The App Built to Stop Image-Based Abuse | Chris Fresle from Just Us

Most people think private messaging is already solved. Chris Fresle is proof it isn't.Chris Fresle is the founder of Just Us, a private messaging app built to prevent image-based abuse. He's a year nine dropout with no tech background, a patent pending across six countries, and a product that uses facial recognition and object detection to make private messages genuinely impossible to screenshot, forward, or capture on another device.In this episode, Chris joins Alan at the Cremorne Digital Hub in Melbourne to talk through how he built something everyone said was impossible, how he found and trusted a development team in Vietnam with no technical knowledge of his own, and how he's using survivor-led influencer marketing to build trust with a Gen Z audience that WhatsApp and Signal have never been able to reach.Stay until the end for Chris's take on why Australian investors are harder to crack than US investors, and Alan's advice on how to pitch a product that people struggle to believe actually works.Timestamps00:00 Intro03:00 The Journey to Creating Just Us06:02 Building a Trustworthy Team08:55 Navigating Skepticism in the Startup World12:00 Monetization and User Engagement Strategies15:07 User Feedback and App Development17:58 Marketing and Influencer Partnerships20:50 Protecting Intellectual Property23:56 The Vision for Just Us27:14 Passion for Change and Helping OthersSponsors:Pick My Brain is supported by our wonderful sponsors:Deel: Global hiring and payroll can be a headache. Deel brings HR, IT and payroll together in one platform, helping companies including Shopify, Revolut and ElevenLabs scale internationally.Ready to expand your business?Build your global team with Deel at deel.com/dayone.___Galah Cyber offers Application Security Assessment Get a clear, ten-minute snapshot of your AppSec maturity across the five core principles. Fast, practical insights you can act on straight away at https://www.galahcyber.com.au/assessThe Day One NetworkPick My Brain is part of Day One, the podcast network dedicated to founders, operators & investors.To learn more, join our newsletter to be notified of new and upcoming shows. The only content we create is content that will help Australian founders.Mentioned in this episode:5 I’s of Application Security AssessmentGet a clear, ten-minute snapshot of your AppSec maturity across the five core principles. Fast, practical insights you can act on straight away at galahcyber.com.au/assess.Deel x PX_Script 1Deel x PX_Script 2