In the ever-evolving landscape of WordPress, one name has etched its mark with innovative and pioneering plugins - AYS Pro. Founded by the visionary Liparit Avagyan, this company has revolutionized the way users create and experience quizzes, popups, and more. Hailing from a background in physics and mathematics, Avagyan's journey into the WordPress ecosystem is a testament to the power of passion, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Avagyan's entrepreneurial spirit was ignited by the realization of a gap in the market for a powerful and user-friendly quiz creation tool. This led to the birth of Quiz Maker, a plugin that has since become a game-changer in the industry. However, Avagyan's vision extended far beyond this single offering, as he continued to push boundaries and introduce innovative solutions to cater to the ever-evolving needs of WordPress users.

Hi Liparit, can you start by talking a bit about yourselves and your background?

I am educated in the fields of physics and mathematics. I have been learning web development for 5 years. After getting the appropriate knowledge, I started to work on different businesses. 

Was creating plugins like Quiz Maker your first product, or did you work on other products before venturing into WordPress plugin development?

Nope. We have developed 2-3 products before the Quiz Maker plugin.

How did you come across the idea for your first plugin, Quiz Maker? And what was the inspiration behind it?

The idea for the Quiz Maker plugin came from a mix of personal interests and professional insights. The inspiration to create the Quiz Maker plugin was the desire to revolutionize the way quizzes are created and offered to users․

How did you validate the idea for the Quiz Maker plugin, did you talk to prospective customers, or was it based on your own understanding of the gap in the market?

As someone deeply passionate about education and technology, I noticed a gap in the market for a powerful and user-friendly tool to create quizzes in WordPress.

Did you work full-time on developing Quiz Maker and AYS Pro from the beginning, or did you have day jobs when you first started?

I have been working non-stop, without weekends (almost 24/7) to finalize my project.

What are your primary revenue streams at AYS Pro? Does most of the revenue come from plugin sales, or is the consulting side of the business still the primary revenue generator? 

Our revenue streams at AYS Pro are varied, but plugin sales constitute a significant portion. 

However, we've strategically expanded our services beyond just plugin sales (e.g. affiliate programs, custom developments, etc.).

Since you were already into building websites and projects, how is your organization structure and team like? Do you have a separate team for plugin development or a shared team for both consulting and plugin development?

Our organization structure is designed to manage both our consulting services and plugin development efficiently.

Firstly, our Product Management Team gives priorities to the tasks and then, the tasks and support are managed by our Development Team.

What was the process like for developing your various WordPress plugins, like Quiz Maker and Popup Box? Did you have a clear vision from the start, or did the product offerings evolve as you went along?

Developing these plugins was a hard and challenging process, but it was also incredibly rewarding.

Although we had a distinct understanding of the issues we aimed to address and the features we intended to offer, the precise characteristics and offerings developed as we moved forward.  

We encountered different obstacles along the way, from technical difficulties to ensuring compatibility with various WordPress versions and themes. 

However, we remained committed to delivering high-quality and user-friendly plugins. 

How did you get your first sales for your plugins, and how did you scale to your current user base of over 300,000 satisfied users?

Getting the first sales was not an easy process. We had been working non-stop for 1 year thus improving the quality of the plugin to get the first sales. The most important way to get a large client base is by attentively considering and addressing client requests in all aspects. All the suggestions and requests made by our clients have been discussed and prioritized by our whole team for years up to now.

What are your primary distribution methods for your WordPress plugins sales?

We distribute our WordPress plugins primarily through the WordPress Plugin Repository, our website, affiliate partnerships, email marketing, YouTube Channels, and social media channels.

After building a successful business with WordPress plugins, have you considered venturing into other tech spaces or platforms? If not, what motivates you to continue focusing on the WordPress ecosystem?

While we've built a successful business with WordPress plugins, we're always open to exploring new opportunities in other tech spaces or platforms.

However, for now, our continued focus is on the WordPress ecosystem. This is motivated by several factors: market dominance, large user base, and our established reputation within the community.

How has the WordPress community been helpful throughout your entrepreneurial journey with AYS Pro?

The role of the WordPress community has been irreplaceable throughout our long journey. The support, feedback, and collaboration from the WordPress community have helped us make our products better, reach more people, and gain trust in the ecosystem. The WordPress community has been crucial for our company's growth and progress.

What has been your biggest learning as an entrepreneur? If you were to start AYS Pro and develop your plugins again today, what would you do differently?

The journey of building AYS Pro and developing our plugins has taught me the value of being flexible in the face of challenges and continuously learning from both achievements and setbacks.

As an entrepreneur, my biggest learning has been to take every experience as part of our journey. If I were to start AYS Pro and develop our plugins again today, I wouldn't change anything. Every challenge and success has shaped our growth.

What advice would you give to aspiring or current entrepreneurs in the WordPress space or tech industry in general?

I would advise the current entrepreneurs to be flexible and workaholics, take risks, learn from every experience, and prioritize understanding your audience's needs deeply.

Liparit Avagyan's journey with AYS Pro is a testament to the transformative power of dedication, innovation, and a deep understanding of one's audience. From humble beginnings to becoming a driving force in the WordPress ecosystem, Avagyan's story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs and developers alike.

As the WordPress community continues to grow and evolve, AYS Pro stands as a shining example of what can be achieved through relentless pursuit of excellence and an unwavering commitment to customer satisfaction. With a track record of success and a vision for the future, Avagyan's advice to "be flexible and workaholics, take risks, learn from every experience, and prioritize understanding your audience's needs deeply" resonates as a guiding principle for those seeking to make their mark in the tech industry.