US-based anonymous social app Fizz made a surprisingly strong debut in Saudi Arabia in mid-March, quickly capturing the top spot on the country’s App Store charts. Within the first 48 hours of its launch, the platform saw massive user adoption, with more than 1 million messages sent, signaling a significant test of its international expansion plans beyond its initial US college campus user base.
Quick Facts
- Hit #1 overall on the App Store in 48 hours.
- Over 1 million messages sent by Saudi users.
- First international test for the platform.
From Stanford Dorm to Riyadh’s Digital Scene
Founded in 2022 by Stanford dropouts Teddy Solomon and Ashton Cofer, Fizz initially gained traction across 700 US college campuses after raising $40 million. The company is now pushing beyond its academic roots with Fizz Feed, a feature that creates location-based communities for non-students, operating similarly to Reddit but without user-created topic groups. Saudi Arabia represents the first overseas market for this new model.
The decision to target the Middle East came after CEO Teddy Solomon attended a conference in Dubai and recognized the region’s potential. To prepare for the launch, Fizz marketing analyst Michael Fonseca relocated to Saudi Arabia to build local connections and gain a deeper understanding of the culture.
“Business is booming. The social scene and social landscape is booming,” said Solomon. “Snapchat’s huge there. And social apps are just massive in the region, whether it’s Snap, or WhatsApp, or TikTok.”
Navigating Opportunity and Censorship in the Kingdom
Fizz’s entry taps into a rapidly changing social and economic environment driven by Saudi Vision 2030, a government plan to diversify the economy away from oil and modernize the country’s global image. This initiative has fueled a thriving tech scene and high engagement with social media platforms.
However, the expansion also brings the app into a market with strict controls on free speech. Operating in an absolute monarchy presents unique challenges, as the government has previously penalized citizens for online expression. When asked about a potential plan for handling government takedown requests or user monitoring, Solomon acknowledged the complexity of the situation.
“The answer is, [we will] cross that bridge when we get there,” he stated. “We have a lot of confidence in our guidelines. We are moderating very strictly and in a way that is satisfying people in the region and making sure that we’re abiding by the rules of the region and rules of the country.”
A Moderation Model Built on Local Volunteers
To manage content in its new market, Fizz has invested in Arabic natural language processing tools and onboarded “hundreds” of volunteer moderators from its new Saudi user base. This approach mirrors the company’s strategy in the US, where it combines AI tools with student volunteers who can better interpret the nuances of their specific campus communities.
Solomon emphasized the local community’s enthusiasm for maintaining a safe platform. “There’s a lot of care for their community,” he said. “There’s a lot of pride in their country, a lot of pride in the city that they live in, and they like the platform.”
Fizz confirmed it has not received any investment from Saudi Arabian entities and has not had any communication with government officials.
About Fizz
Fizz is an anonymous social app founded in 2022 by Teddy Solomon and Ashton Cofer. Initially launched for college students at Stanford University, the platform has since expanded to hundreds of campuses across the United States. The company is now pursuing international growth through location-based community feeds.
Source: TechCrunch
