Aug 11, 2021 · 15m · top-founders

$15k in MRR From $50k Raised Helping you Turn Blogs into Audio Content

Albert Heifaz · 8m spoken Nathan Latka · 4m spoken Eric Yuan · 4s spoken Frank Bien · 4s spoken Vivek Bhaskaran · 2s spoken
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gold bands on the timeline = statements, start to end. Hover to read, click to jump. CC turns on captions

In this interview, GetLatka host Nathan Latka speaks with Albert Heifaz, co-founder and CEO of Voozer, exploring how the Brazilian audio marketing platform scaled to $15,000 in monthly recurring revenue across 90 customers on just $50,000 in seed capital. Albert details their hybrid SaaS-and-human-narration model, equity division, product-led viral loops, and sustainable capital management.

How this conversation actually went

Every chapter scored 0–10 on four independent dynamics. Hover any point for the reasoning behind the score. Nathan holds 33.4% of the talking time here. How this is scored →

Nathan as informed peer 2.6 Guest teaching 1.2 Guest disagreement 0.6 Nathan pushing back 1.6
05100:0010:000:11–3:54 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Podcast Subscription Announcement and GetLatka Platform Benefits After an extended promotional intro for the GetLatka platform, the host queries Albert on whether Voozer is pure SaaS and how the audio generation works. The guest politely clarifies the blend of SaaS and human narrator services.3:56–5:57 · Nathan as informed peer 3/10 Software Pricing, Platform Features, and Narration Marketplace The host inquires into pricing tiers, the marketplace model of part-time narrators, and founder equity splits. The tone remains fully collaborative as the guest describes their dynamic equity calculation.6:00–8:26 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Initial Angel Funding, Iteration, and First Paying Customer The host walks through the early angel funding and time taken to land their first customer. Albert shares an anecdote regarding pitching his co-founder and finding product-market fit.8:26–12:19 · Nathan as informed peer 4/10 Product-Led Inbound Marketing, Partner Distribution, and Growth Velocity The host presses Albert to provide specific metrics behind their viral embed loop rather than hand-waving product-led growth. He also investigates revenue figures, valuation hypotheticals, and clarifies that the company is currently burning cash.12:20–14:56 · Nathan as informed peer 2/10 Open Startup Metrics Culture and Root Causes of Churn The host asks why Albert is comfortable sharing open metrics and examines churn numbers. Albert explains how periodic SEO restructurings drive marketing churn before answering the Famous Five questions.0:11–3:54 · Guest teaching 1/10 Podcast Subscription Announcement and GetLatka Platform Benefits After an extended promotional intro for the GetLatka platform, the host queries Albert on whether Voozer is pure SaaS and how the audio generation works. The guest politely clarifies the blend of SaaS and human narrator services.3:56–5:57 · Guest teaching 1/10 Software Pricing, Platform Features, and Narration Marketplace The host inquires into pricing tiers, the marketplace model of part-time narrators, and founder equity splits. The tone remains fully collaborative as the guest describes their dynamic equity calculation.6:00–8:26 · Guest teaching 1/10 Initial Angel Funding, Iteration, and First Paying Customer The host walks through the early angel funding and time taken to land their first customer. Albert shares an anecdote regarding pitching his co-founder and finding product-market fit.8:26–12:19 · Guest teaching 1/10 Product-Led Inbound Marketing, Partner Distribution, and Growth Velocity The host presses Albert to provide specific metrics behind their viral embed loop rather than hand-waving product-led growth. He also investigates revenue figures, valuation hypotheticals, and clarifies that the company is currently burning cash.12:20–14:56 · Guest teaching 2/10 Open Startup Metrics Culture and Root Causes of Churn The host asks why Albert is comfortable sharing open metrics and examines churn numbers. Albert explains how periodic SEO restructurings drive marketing churn before answering the Famous Five questions.0:11–3:54 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Podcast Subscription Announcement and GetLatka Platform Benefits After an extended promotional intro for the GetLatka platform, the host queries Albert on whether Voozer is pure SaaS and how the audio generation works. The guest politely clarifies the blend of SaaS and human narrator services.3:56–5:57 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Software Pricing, Platform Features, and Narration Marketplace The host inquires into pricing tiers, the marketplace model of part-time narrators, and founder equity splits. The tone remains fully collaborative as the guest describes their dynamic equity calculation.6:00–8:26 · Guest disagreement 0/10 Initial Angel Funding, Iteration, and First Paying Customer The host walks through the early angel funding and time taken to land their first customer. Albert shares an anecdote regarding pitching his co-founder and finding product-market fit.8:26–12:19 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Product-Led Inbound Marketing, Partner Distribution, and Growth Velocity The host presses Albert to provide specific metrics behind their viral embed loop rather than hand-waving product-led growth. He also investigates revenue figures, valuation hypotheticals, and clarifies that the company is currently burning cash.12:20–14:56 · Guest disagreement 1/10 Open Startup Metrics Culture and Root Causes of Churn The host asks why Albert is comfortable sharing open metrics and examines churn numbers. Albert explains how periodic SEO restructurings drive marketing churn before answering the Famous Five questions.0:11–3:54 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Podcast Subscription Announcement and GetLatka Platform Benefits After an extended promotional intro for the GetLatka platform, the host queries Albert on whether Voozer is pure SaaS and how the audio generation works. The guest politely clarifies the blend of SaaS and human narrator services.3:56–5:57 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Software Pricing, Platform Features, and Narration Marketplace The host inquires into pricing tiers, the marketplace model of part-time narrators, and founder equity splits. The tone remains fully collaborative as the guest describes their dynamic equity calculation.6:00–8:26 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Initial Angel Funding, Iteration, and First Paying Customer The host walks through the early angel funding and time taken to land their first customer. Albert shares an anecdote regarding pitching his co-founder and finding product-market fit.8:26–12:19 · Nathan pushing back 4/10 Product-Led Inbound Marketing, Partner Distribution, and Growth Velocity The host presses Albert to provide specific metrics behind their viral embed loop rather than hand-waving product-led growth. He also investigates revenue figures, valuation hypotheticals, and clarifies that the company is currently burning cash.12:20–14:56 · Nathan pushing back 1/10 Open Startup Metrics Culture and Root Causes of Churn The host asks why Albert is comfortable sharing open metrics and examines churn numbers. Albert explains how periodic SEO restructurings drive marketing churn before answering the Famous Five questions.

speaking balance: gold is Nathan, purple is the guest (3 minute bins)

0:00 · Nathan 66.1% · guest 33.9%0:00 · Nathan 66.1% · guest 33.9%3:00 · Nathan 20.4% · guest 79.6%3:00 · Nathan 20.4% · guest 79.6%6:00 · Nathan 20.4% · guest 79.6%6:00 · Nathan 20.4% · guest 79.6%9:00 · Nathan 20.1% · guest 79.9%9:00 · Nathan 20.1% · guest 79.9%12:00 · Nathan 28.5% · guest 71.5%12:00 · Nathan 28.5% · guest 71.5%15:00 · Nathan 89.8% · guest 10.2%15:00 · Nathan 89.8% · guest 10.2%
Sharpest disagreement ▶ 3:17 Defending human narration over automated AI

Albert counters the host's assumption that they rely on Google Speech SDK by insisting artificial voices lack the nuance and confidence required for content marketing.

Hardest push from Nathan ▶ 8:45 Refusing vague product-led growth claims

Nathan interrupts Albert's assertion that the player simply sells itself, pushing him to quantify actual monthly click volume.

Biggest teaching moment ▶ 13:20 Educating on content marketing churn dynamics

Albert explains to the host that their 4% monthly churn is driven by macro Google algorithm shifts and customer team reorganizations rather than platform deficiencies.

Nathan holds their own ▶ 11:27 Drilling down on cash burn reality

Nathan challenges the guest's initial claim of long-term profitability by extracting actual expense and cash numbers to establish that the business is actively burning runway.

the scores for every segment, with the reasoning behind each
ChapterTopicNathan as informed peerGuest teachingGuest disagreementNathan pushing backWhy
Podcast Subscription Announcement and GetLatka Platform Benefits 2111 After an extended promotional intro for the GetLatka platform, the host queries Albert on whether Voozer is pure SaaS and how the audio generation works. The guest politely clarifies the blend of SaaS and human narrator services.
Software Pricing, Platform Features, and Narration Marketplace 3101 The host inquires into pricing tiers, the marketplace model of part-time narrators, and founder equity splits. The tone remains fully collaborative as the guest describes their dynamic equity calculation.
Initial Angel Funding, Iteration, and First Paying Customer 2101 The host walks through the early angel funding and time taken to land their first customer. Albert shares an anecdote regarding pitching his co-founder and finding product-market fit.
Product-Led Inbound Marketing, Partner Distribution, and Growth Velocity 4114 The host presses Albert to provide specific metrics behind their viral embed loop rather than hand-waving product-led growth. He also investigates revenue figures, valuation hypotheticals, and clarifies that the company is currently burning cash.
Open Startup Metrics Culture and Root Causes of Churn 2211 The host asks why Albert is comfortable sharing open metrics and examines churn numbers. Albert explains how periodic SEO restructurings drive marketing churn before answering the Famous Five questions.

Statements from this episode (15)

Disclosure
SaaS subscriptions account for 40% to 50% of Voozer's revenue
“I would say around 40 to 50%.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 2:39
Opinion
Human narration outperforms AI voice for content marketing conversion
“We believe that a human narration is much better because it has the confidence that you need to achieve better results and all sorts of features that a human voice has than an artificial, artificial narration doesn't have yet.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 3:34
Disclosure
Voozer charges under $100 monthly in Brazil and $200 internationally
“So in Brazil, it would be less than a hundred dollars, and in the U.S. And international marketing, the international market is 200 dollars for the software.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 3:56
Disclosure
Voozer employs only one full-time narrator in Brazil
“In Brazil, we have only one, and all the others, they are part-time.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 4:37
Disclosure
Voozer operates with a core team of five people
“Okay, so right now we are in five.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 5:06
Disclosure
Voozer's co-founder equity split is approximately two to one
“Between my partner and I, it would be like two to one.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 5:48
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer raised around $50,000 from angel investors and family
“At the time we raised around 50,000 dollars.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 6:20
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer currently serves approximately 90 active customers
“We have around 90.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 7:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
A single channel partner once delivered 40% of Voozer's customers
“At some .40% of our customers came from a single partner.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 9:25
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer adds about three to four new customers per month
“Okay. So now we are about three to four per month.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 9:34
Assertion Not checkable as stated
30% of Voozer customers pay upfront for an annual subscription
“Actually, 30% of our customers, they pay up front for an entire year.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 10:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer lost approximately 20% of its MRR during the COVID-19 pandemic
“What happened is that when COVID, like when we started with that, we have our, we lost a bunch of customers, around 20% MRR due to the COVID crisis.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 10:20
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer currently holds approximately $50,000 in cash reserves
“Currently in the bank, let's say in dollars around 50 K.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 12:05
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer spends around $17,000 monthly in total operating expenses
“So we are around 17 thousand dollars.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 12:15
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Voozer experiences approximately 4% monthly customer churn
“We measure right now. It's around four percent per month.”
Albert Heifaz Aug 11, 2021 ▶ 13:21
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