Jack Smith

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Contact young entrepreneur Jack Smith

Summary: I am a young entrepreneur currently in San Francisco running Vungle who has previously won awards such as "Enterprising Student of the Year". One of my main passions is inspiring youth entrepreneurship. I have started competitions encouraging students to consider being entrepreneurial and frequently talked to school students to dispel the myths surrounding going to university and starting your own business.

I've been obsessed with computers for as long as I can remember; at the age of 7 I was tech-support to my wider-family, neighbors and friends. Similarly, since a young age I've been torn between a life of work or "doing my own thing"; on my first day of pre-school, I asked my parents how long I'd have to wait before I could retire!

I liked the idea of working in an office and the different personalities I'd get to talk to each day. However a defining moment came at the age of 13, when my parents told me that if I wanted to keep getting pocket money, I'd have to help out with chores around the house such as washing dishes. I said that I'd rather earn my own money than do chores and so my startup path was decided. So at 13 I became financially self-sufficient through working as a freelance web designer. I later ran a video-game hardware drop-shipping venture at the age of 15, before going off to university.

I was in two minds about going to university, part of me just wanted to keep working on startups, but my parents convinced me and ultimately it was a really good decision. It seemed natural given my previous life endeavors, that I should study Computer Science at University. I wanted to experience the business of living in central London and the best place that I found to study Computer Science in central London was King's College London, my choice of subject to study was a no-brainer. I was over the moon to get my first choice course at my first choice University, so in 2007 I started studying Computer Science with Business. Suffice to say I hadn't thought through decision enough and made a snap decision to switch courses after 2 weeks to something that I'd never previously studied - English Language and Linguistics, somehow I managed to get my way onto the course and graduate in it; but then I always have liked being challenged with different subjects, just not languages.

I continued running my own startups whilst at University, with the main pursuit being Mediaroots. I had my office based a 10 minute walk from my university, so I would be working in my office and run up the road for a lecture, then run back.

During my time at University, I was shocked to find that there was no support for students that wanted to start their own business. I expected the culture to be like that seen at Harvard or Stanford where everyone wants to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, instead the aspirations were all around getting into the top banking or consulting institutions, the idea of starting your own business seemed in line with being unemployed. I was disgusted and took it upon myself to start a business idea (purposely not "business plan") competition named IdeaBox specifically for undergraduate students. I took roughly 10 students through a 10 week course, where I brought in speakers and helped them refine their idea into a short pitch which they would give to an audience and judging panel. The IdeaBox continues to be an extended success in encouraging students to consider starting their own venture as a viable career pursuit.

I founded Vungle after graduating from University, with my business partner that I'd met later on in my time working at Mediaroots. I moved to San Francisco in August 2011 and am loving my time out here.