On the podcast I talk with Tim about the importance of trust in web2app funnels, replacing free trials with money-back guarantees, and how they’ve found success with contractors after struggling with in-house marketing hires. Top Takeaways: 🔁 Replace trials with trust to attract high-intent users A 30-day money-back guarantee can outperform traditi…

In this episode of EdTech People, Chris Byers discusses the evolution of educational technology in schools, starting from the National Grid for Learning project to the current landscape dominated by cloud technology and cybersecurity challenges. The conversation explores the impact of academy groups on IT management, the shift towards cloud solutio…

Summary In this episode of EdTechPeople, Matthew Setchell interviews Phil Wakeman, the Regional ICT Manager for Academy Transformation Trust. Phil shares his extensive experience in the education technology sector, discussing the challenges and opportunities in managing IT services across multiple academies. The conversation covers topics such as f…

On the podcast we talk with Chris about how to do freemium the right way, drafting a customer “Bill of Rights” to guide product decisions, and why blindly following A/B test results can lead to short-term gains but undermine your business long-term. Top Takeaways: 🧮 Data has limits Short-term data can lie. When every experiment looks like a win in …

In this episode of Ed Tech People, host Matthew Setchell speaks with Maria Smith, the founder of Admicity, a software solution designed to streamline school administration processes. Maria shares her journey from working as an admissions officer in a school to identifying the inefficiencies in the system and creating a product that automates workfl…

On the podcast, I talk with Daphne about why skipping user interviews is costing you growth, how to bring your product’s ‘aha moment’ forward into your marketing, and why your assumptions about why people use your app might be wrong. Top Takeaways: 🎯 Your app is a means to an end Users don’t care about how many features you have — they care about a…

In this episode, Matthew Setchell speaks with Tim from Secure Schools about the critical role of cybersecurity in education. They discuss the unique challenges schools face in securing their digital environments, the importance of implementing effective cybersecurity measures, and the need for a cultural shift within schools to prioritise cybersecu…

On the podcast, I talk with Dan about estimating the ROI of product changes before building them, calculating your subscription app's growth ceiling, and why you shouldn’t make assumptions about what is and isn’t working in other apps. Top Takeaways: 💸 ROI-first thinking helps teams prioritize what actually moves the needle Every project has a cost…

On the podcast, I talk with Ajay about the fresh opportunities AI is creating for app developers, how they built a cost-effective TikTok growth engine, and why being forced to monetize helped improve their product decisions. Top Takeaways: 🤖 New tech, new apps – AI isn’t just making apps smarter. It’s enabling new categories entirely. Apps built ar…

On the podcast we discuss how AI is changing both what apps do and how they’re built, the relationship between price and retention, and why React Native apps monetize better than native. Check out RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps 2025 report here: https://revenuecat.com/report Top Takeaways: 📊 AI apps: Higher revenue per user, but differenti…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: top strategies for paywall optimization, how storytelling during onboarding impacts conversions, and why framing the user journey leading to the paywall is more critical than the paywall itself. Top Takeaways: 🔐 Your paywall is…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: The state of major acquisition channels in 2025, how improved measurement is boosting confidence in ad spend, and why Reddit might be your next top-performing user acquisition channel. Top Takeaways: 📡 Signal recovery is improv…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: maximizing success with web subscriptions, how payment flexibility creates better user experiences, and why making cancellations difficult can do more harm than good. Top Takeaways: 💳Web subscriptions aren’t just a cost-saving …

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: diversifying revenue beyond subscriptions, what Google Play’s data reveals about buyer behavior, and why lower price points can actually increase total revenue. 📈Expand beyond subscriptions to capture new buyers Many users in e…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why some apps see 30 times higher revenue on iOS versus Android, the challenges of running a business on multiple platforms, and why you should consider offering a free Android device to employees. 📱 Android expands global reac…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why optimizing for user success drives more revenue than conversion hacks, how to maximize the impact of annual plans, and why relying too heavily on discounts is a trap. Top Takeaways 🏋️‍♂️Segment early to acquire the right us…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: the power of cancellation surveys, how social proof can re-engage churned users, and why making it easier to cancel might actually boost retention. Top Takeaways: 📦Deliver personalized value through lifecycle marketing Reconnec…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: how onX Maps tailors freemium and trial strategies to different user needs, the role of user education in driving upgrades, and why experimenting with features and tiers is essential for subscription growth. Top Takeaways: 🔎Edu…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: Keeping users engaged through habit-forming experiences, Duolingo’s approach to reactivating churned users, and why building daily habits is the foundation for long-term retention success. Top Takeaways: 🏎️ Act fast - most user…

On the podcast, I talk with Anton about building sustainable viral growth loops at scale, how to effectively gamify user incentives, and why emotional connections drive more value than economic ones. Top Takeaways: 🚀 Building sustainable virality through strategic growth loops Sweatcoin’s explosive growth didn’t happen by chance. Anton detailed how…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: why the Big Mac Index falls short for app pricing, how Flo Health’s regional pricing strategy drives profitable user acquisition in emerging markets, and the importance of aligning pricing with long-term user retention for sust…

This episode is shorter than usual and will be featured in RevenueCat’s State of Subscription Apps report. On the podcast: balancing freemium and premium experiences, how The Weather Company uses AI to predict subscriber behavior, and why focusing on user value rather than monetization is the key to subscription success. Top Takeaways 🎯Target high-…

On the podcast I talk with Ashley about what makes Google App Campaigns so effective for growth, proven optimization strategies, and why lower CPMs can sometimes be a warning sign rather than a win. Top Takeaways: 📈 Google App Campaigns: Big reach, but fewer levers to pull Google’s ad platform delivers massive scale - search, YouTube, the Play Stor…

In this episode of Ed Tech People, Matthew Setchell interviews Caroline Pardoe, an assistant head at Blue Coat School, discussing her journey in EdTech, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Caroline shares her experiences of navigating the challenges of digital transformation in education, the importance of collaboration and digital tools in …

On the podcast I talk with Sherina about why performance marketing eventually hits a ceiling, how to think about measure brand marketing, and why sometimes ignoring A/B test results leads to better outcomes. Top Takeaways: 📈Freemium can’t feel cheap Deezer once took a hardline approach to converting free users – limiting features to push them towar…

In this episode of EdTech People, Matthew Setchell interviews Phil Birchinall, Senior Director of Immersive Content at Discovery Education. Phil shares his extensive journey in EdTech, starting from the classroom to his current role, emphasizing the importance of creating engaging educational content that sparks curiosity among students. He discuss…

On the podcast we talk with Bruno about putting customers ahead of metrics, why there’s still massive opportunity to build successful apps today, and how a server crash turned into an accidentally successful A/B test. Top Takeaways: 📈 The app ecosystem still holds massive opportunities Developers often assume the app market is saturated, but it con…

On the podcast we talk with Nathan about the strategic opportunity of web2app, how and when to use web2app, and why one app found success using webinars in their web2app funnel. Top Takeaways: 🔑 Web-to-app opens up opportunities for small apps Smaller apps can use web-to-app strategies to improve cash flow, gain better attribution data, and test ac…

On the podcast we talk with Phil about how to effectively use benchmarks to aid decision making, the limitations of benchmarks, and why even the best companies aren’t top quartile in every single metric. Top Takeaways: 📏 Benchmarks are a starting point, not a roadmap Treat benchmarks as directional indicators to uncover growth opportunities and pri…

On the podcast: estimating the revenue potential of an app, crafting an exit strategy, and why LTV is such a terrible metric. Top Takeaways: 🎯 Finding the right market fit – Not all apps have billion-dollar potential, and chasing massive markets often means competing with big players. Instead, focus on markets where your app has room to stand out. …

In this episode of EdTechPeople, host Matthew Setchell engages with Abid Patel, IT Director at Newham Community Learning, discussing his journey in educational technology, the evolution of IT roles in schools, and the challenges faced in staffing and budgeting. They explore the importance of continuous learning, the competition between Google and M…

On the podcast: the power of user segmentation, executing bold strategic shifts, and why imaginary customer conversations are sometimes better than real ones. Key Takeaways: 💡 Simplification drives growth - Alex shares how transitioning from a freemium to a free trial model simplified V1 Sports' monetization strategy, aligning better with their use…

On the podcast: what’s currently working for apps on TikTok, how to create viral content, why you should try working with influencers who don’t have many followers. Key Takeaways: 🔍 Getting noticed: How TikTok’s algorithm amplifies reach - TikTok’s “For You Page” prioritizes engaging content over follower count, so apps can go viral without a big a…

In this episode of EdTechPeople, Matthew Setchell interviews Tom Newton, VP of Product at SmoothWall, discussing the evolution of education technology, the importance of safeguarding in schools, and the challenges faced in the industry. Tom shares his journey from software development to product management, emphasizing the need for community and co…

On the podcast: the risk of ad creative concentration, how to reach older, high-value demographics, and why the ultimate KPI is revenue. Key Takeaways: 🛠️ A unified roadmap eliminates silos - Operating with one shared roadmap ensures alignment across product, marketing, and engineering, promoting collaboration and agility. 💡 Monetization might requ…

SummaryIn this episode of EdTech People, host Matthew Setchell interviews Jake, an IT professional with a unique journey from retail to education technology. Jake shares his experiences in IT support, discussing the diverse challenges faced in educational settings, the importance of customer interaction, and the shift towards more efficient help de…

On the podcast: effectively scaling support for an app, why the time to first response is so important, and why you should treat support more like a concierge experience. Key Takeaways: 💡 Personalized customer support is a competitive advantage - Eli emphasizes that providing fast, personal responses to customers sets brands apart from competitors.…

On the podcast: the rebound of consumer subscription valuations and investor interest, how to generate Net Revenue Retention in consumer, and why you should pinpoint where your app sits on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Key Takeaways: 📈 The subscription app industry is rebounding in 2024 - After setbacks in 2022 and 2023, surviving companies are now …

On the podcast: The benefits of building something you personally care about, how to balance user feedback with product intuition, and why process, frameworks, and outside advice are often worth ignoring. Key Takeaways: 🚀 You don’t need complex processes to build a successful product Building something meaningful doesn’t always require elaborate pr…

On the podcast: The impact of Apple Search Ads on organic search, how to save money on brand defense, and why ROAS shouldn’t be the only thing you optimize for. Key Takeaways: 📊 Optimizing brand keyword bids can protect traffic and reduce costs Running ads on brand keywords helps protect your traffic from competitors. By experimenting with lower bi…

On the podcast: How to find success with web2app, the value (and challenges) of “owning the transaction”, and why avoiding app store fees isn’t a great reason to experiment with web2app, but might work out anyway. Key Takeaways: 💰 There’s much more to web2app than avoiding app store fees - In fact, looking at app store fees alone disregards the ben…

On the podcast: Implementing effective offline marketing campaigns for acquiring, engaging, and retaining paid subscribers in the app space. Key Takeaways: 📢 Look beyond digital channels for app growth. Consider offline advertising channels such as radio, linear TV, and podcasts to reach untapped demographics. These channels can help you target non…

On the podcast: How to make better decisions with data, the many pitfalls of collecting and interpreting data, and why the best executive dashboard is probably a hand-written weekly email. Key Takeaways: 📝Balance data collection with business goals. Collecting all possible data can drown teams in noise and lead to compliance risks. Focus on collect…

On the podcast: How Mojo grew to over $1M in MRR, the most impactful pricing and paywall experiments, and why it’s important to choose complexity instead of just letting it happen. Key Takeaways: 💪Bravery to pivot leads to long-term success. Early popularity can be deceiving. Without strong retention, it's time to pivot. Build features users love t…

On the podcast: Quitting a job to build your own apps, returning to that job after failing to gain traction, and the inflection point that allowed our guest to finally quit for good. Key Takeaways: 💡If your first side project doesn’t take off, try again — Reviving a lackluster launch can be tempting, but it might indicate a lack of demand. Instead,…

On the podcast: Another Apple WWDC conference is in the books, and as usual, we’re excited to dig into everything Apple announced — and what it means for iOS developers and RevenueCat users. This year’s announcements covered everything from small quality-of-life enhancements in App Store Connect to the deprecation of some of Apple’s oldest in-app p…

On the podcast: What to do when there are no jobs to be done, how to build innovative features, and why copying Duolingo’s engagement strategy probably won’t work for your app. Key Takeaways: 🏆 To win over a mass market, you need to discover your app’s trigger. Apps serving niche audiences often have a well-defined job-to-be-done. Apps aiming for b…

On the podcast: How developers can launch and optimize their app listings on the Google Play Store. A conversation from Google I/O 2024 with Sarah Karam, director of Apps Partnerships at Google. Key Takeaways: There are now more ways to optimize revenue with Google Play Commerce, such as installment subscriptions and automatically adjusted local pr…

On the podcast: How the Microsoft 365 team optimizes their apps for the app stores and the top paywall optimization tips for enterprise apps and start-ups. Part 2 of our conversation with Ramit Arora. Key Takeaways: 💼 Use jobs-to-be-done to inform your app store optimization (ASO) keywords strategy. Optimize for keywords that align with what your p…

On the podcast: Microsoft 365 app monetization and optimization, and how Microsoft is building successful apps–recorded live in Vegas at the Mobile Apps Unlocked (MAU) conference. Key Takeaways: 📱 The App Store advantage: Microsoft's data reinforces that the App Store, despite the fees attached, offers significant advantages. The seamless experienc…