Vuz, an innovative immersive media platform, has secured a strategic investment from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, as part of its $12 million Pre-Series C funding round. This investment is a pivotal moment for Vuz, enhancing its efforts to expand internationally in immersive live streaming, AI-driven content delivery, and spatial media experiences across sports, entertainment, and the creator economy.

With over $1 trillion in global assets and commitments, the IFC joins a distinguished group of investors, including Al Jazira Capital, Crosswork VC Success Fund, and several existing backers, along with prominent Saudi family offices. This funding round significantly strengthens Vuz’s global presence and positions the company to thrive in rapidly growing markets such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Africa, Asia, and the United States.

The collaboration with IFC—renowned for supporting transformative companies like Souq.com—brings invaluable market expertise and a proven track record in telecom and digital media, particularly in emerging economies. This partnership aligns perfectly with IFC’s mission to promote digital inclusion and bolster creative industries that contribute to sustainable economic growth.

Vuz achieved EBITDA profitability in 2024 and reported an impressive 80% year-over-year gross profit growth. The platform now offers over 30,000 hours of immersive content that integrates extended reality (XR), virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and AI-powered streaming. It features exclusive experiences with top-tier football clubs, sports leagues, global athletes, artists, and creators, amassing over 3 billion screen views to date, with a goal of exceeding 5 billion by 2026.

With 40 telecom integrations globally and an additional 20 in progress, Vuz is continuously enhancing its tech ecosystem through platforms like Apple Vision Pro, Oculus, TV devices, and its proprietary web-based immersive layer, VuzGo. The company’s innovations are safeguarded by four global patents.

Khaled Zaatarah, Founder of Vuz, expressed, “We are thrilled to welcome IFC as a strategic investor. With IFC and the World Bank Group’s extensive experience in scaling telecom and digital media companies globally, along with over $1 trillion in assets under management, this partnership lays the groundwork for significant global expansion. Together, we will bring immersive media to the world’s fastest-growing markets.”

“This investment underscores IFC’s commitment to creative industries as a catalyst for job creation and income generation in emerging markets. Vuz’s technological edge and global reach align seamlessly with our mission to support scalable platforms that empower creators,” added Farid Fezoua, IFC Global Director for Disruptive Technologies, Services, and Funds.

Vuz’s creator network encompasses over 100 million individuals worldwide, equipped with tools that facilitate monetization, immersive storytelling, and fan engagement. With a robust investor base that includes e& capital, KBW Ventures, SRMG Ventures, Vision Fund, and other global institutional supporters, Vuz is poised to redefine the future of immersive media on a global scale.

“This is the scale-up stage we’ve been striving for over the years,” Zaatarah added. “With a solid foundation, patented technology, and profitability achieved, we are ready to expand globally and shape the future of media.”

In addition to the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and other recent strategic investors, Vuz is supported by a distinguished and globally diverse group of institutional partners. This includes e& capital, KBW Ventures, Al Jazira Capital, DFDF, SRMG Ventures, Caruso Ventures, Shorooq Partners, Plug and Play Ventures, Hala Ventures, Vision Fund, Knollwood Investment Advisory, Panthera Capital, Faith Capital, WIN, Elbert Capital, Yasta Partners, AlTouq Group, Impact46, Media Visions, 500 Startups, DAI, Al Falaj, and DTEC Ventures (Oraseya Capital), along with notable tech leaders such as Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, and Jonathan Labin—demonstrating strong international confidence in VUZ’s vision, performance, and global growth potential.