Evan Williams, co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, launched Medium in 2012 before stepping down as CEO in 2022. Recently, he returned with a new social networking platform called Mozi, unrelated to Mozilla except for the similar name. Mozi aligns with the modern era of digital loneliness, aiming to connect us with our friends and contacts on our smartphones, allowing us to see what they’re up to and potentially join them in real-life adventures.
The process of using Mozi involves registering an account, inputting your city and syncing contacts, then selecting which friends can view your life plans. By sharing where you’re traveling or what you’re doing nearby, Mozi notifies you when your friends are out and about. Williams co-founded Mozi with Molly DeWolf Swenson, a marketer and influencer who took on the role of CEO. Swenson’s inspiration for Mozi came from her frequent travels, where she maintained a spreadsheet of 450 people across different cities to coordinate meet-ups.
Mozi’s target demographic isn’t teenagers but rather older individuals seeking an app to nurture relationships with friends. The app’s business model focuses on premium features instead of advertising, as Williams believes that Mozi’s customer base is willing to pay for enhancing their relationships. Positioned as a utility app, Mozi isn’t meant for constant use but serves its purpose when needed. Williams, reflecting on his Twitter founding days, now limits his social media use as he finds more value in reading books and engaging with friends in real life.
Currently, Mozi is available exclusively on iPhone.
Source: Evan Williams, Fast Company
TLDR: Evan Williams launches social app Mozi, focusing on real-life connections and relationship-building, diverging from traditional social media platforms.
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