Why I Built a Marketplace for Vibe-Coded Apps
Source: Dev.to
🚀 What VIBE_ is —and is not
Let me be clear: VIBE_ is not trying to compete with the App Store or Google Play. Those platforms handle distribution—getting your app onto phones.
The problem we solve happens before and after your app goes live.
| Question | VIBE_ answers |
|---|---|
| How do you get your first customers? | ✅ |
| How do you market an app with zero budget? | ✅ |
| How do you find influencers to promote your product? | ✅ |
| How do you get discovered in a sea of millions of apps? | ✅ |
📉 The reality most creators face
- Build the app – 10 % of the work.
- Market the app – 90 % of the work.
Typical pattern:
- Creator builds something useful.
- Uploads it to the App Store.
- Posts once on Twitter.
- Gets ~50 downloads from friends.
- App dies in obscurity.
- Creator moves on, discouraged.
The app isn’t bad—the marketing is.
Developers, designers, and problem‑solvers aren’t marketers, so they often don’t know how to:
- Write compelling product descriptions
- Find their target audience
- Get featured on launch platforms
- Connect with niche influencers
- Build a community around their product
- Turn early users into paying customers
The tools exist, but they’re scattered across dozens of platforms. There’s no single place where an indie app creator can launch, market, and grow their product.
🎯 Introducing VIBE_: Product Hunt + Marketing Toolkit for App Creators
What you get
- Curated marketplace – List your app and instantly reach an audience hunting for new tools.
- Launch moment – First impression to early adopters who love discovering fresh products.
- Targeted buyers – Your first 10 customers are people actively browsing for new apps and ready to pay.
Our audience
- Indie hackers looking for productivity boosters
- Entrepreneurs seeking apps for their businesses
- Developers hunting for APIs and starter kits
- Creators who want to support other creators
Full‑stack marketing ecosystem
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Leaderboard visibility | Top apps get featured prominently |
| Category rankings | Dominate your niche |
| Seller profiles | Build your personal brand |
| Social proof (reviews & ratings) | Instill trust |
| Analytics | See who’s viewing & buying |
| Influencer network | Connect with tech YouTubers, newsletter writers, Twitter/X accounts, podcast hosts, and bloggers |
A single influencer shout‑out can bring hundreds or thousands of new users overnight.
🏆 Gamify your launch
- Leaderboard – Compete with other creators, rise through the ranks, and get featured.
- Winner status – When you’re on the leaderboard, you’re not just another listing—you’re a winner, and people notice winners.
📋 Step‑by‑step launch flow
- Build your app with any tools you prefer (traditional coding, AI‑assisted vibe coding, no‑code platforms).
- List on VIBE_ with a compelling description, screenshots, and pricing – this becomes your marketing hub.
- Share the VIBE_ listing everywhere (Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Discord). The listing page does the selling for you.
- Get discovered by VIBE_ users actively browsing – early sales and feedback start rolling in.
- Climb the leaderboard as views and sales increase → higher visibility = more customers.
- Connect with influencers through our network – secure featured reviews and shout‑outs.
- Leverage the momentum: social proof, testimonials, and revenue fuel your next growth phase.
VIBE_ doesn’t replace your App Store listing; it amplifies it. It’s your dedicated marketing engine.
👥 Who benefits?
- Indie developers great at building but struggling with marketing
- Vibe coders who created their first AI‑assisted app and don’t know how to get users
- Side‑project creators with apps collecting dust because no one knows they exist
- SaaS founders seeking an additional acquisition channel
- API builders wanting to monetize their services
- Template creators selling boilerplates, starter kits, and UI components
If you’ve ever thought, “I built something cool but nobody’s buying it,” VIBE_ is for you.
📦 Live on VIBE_ today (21+ apps)
| App | Description | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| CloudDeploy API | Global app deployment service | Free |
| FitTracker Pro | Fitness & nutrition tracking | $9.99 |
| CodePilot AI | AI coding assistant | $49.99 |
| CreatorStudio | YouTube/streaming toolkit | $4,499 |
| OneBuck AI | AI platform | $3,000 |
| Super Utility | Utility toolkit | $5,000 |
From free tools to premium enterprise solutions, all from independent creators—getting visibility they wouldn’t get elsewhere.
⚖️ Level the playing field
Big companies have marketing departments, PR agencies, and ad budgets. Indie creators have none.
VIBE_ is that level playing field – a place where the quality of your app matters more than the size of your marketing budget.
Ready to launch, market, and grow? Join VIBE_ today.
VIBE_ – The Growth Platform for Indie App Creators
The Problem
Indie developers often have a great product but lack the marketing budget and visibility to reach early adopters. They need a place where:
- Early adopters can discover new products.
- Creators can connect with the influencers and tools they need to grow.
Our Vision
We’re not just building a marketplace – we’re building the growth infrastructure indie creators have always needed.
“The future of software isn’t going to come from big tech alone. It’s going to come from individuals – people who see problems and build solutions.”
But building is only half the battle. The other half is reaching customers. VIBE_ handles that second half.
Roadmap
| Phase | Focus | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 (Now) | Curated marketplace | App discovery & sales |
| Phase 2 | Marketing toolkit integration | SEO tools, social‑media templates, email‑marketing resources |
| Phase 3 | Influencer marketplace | Directly connect with creators who can promote your app |
| Phase 4 | Launch campaigns | Coordinated launch events with guaranteed visibility |
| Phase 5 | Creator community | Courses, mentorship, and networking for indie app builders |
What VIBE_ Offers
- Stop letting your app collect dust.
- Stop hoping people will magically find you.
- Stop struggling with marketing alone.
List it on VIBE_. Get discovered, find your first customers, connect with influencers, and grow.
Quick Actions
- 👉 Become a Seller – List your app in under 5 minutes
- 👉 Browse the Store – See what creators are building
- 👉 View the Leaderboard – Check out the top‑performing apps
About the Founder
I’m Imran Hassan, founder of VIBE_. I built this platform because I believe great apps deserve great marketing and indie creators deserve a fair shot.
Got questions or feedback? Reach out – I read everything.
Hashtags
#buildinpublic #indiehackers #vibecoding #appmarketing #startup #productlaunch #saas