Hey, HN!

I'm Artem, CPO & co-founder of Spellar AI. Today, I'd like to share our journey while developing a tool designed to enhance English communication skills using AI technology.

My experience in an international workplace was a key factor in developing Spellar. After passing my job interview in English, I faced difficulties with daily conversations. I tried using scripted answers for meetings, but it wasn't effective. This motivated me to create a solution to make learning languages simpler and more approachable.

At Spellar AI, we've focused on developing features that address language learning challenges and communication struggles. These include real-time chat assistance, personalized feedback, practice sessions tailored to individual needs, and a key point on how to answer the question: "Why should I return to this application?"

Reflecting on the founding of our company, it was a hell of a journey.

We developed the Beta version of our macOS app in just 1.5 months, aiming for a launch in early September. Navigating Apple's App Store review process can be challenging, so imagine our astonishment when we got approval just 5 hours before our marketing campaign kicked off!

Originally named Speechy AI, we launched our Beta and quickly rose to the top on ProductHunt. The user feedback was invaluable, revealing that while people loved the app, they were unsure about its long-term value. This led us to focus on completing the user flow and enhancing tech aspects.

Our initial success also brought unexpected challenges. We achieved an excellent ranking on Google. However, we soon faced legal hurdles from a wedding company with the same name. It was a significant oversight on our part. The company, noticing our lack of trademark, registered it themselves and then sent us a legal notice, demanding a response within five days to avoid court proceedings. That weekend was intense, filled with learning and strategizing on how to handle the situation. Fortunately, we found experts who helped us navigate the complexities and reach a settlement on our terms. However, this meant we had to do a rebranding.

In the last 3 months, we've diligently worked to prevent any future legal issues. We established companies in both the U.S. and the UK, secured trademarks, and redesigned the app to ensure a seamless user experience, complemented by advancements in our voice analysis technology. On a lighter note, we briefly considered setting up in any country with an internet connection.

But another lesson was right around the corner: the importance of meticulous marketing planning and timing. We set a deadline for the new release and announcements, but our process of obtaining an Enterprise Apple account took longer than expected. Since we had a beta version on a personal Apple account, we couldn't launch it publicly and then migrate users to the new app later. Unfortunately, we encountered unforeseen delays and had to move the launch date and marketing plans not once, but three times. It was a frustrating experience, but we learned the importance of adaptability and being prepared for unexpected challenges.

When our company account was finally ready, we faced a technical roadblock with Apple: due to Apple's policies, we were required to release a new app with the same name and metadata. This forced us to migrate our existing users to the new app. We made it (again) just 7 hours before starting the marketing campaign.

Imagine facing all these challenges and not giving up on the product you're working on. What ignited our passion was being featured on multiple platforms, witnessing the growth of active users, and receiving feedback from upcoming users every day.

We see Spellar as a major step in AI-powered language learning and I'd love to hear your thoughts on our product.
Thank you for your time, will be glad to discuss the topic