BodyFast Intermittent Fasting - Interview with the developer of a fantastic app

Did you have any prior development or coding experience?

My co-founder Matthias has had many years of coding experience, since otherwise we could not have published and maintained an app like 'BodyFast'. At the same time we have a team of several developers working on the app. As I have many years of entrepreneurial experience, I can manage all the other parts like marketing, content creation, building a customer support team and setting up financials, which also play a big part when creating a freemium app.

What was the most challenging aspect of developing mobile app?

To create an experience that really helps people solve their problems without having to think how to use the app. Keeping everything very simple while helping the users to reach their goal weight and lead a healthier lifestyle - and motivate them to maintain it.

_{Patrick Hammer}

Patrick founded the company 'Open Publishing' in 1998, which he left in 2018 to fully concentrate on 'BodyFast'. 'Open Publishing' is a leading publishing software company from Munich, Germany with about 50 employees. Our publishing software enables every publisher to take part in the digital publishing world easily. About 100 publishers use the service successfully to make their business flourish. Furthermore, our academic platform GRIN.com offers free and easy publishing for authors with thousands of distribution channels. The hard work of authors is rewarded with royalties. With 200,000 e-books and 150,000 printed books on the market we are market leaders and offer content out of every field of study. Patrick is expert in: Mobiles, Publishing, Business Development, Marketing, SEO.

Name a few of your favorite apps and reason you love them.

'Headspace' - great interface and very useful. You learn meditation even if you had no prior experience and you can explore every aspect of meditation. 'Duolingo' - a great way to learn new languages for free. Also has a great playful interface and many motivational features.

How long have you been working on this app?

The first version took about 8 months to develop. Now 'BodyFast' is live for 13 months and has 2.6 million users worldwide.

What need of the user did you have in mind when developing this app?

That's about getting slimmer and healthier easily without the yo-yo effect.

In what way do you think your app is better than similar apps on the market? Please describe in detail what innovation you think you bring and what you are proud of in your app.

'BodyFast' guides beginners to learn intermittent fasting and adapt it as a new lifestyle in a way no other app does. Our Coach algorithm personalizes the experience and helps users to reach their goals very fast while motivating them to keep it up. Furthermore, the BodyFast's 'Facebook' groups with over 30,000 members are growing incredibly fast. They are a great support for our users. It's so great to see that millions of people around the world use the app in six languages and post their progress and success everyday and share their positive experience with us. 'BodyFast' really helps them to change their lives for the better. We are thankful to be able to support and help so many people.

What are your future plans and expected features of the coming new versions of this app?

A new delightful design. More motivational elements. An even more personal experience when using the Coach. Integration with Apple Watch and much more.

Assuming new users of your app are reading this page. What do you want to ask them to do (contact you about X, Share the app, etc.)?

We are always very happy when our users spread the word. So far it's really incredible that nearly 3 million people use the app all around the world and that our 'BodyFast' community is growing faster day by day.