VUZ is a technology company.
VUZ has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round.
VUZ has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
VUZ has raised $20.0M in total across 1 funding round.
VUZ's investors include 500 Falcons, Algebra Ventures.
VUZ has raised $20.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $20.0M Series B in October 2022.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2022 | $20.0M Series B | 500 Falcons, Algebra Ventures |
VUZ is a UAE-based technology company founded in 2017 that builds an immersive live-streaming platform delivering 360-degree VR, XR, AR, and AI-powered content across sports, entertainment, concerts, and masterclasses.[1][2][3][4] It serves global audiences, creators, and fans by enabling virtual presence at premium events like LaLiga matches, Grammys, and Super Bowl experiences, accessible via mobile apps, web, smart TVs, Apple Vision Pro, and Oculus headsets.[1][2][4] VUZ solves the problem of limited access to live events by "teleporting" users inside experiences with interactive features like chat, gifting, and social sharing, while empowering a creator network reaching over 100 million with monetization tools.[1][4] The company has shown strong growth momentum, achieving EBITDA profitability in 2024 with 80% year-over-year gross profit increase, 3 billion+ screen views to date, over 30,000 hours of exclusive premium content, and 40+ telecom integrations; it recently raised $12 million in pre-Series C funding led by IFC to fuel global expansion.[1][2]
VUZ, originally named 360VUZ, was founded in 2017 in the UAE by entrepreneur Khaled Zaatarah, who bootstrapped it into a leading immersive social mobile app backed by top-tier venture capital from Silicon Valley and global funds.[1][3] The idea emerged from Zaatarah's vision to pioneer immersive media, starting with 360-degree videos that ranked it as the #1 Hottest Tech Startup on Crunchbase in 2020 and earned awards like Media Startup of the Year, App of the Year, and Best Travel Tech Startup.[3] Early traction came from being featured as the #1 Immersive App on Apple Apps They Love, building a presence in Los Angeles, Dubai, Amman, and Riyadh with expertise in AR, VR, and XR product development.[3] Pivotal moments include securing exclusive partnerships with LaLiga, Serie A, PFL, NBA, and giga projects, amassing 30,000+ hours of owned content, and launching on devices like Apple Vision Pro and VUZGo web tech, culminating in 2024 profitability and the $12M IFC-led round.[1][2]
VUZ rides the explosive growth of immersive media and spatial computing trends, fueled by VR/AR hardware adoption like Apple Vision Pro and metaverse demands in sports/entertainment.[1][2] Timing is ideal amid rising AI-streaming tech and global events digitization post-pandemic, with market forces like telecom expansions in MENA, Africa, and Asia favoring its 40+ integrations and partnerships with football clubs and giga projects.[1][2] It influences the ecosystem by challenging giants like YouTube/TikTok with "inside-the-experience" 360-content, empowering creators in emerging markets (e.g., launches in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, upcoming South Africa/India/Indonesia), and positioning at the center of device makers, sports federations, and media talks for transcendent content.[1][2]
VUZ is primed for hyper-scale with its profitability, patented tech, and $12M fuel targeting 5B+ screen views by 2026 via U.S. paid marketing, African/Asian telecom pushes, and AI enhancements.[1][2] Trends like spatial web, AI personalization, and Vision Pro proliferation will shape its path, potentially evolving it into a media infrastructure leader as partnerships with global athletes and conglomerates deepen.[1] From UAE roots redefining live access, VUZ could dominate immersive streaming, turning passive viewers into engaged participants worldwide.[1][2]