This guy quits his $200k job at Apple to build his dream app and...
GREG ISENBERG@gregisenberg
7 views
May 18, 2025
1
This guy quits his $200k job at Apple to build his dream app and then gets UPSET that 2 apps are competing with him!!
THE REALITY: in the AI age, 100 apps will do what yours does.
17 things your app actually needs to win these days:
1. build audience 1st, brand 2nd, community 3rd, product 4th. (i should do a dedicated tweet on this)
2. start extremely niche so you don't have real competitors (they are more wide, you are narrow)
3. brand that feels like a cool friend, not a faceless corporation. worth hiring someone for brand.
4. email/text list you own (platforms die, direct access is forever).
5. UI/UX that makes people feel something (not just "works well")
6. built-in distribution loops so every user brings the next one (referrals, viral features, affiliate kickbacks)
7. undercut on pricing or figure out new model (ie: outcome based vs subscription based)
8. partnerships that deliver customers on autopilot (and looking at ways to integrate your product)
9. strong copy that fire people up
10. media is core part of the business. you crank out content like you crank out features.
proprietary data moat. collect data nobody else has
12. funnels and a system to build new ones (a good funnel can bring in $1M+)
13. lead magnet systems (to nurture audience into leads)
14. at least 1 signature feature that's 10x better than anything else (the rest can be at parity)
15. personality injected into every error message, confirmation email, and notification
16. swap generic CTAs for benefit-first verbs like “Generate my brief”
17. use video for conversion rate optimization and cold outreach (video sells)
It's a waste of energy to think about copycats. they'll be everywhere in this AI age when anyone can copy you.
100X COMPETITORS IS THE NEW NORMAL.
The first time you see someone clone your app, it feels like someone broke into your house.
your creation...your baby...suddenly feels less special, less yours. that pit in your stomach is real.
get used to these feeling 100x more in the AI age. but it'll get numb over time, youll get used the everyday new competition popping up.
but rest easy knowing..
the game isn't who builds what, it's who builds for whom.
Just keep going!!
THE REALITY: in the AI age, 100 apps will do what yours does.
17 things your app actually needs to win these days:
1. build audience 1st, brand 2nd, community 3rd, product 4th. (i should do a dedicated tweet on this)
2. start extremely niche so you don't have real competitors (they are more wide, you are narrow)
3. brand that feels like a cool friend, not a faceless corporation. worth hiring someone for brand.
4. email/text list you own (platforms die, direct access is forever).
5. UI/UX that makes people feel something (not just "works well")
6. built-in distribution loops so every user brings the next one (referrals, viral features, affiliate kickbacks)
7. undercut on pricing or figure out new model (ie: outcome based vs subscription based)
8. partnerships that deliver customers on autopilot (and looking at ways to integrate your product)
9. strong copy that fire people up
10. media is core part of the business. you crank out content like you crank out features.
proprietary data moat. collect data nobody else has
12. funnels and a system to build new ones (a good funnel can bring in $1M+)
13. lead magnet systems (to nurture audience into leads)
14. at least 1 signature feature that's 10x better than anything else (the rest can be at parity)
15. personality injected into every error message, confirmation email, and notification
16. swap generic CTAs for benefit-first verbs like “Generate my brief”
17. use video for conversion rate optimization and cold outreach (video sells)
It's a waste of energy to think about copycats. they'll be everywhere in this AI age when anyone can copy you.
100X COMPETITORS IS THE NEW NORMAL.
The first time you see someone clone your app, it feels like someone broke into your house.
your creation...your baby...suddenly feels less special, less yours. that pit in your stomach is real.
get used to these feeling 100x more in the AI age. but it'll get numb over time, youll get used the everyday new competition popping up.
but rest easy knowing..
the game isn't who builds what, it's who builds for whom.
Just keep going!!
