Three months to $1M ARR
“So we hit a million in ARR three months exactly after we get our first customers.”
Founder conversationLeader $5m+
How Submagic Bootstrapped to $8M ARR With 13 People and a 30% Affiliate Program
David Zitoun explains how Submagic reached $1M ARR in three months and $8M ARR with a 13-person team, using affiliates, short-form virality and AI.
David Zitoun · Submagic
Published June 10, 2025About this resource
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What you’ll learn
David Zitoun, co-founder and CEO of Submagic, explains how his two-year-old, bootstrapped AI video tool reached $8M ARR with 13 people. He covers the first $1M in three months, a 30% lifetime affiliate program that drives 20% of revenue, free-tool SEO that spiked and then stalled, and 15% monthly churn.
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Lifetime affiliate commission
“We have a very generous program. We give 30% revenue on the lifetime value of the customers.”
Customers hold the answer
“The solution of your business is in the answer of your customers. Talk to them. Be close to your customers.”
Why free tools failed
“But the reality is that those things don't convert and don't attract really good customers.”
AI keeps the team small
“Without AI, we should have been maybe 40 in the company or 50 people to do what we do.”
Resource files
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Video
David Zitoun
Co-Founder & CEO · Submagic
- Company revenue
- $8M
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