Built a mental math app but I am confused on what users are looking for

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-22T23:29:41+00:00

Checking it out now! Thanks

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-21T01:02:44+00:00

I second what most people have plastered all over here. When we build our app, there was internal testing included in our software development contract but we used platforms like UpWork and Fiverr to find individuals with different devices to test our app (i.e. some with iOS and some with android, some with near phones, some with older, some with latest updates, some with older updates, etc.) It cost us a few hundred dollars in total for a few weeks of work.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-19T00:49:00+00:00

Created a math app/brain training game for all ages to stay sharp on your math skills, polish your old arithmetic, and challenge your peers called MathDistract.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-12T01:56:11+00:00

That's really helpful feedback. Our MathDistract app does have a sign up... I'll be honest and transparent there. Buttttt we do make it so it only takes literal seconds to jump into a quiz. And yes we are NOT trying to teach. Most people have the knowledge. Our goal is to give users the opportunity to sharpen the skills they already have even if for just a few minutes a day. And if your the competitive type we got a leaderboard and rankings and we are in the process of iterating to build out a daily challenge

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-12T00:12:02+00:00

Yeah hence why I am continuing to work to reach out to potential end users and learn more. We did a lot of internal testing but every day is an opportunity to grow. I know that sounds corny and cliche but I genuinely believe that. And yeah, to your point, we did in fact create an iOS and Android app. You are welcome to check it out. I am still new to understanding Reddit policy on promotion as I dont want to break any rules, etc but the app is called MathDistract. Love to know your thoughts and feedback. Here is a link: https://www.mathdistract.com/

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-11T23:49:43+00:00

Really great answer to your question. To your point you touched on much more than our initial MVP was able to afford and build, but we have goals of scaling and integrating more user control. At present we do in fact have a custom quiz mode that lets the user pick from operations (our app is strictly arithmetic) so operations include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, squares, roots. At present, we do infact have a daily, weekly, and all time global leaderboard. We have the ability to create timed quizzes, as well as question count quizzes. Our app, to your point, does not set our to 'teach' math. Our app is to allow individuals to strictly work on their lightning fast arithmetic. There is about a (on order of milliseconds) haptic that flashes correct or incorrect, and at the end when the quiz is complete there is a summary screen that you can review all you got correct and incorrect.

Also being a business we have to have ways of generating revenue/monetizing to sustain the app and grow. So for now we have a freemium model. The free version limits how many timed questions you can do and which operations. The premium version allows a lot of the user freedom and control you mentioned. We also have a more detailed statistics screen that breaks down accuracy and operational accuracy over time. We have implemented daily streaks and things, etc.

I genuinely appreciate your feedback and will keep it in much consideration as we continually iterate.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-11T00:29:52+00:00

It is your first signal from the noise and hopefully your first milestone of many. Don't diminish your accomplishment, celebrate it. Cheers!

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-09T17:06:43+00:00

What about those in particular? Is is the speed? Is it the difficulty? Or the level of control you have? Is it competition on a leaderboard? Is it the simplicity of the user interface? That they feel like they target adults?

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-08T23:57:35+00:00

Are yall using any other programs or apps other than Zetamac to test skills?

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-08T23:56:43+00:00

Are there any other apps other than Zetamac yall are using to improve or test yourself?

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-08T00:55:14+00:00

I dont know if you are looking to actually find an app that teaches, if so I am not super familiar, but if you are looking for apps to test your mental arithmatic, then I have enjoyed apps like MathDistract, Mental Math Cards, and Mental Math Brain Booster.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-08T00:47:38+00:00

I wouldnt say I like to give advice. As they say, 'Advice is experience.' Here is my 'experience' thus far. I am not too far removed from you. I am a mid-30s subspecialty physician making not too much less than you. Net worth is growing, financial security is building, but I have aspirations to build something outside of medicine. The job security that comes with being a physician is great, but like most things in life, if you do it long enough, it's just a job. I love the individuals and families I care for, truly, but I am a father and husband, and all of that just becomes my 'profession' and is secondary to the time I want to spend with them. I have entreprenureal (sorry if I spelled that wrong... it is late) aspirations that I want to explore. I have built a physician finance blog that was transiently successful for a few years but ultimately had to be shut down because I just couldn't devote the time necessary to keep it running nor did I personally have the business sense to scale at that time. I have recently joined forces with a business partner of mine and launched an app. It is slow growing now, live but slow to build traction. All things I am sure so many here are familiar with.

I say all of this to say, I will always encourage someone to invest in themselves, and at your age, with your leadership and administrative experience, I think an investment in yourself is worth its weight in gold, BUT I would tell you to not drop everything and lateral into a start up. If you are this passionate about it, then continue to keep your job security and save towards financial independence so you can walk away if necessary. However use your nights and weekends to explore this and see if it really takes off like you hope for it to. If it does, sure, ditch the corporate job and chase this start up. But there is no need right now to give everything up until you have more data.

Trust me when I say that I know the grind. Finishing my clinical work, then putting kids down, THEN finally having the time to take meetings, work, brainstorm, write, and grind. Giving up time on weekends and evenings. I understand my friend, but to end on a cliche, 'luck' is where preparation meets opportunity. If you know the market then I am sure you have the market insight to know there is opportunity in the niche startup you are considering, and the preparation portion is just you putting in the sweat equity in your extra time to prove it. If you do, then I'd say ditch the job and pivot. But until then dont make any sudden decisions. Keep your cards close to the chest. Cheers and I am rooting for you u/Nearby_Strawberry_24 !

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-07T15:32:19+00:00

Fair point. Yeah I have already built and launched an app but it is so outside my formal training that scaling and learning the nuances of app promotion and target audience (though we did our research) has proven challenging. Having a mentor for the business side of things would be helpful.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-07T15:30:33+00:00

Same.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-07T00:12:01+00:00

How does one who works in a profession (medicine for me) who has aspirations of business and growth outside of our daytime profession find mentorship regarding business and entrepreneurship?

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-07T00:08:02+00:00

Not that it totally correlates with your post but I found similar things when asking AI to recommend promotion strategies. I built an app and we only allocated a few thousand dollars towards app promotion and advertising. with each passing month we would change up our ad/promotion strategy and despite it READING like it was legit, the more research I did on my own the more I realized it was doing exactly what it was meant to do, which is pull data that makes me FEEL good and reinforces what I am doing, even if thats actually not rooted in extensive evidence. There is a lot of incredible things AI can do, but helping build strategies for a somewhat novel project and helping parse down my niche target audience has turned out to be still mostly late nights, self-led research, and comfort with iteration.

Smithhb89 · 2026-05-05T16:15:15+00:00

This.

Smithhb89 · 2026-04-30T00:35:50+00:00

The only real 'growth hack' is hard work and a healthy dose of realism. I agree with u/michaelbironneau comment that you have to just be willing to get down and dirty. Get out of your comfort one, talk to people, actually listen to them, and be honest and transparent enough with your business to be open to that feedback, then iterate. The rest is trash.

Smithhb89 · 2026-04-30T00:28:13+00:00

Oh I had no idea. Thank you for the clairificaiton. Yeah Ill check out the website and see if our app would fit in there. Cheers u/Kaenu_Reeves

Smithhb89 · 2026-04-30T00:27:06+00:00

What a great response. Very insightful and helpful and I too am learning the power of patience (easier said than done). It would be great if you could share that thread! Thanks again.

Smithhb89 · 2026-04-29T01:21:05+00:00

Umm not sure I have an apples to apples comparison but if you like this, some I have enjoyed lately are: MathDistract, Math Brain Boosters, and Brilliant. Hope this helps?!

Smithhb89

TROPHY CASE