At 12 years old, most kids are playing games on their phones—not building them. But my son, Sawyer, took a different route. His goal: a new iPhone.

After being told he’d have to earn it himself, he set out to create and launch his own AI-powered math app. I had a front-row seat to Sawyer's process. Seeing him tackle obstacles head-on reminded me that so many of our entrepreneurial experiences are universal. Going from idea to market and your first sale is loaded with tackling obstacles through hard work and creative thinking.

The fact that he's 12 makes this something of a pure experience. I wanted to share this with you to see it from a (very) fresh perspective.

From iPhone 6 to Founder of Soy Sauce Labs

Sawyer’s entrepreneurial journey started with an iPhone 6. He was gifted his mom's old phone and, at first, was excited. After some time, his phone felt outdated. It ran an older operating system and couldn’t run modern apps that Sawyer wanted to work with. And let's acknowledge the tell-tale button that made it stand out--his classmates sure did.

Determined to upgrade, he turned to me and his mom, lobbying for an iPhone 16. After multiple requests, I gave him my final answer: I will never, under any circumstances, buy you an iPhone. But you can earn one.

With that challenge laid out, Sawyer decided to go the hardest possible route: building and launching an app from scratch.

The Joy of Building and Iterating Toward Success

Sawyer’s idea was simple but powerful—a math facts app that adapts to the user’s skill level. It would focus on fractions, decimals, and percentages, making it easier for students to develop number sense without feeling like they were stuck in a boring drill.

He started by sketching out the idea in December, and by January, the app was live in the App Store. That’s a six-week turnaround for a fully functioning mobile app. Not just that, it's visually appealing, fun to use, and it's strategically titled within the App Store. (More on that tip in a bit.)

One of my favorite moments was when I challenged him to make a live change. We caught that on video--Sawyer added successfully implemented a silent mode toggle live during our demo—something even seasoned developers struggle with under pressure. Seeing the change go from idea to execution in real-time reinforced the joy of iteration and making something better, step by step.

How He Built It: Using AI to Overcome Obstacles

Sawyer built the app using React Native and TypeScript, coding everything in Visual Studio Code. He leaned on AI tools like ChatGPT and Cline to generate assets and improve code. Now, that's actually pretty efficient in my eyes. I've said before that bringing AI into coding can speed up your process and help you reduce bloat. I love that he's adopted an efficient approach. Here’s a breakdown of his process:

  • Logo & Visuals: ChatGPT generated the app logo based on Sawyer’s color choices.
  • App Screenshots: Created using App Screens, a tool for polished marketing images.
  • Code Writing & Editing: Cline helped him debug and improve his JavaScript and React Native code.
  • Website Creation: AI-generated his privacy policy and website to meet App Store submission requirements.
  • GitHub & Version Control: Used for collaboration and tracking changes.

AI was a key player in hurdling over traditional barriers—things that would normally take days (like website creation or debugging) took minutes with AI assistance.

Publishing as a 12-Year-Old (and the Apple Developer Hurdles)

Apple doesn’t let 12-year-olds have developer accounts. The solution? We had to form an LLC—Soy Sauce Labs—and go through all the necessary registrations (EIN, DUNS number, state filings) to make Sawyer the legitimate publisher of his app.

It’s safe to say he now has more business paperwork in order than most adults launching side projects.

Optimizing for the App Store: The Keyword Game

Even a great app won't get off the ground unless people can discover it. That's where strategic keyword research comes into play.

I showed Sawyer how to compare different search terms in SpyFu, and he chased a few solid ideas. We found that “decimal to fraction” had far more search volume than generic terms like “math facts,” so we decided to lead with that phrase and find a way to combine them: Decimal to Fraction Math Facts.

Instead of inventing a clever name, we optimized it for high-intent searches and kept the meaning clear.

Those choices are part of App Store optimization--ultimately making choices that help Sawyer's app get discovered by people who want to use it. These are the takeaways that made a difference:

  • Loading the App Store description with high-value search terms.
  • Using long-tail keywords (e.g., “convert decimals to fractions” instead of just “math app”).
  • Choosing a name that balanced clarity and search visibility.

Go-To-Market Tricks That Worked

The work doesn't stop with building the app. That's one step. Getting sales relies on launching it effectively. Here’s what worked:

  • Pre-seeding reviews: We reached out to friends and family to leave thoughtful, detailed reviews. That social proof gives other shoppers confidence in their purchase.
  • Testing with paid search: Running small ads helped validate search demand. It helped give his app a nudge to stand out.

The First Sale—and What Comes Next

The moment Sawyer made his first sale (a customer in Canada), it was a game-changer. That’s when it clicked: someone actually found my app, decided it was valuable, and paid for it.

Since launching, the app has continued to sell, bringing him closer to his iPhone 16 goal. But beyond the money, this project has given him something more valuable—proof that he can create, launch, and sell a product in the real world. That translates to something big: the feeling of putting value out into the world and making something that's useful to another person. 

Final Thoughts: Lessons from a Young Entrepreneur

Building this app wasn’t just about earning a phone. I really wanted him to work through challenges and see that he could actually bring his vision to fruition. There are so many lessons in bringing a product to market, and even more when your age and limited money might seem to work against you. Here are the biggest takeaways from Sawyer’s journey:

  • You don’t need money to start something—you just need a strong idea and resourcefulness.
  • AI is a force multiplier—it helped him design, debug, and publish faster.
  • Iteration is key—solving problems step by step leads to real success.
  • App Store Optimization matters—getting the right name and keywords makes a meaningful difference.
  • Marketing isn’t just for big companies—pre-launch reviews, keyword research, and small ads helped Sawyer stand out.

I’m incredibly proud of what Sawyer has built, and I have no doubt this is just the beginning for him. If you want to support his journey, you can check out Decimal to Fraction Math Facts in the App Store. And who knows, from what I'm seeing, we might just have an iPhone 16 unboxing video to share soon.