An App Made for 1000 RMB Now Valued at 10 Million
Three post-95s developers spent 1,000 RMB and less than a month to create an app called “Died Yet?” — now valued at 10 million RMB. The app allows users to check in daily to confirm they are alive. If a user misses two consecutive check-ins, the system automatically sends an email to their emergency contact.
Launched on January 8, it quickly topped Apple’s paid app chart at 8 RMB per download. Paying users grew 200-fold in days. A capital offer followed: the founders are considering selling 10% equity for 1 million RMB, implying a 10 million RMB valuation.
The app taps into a real anxiety: China has over 120 million people living alone, a number expected to reach 200 million by 2030. The app’s viral name, “Died Yet?”, originated from an online meme and was key to its success. A copycat app, “Alive Yet?”, emerged within 24 hours, but the founders argue the concept—not the tech—is the core value.
The piece contrasts this with crypto valuations, citing Fuel Network—a project once valued at $1 billion with minimal users, now down 99%—to highlight different valuation models: one driven by real users and payments, the other by narrative and tokenomics. The author concludes that “Died Yet?” offers more tangible value than most speculative assets.
marsbit01/12 06:18
