Meta Description: Discover how a clever entrepreneur capitalized on the AI boom by charging $119 to install Clawdbot. A breakdown of the “Selling Shovels” business model and its 1.7x ROAS.
The “Shovel Seller” Strategy: Making $17,000 in 3 Days via AI Installation
While everyone is rushing to mine gold in the AI world, the smartest players are focused on selling the shovels.
Forget complex model training or advanced coding for a moment. Today, we’re looking at a raw, high-impact case study. An entrepreneur managed to rake in $17,000 in just three days by acting as a high-end “software installer” for a tool called Clawdbot (now rebranded as OpenClaw).
This isn’t about developing AI; it’s about bridging the gap for people who are stuck at the starting line.
The $119 “Hero” Service
Clawdbot is powerful, but for the average person, the installation process looks like “ancient hieroglyphics.”
Instead of teaching users how to use the tool, this entrepreneur launched a dead-simple service: “I will set up Clawdbot for you for $119.”
The Results in 72 Hours:
- Total Revenue: $17,000
- Paid Customers: 100+
- Ad Spend: $9,900 (via Google Ads)
- Net Profit: Over $7,000
- ROAS: 1.7x
This is the ultimate execution of leveraging “Information Asymmetry.”
Who is Buying These “Shovels”?
You might wonder: Who pays $119 just to install software?
The answer: The vast majority of the population. These aren’t programmers or tech gurus; they are marketers, small business owners, and content creators. They see the magic of AI but are stopped by technical barriers.
While tech-savvy people might laugh at questions like “Is npm a virus?” or “What is an API?”, these represent real pain points for paying customers. They don’t want a manual; they want a hero to handle the friction.
Breaking Down the Business Model
This success isn’t a myth; it’s a replicable framework built on four pillars:
- Identify the “Tech Gap”: Find powerful tools that are difficult to set up. That gap is where the money is.
- Offer “Brainless” Solutions: Don’t educate; provide “concierge” service. The easier the service, the faster the purchase decision.
- Ride the Trend: The creator didn’t invent Clawdbot; they “surfed” its popularity. By using Google Ads, they targeted users specifically searching for “how to install Clawdbot.”
- The High-Conversion Landing Page: A minimalist design with a clear headline: “Can’t set up Clawdbot? I’ll do it for you.” No fluff, just a price and a “Buy Now” button.
How to Find Your Own “Shovel”
The biggest opportunity in the AI revolution is selling technical results to non-technical people.
Look at your own industry. Is there a tool everyone wants to use but no one knows how to configure? Whether it’s AI image generation setups, API integrations, or automated workflow designs—these are your “shovels.”
You don’t need to change the world with the next big app. You just need to serve a small group of people who are blocked by technology.
Remember: When everyone is looking for gold, be the one selling the tools.
