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12-Week Intensive

Everything you need to
ship a real product.

Structured around four phases validate, design, build, launch. Each week you have a deliverable. By week 12 you have a live app.

📅 12 weeks
~10 hrs/week
🌐 100% remote
🤝 Live cohort
🚀 App Store launch
Next Cohort
Cohort 05 — Sept 2026
Start dateSept 7, 2026
Duration12 weeks
Commitment~10 hrs/week
FormatLive + async
Spots12 left
Applications75% full
Apply for Cohort 05 →

Applications close Aug 24 · No coding required

Idea → app in 12 weeks,
with AI doing the heavy lifting.

Most people with an app idea never ship. Not because they lack talent — because they don't have a system. Element gives you the system: a weekly cadence, expert coaching, AI tools, and a cohort of builders keeping each other accountable.

WK 1–2
A validated concept

You'll define your user, map the core problem, run lightweight user research, and pressure-test your idea before touching a design tool.

WK 3–6
A complete Figma design

Full app screens, user flows, component library, and a clickable prototype — designed with AI assist and refined through peer critique.

WK 7–10
A working app

A functional native or web app built using AI-assisted development tools. Real code, real backend, real data — not a prototype.

WK 11–12
A live, published product

App Store submission, landing page, launch strategy. You graduate with a live product, real users, and a portfolio piece that speaks for itself.

Structure that actually fits
your life.

Every week follows the same rhythm — so you always know what's coming and what's expected.

🎙
Live Session

2-hour live workshop every Tuesday. Concept deep-dive, live demos, and Q&A. Recorded for async viewing.

🛠
Build Days

Wed–Fri are yours to work. Async channels and drop-in office hours keep help close when you're stuck.

🔁
Peer Review

Every Friday, swap deliverables with a partner for structured critique. The fastest way to level up fast.

📦
Weekly Deliverable

Each week ends with a concrete artifact — a doc, a Figma file, a commit, a post. No week ends without something shipped.

🤖
AI Toolkit Access

Curated prompts, tool walkthroughs, and template libraries for every major AI tool used in the program.

👥
Cohort Community

Private Discord with your cohort. Most alumni say the network is the most valuable thing they got from the program.

💡
Phase 1 — Validate
Weeks 1 – 2
Foundation

Most app ideas fail because nobody wanted them. Phase 1 is about making sure yours isn't one of them — fast.

WEEK 01
Define the Problem
User research, problem framing, idea pressure-testing
+
Topics covered
  • Jobs-to-be-done framework
  • Running 5-minute user interviews with AI prep
  • Problem statement vs. solution statement
  • Idea pressure-testing: 10 questions before you build
AI tools introduced
  • Claude for research synthesis
  • ChatGPT for interview question generation
  • Notion AI for organizing findings
📄
Week 1 Deliverable
A one-page problem brief: who your user is, what problem they have, why existing solutions fall short, and why now is the right time to build this.
Claude ChatGPT Notion AI Typeform
WEEK 02
Validate the Market
Competitive analysis, market sizing, MVP scoping
+
Topics covered
  • Competitive landscape mapping
  • Positioning your differentiator
  • Scoping your MVP: what's in, what's out
  • Writing a concise product brief
AI tools introduced
  • Perplexity for market research
  • Claude for competitive analysis
  • ChatGPT for positioning brainstorm
📋
Week 2 Deliverable
A product brief: validated problem, competitive positioning, scoped MVP feature list (max 5 core features), and a clear target user persona.
Perplexity Claude Miro
🎨
Phase 2 — Design
Weeks 3 – 6
Design

Four weeks of focused design work. From information architecture to pixel-perfect screens, you'll build the full design system and prototype for your app.

WEEK 03
Architecture & Flows
IA, user journeys, wireframes
+
Topics covered
  • Information architecture fundamentals
  • User flow diagramming
  • Lo-fi wireframing with AI generation
  • Navigation patterns for mobile apps
AI tools introduced
  • Figma AI for wireframe generation
  • Whimsical AI for flow diagrams
  • Claude for IA feedback
🗺
Week 3 Deliverable
Full user flow diagram covering all core paths through your app, plus lo-fi wireframes for all primary screens.
FigmaWhimsicalClaude
WEEK 04
Visual Design System
Brand, tokens, component library
+
Topics covered
  • Building a design system from scratch
  • Typography, color tokens, spacing scales
  • Component-first design in Figma
  • Dark vs. light mode considerations
AI tools introduced
  • Midjourney for moodboards & asset gen
  • Figma AI components
  • Galileo AI for component ideas
🎨
Week 4 Deliverable
A complete Figma design system: color palette, type scale, spacing tokens, and a component library of at least 20 reusable components.
FigmaMidjourneyGalileo AI
WEEK 05
Hi-Fi Screen Design
All core screens, polished and production-ready
+
Topics covered
  • Applying design system to all screens
  • Microinteraction design
  • Empty states, error states, loading states
  • Accessibility basics: contrast, tap targets
AI tools introduced
  • Figma AI for auto-layout suggestions
  • Runway for motion references
  • Claude for copy generation
📱
Week 5 Deliverable
All primary screens designed at high fidelity — including onboarding, core feature screens, empty states, and error states.
FigmaRunwayClaude
WEEK 06
Prototype & User Test
Interactive prototype, testing sessions, design handoff
+
Topics covered
  • Building interactive prototypes in Figma
  • Guerrilla user testing (5 users, 30 mins)
  • Synthesizing feedback into design decisions
  • Developer handoff: specs, assets, documentation
AI tools introduced
  • Maze for remote user testing
  • Claude for feedback synthesis
  • Zeplin for dev handoff docs
🔗
Week 6 Deliverable
A fully interactive Figma prototype + a one-page user testing report with 3 key insights and design changes made in response.
FigmaMazeClaudeZeplin
Phase 3 — Build
Weeks 7 – 10
Development

This is where your Figma files come alive. Using AI-assisted dev tools, you'll build a working, deployed app — no computer science degree required.

WEEK 07
Setup & First Screen
Dev environment, project scaffold, first working screen
+
Topics covered
  • Setting up Expo / React Native or Next.js
  • Understanding the project file structure
  • Prompting Cursor to scaffold components
  • Design-to-code workflow with v0
AI tools introduced
  • Cursor IDE for AI-assisted coding
  • v0 by Vercel for UI generation
  • Claude for code explanation & debugging
💻
Week 7 Deliverable
A running local dev environment with your first screen — navigation shell, onboarding screen, and home screen — rendered on device or simulator.
Cursorv0ExpoGitHub
WEEK 08
Backend & Data
Supabase setup, auth, database schema, API calls
+
Topics covered
  • Supabase project setup and schema design
  • Authentication: email, Google, Apple sign-in
  • Reading and writing data from your app
  • Row-level security basics
AI tools introduced
  • Supabase AI for schema generation
  • Cursor for writing data hooks
  • Claude for SQL query help
🗄
Week 8 Deliverable
A working Supabase backend with at least 3 tables, auth configured, and your app reading/writing real data from the database.
SupabaseCursorPostman
WEEK 09
Core Features
Build the 3–5 features that define your MVP
+
Topics covered
  • Feature-by-feature build sprint
  • Debugging with AI: how to prompt your way out
  • Push notifications setup
  • In-app payments with RevenueCat or Stripe
AI tools introduced
  • Cursor for feature implementation
  • Claude for architecture decisions
  • RevenueCat for in-app purchases
Week 9 Deliverable
All core MVP features functional end-to-end. A working app that a real user could use to accomplish the primary job-to-be-done.
CursorRevenueCatExpo Notifications
WEEK 10
Polish & Beta
Bug fixes, performance, beta testing with real users
+
Topics covered
  • UI polish: animations, transitions
  • Performance profiling basics
  • Running a TestFlight / Play Store beta
  • Analytics setup: Mixpanel or PostHog
AI tools introduced
  • Cursor for bug fixing & refactoring
  • TestFlight for iOS beta distribution
  • PostHog for analytics
🧪
Week 10 Deliverable
A beta-ready build distributed to at least 10 real testers, with analytics tracking key events and a bug log with prioritized fixes.
TestFlightPostHogCursor
🚀
Phase 4 — Launch
Weeks 11 – 12
Launch

Building the app is half the work. Weeks 11 and 12 are about getting it in front of real users and setting yourself up for growth.

WEEK 11
App Store & Landing Page
Store submission, marketing site, screenshots
+
Topics covered
  • App Store optimization (ASO) fundamentals
  • Writing a compelling store listing with AI
  • Building a landing page with Framer or Webflow
  • Generating marketing screenshots with AI
AI tools introduced
  • Claude for store copy & metadata
  • Framer AI for landing page
  • Midjourney for marketing visuals
🏪
Week 11 Deliverable
App Store listing submitted for review + a live marketing landing page with your app description, screenshots, and a download CTA.
App Store ConnectFramerMidjourney
WEEK 12
Launch & Growth Plan
Public launch, go-to-market playbook, Demo Day
+
Topics covered
  • Product Hunt launch strategy
  • Content & social growth frameworks
  • Retention mechanics and re-engagement
  • Demo Day: present your product live
AI tools introduced
  • Claude for go-to-market strategy
  • Taplio for LinkedIn growth
  • Runway for launch video
🎉
Week 12 Deliverable
A live app with real users + a 90-day growth plan. You present at Demo Day to the full Element community and invited guests.
Product HuntTaplioRunway

Built for builders
at every level.

You don't need a technical background. You need an idea and the commitment to ship it.

🎨
Designers

You know how to design — now learn to build. Leave with a shipped product, not just another Figma file.

💼
Product Managers

Stop depending on dev sprints. Build your own prototype and validate faster than your current process allows.

🚀
Aspiring Founders

Turn your side project into something real. Get the skills to build an MVP without a co-founder or agency.

🔄
Career Switchers

Build the portfolio project that proves you can do the job. Walk into interviews with a live app, not a PDF.

✍️
Content Creators

You have an audience and ideas. Learn to build the tools and products your community actually needs.

🛠
Freelancers

Expand your service offering from design or marketing into full product builds. Charge more. Deliver more.

One price.
Everything included.

No upsells. No tool costs. All software licenses for the program are included.

Pay in full
$2,400
One-time payment · Save $300
  • Full 12-week program
  • All live sessions + recordings
  • 1-on-1 weekly check-ins
  • Lifetime community access
  • Demo Day participation
Apply — Pay in Full

Questions before
you apply.

Do I need to know how to code?
+
No. The program is designed around AI-assisted development tools that let you build real, functional apps without prior programming experience. You'll learn enough to work with code — prompt it, read it, debug it — but you won't be writing it from scratch. Most of our alumni had zero dev experience before starting.
How much time do I need per week?
+
Plan for around 10 hours per week: roughly 2 hours for the live session, 6–7 hours of hands-on building, and 1–2 hours for peer review and community. Build weeks (7–10) tend to run slightly longer for students who are new to the dev tools.
What if I don't have an app idea yet?
+
That's fine. Week 1 includes an ideation workshop specifically for students who come in without a strong idea. We have a proven process for surfacing ideas worth building. The only requirement is a genuine area of interest or domain expertise you want to build around.
Native app or web app — which should I build?
+
We support both Expo/React Native (iOS + Android) and Next.js (web app). During Week 1 we'll help you decide based on your idea, your target users, and your personal goals. About 65% of students build mobile apps; 35% build web apps.
Is there a refund policy?
+
Yes. If you complete all deliverables through Week 4 and feel the program isn't right for you, we'll refund your remaining balance in full — no questions asked. We've never had to issue this refund. But we want you to feel safe saying yes.
What happens after the program ends?
+
You get lifetime access to the community, all recordings, and all future curriculum updates. Alumni often return for office hours, help each other hire, and collaborate on new projects. The network you build in 12 weeks tends to stick around much longer.

Ready to ship
your app?

Cohort 05 starts Sept 7. Applications close Aug 24. 12 spots remaining.

Apply for Cohort 05

No coding required · 12 weeks · elementedu.io