How Blake Anderson built a $6 Million app with ChatGPT

Superhuman AI: Decoding the Future Podcast
Interview Summary
☀️ Quick Takes
Is this Interview Clickbait?
Our analysis suggests that the Interview is not clickbait because it provides detailed explanations on how Blake Anderson built a $6 million app using ChatGPT, covering the process, challenges, and success.
1-Sentence-Summary
Blake Anderson leveraged ChatGPT to develop and scale multiple successful apps, including a dating app and a looks-maxing app, emphasizing the importance of rapid iteration, strategic risk-taking, and leveraging new technologies in niche markets to generate millions in revenue.
Favorite Quote from the Author
the key takeaway here really is that it's a lot easier than you think right you just have to start you just have to ask chat GPT
💨 tl;dr
Blake Anderson, with no prior software experience, built umax, a $6M ARR looksmaxing app, using ChatGPT for coding help. He emphasizes quick launches, customer feedback, and collaboration with co-founders. His success with Riz GPT shows the power of TikTok marketing and adapting to competition.
💡 Key Ideas
- Blake Anderson had no prior software experience and learned app development mainly through ChatGPT, which provided significant coding assistance.
- He created umax, a looksmaxing app, generating over $6 million in ARR, and previously built Riz GPT, an AI dating assistant, with $2.5 million in ARR.
- The success of Riz GPT stemmed from a simple initial launch and effective TikTok promotion, leading to rapid user acquisition and revenue growth.
- Continuous iteration based on customer feedback is crucial for app success, as well as launching quickly even without all features in place.
- Blake emphasizes collaboration and choosing co-founders wisely, acknowledging that complementary skills enhance decision-making.
- The concept of 'looks maxing' tapped into a niche market for personal attractiveness ratings and tips, utilizing the GPT Vision API for recommendations.
- He adopted a risk-taking mindset, prioritizing long-term value and pivoting strategies when faced with competition, including a significant influencer campaign.
- The competitive landscape in app markets drives innovation but requires unique ideas and differentiation to succeed.
- Blake sees potential in AI applications, particularly in audio simulation and learning tools, and uses ChatGPT for personal learning enhancement.
- Entrepreneurs should embrace unconventional thinking and personal passions to develop original and impactful products.
🎓 Lessons Learnt
- You can build an app without prior experience. Don't let a lack of skills hold you back; curiosity and a willingness to learn are key.
- Launch quickly and gather feedback. Getting your product out there fast helps you learn and adapt based on real user insights.
- Constant iteration is crucial. Keep testing new strategies and designs; initial traction doesn’t guarantee long-term success.
- Utilize AI tools effectively. Be specific and clear when using tools like ChatGPT to maximize their potential in your development process.
- Choose co-founders wisely. Pick partners based on complementary skills rather than personal connections to strengthen your venture.
- Embrace calculated risks. Sometimes, going all-in on bold moves can drive significant growth.
- Stay adaptable to trends and competition. Be ready to pivot your strategy and improve your product to maintain a competitive edge.
- Personalization boosts engagement. Tailoring user experiences can greatly enhance satisfaction and retention.
- Continuous learning is essential. Expect a learning curve and use available resources to grow your knowledge and skills.
- Innovation thrives on deviation. Explore underexplored areas and leverage existing technologies to create unique solutions.
🌚 Conclusion
You don't need to be a tech whiz to create a successful app. Embrace learning, launch fast, iterate constantly, and leverage AI tools. Choose the right partners and stay flexible to trends. Innovation comes from exploring new ideas and personal passions.
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In-Depth
Worried about missing something? This section includes all the Key Ideas and Lessons Learnt from the Interview. We've ensured nothing is skipped or missed.
All Key Ideas
Blake Anderson's Journey in App Development
- Blake Anderson had zero software experience before building his apps, only some coding with Python.
- ChatGPT taught him how to build the app and provided its main functionality.
- He founded umax, a looksmaxing mobile app, which generated over $6 million in ARR.
- He previously built Riz GPT (now called Plug AI), an AI dating assistant, which reached $2.5 million in ARR.
- Blake has always been interested in entrepreneurship, starting from a young age with various money-making ventures.
- His college project was a failed Marketplace app, which led to the creation of Riz GPT based on a friend's dating app questions.
- Blake was inspired by a history of the digital revolution class he took, which focused on the potential of AI technologies.
Development and Success of RIS GPT App
- The idea for RIS GPT originated from a roommate's request for dating advice on apps, leading to the use of ChatGPT for responses.
- Blake had no software experience, but ChatGPT taught him how to build the app, providing 99% of the code.
- The app saw massive success after a $100 TikTok promotion, gaining over 200,000 downloads in six days and generating $80,000 in revenue.
- The app was initially very simple, lacking features like notifications and review requests, emphasizing the importance of launching a product quickly.
- Blake scaled the app to over $200,000 in monthly recurring revenue (MRR) by iteratively improving the product based on customer feedback.
Insights on App Development and Collaboration
- There's too much one-size-fits-all content on social media for consumer Founders, and the most important factor for generating buzz is constant iteration.
- It took Blake about a month to figure out the winning formula for his app, and even after generating views, continuous iteration is necessary.
- To build an app with ChatGPT, start with designs and clearly explain what you want; you can upload images for better clarity.
- Using ChatGPT as a coding assistant can simplify the development process, turning it into a learning experience.
- Blake emphasizes the importance of finding the right partners but admits he doesn't have a formula for identifying great collaborators.
Founder's Journey and App Development Insights
- Blake started as a solo founder after amicably splitting from a co-founder with different creative visions; retained equity in the process.
- His older brother proposed the pivotal Madden-style rating system, which significantly influenced the company's direction.
- He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right co-founders based on skill set gaps and the potential for better decision-making through collaboration.
- He ideated UMX while going through personal challenges and living temporarily on friends' couches.
- The concept of 'looks maxing' emerged as a growing trend, targeting young men who want to enhance their attractiveness.
- Identified a demand for personal attractiveness ratings and personalized tips, leading to the idea for the app.
- Leveraged the GPT Vision API to provide personalized beauty recommendations without needing to train a machine learning model.
- Launched the app shortly after Thanksgiving, after a month of intense development.
Blake's Business Strategy and Mindset
- The app initially generated $100,000 in revenue, growing to $200,000 before facing competition from a copycat that imitated their strategy.
- Blake prioritized improving long-term value (LTV) over going viral but had to pivot strategy due to competition.
- He invested over $200,000 in an influencer campaign, risking all their revenue, which resulted in a significant revenue spike to over $500,000.
- The influencer campaign led to rapid downloads, with Blake working non-stop to manage the situation.
- Blake has a risk-taking mindset, believing in no plan B, and focuses on assessing outcomes only if things go wrong.
- He emphasizes being a passionate leader, even if he can be difficult to work with, valuing authenticity in his approach.
Insights on AI Applications and Market Dynamics
- Cal AI is an AI calorie tracking app that differentiates itself by allowing users to take a picture for calorie analysis, addressing the time-consuming nature of traditional calorie trackers.
- There are 50 competitors in the calorie tracking space, making it a challenging market but one where competition can drive innovation.
- The app has two 17-year-old co-founders who share equal ownership and bring strong capabilities to the project.
- Blake is interested in building applications in the audio simulation space to counter growing antisocial behavior and enhance social interaction.
- There’s potential in creating learning applications, like language tutors, leveraging advanced capabilities of AI like GPT-4.
- Packaging and reskinning existing functionalities in AI apps can create opportunities even if they are available natively in larger platforms.
- Blake is using ChatGPT to enhance his personal learning by quizzing him and providing resources, but seeks a more efficient way to do this using voice functionality.
Entrepreneurial Insights
- Deviate from the norm in thinking, speaking, and acting to foster unique and creative insights, especially in the tech space.
- There's a tendency for many entrepreneurs to focus on over-saturated ideas rather than exploring less-discussed opportunities.
- Video games serve as valuable tools for entrepreneurs by offering strategic simulations and rapid repetitions without real-world stakes.
- Successful building often stems from personal passion and interests, leading to genuine and original creations.
All Lessons Learnt
Key Takeaways on Building Apps with AI
- You can build an app without prior experience.
- AI can provide significant functionality.
- Start with what you know or need.
- Be curious and explore new technologies.
- Passion for entrepreneurship can start young.
Product Launch Tips
- Get your product out there: The most important thing is to launch your product quickly to gather customer insights and feedback, especially for consumer utility apps.
- You can learn along the way: It's okay to backfill knowledge and skills after launching, rather than delaying the launch to perfect everything first.
- Find untapped niches: Use platforms like TikTok to discover unique marketing opportunities that can lead to rapid growth, even if initial marketing efforts struggle.
Development Tips
- Constant Iteration is Key: You need to keep iterating and testing new strategies to generate buzz and views; just because you get some initial traction doesn't mean you've found the winning formula.
- Start with Clear Designs: When building an app, begin by figuring out what you want the product to look like; having a clear design helps streamline the coding process.
- Use ChatGPT Effectively: Be very clear in your language when asking ChatGPT for help; you can even upload images of your designs for better results.
- Learning Curve is Part of the Process: Expect growing pains when learning how to use IDEs and troubleshooting your code; this is a natural part of the development journey.
- Utilize Available Resources: Many people aren't fully utilizing tools like ChatGPT, which can serve as a professional tutor and greatly enhance your learning and building process.
Key Insights for Startups
- Choosing Co-founders Wisely: It's important to pick co-founders based on the specific skills they bring to fill gaps in your own expertise, rather than just familiarity or friendship.
- Collaboration Increases Success: Combining different skill sets can lead to better decision-making; two people making 80% correct decisions can achieve a higher overall success rate together.
- Adaptability in Ideas: Stay open to evolving your product's direction based on trends and user needs, as demonstrated by the shift towards looks maxing.
- Leverage Technology: Instead of building complex models, use existing tools like the GPT Vision API to create effective solutions quickly.
- Power of Personalization: Users often seek personalized advice; addressing this need can significantly enhance user engagement and satisfaction.
Key Strategies for Business Growth
- Take calculated risks: Sometimes you need to go all-in, like Blake did by deploying over $200,000 on an influencer campaign, to drive growth even if it risks everything you've earned.
- Prioritize product readiness: Focus on improving your offering before trying to go viral; rushing to attract users without a solid product can harm long-term retention.
- Adapt quickly to competition: When faced with copycats, be ready to pivot your strategy and invest heavily in marketing to maintain your market position.
- Embrace a 'no plan B' mentality: Commit fully to your vision; having no backup plan can push you to find solutions and innovate under pressure.
- Motivate through passion: Show genuine passion for your work to inspire your team, even if it means being challenging or stubborn at times.
Lessons Learnt
- Simplifying user experience is key.
- Competition fuels innovation.
- Age doesn't determine capability.
- Packaging existing technology can create new opportunities.
- Continuous learning is essential.
Key Insights for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Deviation from the norm is key.
- Focus on underexplored areas.
- Video games can enhance entrepreneurial skills.
- Build from personal passion.