Revolutionizing WordPress: Nicolas Lecocq’s Journey from OceanWP to AI-Powered Innovations with DigiHold

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WPBeginner»Blog»Opinion»The Creator of OceanWP Returns: Nicolas Lecocq Develops 6 New AI-Powered WordPress Products

The Creator of OceanWP Returns: Nicolas Lecocq Develops 6 Innovative WordPress Products Using AI

By Editorial Team | August 13, 2025 | Reader Disclosure

If you've been involved in the WordPress community for some time, you've likely come across OceanWP. Introduced as a free theme that offers high-quality features, it rapidly became a go-to choice for freelancers, agencies, and individuals building their own websites.

Nicolas Lecocq, the original developer, departed from WordPress after selling his theme. However, he made a comeback years later with a fresh perspective on product development. Now, he is focused on enhancing speed and reimagining aspects of performance, user experience, and the integration of AI in the development process.

With his newly established company, DigiHold, Nicolas has introduced six WordPress products in under a year—an accomplishment he believes would have taken him several years in the past.

In this discussion, Nicolas talks about the potential that arises when expertise combines with innovative AI technologies, especially when the focus is on developing products that genuinely assist customers.

“A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… that’s my primary focus at this point.”

Nicolas Lecocq – Developer of OceanWP & Founder of DigiHold

“A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… that’s my primary focus at this point.”

Continue reading to discover exclusive insights and recommendations from the developer behind one of the most popular themes in WordPress history.

📣 Welcome to our series, #MyWordPressStory, where we share valuable insights from some of the top leaders in the WordPress community.

If you're interested in being part of our interview series, whether you're a developer of plugins, a founder, or an SEO specialist, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us using our contact form.

📹 Video Discussion with Nicolas Lecocq

To view our full video discussion featuring Nicolas Lecocq, simply watch it below:

Alternatively, you can click on the links provided below to review the topics we discussed during the interview and additional information.

🚀 Introducing Nicolas Lecocq: Transitioning from Sports Blogger to Self-Taught Programmer

Nicolas began his adventure with WordPress in 2012, driven by a personal passion rather than a formal business strategy.

Nicolas's initial blog was centered around MMA sports. While it was short-lived, it allowed him to explore the versatility of WordPress.

"I was interested in starting a blog, so I looked up 'the best way to create a blog' on Google, and it was clear that WordPress was the top choice."

Nicolas Lecocq

Before long, he began to explore different themes and play around with coding. Back then, there were significantly fewer learning materials available compared to what we have now.

Nicolas utilized a combination of YouTube videos, online discussion boards, and a technique that many experienced developers continue to endorse: examining the code of various themes to understand their construction.

"I used to watch YouTube videos, but back then, the information available was limited compared to what it is today. I gradually taught myself and improved my skills by editing various topics."

Nicolas Lecocq

In the beginning of his freelance career, he focused on creating responsive websites for clients, at a time when mobile-friendly design was not yet the norm.

This experience uncovered a realization that would ultimately shape his professional journey: each project appeared to demand the acquisition of a completely different concept.

Nicolas started to envision a comprehensive, adaptable answer.

A versatile theme suitable for all kinds of websites, whether for eCommerce or real estate, ensuring a unified experience for both developers and site administrators.

That concept evolved into OceanWP.

💥 Related Article: Tobias Bäthge transformed a personal project for his baseball team into TablePress, a WordPress plugin that currently supports over 700,000 websites. Check out the complete interview to discover his journey.

📈 The OceanWP Revolution: How Free Can Outshine Paid Options

OceanWP originated as a solution to simplify Nicolas's projects for his clients.

Rather than adjusting to a different theme for each project, he created a versatile one that could accommodate any need, and he was thoroughly familiar with it.

"When you focus on a single theme for your creations, it becomes simpler for you if you understand how to utilize it."

Nicolas Lecocq

"When you focus on a single theme for your creations, it becomes simpler for you if you understand how to utilize it."

Initially, Nicolas intended to market OceanWP as a paid theme.

However, after his initial effort to create a paid theme on ThemeForest failed to attract attention, he opted to try a new strategy.

He made OceanWP available at no cost, but included it alongside a supplementary plugin called Ocean Extra.

This enabled users to fully utilize the theme while adhering to the guidelines set by WordPress.org.

They were able to utilize an exceptionally extensive range of features without any cost, during a period when the majority of robust themes required payment to access.

"I included numerous complimentary features, making it feel like a premium theme available at no cost. This is why it was so well-received."

Nicolas Lecocq

In addition to these tools, Nicolas introduced premium add-ons for OceanWP that offer paid functionalities.

The initial six months saw sluggish growth, primarily driven by recommendations from customers. However, once it gained traction, the expansion accelerated rapidly.

In just a year, OceanWP transformed from a side endeavor into one of the leading themes available. With thousands of installations, Nicolas experienced a significant increase in his OceanWP earnings, rising from approximately $2,000–3,000 monthly to $15,000.

OceanWP has become a popular choice among freelancers, WordPress agencies, and those who build their own websites due to its adaptable nature, extensive capabilities, and no-cost access.

We can also endorse the OceanWP theme. We've suggested it numerous times throughout the years due to its flexibility and comprehensive range of features.

In reality, we frequently rank it among our favorite selections for free themes across various categories. It even holds the #4 position on our compilation of the finest free WordPress business themes.

🎯 Gaining Insights from Achievements and Challenges

Creating OceanWP provided Nicolas with an intense education on how to develop and maintain a successful WordPress product. With the successes, he also encountered important learning experiences.

One of the most important aspects? Performance is crucial.

"I incorporated many features without considering how they would impact performance… now, performance has become my top priority."

Nicolas Lecocq

"I incorporated many features without considering how they would impact performance… now, performance has become my top priority."

Initial iterations of OceanWP included a vast array of functionalities; however, Nicolas acknowledges that certain features contributed to slower website performance.

💥 Related Article: Want to discover more about enhancing the performance of your WordPress site? Take a look at our comprehensive guide to improve WordPress speed and efficiency.

As time went on, input from users played a crucial role in driving enhancements. This feedback was gathered from various sources, including contact forms, WordPress.org discussion boards, support emails, and GitHub.

For Nicolas, the discussions went beyond mere bug reports or requests for new features. They served as a guide for enhancing the product.

"It’s your invention, yet it’s their end result. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to their feedback."

Nicolas Lecocq

"It’s your invention, yet it’s their end result. Therefore, it’s important to pay attention to their feedback."

After a period of three to four years, he made the choice to sell OceanWP.

The experience had shaped him significantly, yet he was eager to investigate fresh concepts and focus on his individual goals.

His upcoming venture, Olympus, was designed to be quicker and more streamlined than OceanWP. However, shortly after its release, personal challenges and partnership difficulties compelled him to withdraw.

The setback changed his perspective on teamwork.

"I won’t repeat my previous mistake with Olympus by entering into poor partnerships. I am quite discerning when it comes to my collaborators."

Nicolas Lecocq

"I won’t repeat my previous mistake with Olympus by entering into poor partnerships. I am quite discerning when it comes to my collaborators."

Through those experiences, Nicolas learned several key lessons: focus on performance, design with user requirements in mind, and select partners thoughtfully.

🤖 The AI-Driven Resurgence: Creating 6 Products in Less Than a Year

In 2024, Nicolas re-entered the realm of WordPress development, beginning once again with freelancing and constructing websites for various clients.

However, he observed a trend that would shape his future endeavors. Almost all of his clients were interested in selling something, be it services, digital books, or online educational materials.

This insight served as the cornerstone for his new venture, DigiHold.

DigiHold is created to address the requirements of eCommerce through the following offerings:

Every product includes a Pro edition, resulting in a total of six versions, all developed in less than a year.

What sets this occasion apart? A focus on performance combined with the capabilities of artificial intelligence.

"You can't code without the help of AI. It significantly speeds up the process… it truly transforms the game."

Nicolas Lecocq

"You can't code without the assistance of AI. It makes everything quicker… it's a real game changer."

Nicolas relies significantly on Claude AI, as he finds it more suitable than ChatGPT for his development work.

His process includes teaching the AI using his codebase, requesting its assistance in adding features, and meticulously evaluating each recommendation for efficiency, safety, and user satisfaction.

He was quick to point out that while AI doesn't eliminate the necessity of understanding coding, it enhances its importance.

"Nicolas mentioned, 'At times it shares negative thoughts with me. I recognize that they're harmful, so I choose not to act on them.'"

🔮 The Importance of AI Integration: Shaping the Future of the Web

To Nicolas, artificial intelligence is more than just a supportive tool used in development. He is also incorporating it directly into the products he creates.

DigiFusion Pro has added support for ChatGPT and Claude, enabling users to create content for blog entries and web pages directly within WordPress.

He believes that all website owners, not just developers, should have the tools to integrate AI into their daily processes.

This emphasis on incorporating AI arises from an anticipation that the manner in which individuals browse the internet is evolving.

“It’s essential to understand how to apply SEO for AI, as it represents the future… it’s already in progress.”

Nicolas Lecocq

“It’s essential to understand how to apply SEO for AI, as it represents the future… it’s already in progress.”

Nicolas anticipates that search tools powered by AI, such as ChatGPT, will take the place of numerous conventional Google searches.

For developers and website managers, this implies considering ways to enhance content for artificial intelligence. He believes that this change will be essential in the years ahead.

"I believe that utilizing ChatGPT will simplify online searches, leading to increased usage among people," he stated.

For further information, take a look at our introductory guide on optimizing generative AI for WordPress.

Nicolas is setting up DigiHold to be prepared for this shift by incorporating AI features into their products from the beginning, and he is assisting his clients in making the same move.

💡 Product Principles & Guidance for Developers

A key characteristic of all of Nicolas's offerings is that they originate from genuine requirements rather than passing fads.

DigiCommerce, DigiBlocks, and DigiFusion were all created to address particular challenges encountered by his clients.

"A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… if it's developed solely for profit, I think it won't truly succeed."

Nicolas Lecocq

"A product is effective when it addresses a genuine issue… if it's developed solely for profit, I think it won't truly succeed."

This way of thinking influences all aspects, from the choices he makes regarding features to the way he oversees performance

While he values user feedback greatly, he isn't hesitant to reject suggestions that could hinder the website's performance.

Instead, he chooses to provide solutions through child themes or personalized coding.

“It’s essential to consider performance and user experience when developing WordPress products today.”

Nicolas Lecocq

“It’s essential to consider performance and user experience when developing WordPress products today.”

His process for development is streamlined and purposeful.

He utilizes:

For novice developers, his guidance is straightforward: focus on mastering the basics prior to depending on AI.

"You should prioritize learning coding initially, and afterwards, AI can assist you with your programming."

Nicolas Lecocq

"You should prioritize learning coding initially, and afterwards, AI can assist you with your programming."

This involves beginning with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, grasping their functionalities, and then leveraging AI to enhance and streamline your existing knowledge and skills.

💥 Additional Content: Interested in hearing more insights from entrepreneurs? Take a look at our conversation with Ionut Neagu, one of the co-founders of Themeisle.

💭 Concluding Reflections

Nicolas Lecocq’s journey has come full circle, as he transitioned from self-learning WordPress through theme modifications to creating one of the most widely used free themes globally.

He is coming back after several years, equipped with a fresh perspective and an impressive set of skills.

His path is characterized by perseverance, flexibility, and a commitment to ongoing education. The challenges he encountered did not derail his profession. Rather, they transformed his approach to his work, influenced his selection of partners, and changed the way he develops products.

With AI integrated into his daily routine, he can work more efficiently than ever while prioritizing performance and user experience.

However, he suggests to fellow developers that they should view AI as a tool to enhance their work rather than a substitute.

Nicolas Lecocq stated, "I think I could have completed my six products by hand over several years, but with the help of AI, I finished them in under a year."

Nicolas demonstrates to developers and entrepreneurs that having robust abilities, listening to user input, and utilizing innovative tools can create new opportunities.

For further information on Nicolas's current projects, visit the DigiHold website.

📚 Additional: Professional Tools for WordPress Developers

Interested in emulating Nicolas and creating your own WordPress offerings?

These WPBeginner tutorials can assist you in beginning your journey:

If you enjoyed this article, consider subscribing to our YouTube channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.

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1 Comment Post a Response

Nicolas Lecocq

August 18, 2025, at 8:19

I appreciate the opportunity to interview; it was wonderful to exchange some advice!

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