From $50 In The Bank To Multi-Million-Dollar Exit

What does it really take to raise money, find product-market fit, and build a startup worth acquiring in 2026?In this episode, we are joined by Susan Ho, an entrepreneur, startup advisor, and former founder who built and exited travel-tech startup Journy to Hopper. shares the lessons she learned building Journy from the ground up, raising capital, navigating the founder journey, and ultimately selling the company to Hopper.We dive into the realities of startup fundraising, why founders get stuck in the "need traction to raise money, need money to get traction" cycle, and how today's founders can leverage personal branding and social media to accelerate growth.If you're a founder struggling with growth, fundraising, or the emotional rollercoaster of building a business, this is a must-watch.A candid conversation filled with real lessons, mindset shifts, and the kind of "mental therapy" every entrepreneur needs from time to time. 🚀You will discover :✅ How Susan raised capital for Journy in the early stages✅ The biggest mistakes founders make when fundraising✅ How to find product-market fit without burning cash✅ How social media can accelerate growth for consumer apps✅ The behind-the-scenes story of selling Journy to Hopper✅ Advice for first-time founders raising money in today's marketLearn More:Check out: www.theevolvedfounder.com Follow Susan: https://www.instagram.com/susan_ho/Connect with Susan: http://linkedIn.com/in/shuchenhoWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/FdansjRpR7I*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Tired of handing 30% of every in-game sale to iOS and Android billing systems? Appcharge is the DTC monetization platform trusted by King, Huuuge, Tripledot, and SciPlay – giving studios a direct line to their players, and up to 95% of every transaction. Web stores, payment links, and a full Merchant of Record service covering taxes, compliance, and global payments – all in one platform. Visit appcharge.com to learn more*********************************************Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus, sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Most app publishers are leaving ad revenue on the table, especially in under-monetized regions.In this episode, we are joined by Nana Landau, In-App Partnerships at Yango Ads, to discuss modern ad monetization strategies, how localized demand impacts publisher revenue, and why emerging markets represent one of the biggest untapped growth opportunities for mobile apps.We’ll explore real case studies, monetization trends, and practical ways app publishers can improve ad performance without increasing downloads.Whether you’re running a gaming app, utility app, fintech product, or subscription business, this session will help you better understand how to maximize ad revenue across global markets.We’ll also do live app monetization audits and discuss actionable opportunities publishers can implement immediately.You will discover:✅ Modern app ad monetization strategies for 2026✅ The hidden revenue opportunity in under-monetized regions✅ Ways to increase ad revenue without increasing installs✅ Common mistakes publishers make with monetization✅ Emerging market opportunities for gaming & mobile appsLearn More:🚀 Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus.Sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/-ERJj_nUpas*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

In this talk at AppsFler MAMA SF 2026, Steve P. Young breaks down the latest app monetization strategies that are actually working in 2026, including onboarding paywalls, paid intro offers, reverse trials, hard paywalls, discount pricing psychology, and subscription optimization.Drawing from real app case studies and experiments, Steve shares actionable tactics that have helped apps dramatically increase trial activations, trial-to-paid conversion rates, retention, and overall revenue.If you're building a subscription app, SaaS app, AI app, or mobile startup, this session is packed with practical insights you can implement immediately.You'll Learn:✅ Why your paywall should be inside onboarding✅ The “3 Screen Paywall” strategy is increasing trials by 56%+✅ Paid intro offers vs free trials✅ Reverse trials that boosted conversions 10X✅ Discount pricing psychology that increases revenue✅ Real monetization experiments from top appsWhether you're focused on ASO, user acquisition, subscriptions, retention, or app growth, these monetization insights can help you scale faster.👇 Let me know in the comments:What monetization strategy has worked best for your app lately?Check out more such interesting talks from AppsFlyer MAMA San Francisco 2026:https://www.appsflyer.com/events/mama-san-francisco-2026/Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/bg0_DavI-DE*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus, sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Generative Engine Optimization, or more commonly known as AI search, is reshaping app discovery faster than most founders realize.In this episode, we are joined by David Andersen, Co-Founder & CTO of BrandViz.AI and former Google engineer, to explore how Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) is reshaping app visibility across ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity, and more.As more users ask AI tools for recommendations, app makers need to understand how these systems choose which apps and brands to surface.David shares practical strategies app founders can implement immediately to improve visibility across AI-powered search experiences, and how GEO can complement your ASO.David will also share practical strategies app founders can implement immediately, plus real-world examples and a live visibility audit for some apps.You will discover:✅ How ChatGPT, Gemini & Claude recommend apps✅ The future of AI-powered app discovery✅ Practical GEO strategies app makers can implement this week✅ What changes over the next 12–24 months as AI reshapes searchLearn More:Check out: https://www.brandviz.ai/Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/lRbvILrIcG0*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus, sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Recorded live at MAU Vegas 2026 in collaboration with AppsFlyer, Steve P. Young had a quick conversation with David LoPresti, Director of Consumer Apps at U-Haul, to break down the app strategies helping millions of customers during one of the most stressful moments in life: moving.David shares how a simple UX improvement inside the U-Haul app eliminated over 600,000 customer support phone calls and saved the company nearly $3 million in operational costs, proving that the best app growth strategies aren’t always powered by AI.You’ll also learn how U-Haul leverages first-party customer data, improves mobile app onboarding, reduces friction, and creates personalized customer experiences at scale.If you’re building an app in 2026, this conversation is packed with actionable lessons on app UX, retention, customer experience, and mobile growth.You'll Learn:✅ How U-Haul saved millions with one app feature✅ Why reducing friction increases customer retention✅ The power of simple UX improvements✅ App growth lessons from a household brand✅ Why customer reviews reveal your best product roadmapLearn more about AppsFlyer's new Mobile Measurement:https://bit.ly/4u8OpRhWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/V6pwcHqs7X0*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus, sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Are you leaving money on the table with your app monetization strategy?In this video, Steve P. Young breaks down the ad monetization hacks top gaming and non-gaming apps are using right now to increase revenue, retention, and even app downloads.Steve also shares real examples from successful apps like Spotify, Netflix, Fun Run, and Cleanup, plus insights from AppsFlyer’s latest subscription trends report showing why the future of app monetization is a blended model.You’ll Learn:✅ The best rewarded ad strategies for apps✅ How to monetize free users without hurting retention✅ Why hybrid monetization models are winning in 2026✅ Monetization tactics for gaming & non-gaming apps✅ Why subscription apps are now adding adsIf you’re an app founder, indie developer, mobile marketer, or monetization manager, this video will give you actionable ideas you can test immediately to grow your app business.🚀 Yango Ads is offering 20% revenue boost bonus.Sign up here: https://yango-ads.com/adnetwork/bonus20?utm_source=yt&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=bonus. This special offer is valid before June 30th, 2026. Don't miss your chance to monetize your apps smarter!Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/xhMCZM07j1w*********************************************SPONSORSThe app growth playbook is changing fast.AppsFlyer’s State of eCommerce App Marketing Report 2026 breaks down the latest trends, benchmarks, fraud insights, and market-by-market data every app marketer should know before planning Q4.Download it free from the link below: https://bit.ly/4uvoHGM*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Steve P. Young just got back from MAU Vegas 2026, slightly jet-lagged, heavily caffeinated, and loaded with fresh insights on app growth, AI, monetization, onboarding, and the strategies mobile leaders are quietly using right now.In this special debrief episode, Steve breaks down the biggest trends, smartest tactics, and most interesting conversations from MAU Vegas, including the app growth strategies that work… until everyone starts copying them.From AI-powered creatives and onboarding psychology to monetization experiments and distribution tactics, this session is packed with practical takeaways for app founders, marketers, and growth teams looking to stay ahead in 2026.Couldn’t make it to MAU this year? Don’t worry, this episode brings the best insights, lessons, and “hallway conversations” straight to you. 🍸📱You will discover:✅ The biggest app growth trends from MAU Vegas 2026✅ AI tools and workflows top app marketers are using✅ What’s working right now in onboarding and monetization✅ App Store Optimization (ASO) and paid acquisition insightsLearn More:Join the App Founder’s Community:www.appfounders.coWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/RUBikjOskG8*********************************************SPONSORSReady to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

In this video, Steve P. Young breaks down how modern apps are scaling using AI video ads, Meta ads, and web-to-app monetization funnels, with real examples from top-performing apps like MadMuscles.We analyze how AI-generated creatives are outperforming traditional ads, why web-to-app checkout flows are becoming the dominant monetization strategy, and how leading apps are combining paid acquisition with optimized conversion funnels to increase revenue.You’ll learn:✅ How AI video ads are transforming Meta ad performance✅ Why web-to-app funnels improve monetization and scalability✅ How successful apps structure distribution in 2026✅ Creative strategies that reduce fatigue and increase engagement✅ How to think about monetization beyond the App StoreLearn More:Create high-converting UGC instantly:https://www.createugc.ai/avsfWork with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:http://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/rtitCwbHPms*********************************************SPONSORSReady to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

In this solo episode, Steve P. Young breaks down the latest trends in app monetization and distribution, sharing insights from recent industry discussions, including key takeaways from the Business of Apps event.Steve will also answer audience questions related to apps, business growth, monetization, and scaling strategies, and share practical insights you can apply immediately to increase downloads, improve retention, and grow revenue.Whether you're a founder, indie developer, or growth marketer, this episode will help you refine your onboarding flow, paywall strategy, and pricing model for better conversion and long-term success.You’ll learn how to build a high-performing strategy around:✅ Onboarding optimization✅ Pricing strategy for apps✅ Distribution channels (ASO, paid ads, partnerships)✅ User acquisition trends✅ Industry shifts shaping 2026Learn More:Join the App Founder’s Community:https://appfounders.co/Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper:https://www.appmasters.com/You can also watch this video here: https://youtube.com/live/sqopVyCWzYo*********************************************SPONSORSWant to know what ads your competitors are running right now?SocialPeta gives you access to real ad creatives and market insights across apps, games, and emerging content formats, so you can stay ahead without endless trial and error.Check it out at https://www.socialpeta.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************

Before you build your app in 2026, watch this. 🚨In this video, we break down 7 deadly app development mistakes that can destroy your app before it even gets traction, and how to avoid them.If you’re working on a startup, SaaS, or mobile app idea, these insights will save you time, money, and months of frustration.You’ll learn how to approach app development, UI/UX, marketing, and monetization the right way, especially in today’s AI-driven world.You’ll Learn:✅ Why solving one problem is key to app success✅ How AI tools are changing app development forever✅ Hidden ways to save thousands in startup expenses✅ How to design for conversions (not just looks)✅ Why UI/UX is your biggest competitive advantage🔗 Resources & Links:👉 B7 Dev: https://b7dev.com👉 Work with us to grow your apps faster & cheaper: https://www.appmasters.comYou can also watch this video here: https://youtu.be/SHctL0V73BE*********************************************SPONSORSWant to know what ads your competitors are running right now?SocialPeta gives you access to real ad creatives and market insights across apps, games, and emerging content formats, so you can stay ahead without endless trial and error.Check it out at https://www.socialpeta.com/*********************************************Ready to take action? Start exploring AppsFlyer's deep linking suite -  coming soon as a standalone solution, independent of their measurement packages → ⁠https://bit.ly/46O7Wgd*********************************************Follow us:YouTube: ⁠AppMasters.com/YouTube⁠Instagram: ⁠@App MastersTwitter: ⁠@App MastersTikTok: ⁠@stevepyoung⁠Facebook: ⁠App Masters⁠*********************************************