Your app probably doesn’t suck, you’re probably not serving the right market. This new AI flashcard app got $7K and 28M views only 19 days post-release.
Retain App is an app that turns study materials into exam questions and solutions.
Retain started off as just a website, and they went the classic marketing route, which was by making several accounts on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Started exactly 1 year ago, so obviously on May 7th, 2025, they turned it into an app. 46.5M views across 49 accounts, but here’s the deal: they’re not even targeting the US.
All their videos are in German and a specific account stands out…
(spoiler: it’s not a TikTok account)
26.5M views, by posting a mix of faceless and headshot videos.
Including some AI-generated UGC experiments (top right girl).
Their #2 most viral video was posted 60d ago, and the video states:
“To all lazy learners:
1. Take a picture
2. Specify your desired grade
3. Let it quiz you”
This video got 3M views.
All while managing 40 ambassadors who are posting non-stop. Completely different formats are being used between accounts.
The 3 most popular videos are faceless, with a direct app mention:
1/ tt@fey.retain.cards
2/ ig@nele.retain.cards is posting selfie-style study vlogs
3/ tt@anastasia.retain.cards posting a mix, with faceless desk study videos
Retain doubled down on distribution and product touchpoints. They have been managing to direct traffic to the App Store and got $7K in revenue before the first month is over.
Maybe it’s not your app that sucks… is that you’re not serving the market that needs it the most.
Need help finding a viral format? Read this when you are looking for two easy formats.
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