Sub Club by RevenueCat Pivots, Funding, and Building Apps That Last – Greg Cohn, Burner
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Dec 10, 2025 Greg Cohn, Founder and CEO of Ad Hoc Labs and creator of the Burner app, shares invaluable insights on app development. He emphasizes the importance of knowing when to pivot, noting that Burner succeeded by solving a real problem. Greg explains why most consumer apps shouldn't pursue VC funding, advocating for self-sustaining models. He discusses the significance of user retention over acquisition and how small tweaks like optional free trials can drive big results. He also highlights the need for continuous testing and data-driven decisions to foster growth.
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From Wrangle Prototype To Burner Breakthrough
- Greg Cohn built Wrangle to surface who was available for phone calls and prototyped it on Twilio.
- The bycatch 'burner' feature (temporary numbers posted to Twitter) became the real product that users demanded.
Distribution Validates Consumer Products
- Consumer products need validated distribution or intrinsic viral mechanics to scale.
- Without clear retention or channels, even clever tech-built products struggle to get traction.
Use Retention To Judge Product Fit
- Use retention signals to decide if a product needs a pivot.
- If users repeatedly return, you have a real problem worth investing in; if not, consider changing direction.