Nahid Reaches 15,000 Users: Lessons from Building in Persian

Finding the Gap

The Persian digital content market is massive - over 100 million Persian speakers worldwide - yet underserved. Most audiobook platforms focus on English content, leaving Persian speakers with limited options.

We saw an opportunity not just to fill this gap, but to elevate it. Instead of just any content, we curate stories and audiobooks that feed consciousness. Not entertainment for entertainment's sake, but content that transforms.

The Growth Journey

Nahid launched with 50 carefully curated titles. Growth was slow at first - just a handful of users per day. But those early users were deeply engaged, spending hours listening and sharing with friends.

We focused on quality over quantity. Every book, every narrator, every piece of content was chosen for its consciousness-elevating properties. This created powerful word-of-mouth growth.

By month six, we hit 5,000 users. By month twelve, 10,000. Now at 15,000 active users with 2,500 paying subscribers, generating $250-500 monthly. Growth rate: 20%+ month over month.

Revenue Model That Works

We use a freemium model: free access to a curated selection, premium subscription for full library. Pricing is accessible for the Iranian market - equivalent to a coffee per month.

The key was finding the right price point. Too high, and we exclude people who need this content most. Too low, and the business isn't sustainable. We landed on a sweet spot that works for users and supports creators.

Technical Lessons

Nahid runs on a legacy PHP stack - not ideal, but it works. We've learned that perfect technology matters less than serving users well. That said, we're planning a migration to our modern stack.

Audio streaming at scale in regions with variable internet connectivity required creative solutions. We built aggressive caching, offline modes, and progressive quality adjustment.

Payment processing in restricted markets is challenging. We integrated multiple local payment gateways to ensure users can actually pay for subscriptions.

What's Next

We're expanding content library, improving discovery with AI recommendations, and building community features. The vision is a platform where Persian speakers worldwide can access consciousness-elevating content.

Most importantly, we're scaling the model to other underserved markets. Consciousness-driven content isn't limited to any language or culture - it's universal.