Fizz, a rapidly expanding college social app, is making significant advancements by appointing David Vasquez, a former TikTok executive, as its new Head of Product. Vasquez, who previously led initiatives in creator monetization and TikTok Shop, will be pivotal in shaping Fizz’s recommendation engine, marketplace, and content strategy.
Enhancing Personalization and the Recommendation Engine
A primary goal for Vasquez is to enhance Fizz’s recommendation system, ensuring users receive content that matches their interests. Leveraging his experience at TikTok, he aims to implement effective content curation strategies similar to those that contributed to TikTok’s success in the social media realm.
“One of TikTok’s greatest strengths is presenting the right content to the right user at the right time,” Vasquez told TechCrunch. “I want to introduce that level of personalization to Fizz.”
Fizz intends to utilize AI-driven insights to analyze user engagement and highlight trending content across various topics. This strategy will boost content diversity while ensuring users encounter highly relevant posts. For instance, a user who frequently engages with sports discussions will see more related content while also being introduced to new, engaging topics.
Expanding the Fizz Marketplace Beyond Peer-to-Peer Transactions
Vasquez also aims to expand Fizz’s peer-to-peer marketplace, incorporating insights from his time at TikTok Shop. The company is exploring options for integrated payments and broadening marketplace offerings to include brand partnerships.
“Currently, transactions are conducted solely via DMs,” Vasquez explained. “We see a potential to introduce in-app payments and even incorporate e-commerce brands into the platform.”
This transition could turn Fizz into a social-driven commerce hub, enabling users to purchase not only from peers but also from established brands. By streamlining transactions and onboarding retailers, Fizz is positioning itself as a Gen Z-friendly shopping destination.
Pushing Further into Video Content
Recognizing Gen Z’s preference for short-form video, Vasquez has already increased Fizz’s maximum video length from 15 seconds to 30 seconds. This simple modification has led to a 350% increase in video content creation on the platform.
Fizz plans to continue investing in video, potentially extending the maximum duration to one minute in the future. The aim is to make video content more engaging and interactive, ensuring users remain connected and actively contribute to the platform’s growth.
Opening the Platform to Brand Partnerships and Advertising
Fizz is now open to brand partnerships, with growing interest from generative AI companies seeking advertising opportunities. As the platform expands, integrating sponsored content and branded campaigns could unveil new revenue streams and further solidify its stance in the social media industry.
Strong Growth and Competitive Positioning
Fizz is entering 2025 with substantial momentum, showcasing a 245% increase in daily posts and a 61% rise in daily active users (DAUs) since the beginning of the year. Vasquez credits this growth partly to the uncertain future of TikTok in the U.S., a trend that has also benefited platforms like Snapchat.
“With the evolving social media landscape, we’re observing more users gravitating towards authentic, community-driven platforms,” Vasquez noted.
Fizz’s Expanding Reach
Founded in 2021, Fizz is now accessible at over 300 colleges and universities, with more than 18 million posts on the platform. With $41 million in funding support, the company is swiftly transitioning from a college-exclusive social app into a next-generation social commerce and content hub.
With Vasquez steering product innovation, Fizz is poised to redefine social media engagement, seamlessly integrating personalization, commerce, and video into the user experience. As the platform grows, it could emerge as a key player in the evolving social media ecosystem.
