Brandon Reynolds
| Brandon Reynolds | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 1994[1] Adelaide, Australia[2] |
| 🏡 Residence | Adelaide, Australia |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | 2012-present |
| Known for | Founder of Sociabl |
| 🌐 Website | reynolds.holdings |
Brandon Reynolds (born November 1994)[3] is an Australian entrepreneur and philanthropist. He founded Sociabl and established the Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation.[4][5]
Reynolds expressed his desire to become an entrepreneur at a young age. At the age of nineteen with no connections or knowledge of investors, the Australian teen scoured the internet and found the emails of every single member of the BRW Rich 200 List, and sent them a pitch for his startup, Sociabl.[6] In early 2016, due to controversy surrounding Sociabl and Today (Australian TV program) Reynolds sold a controlling share of Sociabl to Imagination Entertainment.[7][8] He remains a shareholder in the business.[9] Reynolds' later in 2016 established the Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation after his own personal experience with a false positive-HIV result.[10]
Reynolds was surrounded by controversy by Australian media when rock singer-songwriter Jimmy Barnes accused Reynolds of using his name to promote his business without his permission,[11][12][13] which Reynolds denies.[14]
Early life[edit]
Brandon Reynolds grew up in Adelaide, Australia and started his first business at the age of 13 offering Adelaide businesses trademarking services. Skeptical at first, they quickly realised that he was in fact very serious and for a significantly lower fee than a lawyers office would organise various trademarks with IP Australia.
Reynolds was interested in business from an early age, starting at his family business at the age of 12. He has started approximately 20 businesses since the age of 10, with Sociabl his most recent.[15]
Reynolds attended Immanuel College before going on to study a Bachelor of Business Management at JMC Academy in Melbourne, Australia. Reynolds left JMC Academy before completing his Bachelor to pursue Sociabl.[16]
Sociabl[edit]
Reynolds left university in 2012, and started Sociabl at the age of 18 from his apartment in Footscray, Victoria with co-founder Jarrad Hrotek after realising there was an untapped market for celebrity experiences while working with then three-piece boy band, 5 Seconds of Summer.[17]
Reynolds in an interview with Janine Perrett on Sky News explained that the first celebrity to respond to his request for a partnership was Adam Levine, who within seconds of receiving the proposal promptly replied "It's not for me".[18] In another interview with Jane Hall and Matt Tilley Reynolds claimed another "swift and brutal" rejection from English singer-songwriter Elton John.[19]
In October 2015, Reynolds turned down a $2.5 million offer from Dodo Services Founder, Larry Kestelman, in exchange for 50% of the company. In an interview with StartupSmart Reynolds said "...with the way the startup was structured and $200,000 already in the bank, we were in a position to forgo the offer in order to maintain control of the company. "Sending back with a ‘thanks but no thanks’, it was certainly a very tense moment when I pushed send on that email."[20]
In December 2015, Sociabl was in negotiations with two venture capital firms for a $1.4 million investment that would value the company at $9.5 million.[21]
Sociabl was named in the Top 5 Australian Startups to watch in 2016 by Business Insider and Startup Smart.[22][23]
In January 2016 Reynolds threatened to sue the Nine Network after claiming David Campbell has defamed him on Today (Australian TV program).[24]
In February 2016, The Australian Financial Review reported that Sociabl had been bought out by Australian Entrepreneur and Imagination Games CEO, Shane Yeend, for an undisclosed amount.[25]
Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation[edit]
In 2016 Reynolds established the Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation after an experience he went through while receiving his own sexual health check. Upon receiving a false positive-HIV result, Reynolds had spent 24 hours contemplating what this would mean for his future and other people's similar experiences.[26]
References[edit]
- ↑ Changarathil, Valerina (27 October 2015). "Celebrity on video call, thanks to SA-developed Sociabl app". www.adelaidenow.com.au (Online). NEWS Corp. The Advertiser. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Sadler, Denham (12 January 2016). "How a 19-year-old entrepreneur's idea took him from his Adelaide bedroom to a $15 million boat on the Sydney Harbour - StartupSmart". StartupSmart. StartupSmart. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Changarathil, Valerina (27 October 2015). "Celebrity on video call, thanks to SA-developed Sociabl app". www.adelaidenow.com.au (Online). NEWS Corp. The Advertiser. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Booker, Chloe (9 January 2016). "Australian app Sociabl connects fan with their idols". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ "What We Do". BRAF – About Us. Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ Sadler, Denham (5 November 2015). "Keeping Sociabl for this 20-year-old meant saying no to $2.5 million - StartupSmart". StartupSmart. StartupSmart. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Connelly, Claire (21 February 2016). "Entrepreneur buys out Sociabl app after Today Show controversy". Financial Review. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Sadler, Denham (24 February 2016). "Sociabl sold: Why a serial entrepreneur bought a controlling stake in the controversial startup - StartupSmart". StartupSmart. StartupSmart. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Connelly, Claire (21 February 2016). "Entrepreneur buys out Sociabl app after Today Show controversy". Financial Review. Fairfax Media.
- ↑ "What We Do". BRAF – About Us. Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
- ↑ Adams, Cameron (18 January 2016). "Barnesy: 'I have nothing to do with it'". NewsCom. News Corp. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Christensen, Nic (20 January 2016). "From launch to shutdown in less than one day - the rise and fall of celebrity chat app Sociabl - Mumbrella". Mumbrella. Mumbrella. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Leigh, Liz (18 January 2016). "David Campbell destroys new app Sociabl on The Today Show - Startup Daily". Startup Daily. Startup Daily. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Tucker, Harry (19 January 2016). "Sociabl founder denies misleading users on celebrity access after disastrous Today show report". Business Insider Australia. BIA. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ "Sociabl poised to go global as investment pours in - Inside South Australia". Inside South Australia. 17 December 2015.
- ↑ Booker, Chloe (9 January 2016). "Australian app Sociabl connects fan with their idols". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Booker, Chloe (9 January 2016). "Australian app Sociabl connects fan with their idols". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Janine, Perrett (14 November 2015). "Brandon Reynolds, CEO Sociabl - SkyNews (The Perrett Report)" (The Perrett Report). SkyNews Australia. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ "Sociabl on KIIS 101.1 FM". KIIS 101.1 FM. 1 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Sadler, Denham (5 November 2015). "Keeping Sociabl for this 20-year-old meant saying no to $2.5 million". Startup Smart. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ↑ Russell, David (17 December 2015). "Sociabl poised to go global as investment pours in" (Big Ideas). Inside South Australia. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ↑ Tucker, Harry (4 January 2016). "5 Australian startups to watch in 2016". Business Insider. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ↑ Sadler, Denham (18 December 2015). "Mr". Startup Smart. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
- ↑ Reid, Poppy (19 January 2016). "Sociabl removes celebs from app, will take legal action against Channel 9 - The Music Network". www.themusicnetwork.com. TMN. Retrieved 18 December 2016.
- ↑ Connolley, Claire (22 February 2016). "Ms". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
- ↑ "What We Do". BRAF – About Us. Brandon Reynolds AIDS Foundation. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
External links[edit]
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