Apptisan #024 — Talking with Riffo’s Creator: Say Goodbye to Your Messy Filenames? This App Helps You Batch Rename Files
For our 24th edition, we’re thrilled to feature Brandon Chen, a young entrepreneur born in the 2000s. Riffo is a product that came about somewhat unexpectedly for Chen...
Name: Riffo
Developer / Team: GroupUltra
Platforms: macOS, Web
Read this newsletter issue in Chinese (中文) .
Please describe your product.
Riffo is an AI-powered file management tool designed to streamline folder organization and bulk file renaming, simplifying tedious file management tasks. It is currently available for macOS and as a web application.
Riffo employs intelligent AI algorithms to analyze file contents and automatically assign appropriate file names, enabling users to rename large numbers of files within seconds. Users can customize file naming formats according to their preferences, select the renaming language, apply custom names to individual files, or reverse naming actions as needed. Furthermore, Riffo offers a folder organization feature that automatically categorizes files of similar types into newly created subfolders within a specified directory.
Was there a pivotal moment that inspired your product’s creation?
The product itself was born out of a personal struggle I faced. I was in the process of applying for a visa, which required me to prepare and organize hundreds of PDF documents for both personal and company-related materials. The task of sorting and categorizing these files was incredibly time-consuming and frustrating for me.
To address this challenge, I spent two hours writing a script that used AI to rename files. After sharing this script on GitHub, I was surprised to find that many others expressed a strong need for such a solution.
The response was overwhelming. Within just a few days, the script garnered over 100 stars on GitHub and gained significant traction on social media. Hundreds of users reached out directly, asking where they could download the product, while others inquired about how to use it. This response made me realize that efficient file management was a widespread need. I also understood that despite the script being open-source, most users wouldn’t have the technical know-how to set up a Python environment and configure an OpenAI API key.
In the weeks that followed, we transformed the script into a full-fledged product - Riffo. We continuously expanded its features to address various file naming challenges. The enthusiastic feedback from users reinforced our commitment to developing Riffo into a comprehensive solution for file management.
What makes your product unique compared to others in the market?
In comparison to other AI-driven solutions, I believe our product possesses several distinctive features. Our approach begins by addressing a specific, yet significant pain point for users. Starting with this small feature, we focused on understanding the deeper logic behind how people interact with information. While we continue to iterate on features based on user needs, we are also committed to thinking ahead and anticipating future challenges.
How have you marketed your product, and what key lessons have you learned?
At this stage, we haven’t engaged in any formal marketing campaigns. Instead, our focus has been on diligently collecting and analyzing user feedback.
Following the product launch, we received unsolicited coverage from several international tech newsletters, which helped increase our visibility in the global market.
In response to this initial interest, we published an article detailing our development journey. Many of our friends in China and content creators on Xiaohongshu (a popular lifestyle-sharing app in China) also covered us, sharing both how to use the product and their experiences with it.
What has been some memorable feedback since your product’s release?
Some of the most fundamental improvements, including version compatibility issues, content interpretation accuracy, and bug fixes, have all been implemented based on user feedback.
Users have also introduced us to numerous competing or related products. After carefully analyzing these alternatives, we’ve become even more convinced that using AI for information organization is a significant and complex challenge. We’re excited to see more innovators entering this field. Our focus remains on our specific user scenarios and our unique understanding of the problem, which we believe is more crucial than implementing individual features.
We’ve received incredibly thoughtful feedback from users across various professions and work environments, as well as from students organizing study materials. Many have expressed specific needs for customized file naming formats tailored to their workflows. This kind of detailed, context-specific feedback is invaluable to us.
Are there any products out there that you feel deserve more recognition?
Revia: An AI-powered solution that assists with phone calls to businesses and government departments, addressing a significant challenge for those living in the United States.
PLAUD: A smart recording device that automatically syncs audio to your smartphone, eliminating the need for manual file transfers.
What Personal Methodologies Have You Developed Since Starting Your Entrepreneurial Journey?
Keep the MVP small enough that you can either learn how to build it yourself or at least have a clear idea of how to approach it.
When developing the MVP, focus on solving a specific problem; there’s no need to overthink the market or potential barriers.
Stay close to your users by conducting interviews through field research, setting aside your own assumptions to better understand the real issues.
What Are Your Primary Hardware Tools?
MacBook Air: This serves as my main device for daily work tasks.
LG Gram: I use this for Windows-specific tasks, particularly for online banking and applications requiring specific plugins.
CUKTECH 20 Power Bank and 30 Power Bank: These are essential for keeping multiple devices charged when my team and I are working remotely or traveling.
HP OfficeJet 250: A portable printer that I keep in my car. It’s a time-saver, eliminating the need to search for print shops when documents are urgently needed.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you envision for the future.
I’m Chen Chunyu, a young entrepreneur born in the 2000s. I earned my spot at Tsinghua University’s School of Life Sciences through a competition, and during my senior year of high school, I began working in a lab, where I published a research paper. While at Tsinghua, I developed a pandemic map with high spatiotemporal precision, which received 30 million views online and shared data with over 30 research institutions. In my junior year, I left Tsinghua to co-found a gaming company with my classmates, which successfully attracted investment. In September 2022, I co-founded GroupUltra Technology with Xu Jiano, where we are exploring new ways for people and information to interact in the next generation of social networks.
About Apptisan
Apptisan is a portmanteau of “application” and “artisan”, signifying “a weekly exploration into the world of apps and the passionate artisans who create them.” Each issue is a conversation with global creators, aiming to uncover and present intriguing products to a wider audience.
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