How Rexan Wong Built an App in Just 3 Hours and Got 300k Users

In today’s fast-paced digital world, innovation often comes from unexpected places. One example is Rexon Wong, a high school student who has already made a name for himself as a tech entrepreneur.

In this interview on the Niche Pursuits podcast, Rexon shares the story of how he created his app, Text Behind Image, in just three hours and successfully launched it to thousands of users.

Let’s break down the journey, the strategy behind his success, and what others can learn from his experience.

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From Idea to Reality

Rexon’s app, Text Behind Image, was born out of a personal problem he encountered.

While watching one of his entrepreneurial inspirations, Daniel Dalen, Rexon admired a design effect used in Dalen’s thumbnails where the text appeared behind his face; however, Rexon struggled to recreate this effect with tools like Photoshop.

He realized that there was no easy, accessible tool for beginners to create this type of text effect. This insight led him to build his app, which simplifies the process of creating this text-overlay effect on images.

Rexon leveraged his background in coding, particularly his experience in hackathons, to create a prototype of the app in just three hours using a combination of AI tools and coding platforms.

The Power of Social Media and Viral Launch

Once the app was built, Rexon didn’t just sit on his creation; he shared it with the world. He took to Twitter to showcase his app.

What was different about his launch?

He wasn’t just promoting an app; he was promoting the story of a 17-year-old high school student who built an app in mere hours. This “wow factor” resonated with his audience and helped his launch go viral, quickly amassing 300k views.

Rexon attributes much of his success to the power of documenting his journey on social media.

By openly sharing the process of building his app, he cultivated a following of like-minded individuals, which contributed to the initial success of Text Behind Image. His transparency and relatability made his story resonate with many, further fueling his app’s virality.

A Week Later: Polishing and Launching the App

What started as a viral post turned into a serious business opportunity.

After receiving positive feedback and seeing the app’s potential, Rexon spent a week polishing the app, improving the code, and refining the user interface.

The improvements were critical to ensuring a smooth user experience as the app scaled. A week after his initial launch, Text Behind Image was officially live, with users flooding in to try the app for themselves.

Product Hunt and Getting Noticed

Rexon knew that getting the app in front of more people was key to its growth.

After refining his app, he turned to Product Hunt, a popular platform for discovering new products. With his previous experience on Product Hunt, Rexon launched his app there, and within hours, it became the number one product of the day.

The success on Product Hunt can be attributed to several factors:

• Rexon had built a following on Twitter, which he leveraged to gain initial traction.
• He used a viral demo video that highlighted the unique features of the app.
• His age and the speed at which he built the app created an interesting story that caught people’s attention.

Thanks to his efforts on that platform, the app gained its first 1,000 users within a few days, setting the stage for further growth.

Organic Growth: Leveraging Influencers and Word of Mouth

Once the app was launched, Rexon focused on organic growth through his personal brand.

He continued sharing his progress on Twitter, keeping his audience engaged while showcasing new features and updates. Additionally, the app garnered attention from influencers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which helped push the app to new users.

By staying active on Twitter and offering value to his audience, Rexon continued to grow both his app and his personal brand.

As the app gained traction, other influencers started promoting it, and the word-of-mouth marketing became a key factor in Text Behind Image reaching 300k users.

Monetization: From Free to Pro

Rexon initially launched the app as a free tool, but after receiving an unexpected server bill, he realized he needed to monetize the app. The solution came through a freemium model, with a free plan allowing users to create up to two designs and a pro plan offering unlimited designs for just $4 a month.

The monetization strategy was simple yet effective.

Additionally, Rexon secured sponsorships and ad placements from other tech entrepreneurs looking to promote their products. This dual revenue stream — a combination of subscription fees and ads — allowed Rexon to start generating income from the app.

Overcoming Challenges and Focusing on the Future

Despite the initial success, Rexon has faced challenges, particularly when it came to converting users to paying customers. He acknowledged that many users hit the paywall and don’t convert to the pro plan, a common hurdle for many app creators. However, he’s optimistic and is constantly learning and iterating on his approach.

Looking ahead, Rexon plans to continue growing his app, exploring new monetization strategies, and possibly selling it down the road.

He also remains focused on building his personal brand, which has been essential to his growth. With his entrepreneurial spirit, Rexon is also working on new projects, like Bulletpen, an AI-powered app to help students write essays by simply speaking.

Key Takeaways

Rexon’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity, perseverance, and leveraging social media. Here are a few takeaways for those looking to follow in his footsteps:

• Start small but think big: Rexon’s app was born out of a simple problem he faced, but it scaled quickly because he focused on solving that problem effectively.
• Build a personal brand: Documenting your journey and sharing your progress can help build an audience that supports your projects.
• Leverage viral moments: Sometimes, your work will speak for itself. If you have an interesting story to tell, don’t be afraid to share it.
• Learn from feedback: Whether it’s user feedback or advice from other entrepreneurs, always be open to improving your product and your strategy.

Rexon’s story is inspiring, not just because of what he’s accomplished at such a young age, but because it shows that with the right combination of skills, timing, and effort, anyone can build something impactful.

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