139: No Idea Where to Start? How He Built an App from Scratch
Have a side hustle idea but no clue where to start?
Here’s how an entrepreneur built an app from scratch with no experience—finding the right people, securing funding, and turning an idea into reality. These strategies apply to any business!
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Have a side hustle idea but no clue where to start? You’re not alone.
When Walker Ferguson and his co-founder came up with the idea for a personalized meditation app, they had zero experience in app development. But instead of letting that stop them, they figured it out as they went—finding the right people, making smart decisions, and ultimately launching their app, Ascend Meditations, in the App Store.
This is Part Two of my conversation with Walker. Last time, we talked about prioritizing and how to stop wasting time, and how he balances college, football, and entrepreneurship. Today, we’re diving into how he built an app from scratch—and how the same principles apply to starting any business.
In this episode, Walker shares:
- How they took the first step despite no technical background
- Why building the right relationships was crucial to their success—and why it matters for your business
- What it actually costs to develop an app
- How they found the right developers and secured early funding
- Why waiting until you “know everything” is the worst mistake you can make
If you’ve ever had an idea but felt stuck on where to start, let this episode inspire you to take action—no matter your experience level.
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Need a little (and sometimes big) push to start and stay focused to grow your side hustle? Dive into my online Masterclass: How To Turn Your Thoughts Into Wanted Things.
What You’ll Hear:
02:26 The Birth of a Unique Meditation App
04:43 The Journey Begins: College Days and First Steps
06:10 How It Works
07:35 Vision + Action = Change
08:11 Building the App: From Vision to Reality
09:00 First Steps In Building the App
10:32 “Begin With the End in Mind”
12:18 Biggest Challenge Early On - and Mindset Shifts
13:48 Lowest Point and the Turnaround
15:26 Development Costs and Timeline
17:47 Future Plans and Funding Strategies
18:32 Building Relationships and Networking
16:46 Pitching to Investors
19:09 Ongoing Costs and Future Plans
20:03 Advice for Aspiring App Developers - Finding Cost-Effective Talent
22:46 Getting the First Users - Collaboration
24:12 Benefitting From User Feedback
24:35 Voice Actors and AI Integration
25:33 First Paying Customer and Business Goals
28:25 Future Vision and Personal Goals
29:33 A Daily Choice: Faith or Doubt
30:18 Walker’s Best Tip For Side Hustle Success
Wrap Up
31:34 You Don’t Need To Know It All Before You Start
32:18 Learning From An Unsuccessful Campaign
33:25 What’s Your Next Move?
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