From Idea to Impact: Building BoltPrep for Interview Success in Just 2 Weeks

The Problem That Started It All

A few months ago, I noticed something frustrating, so many smart students were failing interviews not because they lacked knowledge, but because they weren’t prepared for the pressure.

They would freeze on simple questions like “Tell me about yourself” or “Why should we hire you?” They struggled with structuring answers, speaking confidently, and getting meaningful feedback after mock interviews.

I asked myself:
❓ What if job interviews had a "practice mode"?
❓ What if students could rehearse their answers just like actors practice lines before a play?

And that’s how BoltPrep⚡️ was born.

How We Built It in a Week 🛠️

Once the idea was clear, I knew I had to move fast. Instead of overthinking features, I focused on the core functionality:

✔️ AI-Powered Mock Interviews (Real job-specific questions)
✔️ Voice-Based Responses (So users get real practice, not just typing answers)
✔️ Instant AI Feedback (Strengths, weaknesses, and improvement tips)

Tech Stack 💡

We used a mix of AI + scalable tools to ship fast:

• Flutter → Smooth cross-platform experience

• Supabase → Backend & user authentication

• DeepGram → Voice-to-text for spoken answers

• Gemini AI → Analyzing and providing feedback

• Peerlist Launchpad → For early visibility

Getting 50+ Users in 2 Weeks 📈

Building the app was just half the battle. Getting users was the real challenge. Here’s what worked:

1️⃣ Launching on Peerlist 🚀

We shared our journey and launched on Peerlist Launchpad. The response?

✅ #2 Product of the Week with 110+ upvotes
✅ 750+ views & tons of engagement
✅ 50+ early users testing and giving feedback

2️⃣ Direct Outreach to Students 🎯

Instead of waiting for users to come, we reached out:

• Shared BoltPrep in college groups & Discord servers

• Students found AI-driven feedback more helpful than manual mock interviews

Lessons from the Journey 🔥

1️⃣ Building is 50%, Distribution is 50%

I thought that if I built a great product, people would automatically come. I was wrong. 😅
The truth? Talking about your product is just as important as building it.

2️⃣ The Best Growth Hack? Talking to Users.

Some of the best features came from random DMs.
A user messaged: "Can you provide personalized sample answers?" → We built it.

Want to grow? Stop guessing. Just talk to users.

3️⃣ Launch Before You Feel Ready

If I had waited for BoltPrep to be perfect, it still wouldn’t exist.
Instead, I shipped fast, got feedback, and iterated.

🔮 What’s Next for BoltPrep?

We’re just getting started, and the journey ahead is exciting! 🚀 Here’s what’s coming next:

✅ Strategic Partnerships with College Placement Cells – We aim to collaborate with Training & Placement (TnP) cells to provide students with structured AI-driven mock interview sessions, helping colleges boost placement success rates.

✅ Advanced AI Coaching & Personalized Feedback – Our AI will evolve to offer deeper, role-specific insights, guiding users through structured improvements over multiple practice sessions.

The goal?
To make AI-driven interview preparation accessible, effective, and personalized for every student and job aspirant. 🎯