72: Bridges - Jonathan Ruiz

On the podcast, I talk to Aja Beckett about the challenges of building for the community you belong to, the power of organic growth, the user feedback that helped shape the app, and the support gap for GLP-1 users.Top Takeaways: 🛠️ Build with Authenticity Aja’s journey from social anxiety to a GLP-1 tracking app started with solving her own problem. By deeply understanding her community's pain points, she created a product that resonates with real users, not just the market.📈 Community-Driven Growth Rather than relying on paid ads, Aja grew the app through organic word of mouth. The GLP-1 medication subreddit became a launchpad, with users eager to share and promote the app. This grassroots, authentic growth drove both engagement and loyalty.📊 Focus on Data-Driven Insights Aja's app uses data visualization to help users track their medication journey, creating a tangible, shareable experience. By making health tracking both personal and visual, users are motivated to share their progress, which amplifies the app's visibility.📲 Lean Into What Works Aja learned the importance of App Store Optimization (ASO). By focusing on search terms like "GLP-1 tracker," the app naturally found its audience. It’s a clear reminder that effective product discovery often comes from aligning with what people are already searching for.💡 Start Small, Think BigAja pivoted from a small, personal project to a scalable business by expanding her team when needed. Whether it's through funding or hiring the right talent, knowing when to take the leap and grow is key to maintaining momentum in a fast-moving space.⚖️ Balance Profit with PurposeWhen raising funds, Aja ensured her investors shared the same vision of prioritizing user needs over short-term profits. Building a sustainable business model centered on real value for users, while avoiding a "cash grab" mentality, allowed her to stay true to the mission.About Aja Beckett:  🛫 Founder of Shotsy  📱 Aja Beckett created Shotsy, the go-to mobile app for GLP-1 medication tracking. She turned her personal health journey into a product loved by thousands, focusing on authenticity, user-first design, and a mission to empower people on similar paths.👋LinkedIn Follow us on X: Charlie Chapman - @_chuckycRevenueCat - @RevenueCatLaunched - @LaunchedFM Episode Highlights: [0:00] The elevator pitch: tracking GLP-1 treatment with Shotsy[1:26] From film and animation to a self-taught developer[4:49] The painful shutdown of a promising moderation platform[6:02] Learning to code out of necessity at TED[10:05] Shutting down a startup and painting over the logo[12:18] Why mobile apps became the best way forward[18:03] Shifting from language learning to citizenship prep to health[23:45] Solving her own GLP-1 tracking needs with data[32:35] Beta launch insights: side effects, customization, and community[36:59] Keeping core features free for a mission-driven business model[47:35] How staying user-first helps Shotsy avoid paid ads[58:26] Fundraising to compete with copycats and stay true to the mission

On the podcast, we talk with Ryan Jones about the power of product-driven growth, why traditional marketing strategies often fall short, and the challenges of acquiring users while staying focused on building great products. Top Takeaways: ✈️ Product is the growth engine Flighty doesn’t run ads or chase growth hacks. Instead, it builds features that users love enough to share. When the product delights, users do the marketing. Growth follows craft.📲 Design for shareability Virality isn’t an accident. Flighty’s most powerful loop came from obsessing over a digital flight log that people are proud to show off, building for moments users want to share, and driving organic reach without paid spend.🛠️ Stick to your superpowerTry traditional growth tactics, then walk away. Every time the team moved attention from product to marketing, growth stalled. Knowing your edge (and staying there) beats chasing trends outside your zone.📈 ASO over adsApp Store Optimization remains Flighty’s only paid channel. Beautiful screenshots, clear messaging, and owning key search terms outperform broad ad campaigns and let the product speak for itself.📵 Say no to distraction Ignore the conventional playbook: no Facebook ads, no paid UA, no spray-and-pray marketing. Flighty’s team builds what they’d want to use, stays close to user problems, and lets clarity guide the roadmap.About Ryan Jones:  🛫 CEO & Co-founder of Flighty.📱 Ryan leads the product, design, and growth strategy behind Flighty. It is one of the most loved travel apps in the world. He’s built Flighty into a top-ranked app through obsessive attention to detail, viral feature design, and user-first thinking.💡 “Every time we focused on product, we grew. Every time we chased marketing tactics, we stalled. We just keep building what users love—and they do the rest.”👋 LinkedInFollow us on X: Charlie Chapman - @_chuckycRevenueCat - @RevenueCatLaunched - @LaunchedFM Episode Highlights: [0:00] The elevator pitch: giving flyers real-time confidence[2:14] How Flighty’s digital passport became a viral growth engine[4:37] The unexpected power users: pilots, flight attendants, and crew[5:48] Why building product beats running ads (and how Flighty proved it)[10:03] Designing frictionless sharing for one-to-one and one-to-many moments[10:49] From failed “Spotify Wrapped” to viral success: the passport playbook[14:29] Why screenshots are Flighty’s most underrated growth lever[15:12] Owning App Store search: inside Flighty’s ASO strategy[17:51] How Flighty landed in Apple keynotes and why it matters less[19:58] Building for the dynamic island before users knew they wanted it[21:22] What’s next: exclusive features, new foundations, and staying ahead of copycats

Klemens Strasser joins the show to talk about his indie iOS game development career, winning an Apple Design Award, and how he built and launched his latest game The Art of Fauna. Video Version Watch the video version on YouTube Links & Show Notes Klemens on Bluesky Klemens on Mastodon Klemens on Twitter Klemens website The Art of Fauna Flexibits Ryan McLeod Vidit Bhargava Patterned Alba ARCtic Conference AppleVis Riveo Josh Mobley Music Leo Mehlig Jordi Bruin Hidde van der Ploeg Andy Allen Frederik Riedel More Launched Youtube Channel Website - launchedfm.com Bluesky - @launchedfm.com Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Twitter - @LaunchedFM

Riley Testut joins the show to talk about his history in iOS emulators and the wild story behind the creation of AltStore, one of the first alternative app stores for iOS. Video Version Watch the video version on YouTube Links & Show Notes Riley on Mastodon Riley on Bluesky Riley on Twitter AltStore Delta Riley's personal website Shoot Around GBA4iOS Hot Tub announcement on The Verge Tapbots Supper Mario Broth More Launched Youtube Channel Website - launchedfm.com Bluesky - @launchedfm.com Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Twitter - @LaunchedFM

For our annual Christmas special, Jordan Morgan joins the show to talk life, indie careers, and an announcement on the future of Launched. Video Version Watch the video version on YouTube Links & Show Notes Swiftjective-C (Jordan's Blog) Jordan on Mastodon Jordan on Twitter A Best-in-Class iOS App Elite Hoops RevenueCat Superwall More Launched Youtube Channel Website - launchedfm.com Bluesky - @launchedfm.com Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Twitter - @LaunchedFM

Live in Chicago at Deep Dish Swift 2024, prolific Youtuber Sean Allen joins the show to talk about building his successful iOS development focused Youtube channel and his recent indie app Creator View. Video episode on Youtube Links & Show Notes Sean on Twitter Sean on Mastodon Sean on Youtube Sean's iOS Dev Courses Storyboards vs Code (first iOS video Charlie ever watched) PodcastAI @AetherAurelia Apple's Swift Student Challenge Deep Dish Swift More Launched Website - launchedfm.com Youtube - Launched Podcast Twitter - @LaunchedFM Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Become a sponsor

Christian Selig & Devin Davies join the show for a special video episode about the launch of Apple Vision Pro and both developer's apps, Juno and Crouton, that released on day one of the brand new App Store. Video episode on Youtube Links & Show Notes Devin Davies Twitter Mastodon Threads Christian Selig Twitter Mastodon Threads Crouton Juno Spatial Noise (Charlie's visionOS app) Wall Street Journal Vision Pro review featuring Crouton Rolli: 360° Video Player Wall Street Bull vs Bear More Launched Website - launchedfm.com Twitter - @LaunchedFM Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Become a sponsor

For our annual Christmas special, Jordan Morgan joins the show to talk life, indie careers, and an announcement on the future of Launched. Links & Show Notes Jordan on Mastodon Jordan on Twitter Swiftjective-C (Jordan's Blog) A Best-in-Class iOS App Dark Noise RevenueCat 🚀 Rocket Patrons Cameron McEfee More Launched Website - launchedfm.com Twitter - @LaunchedFM Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Become a sponsor

Jonathan Ruiz joins the show to talk about building and launching the link saving app Bridges. Edited by Jonathan Ruiz Links & Show Notes Jonathan on Mastodon Bridges Relay FM Mark Fransen Swift Playgrounds Hacking with Swift 🚀 Rocket Patrons Cameron McEfee More Launched Website - launchedfm.com Twitter - @LaunchedFM Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Become a sponsor

Neil Jhaveri joins the show to talk about building and launching the outstanding Mac email client Mimestream. Edited by Jonathan Ruiz Support Launched ⭐️ Become a member to support the show and get ad-free episodes! Links & Show Notes Neil on Mastodon Mimestream Michael Simmons Flexibits Cabel Sasser Panic Fastmail 🚀 Rocket Patrons Cameron McEfee More Launched Website - launchedfm.com Twitter - @LaunchedFM Mastodon - @[email protected] Threads - @LaunchedFM Become a sponsor