Profiling Timothy Armoo: The Visionary Behind Fanbytes' Multi-Million Dollar Influencer Marketing Firm

Timothy Armoo was born and raised in the Old Kent Road area in the Southwark borough of London, one of the most impoverished parts of the city. He grew up in a council estate, living with his father amid gang conflicts and social instability. Reflecting on his upbringing, Armoo described the environment as dangerous, with gang warfare intensifying between 2005 and 2012 in areas like Peckham, Brixton, and Old Kent Road.

Despite these challenges, Armoo’s entrepreneurial spirit began to shine through at a young age. At just 14, he started a tutoring business, connecting his peers with tutors and earning commissions. This first taste of business success laid the groundwork for his future ventures. His determination to rise above his circumstances became his driving force, reinforced by his mantra: “This is temporary.”

A Life-Changing Opportunity

At the age of 16, Armoo’s life took a significant turn when he was awarded a scholarship to a private boarding school to complete his A-Levels. This experience opened his eyes to a different world of wealth and opportunity. It was at this school that he began to understand that wealth was not only for the ultra-rich, but also for those who knew how to harness entrepreneurial opportunities.

The stark contrast between his council estate upbringing and the affluent lives of his classmates ignited a spark in Armoo. He realized that entrepreneurship was his path to financial freedom, and money became a tool he could use to change his life. This newfound perspective inspired him to continue pursuing business ventures, seeing entrepreneurship as his ticket out of poverty.

First Venture: Entrepreneur Express

While still completing his A-Levels, Armoo launched his first business, an online blog called Entrepreneur Express, at the age of 17. The blog focused on interviewing high-profile figures, including Richard Branson and Alan Sugar, and sharing entrepreneurial insights. Though running the blog presented challenges, Armoo learned quickly. His strategy to drive traffic through viral social media content helped Entrepreneur Express gain traction, and within 11 months, he sold the business for £110,000.

Armoo stresses that aspiring entrepreneurs shouldn’t aim for a billion-dollar idea at first. Instead, they should focus on building a business that can bring in their first significant income, which will serve as a financial cushion for future ventures.

Building Fanbytes: Pioneering Influencer Marketing

In 2017, Armoo co-founded Fanbytes with Ambrose Cooke and Mitchell Fasanya. Fanbytes tapped into the growing influencer marketing industry, helping brands connect with social media influencers to create effective advertising campaigns. The company quickly gained momentum, attracting clients like Nike, Samsung, and Amazon.

Fanbytes’ success was driven by the team’s keen understanding of the changing landscape of digital marketing. As more brands shifted from traditional advertising to influencer-driven campaigns, Fanbytes positioned itself as a key player in this emerging space.

Armoo emphasizes that entrepreneurs don’t always need to invent something completely new. Instead, they can find success by serving existing demand, which is exactly what Fanbytes did. The company gradually raised investment at different stages, culminating in £2 million in total funding.

The Big Payoff: Selling Fanbytes

In 2021, Fanbytes’ success caught the attention of investors, and Armoo and his co-founders began receiving acquisition offers. By 2022, Fanbytes was sold to Brainlabs, a global digital marketing agency, in an eight-figure deal. This sale made Armoo and his co-founders multi-millionaires.

Armoo’s philosophy is that while running a business can generate income, real wealth is built through selling a business. He had always intended to sell Fanbytes, understanding that entrepreneurship was not just about passion, but also about creating financial security.

Navigating Challenges as a Black Entrepreneur

Armoo’s journey as a Black entrepreneur has not been without challenges, particularly in an industry where minority founders often struggle to secure funding. Despite this, Armoo’s outlook has always been pragmatic. He never saw himself primarily as a “Black entrepreneur,” but simply as an entrepreneur focused on creating value.

He believes that being a minority in a predominantly white space made him more memorable to investors and potential partners, which worked to his advantage. Armoo’s focus on the financial returns his business could offer helped him secure investments, regardless of his race.