The Fort #111: Tomas Hoyos - Co-Founder & CEO of Airsubs
Today's episode features Tomas Hoyos, the Co-Founder & CEO of airsubs, a platform launched in the midst of the pandemic that allows creators to connect virtually with their audience to teach classes, host fitness courses and more all while monetizing as digital creators. Tomas also is the founder of Voro, a healthcare social network where people share doctor recommendations with their friends and neighbors, research doctors, and book appointments.
On this episode, Tomas touches on his childhood moving from Venezuela to the United States and the trial his family went through during multiple military coups and the Bay of Pigs. He and Chris also discuss the pivot to launching airsubs during the early days of the pandemic, how COVID affected Voro, and the trend of the creator economy exploding due to the events of the last year. Enjoy!
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(02:56) - Tomas’ Story Growing Up and What Led Him to Airsubs
(04:16) - Tomas’ Experience Growing Up in Venezuela
(05:36) - What was the inspiration behind Voro?
(10:02) - When did you decide to go all-in with Voro?
(10:56) - Did you bring on a co-founder?
(11:27) - What happened when the pandemic hit?
(16:44) - How do you describe airsubs?
(20:29) - Was Mike Maples the main encourager for y’all to ‘try anything’ in the midst of the world turning upside down?
(22:13) - What was your mandate to the team in the aftermath of that conversation? How long was it until you launched airsubs from that call?
(23:03) - Did you code everything out or go no-code?
(23:38) - What was the genesis of getting your first creator onboard?
(27:13) - What other types of use-cases are you seeing on the platform?
(29:04) - Re-Selling Content
(30:14) - Can you embed your profile into a website or do you drive users to the airsubs website?
(31:00) - Is there a community aspect within airsubs?
(31:41) - What’s the network effect like?
(33:24) - What tools do you offer to the creator?
(36:14) - How are you getting inspiration for new tools to add?
(37:27) - Has there been anything your customers have asked you to build that was surprising?
(38:33) - Is there any reason a creator would go back to in-person events after seeing such success online?
(40:02) - What are your thoughts on Clubhouse and the idea of monetizing conversations?
(43:48) - How many people are working on the business?
(44:48) - Is it fair to say you’ve found Product-Market fit with airsubs?
(46:04) - How are you thinking about financing going forward?
(46:56) - How are you thinking about Voro’s growth amidst airsubs’ success?
(47:58) - Is your team completely remote? How do you think about growing the team?
(48:40) - What have your investors done for you that you didn’t expect?
(50:02) - Did you have a childhood experience that shaped the trajectory of your life?
(52:56) - What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
(53:37) - What’s the best book you have ever read?
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
Barbarian Days by William Finnegan
A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean
(54:30) - What’s the best way for people to reach you or find airsubs?
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/HomasToyos
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HomasToyos