How to consistently go viral: Nikita Bier’s playbook for winning at consumer apps (co-founder of TBH, Gas, advisor, investor) | Lenny's Podcast: Product | Growth | Career (private feed for websong16@gmail.com) | Podwise
This episode explores the strategies behind building successful viral consumer apps, particularly focusing on the experiences of Nikita Bier, a prolific app developer. Against the backdrop of Bier's journey from a political app to a series of viral hits like TBH and Gas, the discussion highlights the importance of identifying latent demand and focusing on user needs. More significantly, Bier emphasizes the crucial role of rapid testing and iteration, using the example of his 14 failed apps before achieving success. For instance, his analysis of user invitation rates across different age groups reveals a key insight: teenagers are far more likely to invite friends to new apps, making them a prime target market. The conversation further delves into the challenges of scaling a viral app, including server crashes and the unexpected emergence of hoaxes, such as the false human trafficking accusations against Gas. Ultimately, Bier's insights offer valuable lessons for aspiring app developers, emphasizing the need for rigorous testing, a deep understanding of user behavior, and the importance of ethical growth strategies.
