Sub Club by RevenueCat Pivots, Funding, and Building Apps That Last – Greg Cohn, Burner
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Dec 10, 2025 Greg Cohn, Founder and CEO of Ad Hoc Labs and creator of the Burner app, shares invaluable insights on app development. He emphasizes the importance of knowing when to pivot, noting that Burner succeeded by solving a real problem. Greg explains why most consumer apps shouldn't pursue VC funding, advocating for self-sustaining models. He discusses the significance of user retention over acquisition and how small tweaks like optional free trials can drive big results. He also highlights the need for continuous testing and data-driven decisions to foster growth.
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Use Retention To Judge Product Fit
- Use retention signals to decide if a product needs a pivot.
- If users repeatedly return, you have a real problem worth investing in; if not, consider changing direction.
Subscriptions Changed The Cohort Game
- Launching subscriptions transformed Burner's cohort math and revenue predictability.
- Unlimited monthly/annual SKUs and MMS support were pivotal for growth and retention.
Choose Long-Term Brand Over Short-Term Hacks
- Ethical product decisions protect long-term brand value over short-term growth hacks.
- Burner avoided promoting hacks (e.g., gaming Uber referrals) to preserve trust and quality.