Tade Oyerinde and Teddy Solomon talk about building engaged audiences at TechCrunch Disrupt

At this year's TechCrunch Disrupt, Tade Oyerinde and Teddy Solomon shared their insights on cultivating engaged communities, drawing from their unique experiences in the educational and social app sectors. Oyerinde, founder and chancellor of the online institution Campus, highlighted the school’s offerings, which include associate degrees in fields such as information technology and business administration, along with specialized certificates in areas like cosmetology and phlebotomy. With over 3,000 students enrolled and a faculty of more than 100 part-time professors, Oyerinde emphasized the growing demand for tailored educational experiences. In response to employer requests, Campus has introduced à la carte courses aimed at enhancing specific skills, such as vibe coding. He believes that the future of education will see everyone engaging with membership or subscription services to aid in skill development. “Everyone in this room, not just two-year degree-seeking individuals, will be able to go to Campus and learn with us,” he stated, referencing the live, online classes led by expert instructors. To maintain affordability, Oyerinde leverages the Pell Grant, and he proudly noted that his team includes prominent investors like OpenAI's Sam Altman and Discord's Jason Citroen, which alleviates the pressure to prioritize profits. “They don’t need the money,” he remarked, “What they really want is to fundamentally shape the way that education works in this country for the better.” On the other hand, Solomon, co-founder of the college social app Fizz, talked about the platform's reach across over 200 college campuses, along with its previous presence in high schools nationwide. With over $40 million raised from investors such as Owl Ventures and NEA since its launch in 2021, Fizz has integrated features like a peer-to-peer marketplace with over 100,000 listings and added video capabilities for richer user engagement. Solomon also unveiled plans for Global Fizz, aiming to extend the app's footprint beyond the United States. During his appearance on TechCrunch’s Equity podcast, he discussed potential monetization strategies, particularly focusing on advertising. “We’ve already collaborated with companies like Perplexity,” he mentioned, adding that while subscription models have proven effective for other apps, their current priority is to enhance their ad business and build a product that keeps users satisfied and engaged. “The users are everything,” he concluded, underlining the importance of user satisfaction in their business model.