A Product Market Fit Show | Startup Podcast for Founders He lost 90% of his users overnight—then grew his consumer app to $10M ARR. | Koen Droste, Founder of Polarsteps
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May 1, 2025 Koen Droste, Founder of Polarsteps, transformed a personal travel tracker into a $10 million app with 10 million users—despite losing 90% of users overnight. He shares how ignoring conventional advice and focusing on word-of-mouth growth led to their viral success. By obsessing over Net Promoter Score (NPS), they achieved explosive organic growth. Droste emphasizes that quality over speed and avoiding distracting partnerships are crucial for early-stage founders aiming for product market fit.
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Viral Origin of Polarsteps
- Polarsteps started as a personal project tracking a friend's sail across the Atlantic using a GPS and satellite phone.
- This early tracker went viral as strangers found the real-time traveling updates fascinating.
One-Year Build Before Launch
- Polarsteps spent a full year building before launching to ensure high quality.
- This break from lean startup norms prioritized user delight over speed to market.
Focus on Viral Growth via NPS
- To achieve viral growth, people must truly fall in love with your product.
- Focus intensely on increasing your Net Promoter Score by delighting users with great experiences.