Software program engineer Ritesh Verma balances his full-time job with 5 aspect hustles, together with AI brokers, YouTube advert income, sponsorships, SaaS merchandise, and a mentorship program.Picture courtesy of Ritesh Verma
Ritesh Verma earns virtually $15,000 month-to-month from aspect hustles alongside his Capital One job.
Verma’s aspect hustles embody AI brokers, YouTube, mentorship, and software program companies.
He makes use of automation to work on a number of tasks without delay and earn extra money.
This as-told-to essay relies on a dialog with Ritesh Verma, a 23-year-old software program engineer in Jersey Metropolis. It has been edited for size and readability.
After graduating from school in 2023, I used to be employed as a software program engineer at Capital One with a $136,000 base wage, but it surely’s not my largest supply of earnings.
I have been constructing aspect hustles for years, and so they now earn me virtually $15,000 a month.
Once I received employed at Capital One, I used to be fearful a few full-time job disrupting my aspect hustles, however I’ve created a system that makes it manageable. Here is how I keep on prime of my work and why I will not take my aspect hustles full-time — but.
In late 2019, a good friend of mine requested me to code a buying bot to assist him purchase and resell sneakers. I had no thought what bots, or AI brokers, had been, however I agreed and spent over six months educating myself how one can make software program applications that carry out duties.
In 2022, I made a decision to submit a YouTube tutorial on how one can create a easy bot, and it received 200,000 views. A person noticed my video and requested me to make him a buying agent for high-end golf golf equipment. I accepted the provide and made $600 each time I received him a golf membership. Out of the blue I used to be incomes $1,800 a month.
Phrase unfold, and I began getting extra shoppers within the golf membership assortment house and different area of interest communities. I constructed buying bots for something from hats to wine bottles to child garments.
I did not wish to be often called simply the bot man, so I began constructing companies and instruments as nicely. I constructed a scheduling bot that helps shift-based staff, corresponding to servers, within the Nevada space snag aggressive shifts.
Early final yr, I watched a YouTube video the place the creator described how he used Reddit to develop his startup. I made a decision to offer it a attempt.
I made a Reddit submit saying, “I suck at getting these shifts, and I need assistance. Does anybody else relate?” Then I DMed the roughly 20 commenters who sympathized and pitched them my software. I received eight of my shoppers from Reddit and now make about $9,000 month-to-month from it.
I additionally skilled AI assistants to make Reddit posts for me, promoting my companies and sending potential shoppers my telephone quantity.
Reddit takes my posts down as a result of they’re promotional, however inside half-hour of them being up, I will normally have a number of folks in my DMs. I have been kicked off Reddit and needed to make a number of accounts, but it surely’s all a part of the method, and I believe it is price it.
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YouTube: I take advantage of my YouTube channel to realize clientele and as a aspect hustle. I get advert income from movies, and in a single month, I made $1,400 from three sponsors.
Mentorship program: I additionally began a six-week mentorship program the place I train others how one can code bots. For $3,000 in any given month, normally, two to a few college students get bi-weekly conferences to debate assigned tasks and study ideas.
SaaS merchandise: In 2024, I launched two SaaS merchandise, that are principally simply extra typical software program engineering companies. One is Instagram outreach software program, which earns me $900 a month. My different SaaS product, which permits folks to place Instagram reels on their web site, has but to show a revenue.
My secret to success is engaged on a number of tasks without delay. I can keep on prime of so many as a result of it is extremely automated.
I’d spend 20 hours constructing a brand new AI agent or venture, however after that, my weekly dedication would possibly solely be two hours. I additionally would possibly spend a couple of further hours getting shoppers or troubleshooting, however the laborious work is completed.
My Capital One job is a hybrid 9-to-5 with two days within the workplace every week. After work, I eat and have a four-hour deep work session the place I give attention to my aspect hustles. I additionally work a couple of hours every day of the weekend.
It is quite a lot of work, however I discover it enjoyable. I additionally make certain to have time for myself. A number of pals and I journey each three months. In 2024, I spent a complete of a month abroad in locations like Brazil, Japan, and Italy, doing no work. These journeys are an excellent sanity test and maintain me wanting ahead to one thing.
A mentee requested me why I do not depart my full-time job, and I advised him I do not really feel prefer it’s taking over house.
I’ve most likely tried 15 tasks lately, and most fail. I give each venture a month or two of significant dedication earlier than deciding if it is price persevering with. Typically, the venture is simply too laborious, and rising it’s a ache.
Different occasions, I simply lose the spark of the thought. In these instances, I will put it on a serious backburner or ask a mentee in the event that they’d wish to take duty for fairness within the product.
Plus, I am following a rule that I will not depart my full-time job till I make 3 times my Capital One base wage from my aspect companies. As soon as I obtain that, I will drop it. That is the purpose.
For those who make six figures from a aspect hustle and want to share your story, please electronic mail Manseen Logan at [email protected].
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