Why I’m excited for Planet of the Apps

A few months ago, Gary Vaynerchuk introduced me to Linh at Propagate. They were launching a new series about apps and their creators in partnership with Apple.

Intrigued, I hopped on a call to learn more.

Ben Silverman and Howard Owens, known for creating wildly successful shows like The Office and The Biggest Loser, were leading the project. Apple executives were directly involved along with some other well-known leaders in tech (yet to be announced).

They were looking for an outside advisor to help navigate the startup space and bring together some of tech’s greatest talent. After learning more, I gladly offered to help.

The Show

Tech is increasingly shaping our culture, much like art, sports, and politics. The apps on our homescreen influence our daily lives and interactions with friends and family. Kids today idolize Zuckerberg the same way my parents admired Cat Stevens. There’s never been a better time for a show about tech.

In the series, 100 app creators and startups have the chance to pitch well-known angel advisors. Those accepted will receive guidance and mentorship from some of the biggest names in tech to help develop and market their app. Afterward, creators are given an opportunity to meet with top-tier VC’s to receive additional funding.

Similar to an accelerator, mentorship and funding can propel a startup from “neat idea” to a very meaningful business in a short amount of time but what’s particularly exciting here is the distribution opportunity. Building a great app is hard but breaking through the noise and finding an audience can be even harder. Apps featured in the show are introduced to a worldwide audience and featured prominently in the App Store at the end of the show.

For this reason, we expect a flood of inbound interest from talented creators with great ideas, but only if the show feels authentic.

Authenticity

Shows are meant to be entertaining but sometimes this goal diverts from reality to the point of absurdity.

From the beginning, Product Hunt has been a place for makers to share what they’ve made and directly interact with an enthusiastic audience. For us and our community, authenticity is key. Fortunately, Propagate has embraced this. This is why they reached out to me and other founders, investors, and advisers in tech to ensure the show is a genuine representation of our culture.

Join us

Applications are now open. If you’re building an app or have something in the App Store, I’d highly encourage you to considering joining.

To celebrate the announcement, the Product Hunt team is co-hosting meetups in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Austin, and New York, open to everyone. More details will be announced shortly, but it should be a fun opportunity to meet other cool people in tech and some of the influential folks behind the show.

Like apps, the show’s air date is fluid and will be launching in 2017. I’m looking forward to it. 😊

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