The Challenge
Habit tracking apps focus on endless repetition, but most people need finite goals with clear endpoints, external accountability, and financial stakes to change behavior. The founder needed a platform that tackles the motivation space with a fresh perspective and could scale with personalization, drive completion through accountability mechanics, and run autonomously without ongoing technical support. The ask: Build a complete behavioral change platform from strategy through launch that a solo founder could operate independently.
The Approach
We integrated AI to transform open-ended goals into structured action plans: users describe what they want, the system generates day-by-day requirements with appropriate duration and milestones. We also created a social network-inspired accountability system, where participants log their actions via photo/video proof and invited friends can cheer them on. The product was recently vetted in a 30-day closed beta, with quantitative tracking and qualitative exit interviews validating key assumptions. Product handoff included automated monitoring, self-service admin tools, and comprehensive documentation, enabling founder to run the business autonomously without the need for a team.
The Outcome
App launch time
DevOps required
Operation model
Product Strategy
Competitive landscape analysis
Core mechanics definition
Monetization model validation
AI integration strategy and implementation planning
Beta research plan design and execution
Feature prioritization for MVP and future phases
User flow mapping & journey design
Branding & Marketing
Brand identity & visual system
Brand voice guidelines
Marketing landing page design & development
App Store assets & optimization
Product Design
UI/UX design for iOS app (40+ screens)
Custom illustrations & iconography
Motion design for celebration and milestone moments
Motion design & micro-interactions
Web view designs for public challenge sharing
Design system & component library
User Research & Testing
30-day closed beta with behavioral tracking and post-beta interviews
Quantitative metrics tracking
Iterative refinements based on research findings
Development
iOS native app (Swift/SwiftUI)
Backend API with PostgreSQL database
AI integration for personalized challenge generation
Media storage and delivery (AWS)
Payment processing
Authentication (Apple/Google Sign-In)
Push notifications
Web views for public challenges and buddy invitations
Admin dashboard
Marketing website
Launch Support
TestFlight beta distribution setup
App Store submission guidance
Service configuration documentation
Operational runbooks for solo founder
Analytics dashboard setup
Error tracking and monitoring
Deployment automation