The Process
From idea to live app in 6 weeks
Two sessions a week. One-on-one with a mentor. Here's what happens.
Discover & Define
Goal: Lock in the app idea and understand who it's for.
Session 1: The Big Idea
- •Brainstorm app ideas based on your child's interests and passions
- •Evaluate ideas for feasibility and scope within 6 weeks
- •Pick the one that excites them most
Session 2: Know Your User
- •Define the target audience — who is this app for?
- •Competitive analysis: what already exists and what's missing
- •Draft the one-sentence pitch
Student homework: Interview 3 potential users and write down what they said.
Async Mentor Work
Set up project infrastructure: GitHub repo, deployment pipeline, initial project scaffolding.
Design & Prototype
Goal: Turn the idea into something you can see and click through.
Session 3: UX Basics
- •Learn the fundamentals of user experience design
- •Map out the core user flow from start to finish
- •Sketch rough wireframes on paper or whiteboard
Session 4: First Build
- •Spin up the app for the first time using an AI coding tool
- •See the idea come alive on screen
- •Identify what feels right and what needs to change
Student homework: Show the prototype to 2 people and write down their reactions.
Async Mentor Work
Refine the initial build, clean up layout, and prepare the codebase for core feature development.
Build Core Features
Goal: Get the primary feature working with real functionality.
Session 5: The Main Feature
- •Build the app's primary feature end-to-end
- •Set up the data layer — where information is stored and retrieved
- •Add authentication if the app needs user accounts
Session 6: Make It Real
- •Connect the frontend to the backend
- •Test the core flow with real data
- •Identify bugs and prioritize fixes
Student homework: Use the app yourself for 24 hours and write down what broke.
Async Mentor Work
Debug edge cases, strengthen the data model, and add error handling the student won't see but users will need.
Polish + Mid-Program Demo
Goal: Add secondary features and present to peers for feedback.
Session 7: Secondary Features
- •Build the second and third most important features
- •Improve the visual design — colors, spacing, typography
- •Start thinking about what makes the app feel polished
Session 8: Mid-Program Demo Day
- •Present the app to the cohort in a casual, low-pressure setting
- •Give and receive peer feedback
- •Create a prioritized list of changes based on feedback
Student homework: Incorporate the top 3 pieces of feedback from Demo Day into the app.
Async Mentor Work
Implement feedback-driven improvements, optimize performance, and refine the feature set.
Refine & Launch Prep
Goal: Get the app ready for real users.
Session 9: UX Audit
- •Walk through every screen as a first-time user
- •Fix confusing flows, unclear labels, and dead ends
- •Add loading states, empty states, and error messages
Session 10: Deployment
- •Deploy the app to a live URL
- •Set up a custom domain if desired
- •Test on multiple devices — phone, tablet, desktop
Student homework: Share the live link with 5 people and collect their feedback in a spreadsheet.
Async Mentor Work
Configure production environment, set up monitoring, and handle deployment edge cases.
Launch & Present
Goal: Ship the app and celebrate the work.
Session 11: Final Testing
- •Run through the complete QA checklist
- •Fix last-minute issues and polish details
- •Soft launch: the app is officially live
Session 12: Final Demo Day
- •Present to the full cohort, families, and invited guests
- •Share the story: the idea, the process, the product
- •Celebrate what they built — it's real and it's live
Student homework: Write a short reflection on what they built and what they learned.
Async Mentor Work
Prepare portfolio documentation, final deploy, and post-program maintenance handoff.
Demo Days
Two Demo Days to share the work
Mid-Program — Week 4
Casual Feedback Session
Students present their work-in-progress to the cohort in a relaxed, low-pressure setting. The goal is peer feedback, not perfection. Students learn to give and receive constructive input, and leave with a clear list of improvements to make before launch.
Final — Week 6
Full Cohort Presentations
The big event. Students present their finished, live apps to the full cohort, their families, and invited guests. They share the story of their app — the idea, the process, the product. It's a celebration of real work, real shipping, and real growth.
Session Format
What each session looks like
- Platform
90-minute sessions via Zoom or Google Meet
- Format
Screen sharing — both student and mentor have their hands on the keyboard
- Cadence
Twice a week, with homework between sessions
- Style
Collaborative, not lecture-based. The mentor guides, the student drives.
Ready to get started?
Apply now to reserve your child's spot, or book a call with Scott to learn more.