How David Built a $12,000/Month App in 5 Months

No coding experience, no investors—just a simple clone with a twist and relentless execution. Here's how David turned a proven idea into a thriving business.

Welcome to Money Making Story

In today’s video, we’re diving into the incredible story of David Adius, a solo founder who cloned a successful app, changed the niche, and turned it into a $12,000/month business in just 5 months.

In this story, you’ll discover:

  • Top Advice

  • The $12,000/Month Business

  • How David Cloned a $200,000/Month App

  • The Key Changes He Made to the App

  • How He Built the App in Just 1 Month

  • The Growth and Marketing Strategies Behind the App

  • Tech Stack Breakdown

  • How He Validated the Idea Before Building

  • His Framework for Cloning Successful Apps

  • Lessons from David’s Journey

Top Advice:

“The fastest way to make some money right now is to do a one-to-one copy of a very successful app. When I say one-to-one copy, I mean copy every screen, copy every word. Just change the niche, switch the colors, and boom – done.”

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“I had a regular job and no technical background — but a desire to build something impactful.”
That single line captures the bold decision of David Adius, a guy from France who went from working a traditional job to cloning a successful app and turning it into a $12,000/month business in just five months.

This isn’t just a story about copying an idea.
It’s about recognizing a winning formula, executing it with precision, and scaling quickly using creativity, strategy, and the power of AI tools—one clone, one niche, and one viral campaign at a time.

The $12,000/Month Business

David’s app, Stopper, is a mobile app designed to help women quit sugar. He launched it five months ago, and in that short time, it’s generating over $12,000/month with 60,000 downloads and 900 paying customers. The app is specifically for women between 13 and 25, and it runs on a monthly subscription model, making it both scalable and profitable.

The Unexpected Problem That Led to Stopper

David’s journey began with a seemingly unrelated problem. In 2017, he was at brunch when he got added to a restaurant waitlist. He received a text with a link to check his wait time, but to view it, he had to sign up for Yelp. Frustrated by the unnecessary steps, David thought, “This should just take me directly to the wait time.” That was the moment he decided to build an app that could simplify processes and reduce unnecessary steps.

How He Built Stopper from Scratch

David didn’t have a coding background, but his time working as a quantitative trader gave him the analytical skills needed to dive into tech. His first step was to clone an existing, successful app. He took screenshots of the entire onboarding process, used a platform called Cursor, and vibecoded his app within two and a half weeks. By using tools like Figma and Cursor, he was able to create a fully functional MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in record time.

A QUICK CHEAT SHEET

The Growth and Marketing Strategies Behind Stopper

Once the app was built, David turned to marketing. He focused on French influencers who were already talking about quitting sugar. He validated the market by researching keywords like “stop sugar” on Google Trends and TikTok. By engaging with influencers in the wellness and fitness niche, he was able to get the app in front of the right people, fast.

David also leveraged organic marketing and influencer partnerships to promote the app. He didn’t rely on expensive ad campaigns but instead focused on word of mouth and creating valuable content for his audience.

Tech Stack Breakdown

David kept his tech stack simple yet effective:

  • Frontend: Vibecoding using tools like Cursor

  • Backend: Firebase for managing user data, authentication, and subscriptions

  • Analytics: Mixpanel for tracking user behavior

  • Revenue Tracking: RevenueCat

  • Ad Campaigns: TikTok ads and tools like Sparkads to boost viral content

This combination of tools allowed him to quickly get his app off the ground and scale it without needing a large development team.

How He Validated the Idea Before Building

Before jumping into development, David validated his app idea using a mix of keyword research, social media monitoring, and content analysis. He used Google Trends, TikTok, and Instagram to gauge interest and ensure there was a demand for an app that helps people quit sugar. By following trends and watching influencers in the health and wellness space, he confirmed that there was a growing market for this type of app.

His Framework for Cloning Successful Apps

If David had to start over today, here’s the playbook he would follow:

  1. Step 1: Find a Proven App — Research successful apps in specific niches and regions. Use Sensor Tower to gauge the app’s revenue.

  2. Step 2: Validate the Niche — Check Google Trends, TikTok, and Instagram to ensure the niche is hot and there is enough content.

  3. Step 3: Build Designs — Download and import screenshots from the app you want to clone. Use tools like Figma and Cursor to quickly recreate the app’s flow.

  4. Step 4: Build the Backend — If needed, use Firebase for authentication and subscription management.

  5. Step 5: Get Feedback — Share the MVP with early users to collect feedback and iterate on the design.

  6. Step 6: Scale — Use influencers and organic marketing strategies to scale quickly without overspending on ads.

Lessons from David’s Journey

David’s success didn’t come from reinventing the wheel. Instead, he took a proven formula and executed it in his own way. Here are some key lessons from his journey:

  1. Copy What Works: “One-to-one copy” isn’t stealing — it’s about improving on an existing idea and adapting it to your market.

  2. Don’t Overcomplicate: You don’t need to overbuild. Focus on delivering a simple, valuable experience that people are willing to pay for.

  3. Test Early, Fail Fast: Get feedback quickly and iterate. Don't wait for perfection; launch early and learn from real users.

  4. Leverage Influencers: Micro-influencers and niche influencers can help you grow your app quickly and cost-effectively.

  5. Speed Over Perfection: It’s not about having the perfect product from the start; it’s about getting it out there and improving it over time.

Final Takeaway

David's story proves that success doesn’t always come from creating something completely new. Sometimes, all it takes is tweaking a successful idea and tailoring it to a new market. By cloning a proven app, making it his own, and focusing on marketing and user engagement, David was able to turn a simple idea into a profitable business in just five months.

“You don’t need to create something entirely new to succeed. Just take what works, improve it, and make it your own.”

“To be exceptional, you have to be the exception.”

You don’t need venture capital, a fancy office in the heart of a tech hub, or an Ivy League degree to build a thriving business. What you do need is determination, a clear vision, and the ability to hustle through the unknown.

David’s journey proves that even with no background in app development, just a keen eye for opportunity and a willingness to execute quickly, you can achieve remarkable success. With minimal overhead, a smart strategy, and relentless effort, he turned a simple idea into a $12,000/month business in just five months—no investors, no fancy marketing, just grit and creativity.

Build Fast, Earn Big

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