I Locked Myself In A Room, Made 17 Apps, & Sold 2 for $265,000

Summary

In this inspiring story, Nico shares his journey of self-learning coding, building 17 apps in a year, and selling two for a combined $265,000. From his initial struggles in e-commerce to locking himself in a hotel room for two months to master coding, Nico's experience reveals valuable insights into app development, monetization, and marketing. He emphasizes the importance of quickly prototyping, targeting the right audience with paid ads, and not being emotionally attached to projects. His advice to entrepreneurs is to start small, gain initial wins, and focus on building real products for real users.

Takeaways

• 😀 Nico built and sold two apps for $265,000 in just one year after teaching himself to code in only two months.
• 😀 He started by learning Facebook ads, despite everyone saying it wouldn’t work, growing his first app to $7,000 in monthly recurring revenue.
• 😀 Nico's approach to success involves identifying valuable problems, scaling the solution, leveraging his own skills, and ensuring efficient distribution.
• 😀 When building an app, Nico’s step-by-step process involves setting a hard deadline, focusing on essential features, and creating a compelling landing page.
• 😀 To build products quickly, Nico uses tools like Dribbble and VZ for design ideas, and prototypes apps using Figma or direct coding.
• 😀 For marketing, Nico utilized both organic strategies and paid ads, with an emphasis on testing and refining his ads to achieve better results.
• 😀 His first successful app, 'Me Logo,' was a one-time payment model that allowed users to generate logos with AI and made $85,000 in total revenue.
• 😀 Nico advises focusing on small wins early in your entrepreneurial journey—don’t aim for large profits immediately but rather for gradual, compounding success.
• 😀 For app launches, Nico emphasizes getting the product in front of users as quickly as possible, even if the backend isn’t fully automated at first.
• 😀 Nico's experience shows that entrepreneurship requires rapid iteration—getting feedback and adjusting products to meet real user needs is crucial to success.

Q & A

How did Nico start his entrepreneurial journey?

Nico began his journey by quitting a summer job at a bank after just three days because he hated it. He initially tried starting a brand of ties, which failed, but this experience introduced him to e-commerce and marketing. He eventually learned about dropshipping and Facebook ads, which led him to pursue more ventures.

What motivated Nico to teach himself to code?

After his e-commerce brand wasn't generating enough profit, Nico decided to lock himself in a hotel room for two months to teach himself how to code. This decision was driven by a desire to create his own products and build a more sustainable business model.

What was Nico's first successful app, and how did it make money?

Nico's first successful app was 'Make Logo,' an AI-powered logo generator. The business model was based on one-time payments where customers could purchase a pack of logos, which they could then customize. This app generated $26,000 in sales and was later sold for $65,000.

What was the second app Nico built, and how did it generate revenue?

'To Notes' was Nico's second app, which helped users convert voice notes into properly formatted text. The app initially used a one-time payment model but later switched to a subscription model, offering users a $12 per month or $60 per year option. The app generated $77,000 in sales before it was sold for $200,000.

What is Nico's process for coming up with app ideas?

Nico follows four main criteria when brainstorming app ideas: 1) The value of the product—whether it solves a genuine problem, 2) The scalability—whether there’s a large enough market, 3) His personal skills—whether he can build it, and 4) Distribution—whether there is a profitable way to reach customers.

How does Nico approach building an app from start to finish?

Nico starts by setting a hard deadline to keep himself focused. He then creates an app prototype, focusing only on essential features. Once the prototype is ready, he adds layers like authentication and payment systems. Afterward, he builds a compelling landing page and optimizes for SEO and mobile use.

What marketing strategies did Nico use to promote his apps?

For 'Make Logo,' Nico used organic growth by being the first to offer AI-generated logos, which generated natural curiosity. For 'To Notes,' he initially validated the app idea organically, and once he had some traction, he used Facebook ads. He focused on targeting specific audiences with tailored ads and landing pages to optimize conversions.

What advice does Nico have for those just starting out in app development?

Nico advises aspiring developers to avoid getting emotionally attached to their products and to create quick prototypes to solve specific problems. He emphasizes the importance of talking to users early on and starting small by making your first dollar online before aiming for large profits or scalability.

How does Nico handle day-to-day life after selling multiple apps?

Nico's daily life is flexible and unstructured. He wakes up around 7:00 AM and works in the morning, but in the afternoons, he either works on tasks or enjoys hobbies like playing video games. When he has specific goals, he wakes up earlier, works intensely, and follows a grind-rest routine.

What tools and technologies does Nico use to build his apps?

Nico primarily uses the Next.js JavaScript framework, along with Next UI for pre-built components. He also utilizes tools like VZero for generating interface designs and Vanta for compliance and security management. For SEO, he uses tools like hre for optimization and uses his own feedback widget to collect user feedback.