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More Ways to Make a Deal - How Zèya Is Rethinking Everyday Commerce Zèya, the Miami-based marketplace founded by CEO Mehdi Taifi, is expanding the ways people exchange everyday possessions. After surpassing 100,000 downloads across iOS and Android and closing a $2.45 million growth round, Zèya introduced features including an AI listing assistant, chat before offers, cash-only offers, and the Zèya Wallet, while keeping swapping at the center of the platform. Miami Living asks Taifi about the app’s origins, Miami roots, and what comes next. Miami Living (ML): What sparked the idea for Zèya? Mehdi Taifi: The idea started during a conversation with one of my closest friends in Miami. We were talking about bartering, something humans have been doing for thousands of years, and wondering why nobody had really modernized the experience. Then came the idea of swiping through things people own, almost like a dating app, but instead of matching with people, you’re discovering things you want and exchanging something of your own. That conversation eventually became Zèya. What started as a simple Swipe to Swap™ concept has evolved into a platform where people can exchange items, cash, and eventually services. ML: How has Miami shaped Zèya? Mehdi Taifi: Miami is a huge part of Zèya’s DNA. It’s an incredibly diverse, energetic, entrepreneurial city where people are constantly discovering new trends, connecting with different communities, and embracing new ideas. One of the biggest things we’ve learned is that swapping is about more than the items themselves. It’s about human connection. We started building our community here, but our vision was never limited to Miami. ML: What prompted the move from swaps to cash offers? Mehdi Taifi: Initially, Zèya was entirely focused on swapping. But we started noticing situations where someone really wanted an item and didn’t necessarily have something the other person wanted in return. So we introduced the ability to add cash to a swap to balance the value. Then we took it one step further: why limit people to swapping when they might simply want to make a cash offer? I don’t see cash offers as moving away from swapping. I see them as expanding the possibilities. ML: What keeps swapping at the heart of Zèya? Mehdi Taifi: Swapping is the foundation of Zèya, and that’s not changing.