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§ Private Profile · Los Angeles, CA, USA
VUZ is a technology company.
VUZ operates an immersive video platform designed to deliver compelling extended reality (XR) experiences. The platform streams 360-degree video content, encompassing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) formats, across various devices including web, mobile, television, and specialized headsets. It offers exclusive access to a diverse range of content spanning live events, sports, entertainment, and educational masterclasses, focusing on delivering a heightened sense of presence and immersion to its users.
The company was founded in 2017 by Khaled Zaatarah. Zaatarah launched VUZ with the foundational insight of bridging the experiential gap between physical and digital worlds, leveraging emerging immersive technologies to achieve this. His background includes a tenure as a Brands Operations Leader at Procter & Gamble, providing him with a strong foundation in digital media and brand strategy prior to establishing VUZ.
VUZ targets a broad audience of users seeking rich, interactive digital content experiences. The company’s vision is to pioneer the future of immersive media, enabling a new standard of realism and engagement for audiences worldwide. It aims to establish itself as a premier destination for XR and metaverse-driven digital experiences, continuously expanding the scope and accessibility of its immersive offerings.
VUZ has raised $37.8M across 3 funding rounds.
VUZ has raised $37.8M in total across 3 funding rounds.
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]
VUZ has raised $37.8M in total across 3 funding rounds.
VUZ's investors include Farid Fezoua, Aljazira Capital, Crosswork VC, 500 Falcons, Algebra Ventures, Dan Caruso, Dubai Future District Fund, Kushal Shah, Elbert Capital, Faith Capital, Panthera Capital, SRMG.
VUZ has raised $37.8M across 3 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $12.0M Pre-Series C in May 2025.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | $12M Series B Plus | Farid Fezoua | Aljazira Capital, Crosswork VC | Announced |
| Oct 1, 2022 | $20M Series B | — | 500 Falcons, Algebra Ventures, DAN Caruso, Dubai Future District Fund, Kushal Shah, Elbert Capital, Faith Capital, Panthera Capital, Srmg, Vision Venture Capital, Webit Investment Network, Yasta Partners | Announced |
| Apr 21, 2020 | $5.8M Series A | Shane (you Keun) Shin | Jonathan Labin, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, 500 Startups, Hala Ventures, KBW Ventures, Media Visions, Vision Ventures | Announced |