AudioMob founder and business graduate from Bedford Christian Facey makes Forbes 30 Under 30

A graduate listed in this year’s Forbes 30 Under 30 has shared his top tips for other students who wish to follow in his enterprising footsteps.

Bedford's Christian Facey, with business partner Wilfrid Obeng, was listed in Forbes’ Europe Media and Marketing Class for 2021 which identifies the most talented young media and marketing moguls of tomorrow.

Last year the pair founded AudioMob an audio advertising company for mobile gaming, after they developed technology which allows players to listen to adverts without their play being interrupted by videos or banners displaying the ads.

They have already raised $2 million (£1.4 million) in funding and their advertising clients include Warner Music and Ministry of Sound Group.

Christian graduated from London's Kingston Business School in 2014 with a BSc (Hons) in business management, having studied a four-year sandwich course with a one-year work placement.

The 29-year-old's top tips for students include developing a hard-working mindset and applying what you learn to real life by getting as much work experience as possible.

He said: “If you want an edge over the competition, you should have two or three internships under your belt by the time you graduate.

"If you cannot get real life experience, then create your own experience by starting new business ventures. Also learn to accept that you cannot know everything. Be prepared to learn from your mistakes and from others.”

Christian, who now lives in east London, started an events business, then a foreign exchange trading business and finally a nightlife business, which proved unsuccessful. But he didn;t give up.

His love of producing hip hop music and passion for online gaming and music, which he shares with Wilfrid, inspired the pair to found Jukebox, a music streaming platform monetised through audio ads.

Although the business did not thrive, AudioMob was borne out of Jukebox’s advertising element after the two entrepreneurs invested in research into the games market and new technology.

Being listed in Forbes 30 Under 30 was a huge surprise and a vote of confidence in the business, said Christian.

He added: “We are very proud of this achievement and of our work in building a unique and original advertising format.”

Now Christian and Wilfrid plan to take their business to the next level in a games industry that is worth billions, with 2.5 billion users of mobile games.