Dominic Madori Davis, senior venture capital and startup reporter at TechCrunch, recently sat down with Teddy Solomon to discuss those dynamics. He is the co-founder and CEO of Fizz, and their conversation happened onstage during the Disrupt conference. Fizz is a social network dedicated exclusively to college campuses around the U.S. Yet, it has drawn widespread accolades for its creative new approaches to providing safe public spaces online, while expanding its reach and improving its ecosystem.
Fizz employs a unique consumer-based model to ensure the integrity of its platform. This creates a partnership between the 7,000 active student volunteers who act as moderators and censors along with artificial intelligence technology. This combination not only ensures Fizz can maintain high-quality content but supports a vibrant, community-driven environment. Solomon called attention to this valuable safety mechanism, calling it “absolutely essential” for building consumer confidence in the use of such tools.
In addition to its focus on safety, Fizz is embarking on a new initiative known as “Global Fizz,” which aims to extend the platform’s presence beyond college campuses. Fizz believes strongly in expanding strategically to provide a clear path to their vision. The aim is to be the world’s most diverse social media network for young adults. Solomon thinks New York, now more than ever, is the better place to build a consumer company than San Francisco. He cites the magic of the Motor City’s creative vibe and development talent as key benefits.
That gave the floor to Theresa Loconsolo, audio producer at TechCrunch and Musical Cities attendee. Her main focus is on the network’s flagship podcast, Equity. Originally from New Jersey, Loconsolo earned her bachelor’s degree in Communication from Monmouth University. Follow along with us as The Equity podcast explores the most important trends impacting the startup and venture capital ecosystem. You can tune in on major platforms including YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Overcast, and Spotify.
As the conversation continues around the future of social media and its role on college campuses, Fizz’s innovative safety measures and ambitious expansion plan highlight the evolving landscape of online communication for younger generations.
