Sixteenth Talent founder: “Too many young entrepreneurs lose control of their ego”
Who?are you and what is your business?
I’m Danny Lowney, 24. I started an influencer talent management agency called Sixteenth?Talent.
We look after YouTubers, Instagrammers?and other digital talent, with an absolute focus on helping them become a ‘good influence’ on their audience.
We started at the beginning of 2017 and are now a team of 6, representing 15 influencers.
What?inspired you to start your own business?
The?startup I was working for closed down. Other companies were asking for help with influencers and influencers would ask me for help with their content, so it seemed like a pretty good reason to start Sixteenth.
I remember hearing advice that said to look out for signs telling you to start a certain business. When a market is already demanding work, products or output from you, that’s a pretty convincing sign that you should start.
What?are the barriers to starting your own business as a young person?
Absolutely?nothing. Now is as good a time as ever – being young can be a huge advantage.
I totally respect that experience can be very valuable in starting a business, however the lack of responsibility and abundance of time that young people often have is invaluable and puts us in a great position to get started. The internet has done a great job of smashing down most traditional barriers to starting a business, including any surrounding age.
What is more important is that you can perform at a high level – once you achieve that, people won’t care how old you are.
How?did you fund your business?
I?had one paycheck left to live on. It was just me and a laptop, so I didn’t really have overheads. Luckily, I was generating revenue pretty quickly, so didn’t need funding and haven’t taken any funding/investment since.
I thoroughly recommend starting a business on a shoestring budget. If you can’t test an early version of what you want to create at next to no cost, it very often isnt the best thing for you to pursue.
What?do you think the younger generation can bring to the business world?
A?healthy dose of ignorance. Because we don’t know how everything is supposed to work, we often have to start from scratch, which can be good when the old/normal way isn’t necessarily the best.
At the same time, I think it’s important to balance out that sense of juvenile know-it-all-ness with passionate curiosity and respect for what has come before you.
it’s true that smart people learn from their own mistakes but I think it’s foolish not to at least to try to take something from the mistakes of others. Too often, I notice young founders lose control of their ego and their early success can fuel the fire
I think it’s important not to become too impressed with oneself and stay humble, to allow the fire to maintain a healthy glow, rather than getting out of control.
Will?you ever work a 9-5 job?
No, there is no way that I could do it.
Is?a degree a necessity?
No.Spending time trying different things and putting prolonged focus on a single topic are two things that are necessary and both can be achieved through doing a degree. However, that is absolutely not to say that the degree itself in a necessity.
What?tips do you have for other young people wanting to start their own business?
To?take the first step and just keep moving. Also, leverage your age. It’s surprising how willing people can be to help a’student’ or young person.
Who?is your celebrity icon?
Kurt?Cobain. I always wanted to be a rockstar. Still do, really.
What?app do you use the most?
Gmail.I spend too much time in my inbox.
Where?do you see yourself at 50?
I?really don’t know. Hopefully somewhere sunny.
What?song should be your life anthem?
My?Way, Frank Sinatra.
Netflix?or night out?
Netflix.I stopped going out when I was 18.
