I Can't Believe This App Makes $100K/Month

The App Idea and Initial Validation [00:10]

• Michael, a 20-year-old college student, developed an app called Go Tall.
• The app predicts user height and offers features to help optimize habits for reaching maximum potential height.
• It operates on a subscription model with weekly and yearly plans, and a premium version with different features.
• The app has achieved approximately 1 million downloads across iOS and Android.

Overcoming Rejection and Finding Inspiration [02:50]

• Michael, a finance student at NYU, was rejected from his dream jobs.
• He was inspired by the success of startups and felt he could build something himself.
• He had prior experience developing apps as a teenager but lacked marketing skills.
• He saw app development as an opportunity to learn marketing, even if the app idea itself failed.

Validating the Height Prediction Concept [04:51]

• Michael discovered the app idea by looking at websites like Acquire.com, where a similar app was for sale.
• He recalled a personal problem from his teenage years searching for height calculators.
• He validated the idea further by observing comments on TikTok videos where users shared their height and parent's heights, indicating a desire for prediction.
• His first viral TikTok format involved replying to these comments with height predictions.

Growth Strategy: Content and Creators [08:51]

• Michael initially focused on creating content himself on TikTok, experimenting for about a month.
• He found a successful format and replicated it on multiple accounts, which also gained traction.
• He involved his girlfriend and hired UGC creators, teaching them the format.
• This initial phase, with UGC creators, generated around $3,000 per month.

Scaling and Monetization [09:46]

• After optimizing the paywall and scaling, revenue increased to $10,000 per month.
• By month five, with further format exploration, revenue reached $30,000 per month.
• The strategy then shifted to using paid ads to scale revenue to over $100,000 per month.
• The classic playbook involved cracking UGC, identifying organic content that works, and then amplifying it with ads.

Tech Stack and Monetization Details [10:21]

• The app's tech stack is described as inexpensive, using Expo for cross-platform development (iOS and Android).
• Superwall is used for paywalls, and Adapti for advanced payouts due to Apple's long payout cycles.
• A Singular MMP is used for tracking installs at a low cost per install.
• The core height prediction feature is behind a paywall, which has a high show rate.

App Functionality and User Engagement [11:00]

• Michael is proud of the app's onboarding process, which collects more user information for accurate predictions.
• The app uses research papers and CDC data to adjust height predictions.
• Features include a puberty quiz to assess development stages, which significantly impacts predictions.
• Users can also log activities like stretches, meals, and sleep, which can adjust their height prediction over time as they grow.

Advice on Overcoming Ego and Fear [13:16]

• Michael advises letting go of ego and not being afraid to pursue unglamorous or seemingly "stupid" ideas.
• He notes that his height prediction app offered no social status but was a valuable learning experience.
• He encourages pursuing ideas with potential, even if they seem unconventional or lead to "cringe" moments.
• The key is to push through insecurity and uncertainty, which is a hallmark of successful founders.