# Timothy Sykes

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**Timothy Sykes** is a [penny stock](/source/Penny_stock) trader and blogger[1][2] who self-reported trading profits of $1.65 million from a $12,415 Bar mitzvah gift through [day trading](/source/Day_trading) while in college.[3][4] He runs a blog and subscription platform whose aim is to teach about how to trade penny stocks. According to a [Forbes](/source/Forbes) editorial piece, he made up to $20 million via subscriptions to this platform in 2015 alone.[5]

## Career

Timothy Sykes graduated from [Tulane University](/source/Tulane_University) in 2003 with a [bachelor's degree](/source/Bachelor's_degree) in [philosophy](/source/Philosophy) and a minor in [business](/source/Business). He is Jewish. [6] While at Tulane, Sykes routinely cut classes to day trade.[7] In 2003 he founded Cilantro Fund Management, a small-[short bias](/source/Short_selling) [hedge fund](/source/Hedge_fund),[8][9] using $1 million mostly from his friends and family.[10] After initially acquiring profits the fund shut down 3 years later due to heavy losses.[11]

In 2006, Sykes was included on *[Trader Monthly](/source/Trader_Monthly)'*s "30 Under 30" list of up-and-coming traders in the market,[12] a selection which editor [Randall Lane](/source/Randall_Lane_(journalist)) later called "our worst pick" among the chosen honorees.[10] Sykes claimed that the Cilantro Fund was "the number one long-short microstock hedge fund in the country, according to Barclays";[10] Lane later discovered that the rating came from "the Barclay Group," a small research company based in Fairfield, Iowa, and not the well-known [Barclays](/source/Barclays) British bank.[13][14]

In 2008 Sykes attempted to recreate his initial investing success by again starting with $12,415.[15][16]

Sykes self-published *An American Hedge Fund: How I Made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund* in 2007.[17] The book documented Sykes' experiences as a day-trader and the difficulties he encountered in attempting to start a hedge fund.[18]

In 2012, Sykes created "Miss Penny Stock," a financial beauty pageant among the female representatives for his brand and company.[19]

Sykes has appeared on [Below Deck](/source/Below_Deck) twice, on season 2 episode 10 and season 5 episode 13.

## Teaching and other projects

After the shutdown of Cilantro Fund Partners in 2007, Sykes wrote the book "An American Hedge Fund" and launched TimothySykes.com.>[20]

In 2009, Sykes launched Investimonials.com, a website devoted to collecting user reviews of financial services, videos, and books, as well as financial brokers.[21]

Sykes co-founded Profit.ly in 2011, a social service with about 20,000 users that provides stock trade information online.[22] Sykes said the service serves three purposes: "creating public track records for gurus, newsletter writers and students. He also wants everyone to learn from both the wins and losses of other traders to benefit the entire industry."[23] One of Sykes’ students, Tim Grittani, was able to turn $1,500 into $1 million in three years by trading stocks.[24] Another student, Jack Kellogg, made more than $10 million by stock trading under Sykes’ tutelage.[25]

Sykes founded The Timothy Sykes Foundation, which has raised $600,000 and has partnered with [Make-a-Wish Foundation](/source/Make-a-Wish_Foundation) and The [Boys and Girls Club](/source/Boys_%26_Girls_Clubs_of_America).[26]

In February 2017, Sykes donated $1 million to Pencils of Promise to help build 20 new primary schools across Ghana, Guatemala and Laos which are to be completed between 2017 and 2018.[27]

The Timothy Sykes Foundation was eventually renamed the Karmagawa Foundation and by 2019, Karmagawa had built 57 schools and donated more than $4 million to 45 charities for environmental causes.[28][29]

In 2020, Sykes and Karmagawa made a joint pledge to donate $1 million for relief efforts in Yemen during the Yemeni civil war and the cholera and COVID-19 epidemics.[30] Karmagawa built its 100th school in Myanmar in 2022.[31]

## Controversy

Sykes has publicly criticized various businesses and celebrities, including [Shaquille O'Neal](/source/Shaquille_O'Neal)[32] and [Justin Bieber](/source/Justin_Bieber),[33][34] for promoting "[pump and dump](/source/Pump_and_dump)" schemes,[33][35][36] in which an investor purchases stock, hypes others into buying that stock to inflate its price, then sells the shares at a higher price. The investor subsequently shorts the stock to profit from the resulting decline.

In May 2017, Sykes and [Bow Wow](/source/Bow_Wow_(rapper)) had an [Instagram](/source/Instagram) feud in which at least one user accused Sykes of using "coded racist language".[37]

In 2020, Sykes was sued for allegedly stealing trading platform technology. The lawsuit was filed by Scanz Technologies, Inc., who claimed that Sykes copied their trading platform, EquityFeed, to create a copycat platform called StocksToTrade. Scanz Technologies alleged that Sykes violated a termination contract by copying the look, feel, assets, and trade secrets of EquityFeed. They sought $10 million in damages plus [punitive damages](/source/Punitive_damages). [38]

## References

1. Yousuf, Hibah (December 16, 2013). ["Trader turns $1,500 to $1 million in 3 years"](https://web.archive.org/web/20181204053642/https://money.cnn.com/2013/12/16/investing/penny-stock-trader-millionaire/index.html?iid=HP_LN). CNN Money. Archived from [the original](https://money.cnn.com/2013/12/16/investing/penny-stock-trader-millionaire/index.html?iid=HP_LN) on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. de la Merced, Michael (December 8, 2006). ["Culturally, Hedge Funds Go Public"](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/business/media/08hedge.html?_r=0). *New York Times*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180623085130/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/08/business/media/08hedge.html?_r=0) June 23, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 23, 2017.

1. ["Timothy Sykes Will Not Be Stopped, Gosh Darn It"](https://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2007/11/timothy_sykes_will_not_be_stop.html). New York Magazine. November 1, 2007. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180623112813/http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2007/11/timothy_sykes_will_not_be_stop.html) June 23, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

1. Neal, Jeff (March 13, 2009). ["Interview Central: Timothy Sykes, Part 1"](https://www.forbes.com/feeds/options/2009/03/13/options20986.html). *Forbes.com*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171019010346/https://www.forbes.com/feeds/options/2009/03/13/options20986.html) October 19, 2017 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 16, 2017.

1. Pofeldt, Elaine. ["How Tim Sykes Created His Multi-Million Dollar Blog"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/elainepofeldt/2014/11/28/how-tim-sykes-created-his-multi-million-dollar-blog/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2025-01-01.

1. ["Timothy Sykes' LinkedIn Profile"](http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothysykes). LinkedIn. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100227110027/http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothysykes) 2010-02-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-01-29.

1. Toren, Adam (October 25, 2011). ["Young Entrepreneurs: "Quit being such babies!" Tim Sykes Tells it Like it Is"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121101232834/http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/young-entrepreneurs-quit-being-such-babies-tim-sykes-tells-it-like-it-is/). YoungEntrepreneur.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.youngentrepreneur.com/blog/young-entrepreneurs-quit-being-such-babies-tim-sykes-tells-it-like-it-is/) on November 1, 2012. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. ["US magazine toasts star traders aged 30 or younger"](http://www.timothysykes.com/files/reuters07_26_06.pdf). Reuters. July 27, 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130508093256/http://www.timothysykes.com/files/reuters07_26_06.pdf) May 8, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 29, 2013.

1. Joe, Michael (May 8, 2012). ["Two students win Sykes Award recognizing nontraditional abilities and interests"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130225213333/http://tulane.edu/giving/news/two-students-win-sykes-award-recognizing-nontraditional-abilities-and-interests.cfm). Tulane.edu. Archived from [the original](http://tulane.edu/giving/news/two-students-win-sykes-award-recognizing-nontraditional-abilities-and-interests.cfm) on February 25, 2013.

1. Lane, Randall (2010). [*The Zeroes*](https://archive.org/details/zeroesmymisadven00lane). Penguin Group. p. 56. ISBN 978-1-59184-329-0.

1. ["Failed hedge fund manager tries again on Internet"](https://www.reuters.com/article/oukin-uk-hedgefunds-sykes-idUKN3131839020071101). *Reuters*. 2007-11-01. Retrieved 2022-01-29.

1. Barber, Andrew (August 2006). ["30 under 30"](http://www.timothysykes.com/files/tradermonthly30under30_08_06.pdf). Trader Monthly. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130508103653/http://www.timothysykes.com/files/tradermonthly30under30_08_06.pdf) 2013-05-08 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-01-31.

1. Thomassen, Lucilla. ["5 Things You Should Know about Tim Sykes"](http://toptenpk.com/5-things-you-should-know-about-tim-sykes/). TopTenPK.com. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130120163624/http://toptenpk.com/5-things-you-should-know-about-tim-sykes/) 2013-01-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-01-31.

1. Lane, Randall (2010). [*The Zeroes*](https://archive.org/details/zeroesmymisadven00lane). pages 151-153: Penguin Group. ISBN 978-1-59184-329-0.

1. Hansard, Sara (November 12, 2007). ["Wunderkid is Back"](https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20071112/FREE/711120334/wunderkind-is-back). Investment News. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190827224542/https://www.investmentnews.com/article/20071112/FREE/711120334/wunderkind-is-back) August 27, 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 27, 2019.

1. ["'Wall Street Warriors' TV Star Timothy Sykes Sets Up New & Transparent Challenge"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130706052555/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/11/prweb565596.htm). PR Web. November 1, 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/11/prweb565596.htm) on July 6, 2013. Retrieved January 31, 2013.

1. Sykes, Timothy (2007). [*An American Hedge Fund: How I Made $2 Million as a Stock Operator & Created a Hedge Fund*](https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0979549701/). BullShip Press. p. 235. ISBN 978-0979549700. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210207214441/https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0979549701/) 2021-02-07 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-09-16.

1. Chatzky, Jean. ["An American Hedge Fund"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100515204136/http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/An-American-Hedge-Fund). Oprah.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.oprah.com/oprahradio/An-American-Hedge-Fund) on 2010-05-15. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. La Roche, Julia (Aug 23, 2012). ["Penny Stock King Tim Sykes Is Hosting A Beauty Pageant Where Girls Will Parade Around In Bikinis And Cocktail Outfits"](http://www.businessinsider.com/miss-penny-stock-pageant-2012-8). Business Insider. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170219175726/http://www.businessinsider.com/miss-penny-stock-pageant-2012-8) 2017-02-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. ["Best Penny Stocks Guide: The Ultimate Plan on Trading in 2019"](https://www.timothysykes.com/penny-stocks/). [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190114210316/https://www.timothysykes.com/penny-stocks/) 2019-01-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-01-14.

1. Kincaid, Jason (November 25, 2009). ["Investimonials Wants To Be Your Guide To Quality Financial Products"](https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/25/investimonials-timothy-sykes/). Tech Crunch. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180929041305/https://techcrunch.com/2009/11/25/investimonials-timothy-sykes/) September 29, 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved June 25, 2017.

1. ["Best Advice I Ever Got: Timothy Sykes"](http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/best-advice-i-ever-got-timothy-sykes.html). Inc. June 1, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20130516035106/http://www.inc.com/young-entrepreneur-council/best-advice-i-ever-got-timothy-sykes.html) May 16, 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved January 28, 2013.

1. Anderson, Tom (September 15, 2011). ["Profit.ly Mines The Masses For Stock-Trading Gold"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomanderson/2011/09/15/profit-ly-mines-the-masses-for-stock-trading-gold/). *Forbes*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20161122225319/http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomanderson/2011/09/15/profit-ly-mines-the-masses-for-stock-trading-gold/) November 22, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 16, 2017.

1. Yousuf, Hibah (2013-12-16). ["Penny stock trader: From $1,500 to $1 million in three years"](https://money.cnn.com/2013/12/16/investing/penny-stock-trader-millionaire/index.html). *CNNMoney*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.[dead link]

1. Maidan, Laila. ["A 24-year-old stock trader made over $8 million in 2 years. Here's how he identifies a winning trade regardless of stock-market conditions."](https://www.businessinsider.com/how-stock-trader-made-millions-in-two-years-winning-trades-2022-8). *Business Insider*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.

1. Rampton, John [The Man Who Wants Everyone to Be a Millionaire](http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/interview-with-timothy-sykes-the-man-who-wants-everyone-to-be-a-millionaire.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150925133931/http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/interview-with-timothy-sykes-the-man-who-wants-everyone-to-be-a-millionaire.html) 2015-09-25 at the Wayback Machine *Inc.* September 24, 2015

1. ["Make Money and Make an Impact with Tim Sykes"](http://lewishowes.com/podcast/timothy-sykes2/). Lewis Howes. 23 January 2017. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170213163926/http://lewishowes.com/podcast/timothy-sykes2/) 2017-02-13 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2017-02-12.

1. ["Represent Launch Charity Collection Alongside Karmagawa to Spread Awareness"](https://www.complex.com/style/2019/12/represent-x-karmagawa). *Complex*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.

1. Fox, MeiMei. ["Penny Stocks Trader Tim Sykes On Finding His Life Purpose With Karmagawa"](https://www.forbes.com/sites/meimeifox/2020/11/04/penny-stocks-trader-tim-sykes-on-finding-his-life-purpose-with-karmagawa/). *Forbes*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.

1. ["Why millionaire stock trader Timothy Sykes donates $ 500,000 to the children of Yemen"](https://radar2014.org/2020/08/16/why-millionaire-stock-trader-timothy-sykes-donates-500000-to-the-children-of-yemen/). *Radar 2014*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.

1. Team, The Karmagawa (2022-01-27). ["Karmagawa Announces Big Milestone: 100th School Opened To Help Children Escape Poverty"](http://blog.karmagawa.com/index.php/2022/01/27/karmagawa-announces-big-milestone-100th-school-opened-to-help-children-escape-poverty/). *Karmagawa*. Retrieved 2022-09-15.

1. Veneziani, Vince (March 3, 2010). ["Tim Sykes: I Dare Shaq To Take Me To Court!"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130114131353/http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-03-03/wall_street/29981469_1_mailer-stock-price-blogging). *Business Insider*. Archived from [the original](http://articles.businessinsider.com/2010-03-03/wall_street/29981469_1_mailer-stock-price-blogging) on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.

1. Cunningham, Brandon (20 May 2011). ["The Curious Case of Justin Bieber and Options Media Group (aka PhoneGuard)"](http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/05/20/the-curious-case-of-justin-bieber-and-options-medi.aspx?source=isesitlnk0000008). Motley Fool. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180819182206/https://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/05/20/the-curious-case-of-justin-bieber-and-options-medi.aspx?source=isesitlnk0000008) 2018-08-19 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-01-28.

1. Peterson, Kim. ["Justin Bieber's penny-stock trouble"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110527100004/http://money.msn.com/exchange-traded-fund/article.aspx?post=158da049-d085-455a-9f98-df126b4ebaf0). MSN Money. Archived from [the original](http://money.msn.com/exchange-traded-fund/article.aspx?post=158da049-d085-455a-9f98-df126b4ebaf0) on 27 May 2011.

1. Veneziani, Vince (May 5, 2010). ["SpongeTech CEO Arrested For Fraud A Week After Suing Short-Seller"](https://www.businessinsider.com/spongetech-execs-charged-with-fraud-2010-5). *Business Insider*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190827224541/https://www.businessinsider.com/spongetech-execs-charged-with-fraud-2010-5) 2019-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. Elstein, Aaron (2011-04-11). ["Bill for Spongetech fraud: $52 million"](https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110411/BLOGS02/304119998/bill-for-spongetech-fraud-52-million). *Crain's New York Business*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190827224553/https://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20110411/BLOGS02/304119998/bill-for-spongetech-fraud-52-million) 2019-08-27 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2019-08-27.

1. Willis, Kiersten (2017-05-17). ["Black Twitter Comes to Bow Wow's Rescue After White Entrepreneur Disses Rapper"](http://atlantablackstar.com/2017/05/17/black-twitter-comes-bow-wows-rescue-white-entreprenuer-disses-rapper/). *Atlanta Black Star*. Retrieved 2018-01-06.

1. Byrne, Brendan (2020-08-11). ["Timothy Sykes Sued for Stealing Trading Platform Technology"](https://www.valuewalk.com/timothy-sykes-sued-trading/). *ValueWalk*. Retrieved 2025-01-01.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.timothysykes.com/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Timothy Sykes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Sykes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_Sykes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.