Introduction to Fizz

While most social platforms are trying to become the next TikTok, one startup is building something very different. Fizz is a pseudonymous, hyperlocal app born on college campuses. Until recently, it was known as a kind of private campus message board; part Reddit, part group chat, but with the intimacy of a dorm hallway. No followers, no influencers, no pressure to perform. Just students talking to each other, anonymously or under pseudonyms, about the stuff that actually makes up daily life: dining hall food, econ finals, party rumors, roommate drama.

The Evolution of Fizz

But five months ago, Fizz started quietly testing something new: a cross-campus product that connects students not just within their university, but across the country. The new feed layers shared identity, interests, geography and more, all while maintaining the local anonymity that made Fizz thrive in the first place. Now, the results are in. Fizz’s daily active users in the new product cohort have jumped 50% in three weeks. Content creation has nearly doubled. Engagement time has soared. And the app has grown by more than 50 campuses in just the last month—with zero marketing spend.

From Dorm Room Dropout To National Feed

Teddy Solomon, 23, co-founded Fizz during the pandemic after dropping out of Stanford. The app, originally conceived as a hyperlocal space for students to speak freely, grew virally thanks to a flyer campaign and a thousand donuts hand-delivered to campuses. But from day one, Solomon had a bigger vision. “We always knew that once we became the dominant college app, we could offer something bigger,” he says. “A global experience built around the same values: shared context, identity, experience—but across schools.”

How Fizz Works

The new version of Fizz, which rolled out to a quarter of its campuses this year, is exactly that. It uses a new personalized feed, powered by a recommendation engine, to surface content not just from a student’s university, but from adjacent communities they naturally overlap with. “If you’re a Stanford student from New York, why shouldn’t you see what’s happening at Columbia or NYU?” Solomon says. “If you’re at Dartmouth, you probably have a lot in common with someone at Princeton. Or if you’re at UT Austin, you might care what’s going on at Texas A&M.”

Fizz’s High Engagement Numbers

Fizz didn’t publicize the new feed at launch. They wanted to know: would people actually use it? Would it be sticky? Would it still feel authentic? Now, five months in, they have their answer. “We’ve nearly doubled the content creation rate within the cross-campus cohort,” Solomon tells me. “Engagement time has gone way up. And our daily user base has grown 1.5x just in the last few weeks.” The app is also now adding 50 campuses a month, without paid acquisition, brand deals, or growth hacking.

Not An Entertainment App—A Social One

Fizz’s rise says as much about what it isn’t as what it is. “We’re not TikTok,” Solomon says bluntly. “We’re not entertainment. We’re not about performative content. We’re about what’s happening now, in your world, with people who get you.” It’s a key distinction. While Instagram and TikTok chase global virality, Fizz leans hard into hyper relevance: the inside joke, the anonymous confession, the econ final everyone just bombed. On most platforms, only 1% of users post. On Fizz, 30% of weekly active users create content.

Expansion Beyond College

The momentum isn’t stopping at campuses. “In the next week, we’re expanding beyond college,” Solomon says. “We’ve built something that works for Gen Z more broadly—whether they went to college or not.” That move is significant. Most Gen Z social platforms don’t make it past the campus stage. But Fizz is already seeing demand from users who dropped out, opted out, or never enrolled in the first place. “When I visit campuses with 10% graduation rates, I know 90% of those students won’t still be there in three years,” Solomon says. “But they still deserve a community. They still deserve a voice.” Fizz is about to give them one.

A New Era Of Social Media

With over $40 million raised, Fizz is quickly becoming one of the most important social startups in years. And it’s doing it without the things we’ve come to associate with “success” in the creator economy: no massive influencers, no addictive videos, no virality-first algorithms. “We’re building social media the way it was supposed to be,” Solomon says. “Real connections. Real people. Real time.”

Conclusion

Fizz is redefining the social media landscape with its pseudonymous, hyperlocal approach. By focusing on real connections and communities, Fizz is creating a new era of social media that values authenticity and relevance over entertainment and virality. As the app continues to grow and expand beyond college campuses, it will be exciting to see how it shapes the future of social media and online communities.

FAQs

• What is Fizz? Fizz is a pseudonymous, hyperlocal social media app that connects students on college campuses and beyond.
• How does Fizz work? Fizz uses a personalized feed to surface content from adjacent communities, allowing users to connect with others who share similar interests and experiences.
• What sets Fizz apart from other social media platforms? Fizz focuses on real connections and communities, rather than entertainment and virality, and allows users to post anonymously or under pseudonyms.
• Is Fizz only for college students? No, Fizz is expanding beyond college campuses to include users who did not attend college or dropped out.
• How many users does Fizz have? Fizz has grown to over 50 campuses in the last month, with a 50% increase in daily active users and a nearly doubling of content creation.

With the rise of tech-enabled leadership strategies, businesses are now more equipped than ever to adapt to changing market conditions and stay ahead of the competition. In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape, agility is key to success. By leveraging technology, organizations can streamline processes, enhance collaboration, and make data-driven decisions to drive growth and profitability.

Embracing Digital Transformation

The digital transformation of business operations is a crucial aspect of becoming an agile organization. This involves the integration of digital technologies, such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance customer experience. By embracing digital transformation, businesses can break down silos, automate manual processes, and gain real-time insights into their operations.

Cloud Computing and Scalability

Cloud computing is a key enabler of agile business operations, allowing organizations to scale up or down quickly and efficiently. With cloud-based infrastructure, businesses can rapidly deploy new applications and services, without the need for costly and time-consuming hardware upgrades. This scalability enables companies to respond quickly to changing market conditions, such as sudden increases in demand or unexpected changes in customer behavior.

Artificial Intelligence and Automation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are also critical components of agile business operations. By automating routine and repetitive tasks, organizations can free up resources and focus on higher-value activities, such as strategy, innovation, and customer engagement. AI-powered analytics can also provide real-time insights into business performance, enabling data-driven decision-making and rapid response to changing market conditions.

Enhancing Collaboration and Communication

Effective collaboration and communication are essential for agile business operations. Technology plays a vital role in facilitating collaboration, enabling teams to work together more effectively, regardless of location or time zone. By leveraging collaboration tools, such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and project management software, organizations can enhance communication, reduce misunderstandings, and improve productivity.

Remote Work and Virtual Teams

The rise of remote work and virtual teams has transformed the way businesses operate. With the help of technology, teams can now work together seamlessly, regardless of location. Virtual teams can be assembled quickly, and members can collaborate in real-time, using cloud-based tools and platforms. This enables organizations to tap into a global talent pool, reduce costs, and improve work-life balance.

Customer Engagement and Feedback

Customer engagement and feedback are critical components of agile business operations. Technology enables organizations to engage with customers in real-time, using social media, chatbots, and other digital channels. By leveraging customer feedback, businesses can identify areas for improvement, respond quickly to customer concerns, and develop innovative solutions to meet changing customer needs.

Driving Innovation and Growth

Agile business operations are essential for driving innovation and growth. By leveraging technology, organizations can experiment with new ideas, test new products and services, and iterate quickly in response to customer feedback. This enables businesses to stay ahead of the competition, identify new market opportunities, and drive revenue growth.

Design Thinking and Experimentation

Design thinking and experimentation are key components of agile innovation. By leveraging design thinking principles, organizations can develop innovative solutions to complex problems, using a human-centered approach. Experimentation enables businesses to test new ideas, validate assumptions, and iterate quickly in response to customer feedback.

Data-Driven Decision-Making

Data-driven decision-making is critical for agile business operations. By leveraging data analytics and AI-powered insights, organizations can make informed decisions, reduce risk, and drive growth. Data analytics enables businesses to identify trends, patterns, and correlations, and make predictions about future market conditions.

Overcoming Challenges and Barriers

While technology has the potential to enable agile business operations, there are also challenges and barriers to overcome. These include the need for cultural transformation, the development of new skills, and the management of cybersecurity risks. By addressing these challenges, organizations can unlock the full potential of technology and achieve agile business operations.

Cultural Transformation and Change Management

Cultural transformation and change management are critical components of agile business operations. By developing a culture of agility, innovation, and continuous learning, organizations can empower employees to experiment, take risks, and drive growth. Change management enables businesses to navigate the transition to agile operations, minimize disruption, and ensure a smooth transition.

Cybersecurity and Risk Management

Cybersecurity and risk management are essential for agile business operations. By leveraging advanced security technologies, such as AI-powered threat detection and blockchain, organizations can protect themselves from cyber threats, ensure data integrity, and maintain customer trust.

Conclusion

In conclusion, technology is enabling agile business operations, by facilitating digital transformation, enhancing collaboration and communication, driving innovation and growth, and overcoming challenges and barriers. By leveraging tech-enabled leadership strategies, organizations can achieve agility, adapt to changing market conditions, and stay ahead of the competition. As the business landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for organizations to prioritize agility, innovation, and customer-centricity, and to leverage technology to drive growth, profitability, and success.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is agile business operations?

Agile business operations refer to the ability of an organization to adapt quickly to changing market conditions, using technology, innovation, and customer-centricity to drive growth and profitability.

How can technology enable agile business operations?

Technology can enable agile business operations by facilitating digital transformation, enhancing collaboration and communication, driving innovation and growth, and overcoming challenges and barriers.

What are the benefits of agile business operations?

The benefits of agile business operations include improved responsiveness to changing market conditions, enhanced customer experience, increased innovation and growth, and improved profitability.

What are the challenges of implementing agile business operations?

The challenges of implementing agile business operations include cultural transformation, the development of new skills, and the management of cybersecurity risks.

How can organizations overcome the challenges of agile business operations?

Organizations can overcome the challenges of agile business operations by developing a culture of agility, innovation, and continuous learning, investing in employee development, and leveraging advanced security technologies to manage cybersecurity risks.

Introduction to Chris Krebs and the 2020 Election

In the world of cybersecurity, where truth is paramount and trust is everything, silence can be louder than an alarm. Chris Krebs, former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), became a symbol of truth in cybersecurity after affirming the integrity of the 2020 election—and paying the price for it.

What Happened in 2020?

Krebs wasn’t acting as a partisan. He was Trump’s own appointee to lead CISA—the agency charged with protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure, including elections. In the run-up to the 2020 presidential election, Krebs and his team worked tirelessly with state and local election officials to safeguard systems against foreign interference and domestic cyber threats. When the votes were counted and no credible evidence of widespread fraud emerged—despite a tidal wave of disinformation—CISA issued a joint statement declaring the 2020 election “the most secure in American history.” Over 60 lawsuits attempting to challenge the results were dismissed across the country—primarily due to a complete lack of evidence to support the claims. Many of those decisions came from Republican-appointed judges. The facts were clear.

The Aftermath and Executive Order

For doing his job—and doing it well—Krebs was fired via tweet. And now, years later, he has been further targeted by an Executive Order that effectively seeks to blacklist him, his employer, and his professional associates. The message is unmistakable: disloyalty to the narrative will be punished. President Trump issued an executive order earlier this month accusing Chris Krebs—his former appointee and ex-director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency—of abusing his authority during the 2020 election. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to investigate Krebs and discourage federal contracts with entities linked to him, specifically naming SentinelOne, the $5.6 billion cybersecurity firm where he served as chief intelligence and public policy officer.

Is the Executive Order Even Legal?

While opinions differ on the legality of the Executive Order, legal scholars warn that it sets a troubling precedent. At its core, it appears to punish a private citizen for protected speech, which violates the First Amendment. Krebs was fired from his role at CISA for publicly affirming that the 2020 election was secure—an assessment backed by dozens of court rulings and independent audits. Now, years later, he’s the subject of an order that calls for a federal investigation and labels him a “bad-faith actor” for doing his job.

The Cybersecurity Community’s Deafening Silence

While some leaders have spoken out, far too many in the cybersecurity community have remained silent—perhaps hoping to avoid attention, or unsure of how to respond. There are admittedly a few brave voices—like Katie Moussouris of Luta Security, cybersecurity journalist Brian Krebs (no relation to Chris Krebs), Richard Stiennon, chief research analyst with IT-Harvest, and a smattering of others. In general, however, the cybersecurity industry has largely stayed quiet. In fact, many sources refused to comment on the record for this story.

The Illusion of Safety Through Silence

We’ve seen this play out in other sectors. Columbia University has faced intense scrutiny and backlash not for what it said, but for what it failed to say—and the compromises it made to stay in the good graces of political power. Paul Weiss, once a symbol of legal prestige, has come under fire for pulling away from defending academic clients under political pressure. Contrast that with Harvard University, which has rejected demands from the Trump administration and publicly defended democratic norms. Or Perkins Coie, the law firm that continues to represent election officials and fight disinformation, even under threat.

Silence Equals Consent

It is standard in parliamentary procedure that silence gives consent. In other words, if nobody speaks up to object, the action or motion is considered approved. That same general philosophy applies to the world at large. History has shown that when institutions remain silent as others are targeted, it rarely stops with the first. Silence signals permission, not neutrality.

The Stakes Are Bigger Than One Person

This is not about left or right. It’s not about politics. It’s about whether we allow power to dictate truth, or whether we stand up to defend it—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard. The cybersecurity industry has always portrayed itself as the vanguard—defenders of infrastructure, truth, and resilience. But right now, it’s at risk of becoming just another silent institution, hoping the monster it won’t name doesn’t notice it.

A Call to Speak

The industry has a choice to make. Speaking out now may feel risky, but staying silent could cost far more. This is a moment to lead—not just for one person, but for the principles that define the work cybersecurity professionals do. Too many in the industry have stayed quiet—now is the time to speak up.

Conclusion

The case of Chris Krebs and the subsequent executive order targeting him and his professional associates raises serious concerns about the state of truth and democracy in the cybersecurity industry. The industry’s silence in the face of these actions is deafening and risks normalizing retaliation against those who speak truth to power. It is time for the industry to reclaim its voice and stand up for the principles of truth, democracy, and freedom.

FAQs

• Q: What happened to Chris Krebs after he affirmed the integrity of the 2020 election?
  A: Chris Krebs was fired via tweet by President Trump after affirming the integrity of the 2020 election.
• Q: What is the Executive Order issued by President Trump, and what does it do?
  A: The Executive Order accuses Chris Krebs of abusing his authority during the 2020 election and directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General to investigate him and discourage federal contracts with entities linked to him.
• Q: Is the Executive Order legal?
  A: The legality of the Executive Order is disputed, with some legal scholars warning that it sets a troubling precedent and violates the First Amendment.
• Q: Why has the cybersecurity community remained largely silent on the issue?
  A: The cybersecurity community has remained largely silent, perhaps hoping to avoid attention or unsure of how to respond.
• Q: What are the stakes of the industry’s silence?
  A: The industry’s silence risks normalizing retaliation against those who speak truth to power and undermines the principles of truth, democracy, and freedom that the industry is supposed to defend.