---
title: "Steve Hoyek (Journable): Building an AI calorie tracker app to over 600,000 users"
canonical_url: "https://trophy.so/podcast/steve-hoyek-journable"
description: "A conversation with Steve Hoyek, co-founder and COO of Journable, about building an AI calorie tracker app to over 600,000 users."
last_updated: "2025-12-03T00:00:00.000Z"
---

# Steve Hoyek (Journable): Building an AI calorie tracker app to over 600,000 users

A conversation with Steve Hoyek, co-founder and COO of Journable, about building an AI calorie tracker app to over 600,000 users.

In this conversation, Steve Hoyek discusses the journey of Journable, an AI calorie tracker app, focusing on user acquisition, retention strategies, and the importance of gamification.He shares insights on monetization, pricing models, and the challenges of bootstrapping a business in a competitive market.The discussion highlights the significance of user experience and the role of AI in personalizing the app for users' needs.

## Takeaways

- Journable is designed for users seeking a simple way to track calories.
- Retention is crucial for the app's success, focusing on daily engagement.
- The onboarding process is frictionless, allowing users to start immediately.
- AI is leveraged to provide personalized insights and recommendations.
- Gamification features are being developed to enhance user engagement.
- The app has a strong focus on annual subscriptions for revenue stability.
- User acquisition strategies include paid ads and organic growth through referrals.
- The team is exploring affiliate marketing to diversify acquisition channels.
- Pricing is localized to cater to different markets effectively.