How This Guy Turned ChatGPT Skills into a $10M Business (And How You Can Too)

5 min read

Two years ago, Blake Anderson was broke, sleeping at his parents’ house, and borrowing grocery money from his brother. Today? He’s raking in millions annually from three iPhone apps he built after teaching himself to code using ChatGPT.

What’s the secret sauce? Blake credits two things:

1. AI – The game-changer that made coding and app development accessible.

2. Creative Hustle – Unconventional marketing strategies that turned his ideas into viral sensations.

Let’s unpack how Blake cracked the code to building million-dollar apps, the lessons he learned, and how you can ride the same wave.

The $10M Playbook: From MVP to Millions

App #1: Plug AI (previously RizzGPT)
Blake’s first app, a quirky AI dating assistant, was a chaotic mess at launch. No notifications, clunky design, and a terrible paywall. But it solved a real problem: helping people craft clever responses on dating apps.

One $100 promo with two small TikTok creators changed everything.
 💥 10M+ views overnight
 📈 45K downloads in a day
💰 $80K monthly revenue right out of the gate

Lesson: Your app doesn’t need to be perfect, it needs to solve a problem and have smart marketing.

App #2: Umax
Next, Blake tackled self-improvement, a lucrative market flooded with skincare and fitness products but lacking software solutions.
 💡 His insight: If people spend big on physical products, they’ll spend on apps too.
 📊 Result: $5M in annual revenue from a subscription-based AI “glow-up” app.

App #3: Cal AI
Blake’s most recent app, co-founded with two partners, hit $1M monthly revenue in just six months. The secret? Leveraging TikTok and Instagram's algorithms to funnel traffic at scale.

Why Now Is the Golden Age for Apps

Blake believes three factors make now the best time to build apps:

1. AI Everywhere: Tools like ChatGPT and advanced LLMs make app development faster and cheaper than ever.

2. Easier Distribution: TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms are in an algorithm arms race to boost new creators—perfect for small teams with tight budgets.

3. Low Barrier to Entry: You don’t need a dev background. AI can do the heavy lifting, and you can learn as you go.

Blake’s Blueprint: How to Start Today

1. Find Your Big Idea

   • Look for fragmented markets or underserved problems.

   • Example: Combine career tools (resume analyzers, LinkedIn optimizers) into one app.

2. Validate It

   • Immerse yourself in your target audience's content.

   • Build a simple prototype and test demand with TikTok or Instagram ads.

3. Build It (Even If You’re Not a Developer)

   • Use tools like Figma for design and React Native for coding.

   • AI-powered IDEs like Cursor can accelerate your progress.

4. Market Ruthlessly

   • Get scrappy with influencer outreach. DM creators, join Discords, and don’t take no for an answer.

   • Experiment with content strategies until you find what clicks.

5. Monetize Smart

   • Subscriptions are king. Start with lower price points to attract more users and boost retention.

   • Use tools like Superwall to A/B test pricing and optimize conversions.

Final Thought: Why Urgency Matters

Blake credits his success to one thing above all: urgency. From scraping by on his brother’s couch to proving doubters wrong post-RizzGPT, he turned pressure into fuel.

The tools are free, the distribution channels are wide open, and the opportunities are endless. Blake started with nothing but an idea and an AI assistant.