The Forbes 30 Under 30 list includes some of the most successful and accomplished young entrepreneurs in the world. It's an impressive group, including Shuvo Rahman, Adamu Otsi, Bishara Okafor, and TegenLiyana. Each of these young leaders is an expert in his or her own field, and the Forbes list gives us an opportunity to learn more about them and their companies.
Emily Warden Designs
It's been a big year for Emily Warden Designs. The Richmond-based company has been named as one of the top 30 under 30 by Forbes Magazine, and has a new home in the Fan District. Founded in 2017, the entrepreneur began by taking on projects for school art projects and selling them as miniatures. Eventually, she realized she could create a thriving business out of her love of jewelry.
Emily Warden specializes in designing fine jewelry with a twist. Her studio is located on Strawberry Street in Richmond, and she handcrafts some of the city's most beautiful rings, necklaces, and earrings. She also offers a step-by-step guide to creating your own jewelry. Whether you're looking to make your own piece or need a custom design, you're sure to find something you'll love.
The Forbes 30 under 30 list recognizes some of the nation's most promising young innovators, and this year, Emily Warden is one of them. As a Richmond native, she's a talented entrepreneur with a bright future. If you're ready to check her out, visit her website, and be sure to check out her newest location on Hanover Avenue.
Shuvo Rahman
Shuvo Rahman is the founder of Alice Labs, an AI-based multi-channel customer service platform that aims to transform the way businesses handle customer issues. The company focuses on providing a virtual assistant to e-commerce stores. This solution uses machine learning to analyze shopper behavior, which is then passed onto an automated customer support agent. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Dhaka, the startup serves 50 e-commerce stores across Southeast Asia and Asia.
Previously, Shuvo worked at Maya, where he served as the tech lead. He graduated from BUET in 2015 and has since been involved in several industries, including telecommunications and technology. Currently, Shuvo and his wife Anika are running an online boutique store. A few years ago, they also developed an innovative online platform called iFarmer, which allows anyone in Bangladesh to sponsor in livestock farming. As a result of its success, it has become one of the most popular startups in Bangladesh.
In January 2019, Shuvo launched his own company, Alice Labs, in Dhaka, which provides a virtual assistant to e-commerce business. The startup recently closed a seed round of $500,000 and is serving over 50 e-commerce stores in Southeast Asia. By using machine learning, the startup claims to provide native language customer service.
Jacob Rudolph
For a young gay man, Jacob Rudolph is a pretty big deal. He was recently named to Forbes' 30 under 30 list for his work in the LGBTQ+ community. Not only did he get the accolade, but he also got the honor of speaking at the NYC Pride Rally in front of thousands of people. A video of his speech went viral and now has over 2 million views.
In addition to being a gay activist, Jacob is also a vibrational healer. As a Reiki Practitioner, he has helped dozens of clients in workshops. Additionally, he's studied sound and vibrational healing, tantra, self-gong mastery, and mythology. And he's been known to take a break from his studies and lead A Course in Miracles retreats.
Another notable accomplishment was his work in supporting local civil rights groups in passing a state law to ban conversion therapy. While it's not an official award, it's easy to see that Rudolph has made an impact on his community and beyond.
Finally, Jacob is passionate about his own personal growth and development. With his passion in mind, he is the Executive Director of The Pride Network, which provides opportunities to develop as an individual and as a leader within the LGBTQ+ community.
Bishara Okafor
Forbes has released its 12th annual 30 under 30 list. This year's list includes nearly 600 entrepreneurs and influencers under the age of 30. The list includes people working in a variety of industries, including gaming, sports, entertainment, health care, and more. Its average age is 27. Of the honorees, almost half are people of color. They hail from 46 countries. According to Forbes, immigrants make up nearly one-fifth of the total number of honorees.
Bishara Okafor is a senior producer at NBC News. She began her career at The New Yorker, where she helped produce some of the magazine's most popular news videos. Her work has been viewed more than 10 million times on YouTube. In addition to her role at NBC News, she founded the nonprofit Research in Color Foundation, which provides support for minority economics Ph.D. candidates. As president of the foundation, she hopes to increase diversity in academia.
Bishara's latest project is a digital documentary, Dear Noah: Pages from a Family Diary. She also produces 30-minute documentaries. Before joining NBC News, she was a senior staff videographer at the magazine. When she joined the company, she had never used video editing software. But she was able to use her background in video production to help increase the magazine's YouTube subscriber base. After two years, the channel had more than 19 million views.
Tegen
For a list that was compiled by a company that's been around for over a decade, the Forbes 30 Under 30 is no small feat. Aside from the obvious entrants, the list is a veritable treasure trove of aspiring young entrepreneurs. The finalists were chosen from a pool of thousands, based on factors ranging from their achievements to their social impact. To qualify for the list, nominees must be under 29 on December 31, 2022. They will be inducted into the illustrious ranks at a gala in New York City. If they are fortunate, they may even make a few friends along the way. This year, the company decided to expand the prize pool by adding the coveted "top dog" designation. As a result, the competition will be a close one.