Launching a $1M App (EP.2)

In this video, we break down the fascinating 10-day launch journey of Vota, the restaurant rating app that achieved an impressive 1,000 downloads and 10,000 ratings with almost no budget. Join founder Heini Zachariassen as he reveals how a small team turned a unique restaurant comparison concept into a successful launch through strategic organic growth and community engagement. Follow the step-by-step process of how Vota's team prioritized speed to market with an iOS-only MVP, and discover which three out of four marketing strategies delivered exceptional results. Learn why their platform-specific approach to social media, targeted PR outreach, and Reddit community engagement succeeded while paid advertising fell flat, providing crucial insights for early-stage startups. Key takeaways include: • Why launching quickly with an imperfect MVP generates more valuable insights than waiting for perfection • How to leverage platform-specific marketing strategies that drove organic growth without burning through budget • The power of community-driven features and why Vota's unique paired comparison system resonated with users Download Vota in the App Store (iPhone only, Android coming soon) and help us test our MVP. As we build, I'll keep sharing what it takes to launch an app right now. Vota, revolutionary community-based restaurant ratings: https://vota.org/ Vota in Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vota-restaurant-ratings/id6744969212 Host: Heini Zachariassen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heini/ Guest: Staffan Ulmert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/staffan-ulmert-11aa23145 More from Raw Startup Founders Weekly Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3TvUeal Spotify: https://bit.ly/3x6uZUq Startup Free Newsletter: https://www.rawstartup.co/#/portal/ Raw Startup Blog: https://rawstartup.co/ Raw Startup T-shirt: https://rawstartup.threadless.com/designs/raw-startup-t-shirt/mens/t-shirt/premium?color=heavy_metal #startups #entrepreneurship #productlaunch #app Chapters 00:00 The Launch of VOTA: A Startup Journey 03:06 Understanding the MVP: Why Speed Matters 05:37 Strategies for Success: Social Media and PR 08:13 Community Engagement: The Power of Reddit 11:00 Lessons Learned: Growth Over Targets