VUZ has raised $12 million in pre-Series C funding to boost its global expansion, with a focus on emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and the United States.
The company, known for delivering immersive video experiences, is strengthening its footprint beyond the Gulf, where it is already active in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
The round was led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a rare entry into the consumer tech space for the World Bank Group affiliate. Other participants included Al Jazira Capital, CrossWork VC’s Success Fund, several legacy investors, and top-tier Saudi family offices.
Unlike most consumer platforms vying for attention, VUZ is not offering standard video feeds. It’s pushing what it calls “inside-the-moment” experiences, allowing users to be virtually present at events like the Grammys, La Liga matches, and major fashion shows.
From smartphones to VR headsets, its distribution spans several formats. This, the company believes, is its edge against heavyweights like TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, and Instagram.
Founder and CEO Khaled Zaatarah explained that IFC’s involvement came from its interest in underserved markets and VUZ’s traction in these regions.
“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.”
While user growth in mature markets is stalling, Africa and Southeast Asia are moving in the opposite direction. Younger users in Nigeria, Kenya, Indonesia, and Egypt are consuming content at unprecedented rates. VUZ wants to be in the front row of this shift.
From just 10 million users in 2022, the company has now crossed 15 million globally. Viewership has also exploded, screen views jumped from one billion to nearly three billion.
Vuz’s audience stretches across the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and the U.S., but it’s the emerging regions that are now central to the platform’s growth narrative.
In the United States, the firm is switching to paid campaigns to convert red carpet event viewers into returning users. In Africa and Asia, their approach is more embedded, they’re working closely with telecom providers to widen reach.
Already, VUZ has over 40 distribution partnerships, and it’s far from done. New market entries, including South Africa, are lined up for later this year.
Monetisation has shifted, too. Where nearly three-quarters of content was once free, now 40% sits behind a paywall. Users can access premium videos via subscription or bundled telco offerings.
This change is already showing results, revenue has doubled in the past two years, with gross profit rising 80% in the last financial year. Though financial specifics weren’t shared, Zaatarah confirmed that VUZ achieved EBITDA profitability in 2024.
Part of the success comes from a lean content production model. The startup relies heavily on trained freelancers rather than large crews. These creators, provided with company-owned cameras, generate content while paying off the gear through future earnings.
It’s an approach that mirrors the gig economy and supports scalability without bloated overhead.
To speed up content output, VUZ runs an internal editing unit called VUZ Studio. This in-house team streamlines production, packaging immersive experiences in record time.
Beyond this, VUZ is investing in tools like live commerce to help creators monetise during real-time streams. It’s especially courting female influencers, who are using the platform to sell beauty and fashion products directly to viewers.
Still, the road ahead is demanding. VUZ must convince users that immersive video isn’t just a passing trend and offer creators better returns than what they’d get on platforms like YouTube or TikTok. That’s a tall order in saturated Western markets, where incumbents enjoy network effects and advertising firepower.
But Zaatarah says, “YouTube and Netflix are great, but they’re not building for creators in Nairobi or Riyadh,” he said. “We’re building a product, network, and monetization model that’s hyper-local, with the infrastructure to scale globally.”
The company now operates offices in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and the U.S., with team build-outs ongoing in India and Indonesia. It’s live in Kenya, Nigeria, and Egypt, with eyes set on South Africa.
Backing that strategy, IFC’s Farid Fezoua added: “VUZ’s tech edge and global reach align well with our mandate to support scalable platforms that empower creators.”
