heyjoens

20+ yrs tech PM. Hitting corporate wall. Seeking purpose, energy, freedom. Building something different, publicly. Exploring AI, systems & sustainable ways.

[GREG ISENBERG @gregisenberg]

Apple JUST quietly announced something that’s a lot BIGGER than it looks: "the Mini Apps Partner Program"

Apple is admitting that the future of software is embedded, lightweight, vertical mini-apps distributed inside bigger app

For founders who want to make $$ building apps:

1. Apple just legitimized the “superapp” model for the West.

China has WeChat mini-programs. India has PhonePe Switch. The West has… nothing. Apple just opened the door. You can now run HTML/JS mini-apps inside a native host and earn 85% on qualifying purchases. That’s Apple-sanctioned platform piggybacking.

2. Distribution arbitrage becomes real again.

You don’t need to convince users to download your app. Just partner with a host app and drop in a mini-app. This is a cheat code for early traction. Think: travel apps hosting niche tools, fitness apps hosting mini workouts, marketplaces hosting micro-utilities.

3. Apple is creating a new economy layer: “embedded SaaS.”

Imagine: CRM mini-apps inside vertical tools. Math solver mini-apps inside education apps. Calendar mini-apps inside productivity apps. The TAM for tools that don’t need standalone installs just went vertical.

4. Developers get an 85% revenue share.

This is Apple basically saying: “We want this ecosystem to grow, and we’re willing to cut our take rate.” When Apple lowers its cut, I pay attention because they see a platform shift coming.

5. AI makes this 10× more important.

LLM-powered micro-apps (calculators, planners, agents, coaches, niche utilities) are tiny by design. They’re perfect mini-apps. Apple just created infrastructure for AI-native micro utilities to live inside bigger apps with built-in commerce.

6. Host apps become new “distribution landlords.”

If you own an app with traffic, you become a platform. You can host mini-apps, take a cut, and build a developer ecosystem around you.

It’s a new monetization model for existing apps with audiences.

7. This unlocks a wave of second-order opportunities.

- Agencies helping apps become mini-app hosts
- Mini-app dev shops
- “Shopify for mini-apps” toolkits
- Mini-app marketplaces
- Analytics for mini-app performance
- Discovery engines for mini-apps
- I'll be dropping mini app ideas on @ideabrowser and @startupideaspod

TLDR;

Apple just turned every high-traffic app into a potential superapp and every indie developer into a potential platform partner.

The App Store is becoming modular, composable, and layered. The next decade of consumer apps will look less like standalone products and more like ecosystems stitched together with mini-apps.

This is quietly one of the biggest distribution unlocks in years.

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@aaditsh AI

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@aakashgupta Interested

[Aakash Gupta @aakashgupta]

"Our marketing team is just me and ~40 AI agents."
-Million-dollar founder with no marketing team

Want the template? Retweet + Reply and I'll DM you.

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

Day 4 - building an app to cut dealership costs by $500+ per car.

Had grok create a prompt to create a prompt for creating a world class ui/ux design document.

Ran it including the architecture doc with grok 3, gemini 2.5 pro, claude 3.7, and free chatgpt.

Best and most comprehensive outputs came from gemini and claude.

I liked gemini’s more so that’s what i went with.

The default site is also up and running via github and netlify.

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

Day 2 - building an app to cut dealership costs by $500+ per car.

Used Grok 3 to discuss the app and the audience.

Great insights.

Especially happy about the tech architecture document.

Will use react and serverless functions.

i’m feeling good :)

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

Day 1: building an app to cut dealership costs by $500+ per car.

Starting today i'll be posting daily updates on the build.

Need to keep myself accountable and get into the habit of writing.

Feeling a little anxious but ready to make it happen :)

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

Transitioning.

20+ yrs tech PM.

Hitting the corporate wall.

Building something different, publicly.

Seeking purpose, creative energy, freedom.

Rejecting the parts of the corporate structure that feel stifling.

Designing a new path centered on craft, flow and autonomy.

No perfect plan but embracing the lessons ahead.

Crafting sustainable ways as I go.

Starting with the people I think I know best:

The independent creative minds leaving corporate or government roles behind.

Fueled by advancing tech and a yearning for work with deeper meaning than just sales and profits.

Committing to listen for dreams, hopes, and pains.

Visualizing, understanding, connecting.

Experimenting, building. failing.

Exploring the intersection of craft, tech, and sustainable work.

[Nick Huber @sweatystartup]

What successful people understood before they were successful.

A short thread.

[GREG ISENBERG @gregisenberg]

apps worth testing over the holiday season 2024-2025

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@RobynEveringham For the past 3 months, I've been using Duolingo to practice cognitive fitness and I love it. Learning a new language, enhancing my ability to distinguish sounds, and learning about notes and music.

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@RobynEveringham @dickiebush @Nicolascole77 For me, it was pretty simple keeping it up as I wanted to carve out some "me" time. And nights weren't working.

I was just too tired for mental work once the kids were put to bed.

So, I started going to bed at 9pm and never looked back :)

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@BenSyversen Same here. Never read Sandor Katz's books, but now I will. Also never tried Kimchi but I probably should :)

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

Yes, some of seeds are definitely sprouting now, which really warms my heart and gives me the feeling he's gonna do well in life.

The books?

All the good stuff around entrepreneurship, creativity, and habits. Like @austinkleon 's "Steal like an artist", "Keep going", and "Show your work" and @JamesClear 's "Atomic habits".

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@BenSyversen Great breakdown of Sarah's business, Ben. I think @UltraLinx might match your criteria. He's a self-taught designer who sells digital assets like templates, backgrounds, and some physical product.

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@TasiaGonsalvesB Being curious. What's your lead magnet? 🙂

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@onajiteolusakin @AliAbdaal Now I'm curious. What's your YouTube channel?

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@davidpblackmore Such an interesting idea, David. Let's say my MTP was to solve MS or cancer. Could my MVP then be to write a book about inflammation-reducing cooking or maybe a YouTube channel on the same topic?

[heyjoens @heyjoens]

@Erichealthcoach Thanks, Eric :)