A years-long legal battle between college social apps Fizz and Sidechat escalated this week after Fizz filed new allegations accusing venture capitalist Jerry Lu of Maveron of sharing confidential startup information with the rival platform. The filing, obtained by TechCrunch, claims Lu met with Fizz founders Teddy Solomon and Ashton Cofer in March 2022 under the pretense of exploring a potential investment, then passed non-public details about Fizz’s business strategy, growth plans, user metrics, and fundraising efforts directly to Sidechat.
What the new filing alleges
Fizz’s complaint, which originally sued Sidechat in 2023 over unfair competition practices, now includes Lu as a central figure. According to the filing, Fizz only learned of Lu’s involvement through the legal discovery process, which revealed text messages and documents showing Lu sharing notes with Flower Ave Inc., Sidechat’s owner, after the March 2022 meeting. The filing also alleges that Jack Burlinson, an acquaintance of both the founders and Lu, shared Fizz’s investor deck and its Fall Summary for investors with Lu, who then forwarded them to Sidechat.
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Lu went on to invest in Sidechat’s second seed round in October 2023, according to Pitchbook data, but Fizz claims Lu had been in discussions with Sidechat as early as 2022. The filing includes a screenshot of a text message in which Lu appears to share notes with Flower Ave after the meeting with Fizz.
Broader implications for startup fundraising
The case raises questions about the role venture capitalists play in competitive startup markets. Founders routinely share confidential business information while fundraising, trusting that investors won’t pass it along to competitors. Some VCs continue to request updates from startups they passed on, founders have said, creating potential conflicts of interest.
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Both Fizz and Sidechat operate anonymous social platforms for college students, where competition for user attention is intense. However, not all universities see the apps as beneficial. The UNC system banned the apps from its campuses across North Carolina, citing bullying and bad behavior on the anonymous platforms.
Sidechat’s response
Kyle Venn, CEO of Yik Yak and Sidechat, told TechCrunch via email: “These are allegations, not court findings. We deny any wrongdoing and will address this through the legal process. The alleged events happened before the current Sidechat team acquired the business in 2025 and inherited the lawsuit. No one on today’s operating team was involved. We’re currently focused on making a great product, not suing other apps.”
Requests for comment sent to Lu and Maveron were not returned. Fizz declined to comment. The case continues to unfold as the legal discovery process reveals more details about the competitive dynamics between the two apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fizz accusing Jerry Lu of?
Fizz alleges that Jerry Lu, a venture capitalist at Maveron, met with Fizz founders in March 2022 under the guise of exploring an investment, then shared Fizz’s non-public business information—including strategy, user metrics, and fundraising plans—with rival app Sidechat.
Who is Jerry Lu and what firm is he from?
Jerry Lu is a venture capitalist at Maveron, a venture capital firm. Fizz’s filing claims he acted as a conduit, funneling confidential information to Sidechat’s owner, Flower Ave Inc.
What is the broader context of the Fizz vs. Sidechat lawsuit?
Fizz originally sued Sidechat in 2023, alleging unfair competition including attempts to disrupt campus launches, spreading false rumors, and paying students to delete Fizz’s app. The new filing adds allegations about Lu’s role in sharing confidential information.
How did Fizz learn about Lu’s alleged involvement?
Fizz says it discovered Lu’s role through the legal discovery process, which revealed text messages and documents showing Lu sharing notes with Sidechat after meeting with Fizz.
What has Sidechat said about the allegations?
Sidechat’s CEO, Kyle Venn, stated the allegations are not court findings, denied wrongdoing, and noted the alleged events occurred before the current team acquired the business in 2025.
