My First Million Dumb iPhone Apps Are Making People Rich Again (Here’s how)
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Feb 24, 2026 
Pat Walls, founder of Starter Story who scaled and sold a multi-format founder-interview platform. They dig into why simple iPhone apps are hot again, how viral TikTok validation and AI make app-building cheap, and the growing opportunities in B2B video and productized YouTube services. Short, practical takes on building repeatable creator-led products.
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iPhone Apps Reopened As A Big Opportunity
- iOS apps are resurging because easy discovery (TikTok) and easier building (AI) align right now.
- Pat says many founders are making substantial recurring revenue with small, focused apps.
Viral Video Before Product
- A team made a viral video pretending an app forced them to do pushups before scrolling, then built the app after traction.
- That app validated via TikTok and later generated tens of thousands per month.
Validate With The Marketing First
- Validate demand with the exact marketing channel you plan to use before building product.
- Create the viral content first, then iterate on an MVP app after traction appears.