VUZ is one of the fastest-growing platforms for immersive video experiences. In fact, the company just announced a new $12 million round of financing to expand its operations in developing markets and throughout the U.S. This additional investment comes on the heels of an oversubscribed $20 million Series B funding round in 2022. It doubled the amount of money the company had to grow and develop its technology.
VUZ was originally established to empower local content creators. They’ve locked down exclusive immersive streaming deals with other major sports entities such as La Liga and the Professional Fighters League (PFL). This smart positioning does a nice job of not only complementing its content programming, but drawing unsaturated audience members looking for something different to binge-watch.
Through a tremendous shared efforts, the platform has really tapped into this collective power. The agency has partnered with 100+ digital content creators, engaging 100+ million unique viewers! This deep network acts as a conduit for rich, compelling content that keeps the platform diverse and engaging to serve all demographics. Currently, VUZ offers a mix of 60% free and 40% premium content, accessible to users through annual subscriptions or bundled telecom offers. Such flexibility furthers its primary mission of increasing access to immersive media.
VUZ now has more than 15 million users around the world. They get close to 3 billion screen views! This impressive engagement reflects the demand for immersive content across its target markets, which include the Middle East, the U.S., Asia, and Africa. With a goal of 5 billion+ screen views by 2026, the company has an extremely ambitious growth trajectory ahead of it.
VUZ’s new content model has some parallels with Uber’s disruptive approach. It trains and equips independent reporters and content creators to capture and upload captivating content. It’s a move that brings further diversification to the platform’s offerings. It establishes a world-class community of creators equipped to pursue opportunities in the burgeoning sector of immersive experiences. In order to nurture these VFX artists and creators, VUZ has created “VUZ Studio” to back these creators. This in-house production team is solely committed to rapidly editing and packaging immersive content.
Allowing VUZ to grow its footprint in several markets worldwide through their more than 40 partnerships internationally, VUZ continues to establish relationships. The company is currently working to build robust operational teams in India and Indonesia as part of its strategic growth plan. Khaled Zaatarah, a key leader at VUZ, emphasized the company’s vision for expansion:
“They are focused on emerging markets and saw us as a company that’s focusing on scaling globally and also into those markets. Our work in the creators and the content space got them very excited and based on our progress and growth, there’s so much potential to build upon that.” – Khaled Zaatarah
Our dedication to creators goes beyond the development of content, too. Financially, VUZ has seen stunning success. In fact, they’ve doubled their revenue over the past two years, and last year realized a stunning 80% jump in gross profit. Moreover, VUZ achieved EBITDA profitability in 2024, making it a sustainable player in the competitive media landscape.
Farid Fezoua, who is involved with the recent funding round, remarked on VUZ’s potential:
“VUZ’s tech edge and global reach align well with our mandate to support scalable platforms that empower creators.” – Farid Fezoua
Today, VUZ is in the process of scaling its operations rapidly. The London based company has previously expressed a desire to deepen its technological prowess and content library. Along with empowering creators, VUZ enhances community collaboration within emerging markets. That last approach uniquely positions it against established behemoths such as YouTube and Netflix. Zaatarah pointed out a crucial differentiation:
“YouTube and Netflix are great, but they’re not building for creators in Nairobi or Riyadh.” – Khaled Zaatarah
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