How I Built Three $10M AI Apps After Teaching Myself to Code with ChatGPT
TL;DR: Blake Anderson went from zero technical skills to building three successful AI-powered mobile apps (RizGPT, Umax, Kai) generating over $10 million in combined revenue. After graduating college with no job prospects and living at his parents' house, he taught himself to code using ChatGPT in May-June 2023. His first app, RizGPT (an AI dating assistant), launched in July 2023 and scaled to $250K MRR within months by leveraging underground TikTok creators for $50-100 promotions that generated millions of views. His strategy focused on finding problems in heavily-monetized niches (dating, attractiveness, self-improvement), building quick MVPs with React Native, and aggressively testing influencer content until finding profitable distribution channels. He emphasizes that AI has made app building dramatically easier while TikTok/Instagram algorithms now favor new creators, creating a perfect window for mobile app businesses. His second app Umax reached $5M in annual revenue, and his third app Kai hit $1M/month within 6 months. Blake's success came from creating urgency (financial pressure, proving himself after co-founder split), thinking from first principles rather than following conventional advice, and ruthlessly iterating on marketing strategies.
Key Insights
- AI tools like ChatGPT have dramatically lowered the barrier to building mobile apps - complete beginners can learn to code and ship products in months
- TikTok and Instagram algorithms now favor new creators with millions of views possible from day one, creating unprecedented distribution opportunities for consumer apps
- Underground micro-influencers (18-19 year olds with 50K-200K followers) can deliver 5-10M views for $50-100, making influencer marketing extremely profitable
- Launching imperfect MVPs and iterating based on what converts is more valuable than building the perfect product
- Finding heavily-monetized niches with physical products indicates strong willingness to pay and opportunity for software solutions
Actionable Takeaways
- Use ChatGPT or Claude to teach yourself to code - start with React Native and Expo framework for mobile apps
- Find niches where people already spend money on physical products (skincare, fitness supplements) and build software alternatives
- Launch with an imperfect MVP and pay 5-10 micro-influencers $50-100 each to test market demand before perfecting the product
- Create Discord accounts or find hidden contact methods to reach young TikTok creators who are harder to contact but deliver better ROI
- Use Superwall to A/B test different pricing, subscription tiers, and paywall placements to maximize revenue per download
- Track which influencer content goes viral and double down on that exact format/creator style rather than spreading budget thin
- Create a sense of urgency in your personal life to increase productivity and execution speed