Mark Essien Explained
Mark Anthony Essien (born 18 December 1980 in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State) is a Nigerian entrepreneur, software developer and startup investor. He is the founder and CEO of Hotels.ng, one of the first online hotel booking websites in Nigeria.[1] [2] [3] Before he founded Hotels.ng in 2013,Essien had previously built a file sharing software called Gnumm (acquired by Snoopstar.com), followed by a language learning startup called Ingolingo.[4]
Career
Hotels.ng
In 2013, Essien founded Hotels.ng. Spark.ng made an initial investment of $75,000 and another investment of $150,000.[5]
In 2015, the company secured additional investment funding of $1.2 million from international investors EchoVC Pan-Africa Fund,[6] a seed-stage technology fund, and Omidyar Network, the investment vehicle of eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.[7] [8] [9] [10]
Essien stepped down as the CEO of HNG Internships, a programme he founded to solve the Nigerian software engineering talent problem. He handed over to Seyi Onifade[11]
Awards and recognition
In 2015, Essien made the Forbes list of the 30 youngest entrepreneurs in Africa. He has also been nominated for the Nigeria Future awards amongst others.[12]
Family
On 8 April 2018 Essien married Jenni Naiaretti, who is also a developer.[13]
Investments
In 2016, Hotels.ng co-invested with Jason Njoku and Spark in OgaVenue,[14] an events booking platform. Essien serves as a director on the board of OgaVenue.
Public talks
Essien is a frequent TEDx speaker. He has delivered talks on leveraging networks to build a business and how Africa can lead in the global technology space, speaking at TEDxEuston and TEDxGbagada respectively.[15] [16] [17]
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Facebook CPO confirms Nigeria's strategic importance - ITWeb Africa. Staff Writer. www.itwebafrica.com. en-gb. 2017-03-03.
- News: INTERVIEW: How Nigerian firm I started with $300 grew to sell hotel rooms worth billions of naira – Founder - Premium Times Nigeria. 2016-05-31. Premium Times Nigeria. 2017-03-03. en-GB.
- Web site: Is this the weirdest job interview ever?. Lauren . Said-Moorhouse. CNN. 2017-03-03.
- News: Hotels.ng: solving the small problems before building Robocop – Ventureburn. 2014-01-31. Ventureburn. 2017-03-03. en-US.
- News: Mobile West Africa 2016: Event kicks off today with Mark Essien, Ebi Atawodi, Simon Ononobi, others. Okunola. Folarin. 2017-03-03. en-US.
- Web site: Hotels.ng Raises $1.2 Million in Funding. techpoint.ng. en-US. 2017-03-13.
- Web site: Exclusive: Hotels.ng Raises $1.2 Million Series A From Omidyar, EchoVC TechCabal. 25 May 2015 . 2017-03-03.
- Web site: Nigeria's Hotels.ng Grabs $1.2M To Expand Listings Across Africa. Shu. Catherine. TechCrunch. 26 May 2015 . 2017-03-03.
- News: Nigeria's tourism opportunity can be unlocked by local online booking platforms. Mohammed. Omar. Quartz. 2017-03-03. en-US.
- News: Hotels.ng raises $1.2m from Omidyar Network, EchoVC. 2015-05-26. Disrupt Africa. 2017-03-03. en-US.
- Web site: Mark Essien Steps Down as HNG Internship CEO, Seyi Fade Appointed. 2019-08-12. Technext. 2020-05-13.
- News: Davido, Yaya Toure, Mark Essien are The Future Africa Awards 2014 Nominees See Full List. BellaNaija. 2017-03-03. en-US.
- News: Mark Essien: Hotels NG boss ties the knot in Akwa Ibom!. Adetayo. Ayoola. 2018-11-29. en-US.
- Web site: SPARK and Hotels.ng invest $45,000 in ogaVenue. techpoint.ng. 18 August 2016 . en-US. 2017-03-13.
- Web site: This is How Mark Essien Thinks Africa Can Lead the World's Tech Space TechCabal. 14 January 2016 . 2017-03-03.
- Web site: Is now the time to invest in Nigeria?. Katie Pisa, for. CNN. 15 June 2016 . 2017-03-03.
- News: Mark Essien : Solving Problems Creatively - The Guardian Life Magazine. 2016-08-07. The Guardian Life Magazine. 2017-03-03. en-US.
