How Prayer Lock automates UGC marketing using Gemini 3 & Python

By automating UGC marketing, the solo founder behind Prayer Lock generated 6 million views, 24,000 downloads, and a $30,000 ARR business in a red ocean market.

He did it with proper market research.

Mauricio Baron launched the app in late April 2025. By November 2025, he had a content machine running on autopilot.

The concept is simple. The app blocks distractions on your phone. You can only unlock them if you complete a guided prayer session.

This is how he built a distribution engine to drive 24,000 downloads without a marketing team.

The market opportunity

The Bible and prayer app market is crowded but lucrative.

According to a comprehensive Bible & Prayer Apps Market Analysis, the top apps capture the majority of the revenue. But there is room for new entrants who understand user psychology.

Mauricio identified a specific wedge. He combined screen time limits with spiritual discipline.

The market data confirms the demand. Thousands of apps compete for attention. Only a few break through.

Success requires more than code. It requires attention. As highlighted in this market analysis of 3,965 apps, the top contenders rely on emotion-first messaging and gentle visuals.

Faceless formats that convert

You do not need to be an influencer to get views.

Mauricio leans heavily on "faceless" formats. These videos focus on the message rather than the messenger.

He uses carousels to drive engagement. One variation starts with a hook and leads to a Bible verse. Another leads to an app screenshot. He detailed his carousel strategy which drives higher engagement than static images.

He scrapes successful content from competitors to find winning hooks.

He tests different styles. Fade-in effects work well for Bible verses. Screen recordings work well for demonstrating the product utility.

He meets the users where they are.

He mimics "brainrot" editing styles. Fast cuts. High stimulation. This keeps retention high on platforms like TikTok.

Every video serves a purpose. Some build brand awareness. Others drive direct installs.

The YouTube Shorts grid shows the consistency of his visual language.

Automating UGC with Python & Gemini 3

Solo founders have limited time. Mauricio automated his creative process.

He wrote Python scripts to generate video assets. He uses Gemini 3 to select Bible verses and overlay them on aesthetic backgrounds.

It takes him five seconds to generate a video.

This allows him to batch content. He schedules posts days in advance.

He posts three times a day on his dedicated accounts. That is six posts daily on autopilot, using scripts to automate the workflow.

The "Wife UGC" advantage

Faceless videos build the base. Human connection spikes the growth.

Mauricio had no budget for creators when he started. His wife made the first user-generated content (UGC).

He stitched her videos with app demos. This provided instant social proof. He credits her belief in him as his biggest advantage.

It turns out that pretty girls do win on TikTok.

One video on an ambassador account hit 439,000 views.

Now he sources creators directly from the platform. He finds people already creating in the niche and pays them to replicate winning formats.

The multi-account distribution strategy on TikTok & Instagram

Mauricio did not rely on a single viral account. He built a network.

The strategy involved running roughly 11 different accounts across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

He flooded the feed. He started by launching multiple accounts simultaneously to see what content stuck.

The accounts generated about 6 million views combined. This traffic funnelled 7,000 monthly downloads to the App Store.

This volume strategy acts as insurance. Algorithms are volatile.

One account might stall while another takes off.

He keeps the branding consistent across all channels. This builds recognition even if the user does not download immediately.

How to get 1,500 reviews from 25k users

Reviews are the second most important asset for a paywalled app.

Mauricio has a review rate six times higher than the average. He has over 1,500 reviews on 25,000 downloads.

The secret is timing.

Most apps ask for a review too early. Or they ask at the very end of onboarding when the user is tired.

Mauricio asks at the "emotional peak." He shared his review prompt strategy which targets users when they are most satisfied.

He prompts the user 8 to 10 minutes into the experience. The user is committed. They have invested time. They are excited to start their journey.

This is when they are most likely to give 5 stars.

He optimized the ask to capture the user when their motivation is highest. This social proof then fuels the next wave of downloads.

Breaking down $7,000 in paid ad spend for mobile app

Views mean nothing without a business model.

Mauricio monetizes through subscriptions. He uses a mix of annual plans and weekly options.

In November 2025, he made $14,764. He reinvests profits into paid acquisition. He spent roughly $7,000 on marketing in November.

Most of the budget went to TikTok ads. He shared the exact ad spend figures:

• TikTok Ads: $5,915.08

• Meta Ads: $689.50

• Snapchat Ads: $67.12

• UGC Creators: $400

The blend of organic reach and paid amplification creates a 50% profit margin.

24,000 downloads. 1,500 reviews. $30k ARR. These numbers are not luck. They are the result of a calculated system that turns views into users and users into revenue.

The blueprint is simple: solve a problem, flood the feed using automation, and monetize the attention.

Top Tweets of the day

1/

Mind-blowing insight! You can manufacture this.

2/

Massive amounts of gold here. I asked to Grok 4.1 Thinking to ELI20 this and it did a pretty good job.

Turns out, Constellation Software does this. It buys Vertical SaaS companies in niches that nobody touches like SaaS for Private clubs & associations, Salons & spas, Pulp & paper mills, Auto/marine/RV dealerships, etc...

Extremely boring business that is out of every entrepreneurs sight and mind so they don't get copied.

3/

Whenever a16z starts a new arm, you know its the new playbook.

YC had YCombinator for its distribution.

a16z will have their own now. I am pretty sure future VCs will have experts that teach "how to go viral" and these will be 18-21 year old kids.

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