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Apple destroyed my 7-figure business, unjustly, and threatened to report me to the feds.
To clear my name, I had to reach deeper into Silicon Valley than ever before.
Here's the story, AKA how I learned about platform risk.
To clear my name, I had to reach deeper into Silicon Valley than ever before.
Here's the story, AKA how I learned about platform risk.
During the early days of the iOS App Store, I built a thriving business.
Our apps had millions of downloads, were pushing 7-figures in revenue, and had been featured by Apple multiple times.
I was playing on easy mode.
Our apps had millions of downloads, were pushing 7-figures in revenue, and had been featured by Apple multiple times.
I was playing on easy mode.
On August 2, 2013, I received an email that changed my life.
“Your iTunes provider account is suspended due to documented indications of fraudulent behavior … Apple’s investigation may include the involvement of local or federal enforcement authorities”
“Your iTunes provider account is suspended due to documented indications of fraudulent behavior … Apple’s investigation may include the involvement of local or federal enforcement authorities”
I checked to make sure the email really came from Apple, which it did. Sure enough, all of my apps had been removed from the App Store.
It had to be a mistake. I called into Apple developer support.
It had to be a mistake. I called into Apple developer support.
I explained the situation to the developer support rep, who placed me on a brief hold.
A few minutes later, they said they would have to transfer me to their manager. To my shock, the manager said that they were not allowed to speak to me and ended the call!
A few minutes later, they said they would have to transfer me to their manager. To my shock, the manager said that they were not allowed to speak to me and ended the call!
The gravity of the situation had sunk in. My money train had stopped. I had been completely excommunicated by Apple. What if I was under investigation by authorities?
Could I really have done so something terribly wrong without knowing?
Could I really have done so something terribly wrong without knowing?
To save my business and clear my name, I started by asking all of my friends for help.
But I had no idea how difficult it would be.
Apple is notoriously secretive, rivaling the NSA. Two coworkers can't even tell each other what they’re working on.
But I had no idea how difficult it would be.
Apple is notoriously secretive, rivaling the NSA. Two coworkers can't even tell each other what they’re working on.
Friends pinged their contacts in Apple’s legal department.
I crashed a 10-year-old’s birthday party in Atherton to speak to her father, who was a VP.
I tapped alumni networks.
Not a single current or former employee I spoke to could find out anything about my case.
I crashed a 10-year-old’s birthday party in Atherton to speak to her father, who was a VP.
I tapped alumni networks.
Not a single current or former employee I spoke to could find out anything about my case.
In the meantime, I tried to piece together what happened.
I noticed that my marquee app received a torrent of 1-star reviews the month before my suspension.
Bombing a competitor app with fake 1-star reviews was a known, anticompetitive tactic.
I noticed that my marquee app received a torrent of 1-star reviews the month before my suspension.
Bombing a competitor app with fake 1-star reviews was a known, anticompetitive tactic.
One of the bad reviews promoted another app by name.
I discovered that the company behind this app had cloned all of mine.
I still didn’t know what had happened, but I figured this company must be behind it. I hired a private investigator to gather supportive evidence.
I discovered that the company behind this app had cloned all of mine.
I still didn’t know what had happened, but I figured this company must be behind it. I hired a private investigator to gather supportive evidence.
Unfortunately, it was a dead end. The owners of the company had no footprint and the office address was fake.
The investigator came up with nothing I could use.
The investigator came up with nothing I could use.
At the end of my rope, I used my social capital to ask the most connected person I knew in Silicon Valley for help.
He brought in the most connected angel investor.
Like magic, an hour later, I got a call from the senior manager of the App Store.
He brought in the most connected angel investor.
Like magic, an hour later, I got a call from the senior manager of the App Store.
They was on vacation with their kids and could only speak off-record.
The angel had seeded this person's before it was acquired by Apple. The angel was such an influential figure that nobody turned down a request from him.
So this person had to help me.
The angel had seeded this person's before it was acquired by Apple. The angel was such an influential figure that nobody turned down a request from him.
So this person had to help me.
They grilled me about all of my promotional activities.
What type of marketing had I done?
Had I ever broken the rules?
Who had I paid to help me?
What type of marketing had I done?
Had I ever broken the rules?
Who had I paid to help me?
Finally, they believed that I was telling the truth and had no idea what this was all about.
They revealed that stolen credit cards had been used to buy my apps, but wouldn’t tell me anything more.
They revealed that stolen credit cards had been used to buy my apps, but wouldn’t tell me anything more.
It’s an evil genius, black hat tactic to buy a competitor’s apps using stolen credit cards in order to make them a target and get them banned.
I couldn't believe someone would do that to my tiny company, but that’s my best guess at what happened.
I couldn't believe someone would do that to my tiny company, but that’s my best guess at what happened.
A week later, my developer account was restored. The angel investor really was my angel.
Unfortunately, after a prolonged absence, my apps had lost all of their App Store SEO rankings.
The damage was done and they never regained their former glory.
Unfortunately, after a prolonged absence, my apps had lost all of their App Store SEO rankings.
The damage was done and they never regained their former glory.
I was distraught when the business died, but I also recognized that the apps had been a crutch for me in many ways.
This was an opportunity to move on with my life.
Around this time, I closed on my first investment property. The rest is history.
This was an opportunity to move on with my life.
Around this time, I closed on my first investment property. The rest is history.
This experience taught me a valuable lesson about platform risk.
When you depend on someone else's platform, you are at risk of being de-platformed.
It's true for social media, marketplaces, and banking.
Protect yourself by diversifying and owning the customer relationship.
When you depend on someone else's platform, you are at risk of being de-platformed.
It's true for social media, marketplaces, and banking.
Protect yourself by diversifying and owning the customer relationship.
Speaking of being de-platformed, if you enjoyed this story, please consider liking or retweeting the first tweet so I know that I'm not shadow banned.
Founders: not all money on your cap table is equal.
The right connections can literally make all the difference in the world.
Guess who is getting first look at all future projects?
This is what a true value-add investor looks like 👇
The right connections can literally make all the difference in the world.
Guess who is getting first look at all future projects?
This is what a true value-add investor looks like 👇
Speaking again of being de-platformed, you should also check out my newsletter in case Twitter goes down or you like long form content.
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