Koi

Three years ago, I quit medicine to become a full-time YouTuber. 2 years later, we grew this channel to over 1.3 million subscribers.

And now..we are stepping away.

I know this sounds absolutely insane.

Who abandons a 1M+ subscriber YouTube channel?

But there's a story behind it that I think every creative needs to hear.

Mike and I made mistakes. Big ones.

The kinds that almost killed our business.

And left me working more hours than I ever did as a doctor, and getting completely burnt out and solving problems I was no longer passionate about.

I’ve never shared something this vulnerable before. And to be honest I was scared to post this.

But it’s too important for me not to.

It's about the disconnect between what looks successful from the outside and what actually matters on the inside.

And why Mike and I are starting over.

Nothing from Koi will be removed. And words cannot describe how much building our community and brand has meant to me. I poured everything I had into it for the last 5 years.

Our products, and our team will continue to serve every ambitious learner looking to become self-reliant.

This new chapter has a bunch of unknowns, but I’m excited to build what I’ve always dreamed of. That's exactly what we’re doing.

The video is live now.

Check it out over at Mike and Matty, our new channel for creatives and brands: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Flle...

To embracing risk, and going all in,

Matty

2 months ago | [YT] | 829

Koi

The education system isn't built for 2025.

Tech layoffs are everywhere. Job security is vanishing. AI is coming for entry-level positions.

Meanwhile, 73% of college grads never even use their degree.

But, there’s a smarter way. And it beats any degree or credential.

Start a business, even if you’re a student.

Most people think starting a business is risky. They’re wrong. In fact, I believe not starting one is the bigger risk right now.

I broke it all down in our newest video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ebu_...

4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 222

Koi

In 2022, I was at a crossroads that would change the trajectory of my life.

I was finally an MD, about to start residency.

But nothing felt right.

When my brother Mike and I started this channel during the pandemic, it was just a side project. But while I was supposed to be studying medicine, I found myself staying up late working on Youtube and my business. My heart was trying to tell me something my brain didn't want to hear.

"Dude, shut up and be grateful," my friends told me. "Do you know how many people would kill to be where you are?"

But I always came back to the same questions:

Which path makes me feel alive?

Which one can I see myself doing non-stop?

For me, 9 times out of 10, it was entrepreneurship.

So I took the leap, and left my career as a doctor.

I moved back in with my parents (who were disappointed to say the least), and bootstrapped for 2 years as an unemployed doctor with loans hanging over my head.

And here we are in 2025.

Today, we’re saying goodbye to this channel (for now), and starting a new chapter where we help businesses grow with Youtube and content creation.

We’ve had the privilege to work with several high profile clients, and this is without a doubt the work that makes my soul come alive.

I’m speaking on behalf of Mike when I say that we are deeply grateful for everyone who has been apart of our journey, from the days of RemNote, to Cajun Koi, to Study Quest, and our communities. I never would have imagined reaching a million subs on youtube, let alone a million in revenue. Especially starting with zero background in entrepreneurship.

But I believe that if you love what you do, then success is inevitable.

Now it’s time to do it all again.

If you have aspirations to carve your own path with content creation, we invite you to join us on our second youtube channel.

My full story is up on that channel here: https://youtu.be/KoMEDDXV7W0?si=Q1ccG...

It’s one of the most raw and open videos I’ve made.

You’ll find Mike’s origin story there as well (but mine’s way more dramatic)

If you're feeling trapped in your "perfect career" but your gut says otherwise – this one's for you.

with love and gratitude,

Matty

5 months ago | [YT] | 550

Koi

Growing on YouTube is the reason we were able to leave our jobs as burnt-out doctors and now wake up each day excited to work.

It wasn’t easy to get to this point. It took years of trial and error, staying consistent, and learning how to actually make money from it all.

After helping many creators start their own journeys, we’ve noticed the same struggles over and over again. It always came down to a lack of a solid strategy and a community of like-minded people to grow with.

That’s why we are launching the Rebel Creators membership. It’s a space designed for YouTubers looking to grow their audience and create a sustainable business around their channel.

Inside, you’ll get access to our frameworks built with AI systems we’ve fine-tuned over 6+ years on YouTube:

- AI-powered content system – we now produce quality videos in half the time, and with half the team size thanks to these AI workflows

- Virtual monetization playbook – monetize your YouTube channel without being salesy

- Your own AI clone – Create scripts & copy faster, in your own voice that doesn’t “sound AI”

- A real creator community – Feedback, workshops, and collabs with people on the same journey

But this isn’t just another course. It’s a community for Creators who are serious about building something real.

We’re bringing together a group of driven YouTubers who are ready to grow, collaborate, and take their channels to the next level.

For a limited time, you can join at Founder Pricing—50% off ($997 instead of $2,000 - installment payments are possible). If you sign up now, you’ll keep that lifetime discount!

Spots are limited, so send us an email at info@cajunkoi.com if you want to join the Rebel Creators!


If you’d like to stay up-to-date on the Rebel Creators Membership and get the latest insights on the creator economy, AI-powered tools, and strategies to grow your creator business, subscribe to our newsletter: www.rebel-creator.com/

5 months ago | [YT] | 121

Koi

Adobe just released its Firefly Video Model, calling it the “first commercially safe AI video generation tool.”

Firefly can generate 1080p video from text or images, complete with camera control and motion graphics. It can also translate and lip sync audio.

The model is trained on licensed Adobe Stock and public domain content, but claims that it will never be trained on user generated content. Pricing tiers start at $9.99 per month.

The safe use of AI-generated content has been long debated by creators. Adobe's commitment to responsible AI development ensures that Firefly is trained exclusively on properly licensed content, providing creators with confidence in the commercial safety of their creations.

Want more insights like this? Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates on the creator economy, AI-powered tools for creators, and strategies for growing your creator business: www.rebel-creator.com/


Illustration: Lenka T.

5 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 84

Koi

Perplexity AI has unveiled its own Deep Research, a tool designed to generate comprehensive reports on any topic.

Perplexity has positioned itself as one of the most able and accurate AI for search, and now it becomes the first AI company to offer a Deep Research tool for free (with a daily usage limit of five queries per day).

In contrast to competitors like Gemini’s Deep Research (which is available for $20 per month), or OpenAI's Deep Research (which is available at $200 per month), Perplexity gives free access.

This development signifies a shift in the digital information landscape, where traditional SEO is increasingly complemented or even replaced by the new Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).

As creators, we must start optimizing our content for AI generated search, and changing the way we create and get discovered online.

Don't miss out! Our newsletter covers the latest trends in the creator economy, AI tools for creators, and expert advice on growing your creator business: www.rebel-creator.com/


Photo: Perplexity

6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 207

Koi

Spotify recently launched two huge creator initiatives, which work in a very similar way to YouTube’s creator programs:

- The Creator Milestone Awards: This is Spotify’s version of YouTube’s ‘Play Buttons.’ The Milestone Awards are physical plaques for podcasters who hit 50M, 100M, and 1B streams. This marks the first time that Spotify will be publicly sharing podcast stream counts.

- The Spotify Partner Program: This is Spotify’s version of ‘Adsense,’ which allows creators who meet minimum streaming requirements (2,000 streams and 10,000 hours listened in 30 days) to earn payouts based on Premium user listens and a revenue share from ads on the free tier.

For creators who are already doing podcasts, or thinking of starting, this is a sign to take the leap. YouTube’s play button awards and Adsense program have historically been the most lucrative for serious creators, but Spotify is now shifting the conversation.

Spotify's milestone plaques also signal a shift in transparency. While YouTube creators have long used Play Button milestones as social proof, podcasting has lacked clear public metrics, until now.

Spotify is quietly positioning itself as a YouTube competitor as they both compete neck and neck to be the #1 platform that people turn to for podcasts. Spotify is currently the only major platform focused on long-form video and audio content that can build deep connections with audiences.

With more monetization tools coming, Spotify is not a platform to ignore if you’re serious about investing in your brand long-term.

Don't miss out! Our newsletter covers the latest trends in the creator economy, AI tools for creators, and expert advice on growing your creator business: www.rebel-creator.com/

Photo: Spotify

6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 160

Koi

DeepSeek, a Chinese AI company, has developed a powerful AI model—without using the high-end chips that big tech companies rely on.

Traditionally, the biggest AI models (like OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini) require expensive NVIDIA chips that are hard to get. DeepSeek, however, bypassed that problem, proving that you don’t need elite hardware to build advanced AI.

This undercuts the dominance of AI giants like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft, who have spent billions on GPU-intensive models. DeepSeek shows that there are alternative, cost-effective AI solutions, and this caused investors to reassess the long-term value of these tech giants, leading to a market dip.

This will fuel competition—more companies, more AI startups, and a wave of new AI-powered tools.

- Cheaper, faster, and more diverse AI tools.
- A shift away from monopoly-controlled AI, leading to more innovation.
- More opportunities for creators and businesses to experiment with a variety of AI tools.

DeepSeek’s breakthrough foreshadows the democratization of AI. The big players are no longer the gatekeepers, and this is great news for small businesses to want a piece of the pie.

Stay updated with our newsletter, where we dive into the latest trends in the creator economy, AI for creators, and building a successful creator business: www.rebel-creator.com/


Photo: TechCrunch

6 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 319

Koi

For everyone here growing a youtube channel or creating content: I'm planning to make more tutorials on how I use AI to make better content in less time (and without it sound too AI-ish).

https://youtu.be/csw30CrEHhE?si=3NbCQ...

We're planning to put a lot more of these behind the scenes stuff on our Mike and Matty channel if you want to see how we're growing our business in 2025. See you there!

7 months ago | [YT] | 351

Koi

Challenge-based content has surged in popularity recently, most notably Squid Game 2 debuted at number one in all 93 countries where Netflix is available, and at the same time, Beast Games became the most-watched show on Amazon Prime Video in over 50 countries.

The success of these series have inspired numerous spin-offs and adaptations, like The 1% Club and even a proposed "American version of Squid Game" by acclaimed director David Fincher.

While these examples come from the entertainment side, the core concept of incorporating “challenges” can be an effective strategy for educational creators like us.

For example:
- I tried learning Spanish in 1 Week
- How I launched my first online course in 14 days
- I followed Elon Musks’s daily routine for 30 days

By integrating challenge-based elements, we can can not only increase engagement, but also demonstrate practical application of what we teach and improve retention for our viewers.

For more snippets like this, check out our newsletter where we cover the latest news on the creator economy, AI for creators, and creator business: www.rebel-creator.com/

First issue of 2025 coming out tomorrow!

7 months ago | [YT] | 296