Overview
Serial founder Steven Cravotta (best known for Wordle!) launched Puff Count to help people quit vaping. Two years later the iOS-only app was earning about $40 K in monthly subscriptions, run by a fully outsourced team, and serving more than one million users. Steven wanted to shift his focus to his new B2B startup Posted, so he asked OEB Digital to sell the app quickly, without losing its positive impact.
Snapshot
- $40 K+ MRR
- 1 M+ lifetime users
- TikTok-led growth
Challenge
We listed Puff Count three separate times with our network of mobile-app buyers. Each round drew solid interest, yet deals fell apart because individual buyers’ criteria (vertical focus, portfolio size, or funding timing) didn’t align. Steven still needed most of his day for Posted, so the sale process had to stay light on his calendar while we hunted for a better-matched buyer.
“No deal is better than a bad deal.”
Roger Fisher & William Ury, Getting to Yes
Lesson: walk away until the fit is right.
OEB Strategy
- Buyer-Signal Tracking – We monitor our network daily and spot when a buyer’s focus shifts. Once we learned that Quiet had moved from gaming into utility apps, we knew Puff Count fit their new lane.
- Mission-First Pitching – The teaser started with quit-vaping success stories and showcased the viral TikTok page, tapping buyers who knows how to handle the social as well as profit.
- Warm-Lead Revival – We revisited earlier prospects, shared fresh revenue screenshots, and reopened talks the moment their mandates updated.
- Seller-Light Workflow – OEB handled every call, built the data room, and fielded diligence questions so Steven could stay heads-down on Posted.
- Tight Negotiation – We protected all financial details (sale price remains confidential) while securing a multiple higher than the first two rounds.
“You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you negotiate.”
Chester Karrass, In Business as in Life
Outcome
- Smooth sale to Quiet, closed in weeks, not months.
- Puff Count’s mission stayed intact, users saw no service disruption.
- Steven walked away with capital and time to speed up Posted.
“OEB was professional, fast, and flexible with my goals. They fought for a higher multiple than I thought possible.”
Steven Cravotta
Thinking about selling your own app?
OEB Digital tracks buyer shifts every day and knows how to put your product at the front of the line. Ready to write your success story? Let’s talk exits.