A former product designer and his girlfriend built a cat-themed focus timer with AI that he says made over $18K in 30 days
Ryan left a $200K design job; Cat on Chair took off when Instagram influencers featured it in app roundups.
Subject: Cat on Chair (Ryan)Freemium mobile app with annual, lifetime and family plans
Case Overview & Background
Ryan was a product designer who quit a job he says paid $200K to build his own apps. With his girlfriend and the help of AI, they built Cat on Chair, a Pomodoro timer where a cat jumps on a chair while you focus and leaves a gift when you finish. He says it has passed 127,000 downloads. It is free, with a $19.99 annual plan and a $29.99 lifetime plan.
How AI Is Used
Step-by-Step Process
They added a playful cat to a standard productivity timer.
A designer without a developer background built it with AI help.
App roundup posts by Instagram influencers and later Threads posts made it go viral.
Customer Acquisition & Distribution
Limitations, Risks & Failure Modes
What may not apply to you, and what could go wrong:
- The figures are self-reported and were not independently checked
- Viral growth can fade without a repeatable channel
Key Takeaways
- Personality can make a simple utility app stand out
- Designers can now ship their own apps with AI
Sources
Starter Story: $18K/Month From This Ridiculously Simple App Idea
Note: Video interview with transcript. States the 18K a month figure, total sales, downloads, pricing and the AI build.
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