How Anton Astashov Built Liftosaur to $36K ARR in a Competitive Market
Who is Anton Astashov?
Anton Astashov, the founder of Liftosaur, is a software engineer who turned his personal passion for weightlifting into a business, creating a flexible weightlifting app during his spare time, and he has leveraged his technical skills to build a custom programming language for the app.
What problem does Liftosaur solve?
Liftosaur simplifies the complex world of weightlifting by providing a customizable app for managing any workout routine, saving users from manual tracking.
How did Anton come up with the idea for Liftosaur?
The founder of Liftosaur came across the idea for the app through personal experience and frustration with existing weightlifting apps. It began when they started weightlifting as a hobby after being inspired by a blog written by another software engineer about the benefits of weightlifting. They initially followed the Stronglifts 5x5 program, which had an accompanying app that was well-suited for beginners but lacked flexibility for more advanced lifters or those wanting to switch programs.
As they progressed to more complex weightlifting routines, they realized that available apps either didn’t support program changes or required them to lose track of their lifting history whenever they switched routines. This lack of a comprehensive solution sparked the idea to create an app that could adapt to any weightlifting program with the flexibility to maintain workout history. With their skills in software engineering, they developed Liftosaur, incorporating a custom scripting language to allow lifters to customize and track their progress with any workout plan.
Through iterations and community feedback, the founder refined the app to include features like a web editor and the ability to share programs, aiming to ensure that no matter what weightlifting routine someone followed, they could manage it all within one app. These improvements were driven by the founder's own need for a tool that evolved with their fitness journey, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and user-centric design in solving real-world problems.
How did Anton build the initial version of Liftosaur?
The founder of Liftosaur utilized his background as a software engineer to create an app tailored for weightlifters who switch between different programs. The development of Liftosaur involved building a custom scripting language called Liftoscript, which has a JavaScript-like syntax allowing users to define any logic for reps, weight, or set changes. Liftosaur was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic over approximately six months of spare time, leveraging modern web development techniques with a focus on creating a Progressive Web App (PWA) to ensure cross-platform compatibility.
The founder faced challenges related to the complexity of creating a flexible programming language for fitness routines, but his engineering skills turned that challenge into an opportunity, creating an app that serves as a comprehensive analytics tool for lifters who desire program customization and adaptability.
How did Anton launch Liftosaur and get initial traction?
Reddit Community Engagement
The founder actively engaged with specific Reddit communities related to fitness and weightlifting, such as r/gzcl. By addressing the needs of these communities, Liftosaur gained traction among users who valued the app's compatibility with specific weightlifting programs. The founder also received endorsements within these communities, helping to organically spread the word.
Why it worked: Engaging directly with niche communities allowed Liftosaur to reach potential users who were already interested in the type of functionality the app offered, creating a natural fit and generating positive word-of-mouth.
Tailored Features and Subreddit Engagement
One of the effective strategies used was tailoring the app's features to meet the specific needs of a Reddit community centered around a popular weightlifting methodology. The founder directly communicated with the method's creator, implemented relevant programs in the app, and then promoted the app's compatibility on the respective subreddit.
Why it worked: This approach directly addressed the target community’s needs, leading to positive reception and recognition within that community, which, in turn, drove word-of-mouth recommendations among similar audiences.
Community Building
Liftosaur's founder created a community through a subreddit and Discord channel for user support and engagement. The links to these platforms were incorporated into the app, encouraging user participation for troubleshooting, feature requests, and social interaction, which fostered a supportive environment.
Why it worked: Community building facilitated a sense of belonging and loyalty among users while also serving as a platform for immediate feedback and support. This sense of community helped maintain user interest and encourage word-of-mouth promotion.
What was the growth strategy for Liftosaur and how did they scale?
Reddit Communities
Liftosaur tapped into Reddit communities like r/fitness and r/gzcl to promote the app. The founder engaged with these communities by posting about updates and new features relevant to each group's interests. This interaction helped build credibility among potential users who trust insights from fellow enthusiasts.
Why it worked: Engaging directly with niche communities provided Liftosaur with a platform where the audience was already interested in weightlifting and fitness tracking. By participating in conversations in a genuine and helpful manner, Liftosaur created word-of-mouth referrals, resulting in organic growth within these communities.
Google Ads
Liftosaur experimented with Google Ads, targeting specific regions such as the UK, Canada, and the US. This channel was particularly successful in driving app installs efficiently, with cost-per-install reaching around $0.85.
Why it worked: Google Ads enabled precise audience targeting and scalability in user acquisition. By refining the geographical targeting, Liftosaur ensured that ad spend was directed toward users more likely to convert into paying customers, improving return on investment.
Community Building
The creation of a Discord channel and subreddit for user support and engagement played a significant role. These platforms served not only as support channels but evolved into vibrant communities where users interacted, shared experiences, and recommended the app to others.
Why it worked: Building a community fostered a sense of belonging among users, increasing user retention and encouraging word-of-mouth promotion. Support inquiries also provided direct feedback, which informed product improvements and strengthened customer loyalty.
Targeted Program Features
Liftosaur included specific workout programs like GZCL, which appealed to niche audiences within weightlifting. By implementing programs suggested by community influencers, they tailored the app to meet specific needs, attracting dedicated users from those subgroups.
Why it worked: Customizing the app to include popular and specific workout plans made it appealing to niche audiences, emphasizing Liftosaur’s adaptability and understanding of its users' needs. This strategy not only attracted initial users but also kept them engaged by catering precisely to their fitness routines.
What's the pricing strategy for Liftosaur?
Liftosaur offers a weightlifting app with a subscription model starting at $3.99/month, featuring customizable workout plans and premium features like push notifications and advanced graphs.
What were the biggest lessons learned from building Liftosaur?
- Adapt and Iterate: Liftosaur thrived by continuously adapting its app features based on user feedback, ensuring it met evolving needs without losing momentum.
- Stay Resilient in Marketing: Despite numerous setbacks, like low engagement on Product Hunt and social media, Liftosaur focused on community-specific marketing efforts that eventually proved fruitful.
- Leverage Community: By engaging with Reddit communities and maintaining a dedicated Discord, Liftosaur built a supportive user base that fueled organic growth.
- Address Niche Needs: Liftosaur found success by catering specifically to tech-savvy lifters, offering them a unique scripting feature that differentiated the app from competitors.
- Focus on Long-Term Consistency: The founder's commitment to steadily growing the app alongside a full-time job highlighted the importance of consistent effort over quick gains.
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More about Liftosaur:
Who is the owner of Liftosaur?
Anton Astashov is the founder of Liftosaur.
When did Anton Astashov start Liftosaur?
2020
What is Anton Astashov's net worth?
Anton Astashov's business makes an average of $3K/month.
How much money has Anton Astashov made from Liftosaur?
Anton Astashov started the business in 2020, and currently makes an average of $36K/year.
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