Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 10 hours ago
Ryan is a former product designer who quit his job to finally build his own app. With the help of AI coding tools, the first app he ever built hit $18K/month.
But here's the crazy part... this type of app has been built hundreds of times. Why was his successful?
In this video, we will dive into the simple app he built, how he got his first users, and his advice on how to pick winning app ideas.
*Free: iOS Bootcamp:* go.starterstory.com/lp-test-2-ios-bootcamp-description
Follow Ryan: linkedin.com/in/ryanqyao
Check out Cat on Chair: https://catonchair.app/en/
đ Follow the Second Channel: @StarterStoryBuild
đ We're hiring: starterstory.com/jobs
Chapters
0:00 - I love niche apps
0:50 - Whatâs your story?
1:19 - App breakdown and data
2:46 - Ryanâs background
3:20 - Simple apps win
3:54 - Design and AI
4:10 - Build timeline
5:35 - Target customers
6:16 - Tech stack
6:48 - Finding the app idea
8:15 - Why does this app work?
9:47 - Building a hand-crafted app
10:19 - How to build cool, unique apps
11:11 - Cat on Chair Demo
12:33 - Final advice
13:20 - Pat and Gus reflections: building unique apps
This video is an educational case study of this founderâs experience. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee any income or results. Every business is different and your results may vary.
Ryan is a former product designer who quit his job to finally build his own app. With the help of AI coding tools, the first app he ever built hit $18K/month.
But here's the crazy part... this type of app has been built hundreds of times. Why was his successful?
In this video, we will dive into the simple app he built, how he got his first users, and his advice on how to pick winning app ideas.
*Free: iOS Bootcamp:* go.starterstory.com/lp-test-2-ios-bootcamp-description
Follow Ryan: linkedin.com/in/ryanqyao
Check out Cat on Chair: https://catonchair.app/en/
đ Follow the Second Channel: @StarterStoryBuild
đ We're hiring: starterstory.com/jobs
Chapters
0:00 - I love niche apps
0:50 - Whatâs your story?
1:19 - App breakdown and data
2:46 - Ryanâs background
3:20 - Simple apps win
3:54 - Design and AI
4:10 - Build timeline
5:35 - Target customers
6:16 - Tech stack
6:48 - Finding the app idea
8:15 - Why does this app work?
9:47 - Building a hand-crafted app
10:19 - How to build cool, unique apps
11:11 - Cat on Chair Demo
12:33 - Final advice
13:20 - Pat and Gus reflections: building unique apps
This video is an educational case study of this founderâs experience. It is not financial advice and does not guarantee any income or results. Every business is different and your results may vary.
