Zach Witzel

vibe ceo @tryhelium yc s24

app monetization for the ai era

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

stop giving away 30%

we're now averaging +45% gains in proceeds

helium app-to-web — now live to the public

https://t.co/RUlwaZfTr4

[Charlie Warzel @cwarzel]

today we are all this man

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@MaxHirsch13 legend

[James @grep_cat_]

Holy shit I just saw a MIRI subway ad!

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

bookmark this before your next app store update

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

🚨 app store banners can autoplay videos now

new in iOS 27, and almost nobody’s using it yet

super easy to build with claude motion design 👇🏻

preview videos already lift installs up to 30%

add it to your release checklist

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

you don't need to translate the whole app

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

https://t.co/n3SFQQYepw

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@vparv3 another problem! goal is def to get them to value post subscription

often a post conversion “re-onboarding” can raise conversion to “aha” moment by 20-30%

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

easy trial-to-paid test: send a usage recap 3 days before the charge

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

this is how to increase your apps trial-to-paid conversion by 40-60%.

apple normally sends a reminder 24h before the trial-to-paid charge. that's their job.

your job is to send your own reminder 3 days earlier.

the user who's about to be charged $79.99 for a year of premium got busy.

they forgot they installed your app 4 days ago.

when they see apple's charge notification at 24h, they panic-cancel.

if you send your own 3-days-before email or in-app notification with the framing of 'here's what you accomplished in your trial — keep going?', you get a different result.

they remember the value moment. they're 40-60% more likely to let the renewal go through.

the script: 'hey, your free trial ends in 3 days. here's what you tracked this week: 4 workouts, 23 minutes meditation, 2 lessons completed. ready to keep going?'

specific stats from their own usage. not 'we hope you've enjoyed this calorie tracker'.

something like "since you started using x app you have dropped an estimated 4lbs"

give them a concrete value recap.

most apps skip this. apple's notification is what you get. you're leaving 40-60% of renewal recovery on the table.

[Rob Bensinger ⏹️ @robbensinger]

There's an increasingly strong chance that we all die in the next few years if the government doesn't act.

I would still guess that it's not too late. I am less and less confident that this will still be true six months from now.

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@charlieholtz @natfriedman @alexandr_wang CONGRATS CHARLIE

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@ChadAppDev it's ok ur still homie

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

🚨 Now Fully Live!

Go launch this in App Store Connect today!

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

🚨 You can now show offers when users try to cancel your subscription

Apple launched the retention messaging API at WWDC 2026

they're now opening it more broadly

you can do things like
- downgrade options (switching plan)
- deals (exclusive discounts)
- banners/text ("you’ll lose access to XYZ")

apple pre-released it — so you'll fill out a form then most people get access in a few weeks

will leave the link below

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@ChadAppDev WE'RE BACK BABY

[Alex Ruber @alex_ruber]

On Nov 15, we’re bringing the top 180 consumer founders/builders in the world to the YC office to build the next generation of great consumer apps.

1st place: a YC interview, plus an iPhone 18 Pro for every team member
2nd place: a MacBook Neo for every team member
3rd place: an Apple Watch for every team member

If you’re obsessed with consumer, this is for you!

Applications close Nov 13, so apply today below

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

duolingo up 33% today

i guess apps aren’t dead 🤔

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

reply with your app and i’ll tell you what i’d put in the banner

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

🚨 app store banners can autoplay videos now

new in iOS 27, and almost nobody’s using it yet

super easy to build with claude motion design 👇🏻

preview videos already lift installs up to 30%

add it to your release checklist

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@Thomasbcn by far one of the best i've seen

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

has anyone shipped one of these yet? drop it below

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

🚨 app store banners can autoplay videos now

new in iOS 27, and almost nobody’s using it yet

super easy to build with claude motion design 👇🏻

preview videos already lift installs up to 30%

add it to your release checklist

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@utkarshbuilds_ awesome! let me know how it performs

[Zach Witzel @zzwitz]

@CristianRus4 very cool!

[Elliot Leavy @ElliotLeavy]

Most US couples now meet in a data centre.