How I Launched Two AI Consumer Apps To $400K/Month In Revenue
Who are you and what business did you start?
I'm a co-founder and CMO of 2 AI consumer apps. My first app, Glam Up (AI beauty app), got 1M users, peak 150K MRR, and top #3 on the US App Store Lifestyle category within 6 months of launch. My second app, Sprout (formerly Prep AI, an AI job automation app), got 250K MRR, ~100M monthly social media views, and constantly in the top #100 US App Store Business category within 8 months of launch. I handle most of the product design, distribution (GTM and viral marketing), and operations for these 2 apps.
Our primary customers for Glam Up are teenagers or young adults interested in makeup and skin care, and my primary customers for Sprout are college students or young adults looking for internships or jobs.
Our businesses are unique/special mostly because of a playbook we use for both our apps to increase 1) conversion rate, 2) app store ranking, 3) viral loops within the app design, and 4) viral marketing system.
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How do you come up with the idea for Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps)?
Both ideas came from studying the market and noticing clear gaps. We realized that existing solutions weren’t very user-friendly or relatable, especially for Gen Z audiences. With AI becoming more accessible, we saw an opportunity to build products that felt more intuitive, more efficient, and more in touch with how people actually use technology today.
When it came to knowing whether these were the right ideas to work on, the truth is, I didn’t know at first. My approach has always been to move fast, ship early, so that we can validate early. I’m never overly attached to the first version of an idea, I care more about how people respond to it. Both times, we started with a hypothesis, tested it quickly, and pivoted until we found a version that resonated. I never doubted the industries themselves (beauty and job applications both have massive, proven demand), it was just a matter of finding the right feature and design that could go viral.
The “aha” moment for both apps came through social media. When the first videos went viral (millions of views, thousands of comments, and people naturally sharing the product), it became clear that we had created something people genuinely wanted.
My background is in psychology and social media marketing, which shaped how I build and communicate products. Before these apps, I've worked at TikTok, had an ecommerce store and made it viral on social media, and ran a viral podcast on TikTok. I did those mostly for fun. It was really fun to experiment with content and learn about human behavior and attention. Those lessons became the foundation for how I approach product design and marketing today.
To validate any idea, I give it about six months of focused effort. I pour my energy into distribution. If it works, great. If not, I move on. I was really lucky that both of my apps went viral before the 6-month mark.
How did you launch Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps) and get initial traction?
I never really told anyone I was "in business". The only thing that mattered was whether people were actually using the apps. For Glam Up, I tested around 20 to 30 social media strategies before finding what worked (the viral strategy), and for Sprout, it only took about five strategies before it went viral.
We didn’t make a big announcement or focus on the “launch” moment. Our goal was simply to make the product perform well. When our first user subscribed, it felt rewarding but not emotional. We just got back to work.
We're assuming that our first few users came from social media. Within a week of launching, we made our first dollar for both apps.
From both apps, I learned and built a playbook (for myself) for creating viral consumer apps, and I’m now working on a third one. This time I'm looking for a technical co-founder, so feel free to reach out on LinkedIn!!
What was the growth strategy for Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps) and how did you scale?
For both apps, I’ve relied heavily on UGC creator campaigns. Out of all the social media strategies I’ve tested, this has consistently been the most effective because once you find a viral loop or content strategy that works, you can keep iterating, scaling, and expanding it.
My main growth channels are TikTok and Instagram, with a bit of YouTube. Social media is my expertise, since I understand how to create viral content and build repeatable systems around it, so I decided to stick with it instead of other channels.
With Sprout, we work with over 150 UGC creators who collectively generate around 100 million monthly views across social media, driving downloads and subscriptions. We built an entire system for them: creator courses, content banks, and algorithm-focused strategies to help each creator go viral.
This strategy worked because it didn’t rely on traditional influencer marketing, which depends too much on others to deliver. Instead, I tried building a system based on my own viral instincts and then taught others how to replicate it. That made growth predictable and scalable.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, my biggest advice is to do your research. Study your competitors, understand social media deeply, and always try things yourself before outsourcing. I can’t include screenshots of our strategies here, but I’d be happy to share more details in a deeper interview.
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What were the biggest lessons learned from building Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps)?
There are so many mistakes I’ve made. Too many to count. But I think the biggest lesson has always come down to mindset. You have to care deeply about building without getting too attached to any single feature or idea. Believe in your vision, but know when to pivot. Some of my best decisions came from letting go early and experimenting again.
One of the hardest things is not getting swept up by what everyone else is doing on social media. Take inspiration, but always think from first principles. Ask yourself why something works instead of just copying it. I tested around 20~30 strategies for Glam Up before one finally took off, and that process taught me that experimentation is everything. Try new things every week if you have to. If it doesn’t work, move on quickly.
There were honestly countless mistakes, from influencer marketing that didn’t convert to onboarding designs and pricing strategies, but each one taught me something. The real challenge is staying confident and disciplined even when things feel lonely or uncertain. It can be real lonely sometimes. But if you feel like you’re meant to do this, keep going.
My biggest advice would be to believe in yourself, work hard for a defined period, and learn relentlessly. There are so many resources online, like Twitter or this exact newsletter, but you have to apply what you learn and find your own rhythm. Building something from scratch is messy, humbling, and full of trial and error, but that’s also what makes it worth it!
Oh alos, I learned you don't need any money to get started. We bootstrapped both apps, and Glam Up started with $10K.
Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps) Acquisition: How much did Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps) sell for and what was the acquisition price?
Both are still running (bootstrapped).
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More about Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps):
Who is the owner of Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps)?
Nicole Cheung is the founder of Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps).
When did Nicole Cheung start Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps)?
2024
How much money has Nicole Cheung made from Glam Up & Sprout (2 apps)?
Nicole Cheung started the business in 2024, and currently makes an average of $4.8M/year.
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