SteelRite

SteelRite makes discipline social. Friends vouch, call out slack, and you earn your Man Card. RevenueCat powers Pro perks that keep your streak alive.

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Inspiration

I wanted to build an app where men could hold each other accountable. As I thought through what that could look like, the idea of earning a “Man Card” clicked. It started as a playful reward, but as I built SteelRite, it became the heart of the app: something you earn by showing up consistently, with friends who can see the work behind it.

What it does

SteelRite lets you track daily commitments, build streaks, and work toward earning your Man Card. Friends can vouch for each other’s progress or call out missed commitments, so accountability is more than a private checkbox. A leaderboard makes that progress visible.

Users can also earn Steel Tokens through streaks or optional rewarded ads and spend them on perks. SteelRite Pro offers added convenience, but it does not let anyone buy their rank or their Man Card.

How we built it

I built SteelRite as a mobile app with Expo and React Native, with a backend that handles accounts, trackers, progress, and social activity. I used RevenueCat to manage the Pro subscription and in-app purchases. The key design decision was to keep paid perks separate from the achievement system: purchases can make parts of the experience more convenient, but the Man Card still has to be earned.

Challenges we ran into

The hardest part was making accountability feel real and fair. A streak has to respond correctly when someone misses a day, edits a log, or catches up on an entry. Adding friends, vouches, and callouts made those rules more important because progress is no longer visible only to the person tracking it.

Monetization was another challenge. I wanted SteelRite to support itself without undermining its message, so I had to draw a clear line between useful paid conveniences and achievements that money should never unlock.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

I’m proud that the Man Card grew from a simple idea into a complete progression system. I’m also proud that SteelRite connects personal habits to accountability with friends rather than treating streaks as a solo game.

What we learned

I learned that a compelling reward is only as good as the rules behind it. If the Man Card is going to mean something, progress has to be understandable, consistent, and earned. I also learned how much more engaging habit tracking becomes when friends can encourage you—and expect you to follow through.

What's next for SteelRite

I want earning the Man Card to become something users can hold in their hands. The next step is letting people who earn it order a physical Man Card. I also want to build a Man Card Holder Club with benefits that recognize their commitment and give members more ways to connect. The card and club benefits are still ahead of us, but the rule will stay the same: you have to earn the Man Card before you can order one.

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