, we built a platform that supports the full workflow, including design, development, testing, and direct publishing to the app stores. That broader product experience has helped us stand out in an increasingly crowded market.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Saigal noted:
“Thunkable launched in 2016, growing out of the MIT App Inventor project, initially focused on Android app development. Over the past decade, the platform expanded to iOS and web, rebuilt its core editor for scalability, and introduced cloud-based project management.”
“Today, we like to think of ourselves as the ‘Canva for Mobile Apps’-making previously expensive, complicated, and essential business functions accessible for all. We have dedicated hours of work into modernizing our product with the launch of Thunkable AI, incorporating AI throughout the build experience. Publishing attempts jumped 51% following this launch, with our platform citing use by students for educational tools and by 29 Fortune 100 companies.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Saigal cited:
“Our key milestones include our founding in 2016 and growing from MIT App Inventor roots, when we surpassed 5 million creators and 13 million apps built across 184 countries, and our company going viral when I rapped at SF Tech Week, driving broad awareness.”
Customer Success Stories
Can you share any specific customer success stories? Saigal highlighted:
“One of the most rewarding moments has been watching creators use Thunkable to build apps that solve real problems or help them lean into their niche interests. For example, Brooke Muse, a new mom, had a passion for learning to play guitar and built an app with Thunkable called Rukus to help her memorize chords and other technical skills.”
“Coco Shellim launched AIsleep, an AI-powered sleep app, entirely through Thunkable. This app started as a way for her to keep reading to her nieces and nephews while on business trips, and has since scaled into a company she now runs full-time.”
“For small business owners, Thunkable has become a practical tool for staying competitive without a dev team or a big budget. For instance, business owner Chris Vande Voort at Northern Codeworks uses the platform to build and deliver custom mobile apps for his clients — turning what used to require a full engineering operation into a one-person shop.”
“These kinds of stories, where someone with no coding background turns a personal need into a real, published app, represent exactly why Thunkable exists.”
Funding/Revenue
Are you able to discuss funding and/or revenue metrics? Saigal revealed:
“Thunkable is a Series B company, which has raised $41 million to date. We do not publicly disclose specific revenue figures at this time.”
Total Addressable Market (TAM)
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Saigal assessed:
“Thunkable is pursuing the rapidly growing market for AI-powered software creation, where users can build applications using natural language instead of traditional coding. We estimate the broader AI code generation market will grow to roughly $25 billion by 2030, with vibe coding as one of the fastest-growing segments. Unlike developer-focused tools, Thunkable targets both technical and non-technical users who want to create mobile apps without writing code. As AI makes software development more accessible, Thunkable’s addressable market expands beyond traditional no-code tools into the broader AI application development market. This positions the company to participate in a $25 billion+ market opportunity over the next several years.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Saigal affirmed:
“Several things set Thunkable apart from others in our space:
— Thunkable publishes fully native iOS and Android apps directly to the App Store and Google Play, with an end-to-end publishing capability that is rare among no-code tools
— Thunkable has a decade of experience and a proven track record: 12M+ apps built, 5M+ creators, and 29 Fortune 100 companies using our platform.
— 80% of Thunkable users are non-developers – our platform is genuinely accessible to people without technical backgrounds, not just to developers looking for shortcuts.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future goals? Saigal concluded:
“Thunkable aims to deepen its AI capabilities, making it even faster and easier to go from idea to published app. On the growth side, the focus is on expanding enterprise adoption, building out AI literacy programs in schools and underserved communities, and growing the creator economy on the platform.”
“Long-term, the mission remains the same as day one: ensure that anyone, regardless of technical background, can build the mobile app they envision.”
