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That realization inspired Vlogit, a social media app built around one rule: “Every day, someone in your friend group gets picked. You’ve got until midnight to vlog it all.” 

It has since become a catchphrase the internet knows by heart.

While many are accustomed to sharing their lives online, Aboul Hosn and Zeineddine believed something was missing.

“Social media has become very staged,” said Aboul Hosn. “People only post the best versions of themselves online, so we wanted to give people the opportunity to share their most authentic selves with their friends."

Aboul Hosn, left, and Zeineddine, right, share that they have enjoyed working together on building their app, and hope to make it easier for others to connect with their friends as well. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)

That mission has resonated, helping Zeineddine grow his main Instagram account to more than 100,000 followers. 

While the two now share an appreciation for creation, their paths to entrepreneurship were different. Zeineddine, a 2025 graduate of �鶹�ƽ�� College of Arts & Sciences, studied computer science in pursuit of becoming a software engineer.

Before taking a semester off, Aboul Hosn, a fourth-year student in the College, also studied computer science. Originally exploring economics, he discovered an interest in building projects during an introductory computer science course. That’s when he built his first app, “Clubs,” to help students navigate joining organizations on Grounds.

Zeineddine said entrepreneurship wasn’t always on his radar. “I never in my life thought that I would fully commit to a business. I thought I’d be involved with it as more of a side hustle,” he said. 

One challenge of building a social media app is dealing with code bugs. Zeineddine and Aboul Hosn share that receiving feedback from their beta testers allows them to continue to make improvements. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)

The two decided to go all-in on building Vlogit in mid-September, when they had around 40,000 followers. Now looking to expand their investor network, they’ve more than tripled their reach and grown their waitlist to more than 50,000 people. 

“For the first time in my life, I don’t know where I’m going to be next year, let alone next month,” Zeineddine said. “I was just in D.C. for 10 days. I was also just in France. Vlogit has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of new people while pouring my all into something.”

Aboul Hosn and Zeineddine produce short comedic videos and skits to share updates about their progress. Through discussions about verification codes and resolving code bugs, they find ways to keep their audience engaged. 

“There are always tips and tricks. Sometimes I’ll hold up a giant avocado or wear a bacon costume,” Zeineddine said. 

Throughout their journey, the two reflect on both the exciting and scary aspects of exploring entrepreneurship. Now, they hope to continue building their personal brands while inspiring others to stay connected. (Photo by Lathan Goumas, University Communications)

Aboul Hosn and Zeineddine also credit part of their media success to support from other creators, including McIntire School of Commerce alumnus Rajan Chidambaram.   

Amid their entrepreneurial and media growth, the two continue to prioritize their original mission of bringing people together, beginning with a cause close to home.

“At the end of the day, it’s just us two. We had to learn how to build a social media app and never expected to go viral as quickly as we did,” Aboul Hosn said. 

“Once we got our friends to use Vlogit and enjoy it, the feeling was surreal,” Zeineddine added. “All of those months of grinding, it was the most rewarding part.” 

As they continue to test a beta version of the app, the two hope to see Vlogit continue to grow, bringing more people together.