He built a $7M app empire with: - 0 funding - Didn’t know how to...
Romain Torres@rom1trs
14 views
Feb 17, 2025
~2 min read
1
He built a $7M app empire with:
- 0 funding
- Didn’t know how to code 1 year ago
Here is the most impressive bootstrapped story you’ve never heard of:
- 0 funding
- Didn’t know how to code 1 year ago
Here is the most impressive bootstrapped story you’ve never heard of:
2
in 2023 @blakeandersonw was broke
and decided to go all in in mobile apps
he shaved his head to make himself uglier to remove social distractions
...and learns to code with Chat GPT
and decided to go all in in mobile apps
he shaved his head to make himself uglier to remove social distractions
...and learns to code with Chat GPT
3
blake's first hit?
Plug AI - an AI Dating coach making $190K/m
It got 1.5 million downloads in 4 months.
here is how he he got the idea...
Plug AI - an AI Dating coach making $190K/m
It got 1.5 million downloads in 4 months.
here is how he he got the idea...
4
Blake's college roommate kept asking for help with dating app conversations.
Blake thought, "Could ChatGPT handle this?"
... and Plug AI was born
Blake thought, "Could ChatGPT handle this?"
... and Plug AI was born
5
he designed the app in Figma
... used chat GPT to write the code
and looked for distribution...
... used chat GPT to write the code
and looked for distribution...
6
he advertised Plug AI on two faceless YouTube channels for $50 each
The result?
200K downloads in under a week
The result?
200K downloads in under a week
7
Blake’s next hit was Umax
a look maxing app that made $3M+ already this year
here’s how:
a look maxing app that made $3M+ already this year
here’s how:
8
the “look maxing” trend was blowing up – people obsessing over how to look better
he partnered with look-maxing influencer Sam Zia
and shipped Umax in a month
His launch video got hundreds of thousands of views
he partnered with look-maxing influencer Sam Zia
and shipped Umax in a month
His launch video got hundreds of thousands of views
9
... $100K in revenue the first month
A few months after, it was at $500K MRR
but Blake wanted more...
A few months after, it was at $500K MRR
but Blake wanted more...
10
He partnered with two teenagers, Zach & Henry, to execute his proven playbook.
The result? Cal AI, a $3M+ ARR app
they launched in May this year!!
here’s how they did it…
The result? Cal AI, a $3M+ ARR app
they launched in May this year!!
here’s how they did it…
11
Same sauce...
They partnered with underrated creators & optimized for virality
Then they ran ads on those videos
... here is what you can learn from this:
They partnered with underrated creators & optimized for virality
Then they ran ads on those videos
... here is what you can learn from this:
12
1/ Find a Trend.
Spend time on Reddit, TikTok, Instagram, Google Trends hunting for emerging niches.
start building:
Spend time on Reddit, TikTok, Instagram, Google Trends hunting for emerging niches.
start building:
13
2/ Ship fast.
Use ChatGPT to build the MVP
make sure to keep the app simple
and master distribution:
Use ChatGPT to build the MVP
make sure to keep the app simple
and master distribution:
14
3/ underrated influencers.
hunt for the best profiles
close strong deals, use the content for ads...
hunt for the best profiles
close strong deals, use the content for ads...
15
It's just the beginning, @blakeandersonw is already working on his next project, Apex, which aims to revolutionize self-improvement
in a world dominated by superficial social media, Blake will deliver content and free apps focused on real growth.
He believes most subscription apps miss the mark— and he wants to change that.
Watch closely!
in a world dominated by superficial social media, Blake will deliver content and free apps focused on real growth.
He believes most subscription apps miss the mark— and he wants to change that.
Watch closely!
16
Want insider tips on how to grow consumer products and the playbooks behind them?
Follow me @rom1trs & I’ll break them down every week. 👇
Follow me @rom1trs & I’ll break them down every week. 👇