{{Short description|British entrepreneur (born 1980)}} {{EngvarB|date=November 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2017}} {{Infobox person | name = Jason Njoku | image = Jason Njoku 01.jpg | caption = Njoku in 2020 | birth_name = Jason Chukwuma Njoku | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|12|11|df=y}} | birth_place = London, England | occupation = Entrepreneur | spouse = {{marriage|Mary Njoku|2012}} | known_for = Founder of iROKOtv | website = {{url|https://jason.com.ng}} }}
'''Jason Chukwuma Njoku''' (born 11 December 1980) is a British businessman and a producer. He is the co-founder and CEO of iROKOtv, a video-on-demand service for Nigerian movies.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Okwumbu-Imafidon |first=Ruth |date=2022-04-30 |title=After failing many times, Jason Njoku finally built a multimillion-dollar company |url=https://nairametrics.com/2022/04/30/after-failing-many-times-jason-njoku-finally-built-a-multimillion-dollar-company/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |website=Nairametrics |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Jason Njoku: The Iroko Man Grows Blackbet|url=https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2023/01/19/jason-njoku-the-iroko-man-grows-blackbet/ |access-date=2024-10-04 |newspaper=This Day}}</ref>
A self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur, iROKOtv was Njoku's 11th attempt at starting a business. He came up with the idea of launching a new distribution platform for Nollywood whilst living at home with his mum, aged 30, after a number of failed enterprises.<ref>BBC African Dream – [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-africa-17896462 Jason Njoku]</ref>
== Early life and education == Jason was born and raised in Deptford, Southeast London. His mother raised him and his three sisters and brother by herself, whilst working a full-time job in the National Health Service. He attended school in London, then moved to a village in Nigeria from the age of 12 to 15. After he returned to the United Kingdom, he attended college to complete his A-Levels, before securing a place at The University of Manchester where he read Chemistry. He graduated in 2005 with a 2:1 and launched ''Brash Magazine'', a student publication which ran for three years before it closed in 2008.<ref>BBC – [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17896461 Making a fortune by distributing Nigerian films online]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2013-04-11|title=Nigeria's film industry: a potential gold mine?|url=https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/may-2013/nigeria%E2%80%99s-film-industry-potential-gold-mine|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Africa Renewal|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-07-17|title=JASON NJOKU, A SUCCESS STORY|url=https://www.techgistafrica.com/specials/tips/jason-njoku-a-success-story/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Techgist Africa {{!}} Africa Leading Tech News, Reviews and Tips|language=en-US|archive-date=30 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210930131558/https://www.techgistafrica.com/specials/tips/jason-njoku-a-success-story/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
== Career ==
=== iROKO ===
After a number of failed enterprises between 2005 and 2010, which included a blog network, a T-shirt business and a web design company,<ref>Tech Loy – [https://web.archive.org/web/20120918192427/http://techloy.com/2012/09/17/moving-back-in-with-my-mum-was-kind-of-humiliating-jason-njoku-on-forbes-africa/ "Moving Back In With My Mum Was Kind Of Humiliating" – Jason Njoku]</ref> Njoku moved back home into his mother's house in Deptford. It was there that he came up with the idea of starting a Nollywood online distribution business, "The West had Hulu and Netflix – Africa had nothing", notes Njoku.<ref>Akilah Net – {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20150530114628/http://www.akilah.net/people-to-know/irokotvs-millionaire-founder-on-starting-a-company-staying-the-course-and-sailing-past-failure/ iROKOtv’s Millionaire Founder on Starting a Company, Staying the Course, and Sailing Past Failure]}}</ref> Having studied the industry from afar, he flew to Lagos, thanks to the financial help of his best friend Bastian Gotter, a fellow University of Manchester graduate, and started purchasing the online licenses of Nollywood movies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3006695/irokos-jason-njoku-is-creating-the-next-netflix-in-nigeria|title=Iroko's Jason Njoku Is Creating The Next Netflix in Nigeria|date=18 March 2013|website=Fast Company|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> He worked from a two-bedroom apartment in Festac Town, Lagos,<ref>{{cite web |last=Jewell |first=Catherine |date=1 October 2017 |title=iROKOtv: delivering Nollywood content to the world |url=https://www.wipo.int/en/web/wipo-magazine/articles/irokotv-delivering-nollywood-content-to-the-world-40134 |website=WIPO Magazine |access-date=30 May 2026}}</ref> and struck a licensing deal directly with YouTube, establishing his brand as the video platform's largest official content partner on the African continent.<ref>{{cite web |date=18 July 2012 |title=BN Trailblazers & Tastemakers: iROK, iROKO, iROKING! Meet Jason Njoku |url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2012/07/bn-trailblazers-tastemakers-irok-iroko-iroking-meet-jason-njoku-multimillionaire-ceo-of-iroko-partners-distributing-nigerian-movies-to-the-ends-of-the-earth/ |website=BellaNaija |access-date=30 May 2026}}</ref>
In 2010, Njoku and his former partner Bastian Gotter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2017/01/30/irokotv-co-founder-bastian-gotter-leaves-company-to-pursue-startup-investments|title=IrokoTv Co-Founder Bastian Gotter Leaves Company To Pursue Startup Investments|date=30 Jan 2017|work=Forbes}}</ref> launched NollywoodLove, a YouTube channel, which was profitable within two months of launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/bd5fd984-1050-11e1-8211-00144feabdc0|title=Iroko Partners: Demand proves insatiable for Nollywood on the net|website=Financial Times|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> That same year, thanks to an article by Sarah Lacy who worked at the time for Tech Crunch, NollywoodLove caught the attention of US-based venture capital fund Tiger Global who were interested in expanding their reach in emerging markets.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/05/14/you-think-hollywood-is-rough-welcome-to-the-chaos-excitement-and-danger-of-nollywood/|title=You Think Hollywood Is Rough? Welcome to the Chaos, Excitement and Danger of Nollywood – TechCrunch|first=Sarah|last=Lacy|date=14 May 2011|publisher=TechCrunch.com|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref>
Series A investment of $3 million was secured from Tiger Global in 2010 and the company launched a stand-alone video-on-demand movie platform, iROKOtv, on 1 December 2011. The site drew in viewers from 178 countries around the world.<ref>Reuters – [https://web.archive.org/web/20151213111455/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-nigeria-irokotv-idUKBRE9AC0Y120131113 Nigerian films get boost from UK-based online startup iROKOtv]</ref> Njoku and Gotter have since gone on to raise an additional $22 million from international VCs, with inclusion from Investment AB Kinnevik and RISE Capital<ref>Dow Jones Venture Wire – [http://pevc.dowjones.com/Articlean=DJFVW00020131217e9chsq71w&cid=32135029&ctype=ts&ReturnUrl=http%3a%2f%2fpevc.dowjones.com%2fArticle%3fan%3dDJFVW00020131217e9chsq71w%26cid%3d32135029%26ctype%3dts Africa's Answer to Netflix, iROKO Raises $8M to Scale]</ref> and have used the investment to build an extensive film catalog of 5,000 movies,<ref>IT Web Africa – [http://www.itwebafrica.com/home-page/movers-and-shakers/539-jason-njoku/231397-qaa-with-iroko-ceo-jason-njoku Interview: iROKO CEO Jason Njoku] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224103441/http://www.itwebafrica.com/home-page/movers-and-shakers/539-jason-njoku/231397-qaa-with-iroko-ceo-jason-njoku |date=24 February 2020 }}</ref> launch offices in Lagos, New York, and London and invest in improving the company's technology resource. Iroko has gone to make other funding investment totaling $40 million <ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcabal.com/2016/01/25/irokotv-just-raised-19-million-total-funding-now-at-40-million/|title=iROKOtv Just Raised $19 Million, Total Funding Now At $40 Million|first=Babakole|last=Oluwafemi|date=25 January 2016|publisher=TechCabal.com}}</ref>
In 2015, Njoku decided to focus the company's attention on an Android mobile app,<ref>Jason.com.ng – [http://www.jason.com.ng/post/122855995770/com-goodbye .Com. Goodbye] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150821063537/http://www.jason.com.ng/post/122855995770/com-goodbye |date=21 August 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://techcabal.com/2015/07/02/app-only-irokotv-is-live/|title=App-Only iROKOtv is live – TechCabal|date=2 July 2015|publisher=TechCabal.com|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> rather than a streaming platform to combat broadband infrastructure problems that Africa poses.
In July 2012, he was cited by ''Forbes Africa'' as one of the 'Ten Young African Millionaires to Watch'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mfonobongnsehe/2012/07/11/ten-young-african-millionaires-to-watch/|title=Ten Young African Millionaires To Watch|first=Mfonobong|last=Nsehe|date=11 July 2012|website=Forbes|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> On 29 August 2013, Njoku was named as the CNBC All Africa Business Awards Young Leader of the Year for West Africa.<ref>Human IPO – [http://www.humanipo.com/news/30814/irokotv-ceo-wins-cnbc-award/ iROKOtv CEO wins CNBC award]</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Okwumbu-Imafidon |first=Ruth |date=2022-04-30 |title=After failing many times, Jason Njoku finally built a multimillion-dollar company |url=https://nairametrics.com/2022/04/30/after-failing-many-times-jason-njoku-finally-built-a-multimillion-dollar-company/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Nairametrics |language=en-US}}</ref> He has also been named as one of Fast Company's Top 1000 Most Creative People in Business.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/3025456/most-creative-people/most-creative-people-in-business-1000-the-complete-list|title=Most Creative People in Business 1000: The Complete List|date=29 January 2014|website=Fast Company|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref>
=== Spark === In August 2013, alongside his business partners Bastian Gotter and Mary Remmy Njoku, Njoku launched a $2 million investment vehicle for Lagos-based Internet start-ups called Spark.<ref name=Pando>Pando Daily – [https://pando.com/2013/08/16/nigerian-movie-mogul-raises-2-million-more-for-local-angel-investing/ Pando Daily – Nigerian movie mogul raises $2 million more for local angel investing] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150628215646/https://pando.com/2013/08/16/nigerian-movie-mogul-raises-2-million-more-for-local-angel-investing/ |date=28 June 2015 }}</ref> The company initially invested in 11 companies, including a drinks distribution company called Drinks.ng, a real-estate and property online letting agency called ToLet.com.ng, and a hotel room booking site, called Hotels.ng, which has gone on to raise $1.2 million in VC investment from EchoVC Pan-Africa Fund and Omidyar Network.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2015/05/26/hotels-ng-funding/|title=Nigeria's Hotels.ng Grabs $1.2M To Expand Listings Across Africa – TechCrunch|first=Catherine|last=Shu|date=26 May 2015|publisher=TechCrunch.com|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> In 2015, Jason Njoku in a blog post officially announced they're letting go of four startups considered failed businesses:<ref>{{Cite web|date=18 June 2015|url=https://techpoint.ng/2015/06/18/jason-njoku-pulls-the-plug-on-4-spark-invested-startups/|title=Jason Njoku pulls the plug on 4 more SPARK-invested startups|website=Techpoint.ng|access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> Bus.com.ng (an online bus ticketing service ), Insured.ng (an insurance comparison platform), Giddimint.com.ng (an online fashion store) and Christians.ng, an online dating platform for Christians.
== Personal life == Njoku married Nollywood film star and producer Mary Remmy Njoku in Festac Town, Lagos, on 18 August 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://techpoint.ng/2017/03/03/things-didnt-know-jason-njoku/|title=8 things you didn't know about Jason Njoku, founder of iROKOtv|date=3 March 2017|website=TechPoint.ng|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lindaikeji.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/wedding-photos-mr-and-mrs-jason-njoku.html|title=Wedding Photos: Mr and Mrs Jason Njoku|date=August 2012|website=LindaIkeji.Blogspot.co.uk|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> They welcomed their first son, Jason Obinna Njoku, on 30 July 2013,<ref>Bella Naija – [http://www.bellanaija.com/2013/07/30/its-a-boy-for-tech-media-mogul-jason-njoku-nollywood-actress-mary-remmy-meet-baby-jason-obinna/ It’s a Boy for Tech Media Mogul Jason Njoku & Nollywood Actress Mary Remmy {{!}} Meet Baby Jason Obinna]</ref> a second child, Nwakaego Annabel Njoku, was born on 24 August 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bellanaija.com/2015/08/jason-njoku-of-irokotv-wife-mary-remmy-welcome-baby-no-2/|title=Jason Njoku of IrokoTV & Wife Mary Remmy Welcome Baby No. 2!|date=25 August 2015|publisher=BellaNaija.com|access-date=19 July 2017}}</ref> and a third child, Nnenna Amber Njoku born on 4 August 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-01-19|title=COVID-19 isn't spiritual – Nollywood actress Maryremmy Njoku|url=https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2021/01/19/covid-19-isnt-spiritual-nollywood-actress-maryremmy-njoku/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=2021-02-11|newspaper=P.M. News|language=en-US}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commonscatinline}} * [https://techpoint.ng/2015/03/23/jason-njoku-iroko-fears-nollywood-less-popular/ My Biggest Fear Is That Nollywood Becomes Less Popular – Jason Njoku]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Njoku, Jason}} Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century British businesspeople Category:Alumni of the University of Manchester Category:Businesspeople from Lagos Category:Nigerian company founders Category:Nigerian businesspeople in the entertainment industry Category:Nigerian venture capitalists Category:Nigerian YouTubers Category:People from Deptford Category:British chief executives