Building and maintaining thriving online communities is a significant challenge for modern businesses. At TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, founders Tade Oyerinde of Campus and Teddy Solomon of Fizz discussed strategies for scaling their platforms while prioritizing user engagement. Both companies are focused on providing value to their users, but approach the task with different models and target demographics, offering insights into effective community building techniques.
The Rise of Online Learning Communities
Tade Oyerinde’s Campus is an online school offering associate degrees and specialized certificates in fields like information technology, business administration, cosmetology, and phlebotomy. With over 3,000 students and more than 100 part-time professors, Campus aims to make higher education more accessible. Oyerinde highlighted the growing demand for upskilling and reskilling, noting that employers are increasingly seeking targeted training for their workforce.
To meet this demand, Campus has introduced à la carte courses focused on specific skills, such as “vibe coding.” This flexible approach allows individuals to acquire new competencies without committing to a full degree program. Oyerinde believes that continuous learning will become the norm, with individuals subscribing to multiple platforms for ongoing professional development. He envisions Campus serving a broad audience, extending beyond traditional degree-seeking students.
A key factor in Campus’s affordability is its utilization of the Pell Grant, a federal program designed to help low-income students finance their education. Additionally, the company benefits from a unique investor base, including prominent figures like Sam Altman and Jason Citron, who prioritize long-term educational impact over immediate profits. This allows Campus to focus on quality and accessibility, fostering a strong learning community.
Scaling Social Platforms and Monetization Strategies
Meanwhile, Teddy Solomon’s Fizz is a social app geared towards college students, currently operating on over 200 campuses. Originally focused on high schools, Fizz has refined its approach to concentrate on the college demographic. The platform has evolved since its 2021 launch, incorporating features like a peer-to-peer marketplace with over 100,000 listings and a video posting capability to supplement text-based communication.
Solomon is now focused on expanding Fizz’s reach with a new product called Global Fizz, aiming to extend the platform’s functionality beyond the United States. He discussed the company’s future plans on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, outlining a strategy centered on user growth and engagement.
Monetization is a critical consideration for Fizz’s long-term sustainability. Solomon indicated the company is exploring advertising as a primary revenue stream, having already partnered with companies like Perplexity. He acknowledged the potential of subscription models but emphasized a current focus on building a robust advertising business that doesn’t compromise the user experience. He stated plainly, “The users are everything.” This user-centric approach is central to their social media marketing efforts.
Challenges in Maintaining Community
Both Oyerinde and Solomon implicitly addressed the challenges of maintaining a positive and engaged community as platforms scale. Rapid growth can often lead to a dilution of the initial community values and an increase in negative behaviors. Careful moderation, clear community guidelines, and features that encourage positive interactions are crucial for mitigating these risks. The success of both Campus and Fizz hinges on their ability to cultivate a sense of belonging and shared purpose among their users.
The emphasis on providing value – whether through affordable education or engaging social interaction – appears to be a common thread in their strategies. This focus on user needs, combined with a long-term vision supported by patient investors, positions both companies for continued growth in the competitive landscape of online platforms.
Looking ahead, the success of Global Fizz will depend on its ability to adapt to different cultural contexts and build localized communities. For Campus, the challenge lies in continuing to innovate its course offerings and maintain its commitment to accessibility as it expands its reach. The next year will be critical for both companies as they navigate the complexities of scaling their platforms and solidifying their positions in the market. Monitoring user adoption rates and engagement metrics will be key indicators of their progress.
