Rootd · B2C · panic attack relief app
Read reviews of rival apps to find the gap, then ship a rough first version
First few hundred users asked her to keep going despite bugs
Workedvalidationfeature-development
What they did
Downloaded and tried existing anxiety apps and read their user reviews; found a common gap: identifying what a panic attack is and getting through one in the moment. Sketched the app in a notebook, taught herself to make wireframes in Photoshop and Illustrator, couldn't afford an agency, then had a student developer build the MVP (a panic attack button walkthrough, a breathing tool and lessons) funded with her savings over a few months. Launched it to get feedback rather than listen to naysayers.
What happened
First few hundred users said they wanted her to keep going despite lag, bugs and incomplete parts; the panic button remains the app's core aha moment.
- Stage
- Pre-launch (idea)
- Effort
- All her savings; a few months of student developer time
In their words
Starter Story · This app made over $1M“my idea at the time was to download and try existing apps, and I noticed a common theme in the user reviews that there was this gap when it came to identifying what a panic attack is”
“the first few hundred users said that even though there was still some lagging, some bugs, some incomplete parts, they really wanted me to keep going with it.”
Related topics
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More from this episode
- Rootd: Spend hours writing helpful replies on anxiety posts, with a link to the appNamed her top growth tactic; no numbers
- Rootd: Cold-email journalists who write about mental health, telling your own storyFew replies, but features in Cosmopolitan, Women's Health and Time
- Rootd: Make the app deliver what searchers want so reviews repeat your keywordsFounder calls it a strong App Store presence; no numbers
- Rootd: Release an app update every weekFounder says it shows the app is maintained; no numbers
- Rootd: Sign B2B deals and get therapists to recommend the app to patientsFounder says it's been helpful in 2025; no numbers
- Rootd: Track reviews and star rating over revenue, and build what reviewers ask forKept a 4.8 rating; founder credits it as a big growth factor