How Halo AI grows

Compared four structures (flat retainer, capped CPM ~$1/1K views, base+CPM, base+milestone) and let 30 creators choose between CPM and base+milestone at roughly equal (CPM slightly higher) expected pay. Standardized on base+milestone for everyone: $20 per video (one video = 4 posts), bonuses of $60 at 20K, $200 at 100K, $500 at 500K, $800 at 1M views. Only one of the 4 cross-posts needs to hit a milestone and bonuses don't stack, so views on other platforms and between milestones are unpaid. Also simpler to operate than CPM (no re-checking view counts and paying differences).

Joined Reddit UGC subs and hundreds of Facebook UGC groups and posted a job in every one (plus paid creator platforms). Screened for past UGC (ideally app/tech) experience and living in the US or using a US VPN; English as first language and Gen Z help. Paid trial in Discord with a private channel per creator: set up accounts, post 5 videos (x4 platforms = 20 posts) of the one fixed format over 5 days, $20/video = $100. No hard view threshold (virality is a power law); pass on consistency (posts daily), proactive communication, and visible viral editing (strong emotional hook, build-up, payoff).

Only one format, no deviation: (1) an absurd AI-generated image as the hook with a prank caption (e.g. 'Pranking my dad, I cooked his koi fish'); (2) screen recording of generating it in the app, with a big loading screen showing the Halo AI name and logo for ~2 seconds as the only call to action; (3) a screen-recorded text conversation with the pranked person that builds up to a twist/payoff. Mostly pranks. A good format must be viral, repeatable and convert. Sounds matter; hashtags don't affect reach.

Treats revenue = views x conversion rate, and total views = creators x videos per creator x posts per video (platforms) x views per post; pushes every variable up daily. Creators post on fresh US accounts (no followers needed) and cross-post each video to TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Shorts. Scaled from ~10 creators to 25 in the initial ramp and 85 now, ~300 posts/day.

Onboarding paywall is skippable; users can browse templates (hairstyles, decor, tattoos, cartoons) and upload a photo and write a prompt. On tapping send, they are asked to sign in and then hit a gated paywall; the core feature can't be used without paying.

Measured early UGC returns (ROAS / LTV:CAC ~5-6x, with a constant view-to-download rate per format), then emptied his bank account and took a ~$100K personal loan to pay creators. Scaled at break-even (every dollar in came back out) and reinvested all revenue into growth.

No posting cap for accepted creators; paid per video so volume is rewarded. YouTube and Instagram showed no penalty for unlimited posting. TikTok needs a ramp: 3/day, then 5, then 10 as the account warms up; after that no limit observed. Facebook still being learned.

Downloaded every video with 1M+ views, ran them through Gemini for transcripts and summaries, stored as local text files for an OpenClaw agent in the creator Discord. Creators ask it for new scripts/ideas; it pattern-matches on what worked. Also pulls trending TikTok keywords and hashtags (via Scrape Creators) and fits trends (e.g. the Olympics) into the format.

An automation posts each viral video to every creator in the Discord; all creators are expected to recreate it on their own accounts the same day, keeping the specific element that drove comments (e.g. the conversation twist).

All creators in one Discord (plus a private channel each) with channels for wins, ideas and feedback; creators hang out in voice chat late at night, share learnings and ask each other for engagement to hit milestones.

Standard two-page paywall ('try Halo for free, we'll notify you when your trial ends') defaulting to $8.99/week with free trial; no annual on this variant. Yearly was tested and dropped (to be retested). Extra paywalls for exit offer, abandoned purchase and trial cancellation.

Uses the views x conversion model together with growth and churn rates to forecast where MRR will plateau.

Plans to run existing viral, converting content as Meta ads first, then build creative diversity for different awareness levels, aiming for $1M/month by June.