Mark Anthony Essien | |
---|---|
Born | 18 December 1980 | (age 43)
Nationality | Nigerian |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, software developer |
Known for | Founding Hotels.ng |
Title | CEO of Hotels.ng |
Website | www.markessien.com |
Mark Anthony Essien 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]
(born 18 December 1980 inIn 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]
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]
On 8 April 2018 Essien married Jenni Naiaretti, who is also a developer. [13]
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.
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]
Mark Anthony Essien | |
---|---|
Born | 18 December 1980 | (age 43)
Nationality | Nigerian |
Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, software developer |
Known for | Founding Hotels.ng |
Title | CEO of Hotels.ng |
Website | www.markessien.com |
Mark Anthony Essien 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]
(born 18 December 1980 inIn 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]
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]
On 8 April 2018 Essien married Jenni Naiaretti, who is also a developer. [13]
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.
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]