A 26-year-old University of Manchester graduate has officially become the UK’s youngest self-made billionaire.
Sydney-born Mechanical Engineering graduate Johnny Boufarhat has found success with his video conferencing app Hopin, – which he launched just as the UK entered its first national lockdown.
The idea initially came about two years prior to the pandemic when, after graduating in 2018, Jonny was diagnosed with a “mystery” autoimmune disease that left him unable to get out of bed.
It was while he was bedridden at his girlfriend’s flat that the idea of a virtual meeting app was born.
He got straight to work and began coding the programme.
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Johnny Boufarhat launched the video conferencing applast March/ Credit: Hopin
While Hopin may not have been Jonny’s first foray into the world of application development – having already creating a student discount app – it’s certainly proven to be a profitable one.
After finally launching the service last year, Hopin’s user-base has rocketed to over five million and 80,000 organisations worldwide – with American Express and Hewelett-Packard among clients – which has given it a value of £4.1 billion.
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The company’s soaring repuation has left Boufarhat with a net worth of £1.5 billion, placing him in 113th place in the Sunday Times Rich List – a tally of Britain’s wealthiest individuals.
He is forecast to rake in £130 million in 2021 alone.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CPIkB9FNNvK/
Hopin is a firm registered in the UK, although it has no offices and Boufarhat now lives in Barcelona with his fiancée, who works with him.
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The company currently employs around 500 staff members, who are mostly in the US and UK.
Speaking to the Sunday Times last month, Jonny said: “I’m very, very work-focused. I just want to be as impactful as I can, in a positive way for the world… I’m boring – I don’t drink, I don’t do anything like that.
“I make sure all my food is organic – that’s the biggest change I’ve made.
“I’m very, very work-focused.”
Hopin’s user-base has rocketed to over five million and 80,000 organisations worldwide / Credit: Hopin
You can read the Sunday Times Rich List 2021 here, and you can find more information about Hopin via its website.
Featured Image – Hopin
UK News
The new Match of the Day presenter lineup has been confirmed
Danny Jones
The brand-new presenter lineup has been confirmed for Match of the Day (MotD) following the departures of Gary Lineker and Ian Wright.
Lineker had been the lead anchor on the BBC’s flagship football programme for 25 years, spanning generations of fans after taking over the equally iconic Des Lynam back in 1999.
The 64-year-old ex-pro and England star is still in post at present but will be stepping down after the conclusion of the current Premier League season.
Following months of speculation around who would be taking over in the main chair across from regular pundits like Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, the corporation has now confirmed its new core team.
After reports began appearing earlier this month, popular presenter Kelly Cates is making the big switch to become one of three main hosts, though she does already host BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuesday night sports coverage.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and a familiar face on Sky Sports weekly matchday on-screen talent since 2016 after first appearing as part of Sky Sports News back in 1998, she’s a recognisable face to anyone who regularly watches football. A great appointment.
‘Chappers’ continues in post
In at number two – a number he’s become more than familiar with during his time as part of the existing Match of the Day team – Mark Chapman isn’t going anywhere and will now be sharing an equal third of the presenting duties as co-host.
Chapman joined MotD back in 2013 following the departure of Colin Murray and has gone on to present various other BBC Sport productions, including their NFL coverage. ‘Chappers’ isn’t going anywhere and rightly so.
Gabby Logan remains a BBC Sport stalwart
Third and finally, Football Focus mainstay, multi-discipline sports presenter and BBC veteran, Gabby Logan, is taking her rightful place on the Match of the Day panel. About time if you ask us.
Also the son of a famous footballer – Leeds legend and Wales international Terry Yorath – and a retired athlete herself, having competed as a rhythmic gymnast, she’s been a household name on British telly for as long as most of us can remember.
As for Lineker, you can expect an emotional send-off when he does call it this May.
The former Leicester, Everton, Barcelona and Spurs player will still be serving as a key part of the BBC’s FA Cup presenting team as well as future Euros and World Cups.
We’ll always have the memories, eh, Gary?
The new Match of the Day presenters have some big shorts to fill.
A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Emily Sergeant -
27th May 2021 
