How Greg Cohn turned a failed app into a privacy powerhouse

Greg Cohn's entrepreneurial journey illustrates how a failed app led to the creation of Burner, a successful mobile privacy tool offering temporary phone numbers to protect personal information. Initially inspired by the shortcomings of his first app, Wrangle, and insights gained from Twilio's API, Greg identified a gap in mobile communication privacy that Burner would eventually fill. Unlike many early-stage products, Burner focused on addressing a specific user need rather than following trends, which quickly earned it a loyal user base. Greg's strategy emphasized user trust and feedback over rapid growth, evolving the app from a paid model to a sustainable subscription service while continually enhancing its privacy features. This approach allowed Burner to thrive in a competitive market by remaining authentic to its core mission of privacy and simplicity.