Show your support for this outstanding entrepreneur. Tweet this article. ‘Like’ this post. Leave a comment. Share the love!
What is 30under30?
30under30 is an Anthill initiative launched in early 2008 to encourage and promote entrepreneurship among young Australians. Each year, we invite our readers to nominate young Australian entrepreneurs deserving of recognition for their outstanding entrepreneurial endeavours. More.
Ruslan Kogan, VIC (b. 1982)
Name: Ruslan Kogan
Age: 29 (Born: November 1982)
Gender: Male
State: VIC
Known for: Kogan Technologies
This year marks a departure for Anthill and Ruslan Kogan, who hits the big 3-0 next month.
An occasion for sadness, you say. Frankly, we at Anthill couldn’t be happier. As we see it, one new spot on the 30sub30 for another Australian wunderkind just opened up.
Besides, we’re pretty sure the founder of Kogan Technologies, Australia’s number one online electronics retailer, isn’t leaving the headlines anytime soon. Now he can focus on being Australia’s most influential entrepreneur — period.
Better yet, what’s to stop the man — a product of immigration who only six years ago was selling his exclusive-brand TVs from his parents’ garage — from conquering the planet? In 2010, Kogan Technologies debuted in the UK; this year, he announced his intentions to turn Kogan into a worldwide brand. Having embraced all gadgets from smartphones to camcorders, he’s even floated the possibility of crashing into the automotive industry next.
As Kogan himself put it earlier this year: “People who are influential achieved this by being themselves. Everything I do is based on my own values, not what others may think of my actions.”
Naturally, he’s become infamous for his public gimmicks and for never shying away from calling out his antagonists, a list that recently came to include Apple over its intellectual property lawsuit against Samsung. He relishes every chance to champion open markets and bold business ideas in order to fulfil his commitment to cheaper products.
Yet, there remains the sense that all those millions haven’t quite gone to his head. There’s also the Ruslan Kogan who actively reaches out to young entrepreneurs at seminars and conventions, coaching them in the fundamentals of how to disrupt the market. There’s the Ruslan Kogan who makes media appearances dressed in a quotable T-shirt and cap and his favourite $20 Dunlop Vollies. You can tell he takes his life work seriously, but you’re not uncomfortable with him in the room. It’s practically the same kid hanging out in the family garage.
We could go on ad infinitum about his many achievements, but we’d rather you read the marvellous document that Kogan, perhaps to rub our noses in it a bit, linked to in lieu of filling out an application. Be forewarned, though: what you know of Ruslan Kogan’s career thus far is a stub. In 30 more years, we expect he will have astronomically expanded it. His way.
Ruslan Kogan Introduction
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
You can show your support for this outstanding young entrepreneur in one of three ways:
1. Tweet this post:
Use the Tweet button at the top of this page. Your tweet will
say: Congratulations [Name], Anthill 2012 30under30 winner!2. Trigger a Reaction on Facebook:
Hit the ‘Like’ button at the top of this page.
3. Leave a Comment:
Show your support! Share the love!
To check out the full list of Anthill’s 30under30 winners, click here.
