319: His Apps Reached 100 Million Users: Here's Why Your Customers Don't Stay | Colin Hodge
Colin Hodge, startup founder, growth expert, and author of Outrageous Startup Growth, shares what a decade of building apps for more than 100 million users taught him about sustainable growth. In this episode, host Damon Lembi and Colin explore why understanding human behavior matters more than having better technology, how leaders can build empathy without becoming “soft,” and why removing every point of friction from the customer experience can sometimes backfire. Drawing from an App Store ban, a major lawsuit, a co-founder’s burnout, and his own breaking point, Colin reveals how businesses can grow through adversity while keeping their work human.
Read the full breakdown of Colin Hodge’s episode on Learnit.
Key Leadership Lessons from Colin Hodge’s Journey:
Understand People Before Improving the Product – Learn why customer psychology and empathy often create a greater competitive advantage than better technology.
Not All Friction Is Bad – Discover how intentional friction can increase trust, commitment, and customer retention.
Sustainable Growth Requires Resilience – Understand how leaders can navigate burnout, setbacks, and uncertainty without losing sight of their people or long-term mission.
Connect with Colin Hodge:
Outrageous Startup Growth: Uncovering the Secrets of User Psychology to Scale Your Success by Colin Hodge
Colin Hodge is a startup founder and national bestselling author who has led companies and growth teams responsible for more than 100 million users. He is currently co-owner of DOWN, a top-10 dating app in the United States generating millions in annual revenue. Colin previously achieved successful exits with DOWN and 17Live, the leading live-streaming video company in Asia, where he served as Chief Growth Officer and later launched the platform in the United States as its first U.S. CEO.
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