Max Artemov spent five years fighting to grow a single app. Nothing clicked. Instead of giving up, he rebuilt his entire strategy and created a 30-app portfolio that now earns $22,000 every month. His journey offers a blueprint for anyone dreaming of financial freedom through mobile apps. Let’s begin with How to build a profitable mobile app portfolio fast.
Below, Max breaks down the mindset shifts, ASO strategies, development systems, and validation methods that changed everything.
Starting a Side Project with a Clear Purpose
Max began his career as an iOS developer eight years ago. However, he always dreamed of building something of his own. He wanted to break free from a strict 9-to-5 routine, spend more time with his family, and create a lifestyle with flexibility and control.
So, he built his first app — a calorie counter — and worked on it relentlessly for five years. He rewrote it, redesigned it, marketed it, and even learned Flutter to reach Android users. Still, growth never came.
Then everything changed.
He found a YouTube video by Adam Lyttle that encouraged developers to shift from one app to a portfolio of apps.
That idea immediately energized him. He finally saw a scalable path.
Max dropped the single-app mindset and started building multiple simple apps — fast. This shift led him to a portfolio of more than 30 apps and a consistent $22K monthly recurring revenue.
A Shift in Mindset That Changed the Outcome
Traditional engineering habits slowed Max down. He polished every detail, followed strict architecture rules, and over-engineered every part of the product. This worked well inside large teams but hurt him as a solo indie developer.
He realized that users don’t care about perfect architecture. They care about whether the app solves one clear problem.
So he changed everything:
- He built lean MVPs.
- He shipped fast.
- He simplified architecture.
- He paid attention to real user behavior instead of assumptions.
As soon as an app gained traction, he improved it. If it didn’t, he moved on. This cycle removed emotional attachment and allowed him to discover what users actually wanted.
Product Stack and ASO Toolkit That Powered His Growth
Max uses Flutter for fast cross-platform development. He chose it casually, but the framework now powers his entire portfolio. For backend needs, he relies on Firebase — authentication, hosting, storage, and quick Cloud Functions.
For App Store Optimization, he uses Astro and FoxData. These tools help him identify high-opportunity keywords, understand competitor movement, and track visibility shifts.
This combination keeps development fast and marketing intentional.
Growth Through ASO and Targeted Ads
ASO changed the game for Max. When he learned how keyword optimization works, his impressions, downloads, and revenue jumped by 50%.
He follows a simple but powerful method:
- Find long-tail keywords with high popularity and low difficulty (popularity > 20, difficulty < 60).
- Build an app around that keyword.
- Insert the keyword into the app’s title, subtitle, and description.
- Repeat the process with new apps.
This strategy allowed him to publish many focused apps quickly. Some faded, but others climbed steadily.
When an app performed well, he amplified its growth through TikTok and Instagram ads. He continues to refine the best ad funnel for each product.
How Max Validates Winning App Ideas
Right after launch, every app enjoys a short visibility boost from the App Store. Most apps drop dramatically within a week. Max watches how the app behaves after this period.
Here’s what signals potential:
- The app doesn’t collapse after the boost.
- Downloads stabilize instead of disappearing.
- Users explore the core feature consistently.
He does not fix a strict number for validation. Instead, he evaluates each app’s early trends and decides whether to invest further.
Don’t Fear Shipping — Ship Fast and Learn Faster
Max offers one simple piece of advice to anyone trying to build a mobile app business:
Ship without fear.
Many developers waste months polishing features that don’t matter. Others wait for the “perfect” feature before launching. Max recommends the opposite:
- Build one strong feature.
- Remove clutter.
- Fix bugs.
- Ship fast.
While users try the app, start building the next one. Real feedback teaches faster than planning.
This mindset helped him grow from a failed app to a powerhouse 30-app portfolio earning $22K per month.
What’s Next for Max?
He continues experimenting with ASO, ads, and micro-apps. He plans to scale his portfolio, improve top performers, and automate as much of the business as possible. Most importantly, he protects the freedom he worked so hard to build.