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Michael Acton Smith
Internet Entrepreneur, Michael Acton Smith is CEO and founder of social online games developer and children’s media company Mind Candy.
Mind Candy created global kids entertainment brand, Moshi Monsters, which now has 50 million users in 200 countries worldwide. [1]
Moshi Monsters is a children’s entertainment brand for boys and girls aged 6-12. Users can sign up, adopt and nurture pet monsters, play games and Super Moshi Missions, share their artwork, complete educational puzzles and socialize within a safe, moderated environment.
In 2011, Moshi Monsters launched a range of physical products including books, toys and a magazine. Total gross sales of Moshi Monsters related products are forecast at $100m (£60m) for 2011.[2]
Career
editIn 1998, whilst in his early twenties, Smith co-founded online gadget and gift retailer Firebox.com with university friend Tom Boardman. The pair started out with a rent-free attic and a £1,000 loan from Smith’s mother. Their breakthrough moment came in the form of the “Shot Glass Chess Set” - an idea born in the Student’s Union at Birmingham University. Within five years they were listed by The Sunday Times 'Fast Track 100' as the 13th fastest growing, privately owned business in the UK.[3]
Following his success with Firebox, Michael secured $10m backing and launched Mind Candy in 2004. The company launched alternate reality game Perplex City - a transmedia puzzle game that played out across various media platforms. The game proved a little complex for its time, attracting only a niche audience and after three years (and $9m spent), Perplex was placed on indefinite hold.[4]
With just $1m left in the bank Smith took a final roll of the dice. In 2007, having been inspired by the growing success of Facebook and kids brands including Tamagotchi, Mind Candy launched social MMO, Moshi Monsters.
Smith’s ultimate vision is to ‘build the largest entertainment brand in the world for this new digital generation of kids'.[5]
Early/Personal Life
editSmith was born in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, where he lived with his parents and sister. The family spent many summers in the USA, as Smith’s father is American.
Smith has been fascinated by games and puzzles ever since receiving a copy of Masquerade for his seventh birthday. He has cited his favourite games to include Poker, Go, Set, Sensible Soccer, Burnout Paradise, and Guitar Hero and his key creative inspirations as Pixar, and Jim Henson’s work on The Muppets. He puts his interest in monsters down to ‘reading too much Dr Seuss and Maurice Sendak as a child'.[6]
Smith studied Geography at Birmingham University, England, and worked briefly in the City of London before starting his own business.
Smith lives in Soho, London. He travels regularly, supports Arsenal FC and is an avid reader. In his spare time he organizes boutique music festivals and networking events including Berwickstock and Silicon Drinkabout. He was recently ranked among the Twitter elite.[7]
Honors and Philanthropy
editIn May 2011, Smith was woted 12th in Wired Magazine’s Top 100 of Britain’s Digital Power List.[8]
In November 2010, Smith was included in London's Evening Standard’s selection of ‘London's 1000 most influential people 2010: New Media'.[9]
Michael is a member of the Courvoisier Future 500, an exclusive network of pioneers, entrepreneurs and revolutionary spirits from the arts, social enterprise, business, science, gastronomy, fashion and other sectors.[10]
In February 2011, Smith was ranked within the Twitter elite as part of The Independent’s Twitter 100.[11]
Smith is recognised as a thought leader within the new media industry. He regularly delivers inspirational speeches during which he offers frank insight into his learnings for those inspired by Mind Candy's successes. In 2011 Michael has spoken at Kidscreen (New York, U.S.), MIPTV (Cannes, France), The Children’s Media Conference (Sheffield, UK) and Develop (Brighton, UK).
Smith also founded Silicon Drinkabout a weekly Tech/Media meet up in Shoreditch, London designed to bring together those working within the Tech community - supported by David Cameron's Tech City initiative.
References
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