The social‑media startup Fizz has filed a fresh complaint accusing Maveron venture‑capitalist Jerry Lu of relaying non‑public business information to its rival, Sidechat. According to the filing, Lu met with Fizz founders in March 2022 under the pretense of evaluating an investment, then forwarded a detailed briefing that included the app’s growth plans, user metrics, fundraising strategy and product roadmap to Sidechat’s owner, Flower Ave Inc.
The allegation builds on a 2023 lawsuit in which Fizz accused Sidechat of sabotage tactics such as campus‑launch interference and paid student campaigns to remove Fizz’s app. The new filing adds that Lu continued to act as an information conduit, sharing updates on Fizz’s fundraising and other internal matters. It also claims that an associate, Jack Burlinson, supplied Lu with Fizz’s investor deck and a seasonal summary, which were subsequently passed to Sidechat. Maveron and Lu have not responded to requests for comment, and Fizz declined further comment.
Sidechat’s CEO Kyle Venn responded that the claims are unproven allegations, denying any wrongdoing and noting that the alleged conduct predates the current team’s acquisition of the business. The case now proceeds through the courts, raising fresh scrutiny on how venture capitalists handle confidential startup data during fundraising.
