3 apps I would NEVER build

@builtbyteejay

3.4K followers · usually 1.4K views a post

Views

15.3K

Likes

1.0K

Comments

Why it worked

The video offers contrarian advice on app ideas, directly addressing common pitfalls faced by new founders. By framing the advice around 'apps I would NEVER build,' it creates intrigue and positions the creator as an experienced authority, resonating with aspiring entrepreneurs.

Summary

The creator discusses three app ideas they would never build: a dating app due to the difficulty of achieving critical mass, an Uber-for-X service because of the challenge of balancing supply and demand, and any app that handles money due to regulatory hurdles and the high stakes involved. They advise aspiring founders to focus on solving a specific problem for a niche audience rather than trying to cater to everyone.

Structure

1Introduction: 3 apps never to build
2App 1: Dating app (cold start problem)
3App 2: Uber for X (two-sided marketplace problem)
4App 3: Financial app (regulation and risk)
5Conclusion: Focus on a niche and experienced team

Call to action

DM for help!

On-screen text

3 apps I would NEVER build 67 people have asked me to build apps this year three ideas that I would never build for love and it's not for money. and they're not bad ideas. some of them are great ideas and the reason they fail isn't code. so let's get into it. APP THAT I is a dating app. THE PROBLEM WITH dating apps is a few hundred people, of different different genders in the same area same time or else your app is a ghost town and nobody's going to stick around town for more than five minutes. HAVE SIGNIFICANT MONEY have significant money list of people signed up to be active, I would not touch dating with a 10 foot pole. THAT I WOULD AN UBER 4 X, PLUMBERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AN UBER FOR DOGS. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS ISN'T THE UBER CONCEPT, IT'S THE TWO SIDED MARKETPLACE CONCEPT, WHICH MEANS THAT SUPPLY SIDE AND A DEMAND SIDE AND BOTH PEOPLE VALUE IN THIS. IN ORDER TO SCALE A TWO SIDED MARKETPLACE, TIME OR MONEY OR PREFERABLY BOTH. OR PREFERABLY BOTH. AN IDEA THAT FIRST TIME FOUNDERS ACTUALLY FAIL ON. THE THIRD APP BUILD IS ANYTHING THAT HOLDS MONEY, A WALLET APP, A STOKVEL APP, AN INVESTMENT APP, THE PROBLEM ISN'T IN THE IDEA ITSELF, REGULATION. FINANCIAL INDUSTRY IS HEAVILY REGULATED. YOU'RE DEALING WITH YOU'RE DEALING WITH DISPUTES 2:00AM BUG CALLS WHERE USERS MONEY HAS AUTOMATICALLY VANISHED FROM THEIR WALLET AND IT'S THEIR LIFE SAVINGS AND THEY'RE VERY, VERY ANGRY. CAN SEE, NONE OF THESE APPS DIE IN THE CODE ITSELF. THE EXECUTION OF THE PRODUCT, WHICH IS WHY IF YOU DO OF THESE IDEAS OR ANY SOFTWARE IN GENERAL, ADVISE YOU BRING ON A SKILLED AND EDUCATED AND EXPERIENCED PRODUCT TEAM MANAGER THROUGH TO DEVELOPERS WHO HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE OR AT LEAST HAVE A METHODOLOGY THROUGH THE PROCESS. AND IF YOU'RE OR A FOUNDER WITH JUST A DEVELOPER BY YOUR SIDE, CHOOSE AN IDEA MAKE ONE PERSON HAPPY NEED TO ACCOMMODATE FOR 12 DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE. TEEJAY OUT.

Original caption

3 apps that would NEVER build as someone who has built 30+ systems across many different industries 📲

More from @builtbyteejay

Their other posts in the index, biggest breakout first.

Transcript

67 people have asked me to build apps this year, three ideas that I would never build for love and it's not for money. And they're not bad ideas. Some of them are great ideas and the reason they fail isn't code. So let's get into it. The first app that I would never build is a dating app. The problem with dating apps is a few hundred people, of different genders in the same area at the same time, or else your app is a ghost town and nobody's going to stick around in a ghost town for more than five minutes. So unless you have significant money or a significant list of people signed up to be active, I would not touch dating with a 10 foot pole. The second app that I would never build is an Uber 4X, an Uber for plumbers, for example, an Uber for dogs. The problem with this isn't the Uber concept, it's the two sided marketplace concept, which means that you need a supply side and a demand side and both people need to see value in this. In order to scale a two sided marketplace, you either need time or money or preferably both. Or preferably both. And this is an idea that a ton of first time founders actually fail on. The third app I would never build is anything that holds money, a wallet app, a stokvel app, an investment app. The problem isn't in the idea itself, it's in the regulation. Financial industry is heavily regulated. You're dealing with fraud, you're dealing with disputes, 2:00 AM bug calls where users' money has automatically vanished from their wallet and it's their life savings and they're very, very angry. As you can see, none of these apps die in the code itself. They die in the execution of the product. Which is why if you do any of these ideas or any software in general, I would highly advise you bring on a skilled and educated and experienced product team, from a product manager through to developers who have done this before or at least have a methodology to take you through the process. And if you're a solo founder or a founder with just a developer by your side, choose an idea that's going to make one person happy and you don't need to accommodate for 12 different types of people. Teejay out.