84: HabitKit – Sebastian Röhl

84: HabitKit – Sebastian Röhl

From Launched by RevenueCat by Charlie Chapman

January 28, 2026 · 50 min · Episode 84

About this episode

Sebastian Röhl discusses the importance of building in public and how persistence and user-focused design can lead to success in indie app development.

On the podcast, I talk with Sebastian about the power of building in public, how persistence pays off when growth is slow, and why focusing on user needs and iterative improvement can lead to unexpected success in indie app development. Top Takeaways: 💡 Building in public isn’t a marketing trick — it’s a momentum engine Sebastian didn’t have a marketing budget when he launched his first apps. Instead, he built in public, sharing screenshots, updates, and revenue transparently on X (Twitter). This not only brought early users but also helped him stay motivated through long stretches of slow growth. 🧩 Success comes from clarity, not complexity His first app, LiftBear, was a workout tracker that tried to do too much. It didn’t fail to live up to expectations because it was bad — it didn’t succeed because it wasn’t distinct. HabitKit, on the other hand, had a single, instantly recognizable visual hook : a GitHub-style contribution grid that turned habit tracking into a game of consistency. 🚀 Patience pays off — app store algorithms can change your life overnight After months of steady updates and reviews, HabitKit suddenly began ranking for “habit tracker” in several major markets…

People in this episode

Host: Charlie Chapman

Guest: Sebastian Röhl

Topics covered

  • building in public
  • indie app development
  • user needs
  • iterative improvement
  • app store algorithms
  • freemium model

Keywords

  • HabitKit
  • LiftBear
  • building in public
  • app store algorithms
  • freemium model
  • user needs
  • iterative improvement

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: X (Twitter)

Products: HabitKit, LiftBear

More episodes of Launched by RevenueCat

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Launched by RevenueCat podcast page.