How the world's most famous lamp made Steve Jobs $7 billion!

Morning Innovators 👋 This week (in less than 5 minutes!) we’ll explore…

🛋️ How a lamp helped Steve Jobs make $7bn
🍕 How pizza and fitness apps led to one of the world’s biggest athleisure brands
💦 How you can get thousands of eyes on your business using a pressure washer

Each week we’ll be writing about crazy pivots, secret stories of how huge companies almost failed in the beginning, the untold journeys that the most successful founders took to get to where they are today, breakdown mind-blowingly successful acquisitions and investments whilst spotlighting some of the most exciting start ups that you haven’t heard of yet, plus throwing in a few tips and tricks along the way.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for next week’s edition let us know.

Happy hustling,
Rich & Gary

🛋️ How the world's most famous lamp made Steve Jobs $7 billion!

You might know Steve Jobs as the co-founder of Apple, the man behind the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. But did you know he also made a jaw-dropping fortune from something completely different? Let's dive into the fascinating story of how Steve Jobs turned a $10 million investment into over $7 billion!

Back in 1986, Steve Jobs invested $10 million in a little-known animation studio called Pixar. Yes, that Pixar, the company that would go on to create some of the most iconic animated films of all time, like Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and The Incredibles. At that point, Pixar was just a struggling tech company with a dream.

But Steve Jobs saw something in Pixar that others didn't. He recognized their potential to revolutionize the entertainment industry with ground-breaking computer-generated animation. So, he not only invested but took the reins as the company's chairman.

Under Steve's leadership, Pixar soared to unimaginable heights. They released hit after hit, becoming synonymous with quality animation. What's more, they won multiple Academy Awards, solidifying their status as an animation powerhouse.

Then came the game-changing moment. In 2006, Steve Jobs negotiated a deal that would make business history. He sold Pixar to Disney for a staggering $7.4 billion in an all-stock deal. It was a move that shocked the business world.

Now, picture this: Steve Jobs turned a $10 million investment into a deal worth over $7 billion! That's like buying a lottery ticket and hitting the jackpot a thousand times over.

So, the next time you watch a Pixar movie, from the heart-warming adventures of Woody and Buzz to the undersea wonders of Nemo, remember that it's not just entertainment; it's a piece of Steve Jobs' billion-dollar legacy.

Steve Jobs, a visionary in both technology and business, showed us that sometimes the most unexpected investments can yield the most incredible returns. It's a story that reminds us that success often lies in seeing potential where others don't, and having the courage to take bold risks.

💡 Start-up spotlight

Each week we’ll be reviewing the start-ups currently crowdfunding and highlighting our favourite. This by no means can be considered investment advice, just the businesses we admire.

Wavey Ice is a vibrant and energetic brand on a mission to revolutionise beverages. Their core products include ready-to-drink cocktails, nostalgic ice pops and alcohol-free sips, all designed to add excitement to any occasion (Yum! 😋).

Whether you're looking for the perfect gift, a spike-safe drink for on-the-go, or a non-alcoholic alternative, they've got you covered. Their screw-top pouches ensure convenience and freshness, and their diverse range of flavours cater to every taste. They aim to bringing fun, quality, and creativity to the drinks market, making every sip a memorable experience.

⏪ Where were they before?

Prepare to be inspired by the remarkable journey of Ben Francis, the trailblazing entrepreneur behind the global sensation known as Gymshark!

In the realm of UK's youngest billionaires, Ben Francis stands out as a true game-changer. But before the world would come to know him as the visionary founder of Gymshark, he was a young man with a burning passion for fitness and an unrelenting drive to succeed.

Before the Gymshark era dawned, Ben Francis was already making waves in the fitness industry. He didn't just stumble upon success; he built it from the ground up. In the early stages of his career, he developed not one, but two fitness applications, namely the "Fat Loss Abs Guide" and "iPhysique." These creations foreshadowed the innovative thinking that would later become synonymous with his name.

But let's rewind a bit further. Picture this: Between 2010 and 2013, Ben Francis was just a regular university student, balancing academics with the real world. During those years, he held a job as a humble delivery boy at Pizza Hut, earning £5 an hour. This period of his life may have seemed ordinary, but it was anything but.

Fast forward to 2012, and something extraordinary happened. At the tender age of 19, Ben Francis, armed with unwavering determination, launched Gymshark right from his parents' garage. Teaming up with his school friend, Lewis Morgan, they embarked on a journey that would change the fitness industry forever.

Gymshark's origins were humble, to say the least. Initially, it wasn't an empire of workout apparel but rather a platform focused on fitness supplements. However, their journey wasn't a smooth ride. With limited financial resources and an inability to purchase stock or secure distribution deals with supplement suppliers, they faced an uphill battle.

Undeterred by these challenges, Ben Francis turned to dropshipping supplies from other vendors, a risky and daring move. It took him six gruelling weeks, filled with relentless effort and sleepless nights, to achieve that elusive first sale. This milestone marked the beginning of something truly extraordinary.

So, before Gymshark became the global phenomenon it is today, Ben Francis was a young entrepreneur who refused to let obstacles stand in his way. His story is one of audacity, innovation, and sheer determination. It's a testament to the fact that with unwavering passion and an unyielding spirit, you can turn even the humblest beginnings into something truly extraordinary.

🧑‍💻 Marketing hack of the week

Each week we seek out cool founder tips and marketing hacks. This week we came across @Jack Peagam on Linkedin, and his startup Linkup.

Using nothing more than a pressure washer, they’ve been creating free ads on the streets of London.

Have you seen a better free marketing hack (IRL)?

🙌 Opportunities

As start-up founders ourselves, one of the areas we’re really passionate about is raising awareness of opportunities. If you’re not mixing in the right circles, it can be really easy to miss a pitch event, or job opportunity that could be game-changing for you. We’ve included a few upcoming events and opportunities below, but this is where we really want to leverage our community of innovators. Please reply to this email with any tips and opportunities you think we should be featuring.

💼 Job opportunities

🍌 Operations Manager, Olio
📈 Growth Executive, Heights
🪴 Software Engineer, Kickstarter

💷 Funding opportunities

If you’re currently raising, check out the Players Fund. The UK’s first athlete-led firm, founded by athletes, investing in early stage businesses focused on human performance, media, digital communities and smart commerce.

🛠️ Tool of the week

Each week we’ll be highlighting our favourite tools - either something we’ve been using in our businesses, or tools that our innovator community have recommended.

This week, we wanted to share a super cool video AI tool. If you’re regularly recording long-form video then this tool is going to save you hours! OpusClip. takes your long-form videos (e.g. your podcast video recordings) and automatically clips them into short form engaging videos that you can share across your socials.