40 Next: Michael Seibel


In celebration of our 40th anniversary, Black Enterprise is taking a look both forward and backward at the world of black business. Our list of 40 Next celebrates the next generation of entrepreneurs and business leaders.

These BE Nexters–those 21—35 years old making a measurable impact within their respective business, organization, industry, or field–are standouts in the areas of entrepreneurship, corporate America, academia, nonprofit, the arts, and the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). And they prove every day that “business as usual” is not so usual. For them, leveraging expertise in one area to maximize an opportunity in another is standard operating procedure.

Using the legacy of their business predecessors to forge their own way, this new generation of leadership accepts the torch without trepidation. But the commonality between then and now is that success still takes a focused, strategic, and passionate mindset. Here, we introduce you to one of our 40 Next.

Michael Seibel, 27
Co-Founder/CEO
Justin.tv, San Francisco

Seibel leads business development and manages investor relations for Justin.tv, an online platform that allows users to produce and watch live streaming video. Launched in 2006, the site has secured $9 million in financing since its inception. With more than 1.5 million downloads of its iPhone app, Justin.tv is aiming to be the first firm to provide a mainstream solution to live streaming from a mobile device.

Education
Yale University Class of 2005, Political Science Degree with a concentration in American Government

Favorite Book
Favorite leisure book is Tai-Pan by James Clavell
Favorite professional book is The Four Steps to the Epiphany by Steven Blank

BE Next Manifesto
Mainstream adoption of live mobile broadcasting will enable all people to have a new understanding of the events that shape our world.

Be sure to pick up the commemorative 40th anniversary August 2010 issue of Black Enterprise, which contains the entire 40 Next list.


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