The world doesn’t need another step tracker. So I built one anyway.
On building Waymate from personal experience, not from a spreadsheet.
Yes, I know — there are millions of step trackers.
I’m not crazy.
And here’s why I still decided to build one.
Everyone has their own approach to idea validation. Many believe it has to be almost scientific — full of metrics, tables, and research.
My approach is simpler.
Maybe even a bit naïve.
But it’s backed by more than 20 years of entrepreneurial experience.
When I started thinking about whether I should build a step tracker, the answer came very quickly. I simply looked at what was ranking at the top of the App Store. Not every step tracker out there — just the ones chosen by a large number of people.
That was enough to realize one thing:
there’s room here for my version.
I’ve long followed a simple principle of idea validation:
you can’t build a good indie product in an area where you don’t have personal experience and your own point of view.
I’m talking specifically about indie development — not companies with unlimited budgets for research and marketing.
For indie builders, in my opinion, it all comes down to one thing:
building products in areas you genuinely understand.
With Waymate, of course, it’s not just about the fact that I “know how to walk.”
I projected all my entrepreneurial and personal experience onto this product and applied a simple filter:
how comfortable is it for me to use it personally?
That’s the only honest way to polish a product until it truly works.
In the end, I built a step tracker that is just a step tracker.
No calories.
No maps.
No heart rate.
No social features.
No gamification.
And definitely no ad banners.
Honestly, even researching similar apps became exhausting.
Maybe some people need all of that.
But I’m confident many don’t.
And that there are people who simply want a calm, unobtrusive companion for counting steps — without pressure or noise.
Waymate is fully free for now.
And even when features appear that make sense to charge for, the core functionality will remain free.
Over the years, I’ve learned to trust a much simpler signal.
If I genuinely enjoy using something myself, I’m far more likely to build it well — and keep improving it over time.
That was the starting point for Waymate.
I wanted to build something that felt calm and comfortable for me to use every day — and only then share it with like-minded people.
The first version of the app has been available on the App Store for a month now. The first reviews have started to come in.
And it feels like the right moment to think about the next steps.
Thanks for reading.
Wishing you a steady week ahead,
Andrei.
P.S. This newsletter doesn’t have to be a one-way street.
If you’re building something similar or facing the same questions — feel free to leave a comment.
I read every response.
Things I made you might find useful:
Waymate — minimal step tracker
Helps make movement a natural part of the workday.
Indie tools & templates on Gumroad
The same systems I use to build and ship faster.
You can also follow me on X (Twitter) or LinkedIn for short notes and things I’m learning along the way.
Really nice read ;)