VUZ, a startup specializing in immersive video content, has secured $12 million in pre-Series C funding to expand its presence across emerging markets and the United States. Known for delivering captivating, 360-degree video experiences of live events such as award ceremonies, football matches, and cultural shows, the company plans to bolster operations significantly in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates while also accelerating its growth into Africa, Asia, and North America.
The funding round was led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group. Other participants included Al Jazira Capital, CrossWork VC’s Success Fund, several existing backers, and prominent family offices based in Saudi Arabia.
The IFC’s involvement is particularly notable given its rare foray into consumer-focused technology. Usually investing in areas such as financial services and logistics, IFC saw significant promise in VUZ’s global scalability and the startup’s targeted approach towards emerging markets.
According to founder and CEO Khaled Zaatarah, IFC was particularly impressed by their content strategy and the traction VUZ had already achieved: “They are interested in companies scaling globally but specifically within emerging markets. Our success with creators and immersive experiences really resonated with them.”
Originally known as 360VUZ, the company competes head-to-head against major video platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Twitch, and Instagram, each boasting massive and entrenched audiences. VUZ, however, differentiates itself by producing unique, immersive content that virtually transports viewers directly inside events, whether it be an L.A.-based Grammy award show, a Dubai fashion showcase, or a prestigious European football match.
The startup’s content can be enjoyed across multiple devices, including smartphones, web browsers, VR headsets such as Apple Vision Pro and Oculus, and connected smart TVs. In addition, VUZ has secured exclusive immersive streaming rights with prominent partners such as La Liga and the Professional Fighters League (PFL), and collaborates with over one hundred influential content creators whose combined social followings exceed 100 million.
This expansion strategy comes amid shifting global streaming trends. Growth in developed markets such as the U.S. has slowed, with established platforms increasingly focused on curbing user churn and ensuring profitability. Conversely, emerging markets—including Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Indonesia—offer substantial growth opportunities, driven by youthful, mobile-centric audiences craving rich, engaging video experiences.
Already boasting approximately 15 million global users, up significantly from 10 million in 2022, VUZ reports nearly 3 billion screen views annually. To further penetrate the competitive U.S. market, the firm intends to supplement its existing organic growth efforts with targeted paid marketing campaigns, particularly surrounding high-interest events such as award shows and music premieres.
In Africa and Asia, VUZ is pursuing closer partnerships with telecom operators—currently numbering over 40 deals internationally—to enhance its content distribution reach. The monetization strategy has evolved as well, shifting from an ad-dependent model to one that blends both free and subscription-based premium content—a move that now sees around 40% of its offerings gated behind annual subscriptions or bundled telecom agreements.
This new emphasis on subscription revenue has helped double overall revenues over the past two years, with the company also reporting an 80% rise in gross profit in the last year. Zaatarah confirmed that VUZ achieved profitability in 2023, though exact figures haven’t been disclosed.
VUZ operates a nimble content production system relying on independent creators who receive specialized training and proprietary camera equipment from the company, with the equipment cost often deducted incrementally from future earnings. An internal team dubbed “VUZ Studio” handles editing and packaging, providing a streamlined post-production experience for creators.
In addition to immersive video, VUZ is exploring live commerce capabilities, especially targeting social influencers, allowing them to directly sell fashion and beauty products via interactive live streams.
While competition is intense, particularly in developed markets, Zaatarah believes VUZ’s core appeal lies in creating a hyper-local product and monetization system capable of seamlessly scaling on a global level, with special attention to underserved creator communities outside major technology hubs.
VUZ currently maintains offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the United States, and is actively expanding staff and infrastructure within India and Indonesia. In Africa, the company already operates in Egypt, Nigeria, and Kenya, and is slated to enter South Africa in the coming months.
Ultimately, the IFC’s investment signals confidence in VUZ’s long-term potential to build a globally scalable, creator-focused streaming platform—a strategy well-supported by IFC’s mandate to invest in disruptive technologies with clear paths to meaningful growth.
