The Startup Ideas Podcast Meet the AI Meme Millionaire
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Sep 3, 2025 Ben Benkhin, the mastermind behind WOMBO, shares his journey of creating apps that racked up over 250 million downloads. He discusses how he leverages emerging AI technologies to create user-friendly apps like Wombo and Dream, which animate selfies and generate art, respectively. Ben emphasizes the significance of studying viral content and developing apps that encourage user engagement. He highlights the monetization strategies through ads and subscriptions, revealing the power of viral loops in boosting user acquisition. Tune in for his expert tips on building viral mobile apps!
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Copy What Works, Then Twist It
- Study what already works and copy it, then add your unique spin to improve it.
- Use mimesis: watch better performers and imitate their successful patterns quickly.
How Wombo Was Born From Two Signals
- Ben spotted Reface's success and an open-source First Order Motion model and imagined a simple consumer app.
- That idea turned into Wombo after seven months of building and launched in March 2021.
Design For Stupid Simple Virality
- Design the app to be extremely simple and fast so users create and share content with minimal friction.
- Engineer the product for virality: make content generation quick and sharing obvious.