How Connor Burd Built the $20K/Month Payout App Using AI in 14 Days

Starter Story

Who is Connor [0:54]

Connor Burd is a 23-year-old who has successfully developed several mobile applications.

• His apps collectively generate over $1 million in sales annually [0:02].
• He began his entrepreneurial journey about three years ago, learning primarily from YouTube videos and Stack Overflow, without a formal computer science background [1:06].

Numbers Behind His Apps [1:12]

Connor's latest project, the Payout app, achieved significant growth quickly.

• The Payout app was launched in early August and scaled to $20,000 per month in revenue [1:21].
• It garnered over 12,000 downloads and 1,300 new subscriptions [1:26].
• The app won first place in the Revenue Cat Shipaton competition (a hackathon with over 55,000 entrants), securing a $65,000 prize for demonstrating the most growth over a two-month period [1:31].

  

Connor's Background and Learning [1:49]

Connor started with no prior coding experience and evolved his approach to app development.

• His first app, "Hotspot Events," a social app, took 6 to 8 months to build and ultimately failed [2:25].

  

• This experience taught him that social apps are challenging to scale for solo developers [2:32].
• He then shifted his focus to utility and tool-based apps, which he found easier to scale [2:36].
• His journey highlights the importance of iterating and learning from failures.

The Vibe Coding Process [2:46]

Connor's "vibe coding" process is a systematic approach to rapidly build and launch profitable mobile apps.

• 1. Inspiration [3:16]
  • Download approximately 20 apps within the target niche to understand existing designs and features [3:18].

    

  • Also download aesthetically pleasing apps for general design inspiration [3:22].
• 2. Onboarding Design [3:27]
  • Screenshot every page and onboarding flow from the selected apps [3:27].

    

  • Arrange these screenshots in a Figma file to visualize all elements (onboardings, questions, graphs) [3:31].
  • Select preferred elements and redesign them to fit the app's unique theme and aesthetic [3:37].

    

  • Emphasize an extensive onboarding because 90% of users in paywalled apps might only see this section [3:46].

    

  • Key elements for an effective onboarding:
    • Invoke emotion: Make users feel strongly about the app [4:04].
    • Demonstrate benefits: Clearly show how the app improves users' lives [4:15].

      

    • Personalize the experience: Make the app feel tailored to the individual [4:24].

      

    • Include scientific evidence: Use charts or graphs to make the app appear legitimate and proven [4:36].

      

• 3. Data Structures [4:51]
  • Design clear data structures, such as JSON, to precisely define data format and attributes [4:56].

    

  • Create a detailed text document explaining the data structure to feed to AI tools, preventing misinterpretations and speeding up development [5:07].
• 4. Build with AI [5:21]
  • Begin by building the core functionality of the app, temporarily skipping the onboarding [5:26].
  • Use AI tools like Claude to generate code directly from the prepared design screenshots [5:31].

    

  • Iteratively refine AI-generated code, understanding that AI may not get everything right on the first attempt [5:43].
  • Prioritize getting a functional version out quickly over achieving perfection [5:50].
  • Connor primarily uses Claude for AI coding [5:57].

Connor's Validation Framework [7:02]

Connor distinguishes between two types of app ideas for validation.

• 1. Modifying Existing Ideas
  • These ideas are considered "pre-validated" because a market already exists [7:18].
  • The focus is on making modifications and adding a unique personal touch [7:26].
• 2. Innovating New Ideas
  • Validate these ideas by checking social media platforms (TikTok, Instagram) to see if people are discussing the problem the app aims to solve [7:31].
  • Look for comments and questions indicating a clear need or interest [7:42].
  • Given the speed of AI development, Connor advocates for building the app immediately once an idea is validated, skipping traditional waitlist stages [7:48].
  • He believes that even simple apps can generate significant income, as there's a vast user base (hundreds of millions in the US alone), and capturing a small fraction is sufficient [7:53].

Marketing Playbook [8:12]

Connor employs specific strategies for marketing and growing his apps.

• 1. Influencer Campaigns (User-Generated Content - UGC) [8:37]
  • Partner with influencers who have an existing audience in the app's niche [8:39].

    

  • Influencers lend credibility, making their recommendations more impactful [8:45].
  • The goal is to create relatable, viral content that appears natural and authentic [8:59].

    

  • Successful content formats should be replicated with other creators [9:04].
  • A significant benefit is building a library of proven ad creatives that can be used for paid campaigns [9:12].
• 2. Paid Ads (Facebook) [9:24]
  • Paid ads are considered the most consistent method for driving revenue growth [9:26].
  • Facebook's algorithm prioritizes both advertiser satisfaction (conversions) and user engagement (entertainment) [9:32].
  • Ads need to be both entertaining to reduce costs and conversion-focused to drive product sales [9:42].
  • Striking a balance between entertainment and conversion potential is crucial [9:51].

The Payout App Revealed [9:57]

Connor provides a demo of his Payout app.

• App's Core Functionality [10:10]
  • Payout is a class action lawsuit discovery app that helps users find lawsuits they are eligible for, allowing them to claim money from companies that have committed wrongs.
• Onboarding Demonstration [10:21]
  • The onboarding process includes requests for activity notifications and displays social proof [10:22].
  • It features a paywall offering both weekly and yearly subscription options [10:26].
  • The design prioritizes the yearly option due to its higher customer lifetime value [10:31].
• Main Feature Demo [10:36]
  • The app's main screen lists various class action lawsuits [10:37].

    

  • Users can view details, requirements (e.g., eligibility for the NBA Top Shot privacy settlement), and fill out a form to claim settlements [10:41].
  • The app prepares a PDF for mailing [11:00].
• Additional Features [11:02]
  • A "Wallet" tab tracks applied-for lawsuits [11:03].
  • A "Forms" tab stores previously filled-out forms [11:06].

What Made Payout Successful [11:10]

The Payout app's success stems from its clear value proposition.

• It directly addresses a core human desire: to make more money [11:23].
• Connor advises building apps that tap into universal human desires like health, wealth, or attractiveness, as these resonate strongly with users [11:27].
• Users are more willing to invest in an app that clearly promises financial returns [11:43].

Tech Stack [11:46]

Connor uses a lean and efficient tech stack for his app development and operations.

• Design: Figma (for UI, app store screenshots, and app icons) [11:54].
• Analytics: Mixpanel (for general analytics) [11:57] and Revenue Cat (for subscription analytics and pricing testing) [12:11].
• Vibe Coding: Claude Code [11:58].
• Website & Backend: Next.js and TypeScript [12:01].
• Hosting: Vercel [12:04].
• Version Control: GitHub [12:05].
• Build Management: Expo (for cross-platform builds) [12:08].

The Key to a Successful App [12:14]

Connor's final advice emphasizes simplicity and user experience.

• Build something simple with an excellent onboarding experience [12:31].
• A successful app needs only one to three strong features [12:35].
• The onboarding is crucial and can carry most of the app's weight in terms of user conversion and retention [12:37].