HEY, CHECK OUT...Summer 2021 Edition
READING TIME: 10 minutes
1 - Elefv Vogiatzis (Lifestyle & Fashion)
Elefv is the 24 year-old Greek-born Londoner who has established himself as one of social media’s largest male fashion influencers, which eventually garnered attention by the Wilhelmina Modelling Agency - who eventually signed him under their Influencer Division. It’s no surprise why they did since his consistent releases and various assortment of styles amongst the Fashion, Food & Drink and Hotel industry are extremely popular and daring. He has helped to start defining what British 2020s contemporary lifestyle and cultural influence involves. Plus he has successfully mastered the key to an online presence without an agency’s help including being one of the first Influencers to use the Jump Transition in his Instagram Clothing Reels (before Tiktok was established and this device eventually became saturated), a Youtube Channel and his own website. On his site are a number of personal reviews and partnership brand reviews, but all have a sense of authenticity and honesty as opposed to vanity and a quick sponsorship cheque. So it seems in the future the only way is up as his platforms increase in size and engagement.
2 - Doug McHoney (Professional Services)
Doug is a rarity: he has provided a platform dedicated to showing the “true” (or as close as) life experience of a Partner at a major Accounting firm. While his official title reads ‘ International Tax Service Partner at PWC, USA’ thus his principal duties lie there, he also has a “cross border tax talks” podcast and personal Youtube channel. Whilst firms of their repute and stature prefer to plaster their own campaigns through their own marketing team of life in the Big 4, Doug strips the ‘glamour’ and the shrouds of mystery and engages the audience in a professional yet friendly manner on what life is like at the top. It’s actually a great tool to engage the new online generation and to demonstrate what the leaders of these firms ACTUALLY do. His content provides valuable life lessons and experiences from the reality of life in a leadership role, to how to get promoted at work, to discussing corporate topics (such as adapting to social issues and corporate responsibility, employee turnover, cultural business) and discussing technical topics (such as tax policy and reform and the regulations around tax credits) Outside of work he mentions his passion for baseball, his family and general ordeals of life such as aging and alopecia. So it’s actually an important channel to showcase the youth of today the possibilities (and reality) of what life holds in store for current and future business leaders, and can be a source of inspiration for all Accounting major and potential joiners.
3 - Tiffanie Davis (Travel & Education)
Tiffanie has a Youtube Channel dedicated to showcasing the life of an African American New Yorker moving to Paris. On her channel she documents what this international travel experience has meant to her and what it could also mean for other people who may follow in her footsteps in the future. As a student working towards her MBa in Luxury Brand Management at ESSEC, her channel may be important for anyone interested in studying for an MBa but are looking for an alternative/niche pathway outside of the traditional USA and UK models. Tiffanie reveals her insights on the programme such as its advantages, disadvantages, fees and course structure and since there are very few platforms online which don’t do so for ESSEC (despite its high ranking so one would expect more reviews/marketing) her insights are very valuable. She also balances her content with the reality of moving to and living in Paris; whilst New York and Paris have so many similarities in being global metropolitan areas, there are stark differences in the approach to dating, how to vote from abroad, race relations, the truth in making friends in unfamiliar territory and the (unfortunate) unique experience of documenting surviving in Paris during lockdown. Her charming and engaging personality from the first few seconds of any video of hers is enough to keep you interested in wanting to watch all of what’s on her channel (and the many more videos to come).
4 - LabBiotechEU (Life Sciences)
With 150,000+ monthly visitors, LabBiotechEU is an immensely successful German-based digital media platform dedicated to Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Research and Financing from a European perspective. Their top-tier news content varies from hosting interviews with CEOs of biotech startups to showcasing expert opinions on trends in the scientific world. Their value and contributions have led them to even interviewing the CEOs and Founders of CureVae and Moderna to discuss their pioneering mRNA therapy treatments ever for example, as well as documenting the advances in technology for studies in oncology, CART T-cell therapy and even keeping a watchful eye on the progress for treatment against COVID in the European circles. They have experienced tremendous growth online within the past few years and it’s a good thing too since the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry worldwide tends to be skewed towards (and thus overshadowed) by North American and British companies. It seems they identified that there is a huge readership demand in knowing about projects being funded and carried out across mainland Europe. Also on their site is plenty of industry reports, analyses on the scientific process and its regulations from an EU perspective and contrasts of policy and funding structures in mainland European. As such they have gifted their audience with the new experience to get to know unknown biotech startups, financing models and to discover the top companies of tomorrow.
5 - SmallSpace Big Taste (Real Estate & LifeStyle)
With real estate inflation making it difficult to grab a decent sized property for many millennials, some have opted for a more minimalist lifestyle. “SmallSpace” is a platform designed to focus on maximising your space and to challenge the status quo of ‘success’ in America such as owning a huge apartment or home with a white picket fence, having a car and many other expected adult ‘luxuries’. Instead Rae, the founder of “Smallspace” and her husband Ryan focus on personal projects rather than always be on the move to expand and/or collect more possessions. Architecture Digest seem to focus more on their portfolio of massive million dollar mansions, but “Smallspace” showcases studios and properties with a more intimate capacity - and shows the realities of living and decorating them. Rae’s tips cover all sorts about smart spending, simple cooking, simple travelling and all round creating a simplistic life, especially against the manic Manhattan backdrop where she lives. Sometimes many of us feel we are caught in the rat race of life, when we could focus on self-reflection - and perhaps start a business, concentrate on what our passions are, and most importantly secure a stable, early retirement. It’s no secret that materialism and capitalism can only take one so far before one’s happiness has been fulfilled….and then what? If we constantly seek validation through ourselves or others by what we possess, then what time does it leave to focus on matters of the heart and/or mind? And that is exactly what SmallSpace Big Taste tries to tackle.
6 - Alex Barnes (Entrepreneurship and Technology)
Alex is more than just your typical PhD candidate from the University of Oxford. He is a humanitarian and innovative and creative businessman having successfully merged his interests of entrepreneurship with data science and International Development. He recently co-founded an early stage startup called Lanterne which uses data to improve safety in high risk areas. Having previously worked in the Australian Department of Defence and then deployed to Afghanistan, his understanding of civil conflicts around the world has allowed him to focus on solving business issues in conflict resolution and insurgency. His app Lanterne allows its users (from NGOs, charities and individuals) to follow the safest route possible out or through a conflict zone in the hope to save innocent people’s lives. He has also helped develop Crowdless which is an app to provide real-time information on how busy essential businesses (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies) are to ensure social distancing is effectively met and users can protect themselves from COVID by knowing when the best time to shop is. Having worked with Adapt and receiving funding from the European Space Agency, the EU Big Data Corridor and Oxford Foundry, to name a few fundraising establishments, Alex seems to be leading the future of British innovation and entrepreneurship and so we should keep a close eye on him to see what his next move will be.
An excerpt from the website belonging to crowdless
