By Admin 
A question, a button and a strange name… this is where the story of a Chinese app began. Till yesterday people were considering it as a joke or a viral trend, but today the same app has become an example of startup value, rebranding and earning model. Can you believe that the app which was made for a few thousand rupees is now being valued in crores? This is the whole story of China’s famous Are You Dead app, which we are going to explain to you today.
How did the Are You Dead app start?
Are You Dead? This app named was created by three young developers in China. Its idea was very simple. The user has to check in to the app at a fixed time. If the user is not active for the stipulated time, the app sends an alert. Initially it went viral more because of its strange name than because of its safety idea.
How much was this app made for?
According to reports, the cost of making this app was about 1000 yuan. If seen in Indian rupees, this amount comes to around Rs 13 thousand. No big team, no heavy infrastructure, just a basic code and unique concept. This is the reason why its cost remained very low.
Journey from viral to becoming a business
As soon as the app became popular on social media, its downloads started increasing rapidly. Since it was a free app, the maintenance cost was not high initially, but as it became the top download, the requirements like server, notification system, email and customer support increased. It is from here that this app moved beyond a viral trend and turned towards a business model.
How much does the app cost now?
The biggest question is that how much is this app being valued today? Reports suggest that the valuation of Are You Dead app has now reached around 10 million yuan. This is equivalent to approximately Rs 13 crore in Indian currency. This means that an idea costing a few thousand rupees is now being considered a startup worth crores.
Why changed from free to paid model?
Initially the app was completely free, but considering the increasing expenses, the developers shifted it to a paid model. Now its price has been kept at around 8 Yuan, which is approximately Rs 100 in Indian Rupees. This price has been deliberately kept low, so that users can download it without thinking too much. This is being considered as a micro-payment strategy.
Why are you preparing to change your name?
Are You Dead? The name was as viral as it was controversial. At the global level, this name may make many people uncomfortable. For this reason, the developers are now preparing to rebrand it as Demumu for the international market. The objective is clear, to move away from shock value and focus on utility and trust.
Also read: Which country has the most powerful passport in the world, who is at second and third place?