MEET TODAY’S GUEST
Muhammad Shoaib, Developer at CodeConnect Technologies
Muhammad leads a small app development team based in Pakistan.
Together, they built B Notes – Notepad Notebook, an all-in-one notes app that combines a clean notepad with reminders, task planning, AI-powered notes and home-screen widgets.
B Notes built a loyal daily user base and hit its first meaningful revenue milestone. The team then completed a cross-border exit to Rounds.com, with funds arriving in a matter of days.
In short: Muhammad Shoaib, a Pakistan-based developer at CodeConnect Technologies, built B Notes – Notepad Notebook with his team and sold it to Rounds.com, the AI platform for mobile assets. Funds arrived within days of acceptance through a documented Payoneer route. His lesson: know your numbers and choose the right partner, not just the highest offer.
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You’re reading Rounds Insights - stories and case studies from global developers who built, scaled, and successfully exited their software assets. Let’s dive in.
THE CASE STUDY
Built Around a Real Daily Need
How solving their own workflow gave a small team a product users came back to every day.
B Notes didn't start as a market-research exercise. It started inside the team itself.
Like many developers, they were using separate apps for reminders, tasks and notes. They wanted one place to capture ideas, plan their work and stay on top of everything.
"We thought: why isn't there one clean app that does it all without overcomplicating things? So we built it together."
— Muhammad Shoaib
The product kept a notepad at its core, with intelligence layered in: reminders, task planning, AI-powered notes and widgets for quick access. The goal was to make note-taking feel effortless and smart.
The metric the team valued most wasn't downloads. It was retention. Users came back daily, used the widgets and relied on the reminders, which is the clearest signal that an app has a lasting place in someone's routine.
"When we hit our first meaningful revenue milestone, it wasn't just about the number. It was validation that a small, dedicated team could build an app that competes."
— Muhammad Shoaib
Choosing the Right Moment to Scale
Why a growing app is often the strongest asset to transition.
The decision to sell wasn't sudden. B Notes was growing, and the team could see how much more it could become. The next chapter would mean more features, deeper AI integration and serious scaling, which is exactly where a buyer with more resources and a proven growth playbook adds leverage.
The team was also clear about where its own time and focus were heading.
"Building and maintaining an app is one thing. Scaling it aggressively is another. We wanted the app to get the attention and resources it deserved."
— Muhammad Shoaib
Transitioning a growing asset at the right moment is a smart capital decision that gives the product longevity. When Rounds.com reached out with genuine interest, an understanding of the product and the infrastructure to grow it, the timing matched where the team was heading.
Cross-Border, Made Simple
How clear communication and flexible payment rails made a cross-border deal straightforward.
For a team in Pakistan, the cross-border payment route was the first question to solve. Escrow.com doesn't operate there, so the team wanted to know exactly how the funds would reach them securely.
Trust mattered just as much. Selling an app means handing over everything: code, accounts, backend and user data.
Clarity from day one answered both questions. Rounds explained the process upfront, the agreement was detailed, and together they set up a payment route through Payoneer. It was fully documented and tax-compliant on the team's side.
The handover itself ran through a single organized pipeline that covered code, design files, keystore, Firebase and RevenueCat.
"From acceptance to funds in our account, it was a matter of days, not weeks. Given the cross-border complexity, that was a pleasant surprise."
— Muhammad Shoaib
When the team found that the RevenueCat account was linked to a third-party collaborator, the Rounds team, with Jovana and Bleona leading communication, worked with the developers until it was sorted out.
"Selling an app is not a small thing. It's months of your team's work, your users, your reputation. The Rounds team treated it with the seriousness it deserved. It felt like a partnership, not just a transaction."
— Muhammad Shoaib
Capital Velocity: Thinking Bigger
How one exit turned app building into a repeatable business model.
The payout gave the team breathing room. They can put money into new projects without needing immediate returns.
Beyond the money, the exit changed how the team sees its own work.
"It validated that building and selling apps is a viable path, not just a side hustle but a real business model. Knowing that our team could build something from scratch, grow it, and successfully exit is a mindset shift. It makes us think bigger."
3 Rules for a Smooth App Exit
▶ Know Your Numbers: Revenue, user acquisition cost, retention and lifetime value aren't just metrics. They're your leverage at the negotiating table.
▶ Choose the Right Partner, Not Just the Highest Offer: Take your time. Find a buyer who understands your app and respects what you've built.
▶ Prepare and Disclose Early: Get code, accounts and documentation in order before talks begin. Raise details like third-party dependencies or payment routes upfront, because open communication builds trust and leads to smoother deals.
FAQ
Who is Muhammad Shoaib?
Muhammad Shoaib is a Pakistan-based developer at CodeConnect Technologies whose team built B Notes – Notepad Notebook and sold it to Rounds.com, the AI platform for mobile assets.
What is B Notes – Notepad Notebook?
B Notes is an all-in-one notes app that combines a clean notepad with reminders, task planning, AI-powered notes and widgets. Muhammad Shoaib's team grew it to a loyal daily user base before selling it to Rounds.com.
Why did Muhammad Shoaib's team sell B Notes?
B Notes was growing, and the team chose Rounds.com because it understood the product and had the infrastructure to scale it while the team focused on new projects.
How did a team in Pakistan get paid for B Notes?
Muhammad Shoaib's team and Rounds.com set up a fully documented, tax-compliant payment route through Payoneer, and funds arrived within days of acceptance.
What advice does Muhammad Shoaib give developers thinking about selling?
Know your numbers, prepare your assets early and choose a partner who understands your app, as his team did when selling B Notes to Rounds.com.
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