Learn Connor Burd's complete framework for rapid app development using AI, modern design principles, and data-driven growth strategies.
A complete system for building revenue-first applications with AI-powered development
Revenue-First Mindset: Apps are designed to make money from day one, not after achieving product-market fit.
Simplicity Over Complexity: Build 1-3 core features with exceptional onboarding instead of comprehensive solutions.
Modification Over Innovation: Prioritize variations of proven ideas rather than creating entirely new categories.
Human Psychology First: Tap into universal desires (money, health, attractiveness) rather than solving niche problems.
Onboarding Drives Conversions: 90% of users never see core features—focus on onboarding excellence.
Speed to Market: Ship quickly with AI tools, iterate with real users rather than perfecting in isolation.
"Build something simple with a great onboarding. A simple app can make lots of money. You only really need 1-3 good features and your onboarding will pull most of the weight for you."
From idea validation to deployment—a step-by-step system
Why It Matters: Approximately 90% of users never see anything beyond the onboarding if the app features a paywall. For most subscription apps, the onboarding is effectively the entire product experience for the vast majority of users.
This makes onboarding optimization the highest-leverage activity in app development. Every element should be designed for one goal: increasing conversion to paid subscription.
Techniques to maximize Claude code generation quality
Provide all relevant background upfront—architecture notes, recent changes, API contracts, user stories. Gives AI the same mental map a human developer needs.
// Architecture: React Native with Expo,
// backend: Next.js API routes...
// Database: PostgreSQL with these schemas...
// Recent changes: Changed auth flow...
Break complex features into small chunks with feedback between each step. Prevents errors from compounding and catches issues early.
1. Create database schema
2. Create API endpoint
3. Build frontend form
Review each step before next
Explicitly define the AI's expertise level. This causes it to generate code matching senior-level practices rather than basic implementations.
"You are a senior mobile developer
with expertise in React Native and
subscription app patterns. Code..."
Ask AI to explain reasoning before generating code. Surfaces assumptions and allows course-correction before implementation.
"Explain your approach step-by-step
before implementing the payment flow"
Proven tools optimized for speed and AI code generation
This stack is optimized for solo developer velocity and AI code generation compatibility. It avoids complex state management, extensive testing frameworks, and architectural patterns that slow development. Every tool is proven, well-documented, and extensively featured in AI training data—ensuring maximum code generation quality.
Data-driven growth strategies that take apps from zero to $20K/month
Leverage creators with existing audiences in your niche. Create relatable, viral content that feels natural and unprocessed.
Focus exclusively on Facebook to develop deep expertise. Spreading thin across multiple channels dilutes focus and prevents mastery.
Facebook's algorithm balances two goals:
Influencer
Partnerships
Organic
Performance Data
Paid
Scaling
Increased scale → More data for optimization → Higher efficiency → Higher ad spend → Revenue growth
Subscription design and pricing optimization for maximum lifetime value
Dual Options: Present weekly and yearly plans
Price Anchoring: Weekly plan makes annual plan appear valuable
Annual Priority: Annual subscriptions generate highest LTV and reduce churn
Social Proof: Include user counts and testimonials on paywall screens
Remote Configuration: Change pricing without app store submission
A/B Testing: Test price points, trial lengths, and offers simultaneously
Full Analytics: Track conversion, retention, churn, and LTV across iOS and Android
Unified Dashboard: Single source of truth vs App Store Connect + Google Play
3:1
LTV to CAC Ratio minimum for healthy subscription app
Cohort
Cohort-based retention reflects actual user behavior and is industry gold standard
Net
Calculate on net revenue (after fees, taxes, refunds), not gross
How the framework generated $20K/month in 50 days
A mobile app that helps users discover class-action lawsuits they qualify for, auto-fills claim details, and auto-generates PDFs to submit claims.
Days to Build
Days to $20K/month
App Downloads
Subscriptions
Won first place in RevenueCat's Chipotle competition (55K+ entrants) and received $65K prize for highest growth.
Principles for replicating this framework
Build 1-3 core features with exceptional onboarding. Most users never see beyond onboarding anyway, so focus your effort there.
Design for immediate monetization. If users won't pay for it immediately, the value prop isn't strong enough.
Prioritize variations of proven concepts. If competitors are already making money, demand is validated and risk is lower.
Use AI to handle mechanical coding work. You still make all product decisions, design UX, define data structures, and review code.
Develop deep expertise in a single growth channel rather than spreading effort across many. Mastery beats multi-channel mediocrity.
Don't wait for perfection. Ship to real users quickly, then iterate based on data. Speed to market beats polish.