Matthew Buckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Buckland
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Matthew Buckland
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| Born |
Matthew James Buckland
22 August 1974 |
| Died | 23 April 2019 (aged 44) |
| Education | Rhodes University |
| Occupation | Internet entrepreneur |
| Title | Founder and MD of Creative Spark |
| Term | 2010–2019 |
| Board member of | Silicon Cape Initiative Creative Commons OPA/DMMA/iAB Cognition |
| Children | 2 |
| Parent(s) |
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| Awards | Selected Fast Company Magazine's Most Creative People in Business (2015), Destiny Magazine: Power of 40: 40 entrepreneurs under 40 (2011), Top 100 "South Africa’s most influential media and advertising people" by The Annual (2009) |
Matthew Buckland (born 22 August 1974 – died 23 April 2019) was a South African businessman. He was known for starting and selling digital companies. He founded Creative Spark, a company that helps businesses with their online presence. In 2015, a big UK company called M&C Saatchi bought Creative Spark.
Matthew Buckland also started Burn Media. This company owned several websites that focused on technology news. Some of these sites were Memeburn, Ventureburn.com, and Gearburn.com.
Before starting his own businesses, Buckland led the online section of the Mail & Guardian newspaper. He also worked at news24.com, a large South African online news site. While at the Mail & Guardian, he created Thought Leader, a platform for opinions and ideas.
In 2015, Matthew was called a "Master of Digital." He even had a special talk with the famous actor Idris Elba. Matthew Buckland lived in Cape Town with his wife and two daughters.
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Early Life and Education
Matthew Buckland studied journalism at Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. After university, he moved to London. There, he worked for the BBC's online business section, called beeb.com. He started as a developer and then became a producer for web development.
Later, he returned to South Africa. He worked as the Internet editor for a popular TV show called Carte Blanche. After that, he became the Managing Director of the Mail & Guardian's online division. Matthew was the oldest son of Andrew Buckland and Janet Buckland. They are a well-known acting family in South Africa.
Becoming an Entrepreneur
Matthew Buckland loved creating new things online. In 2007, he helped start a company called Amatomu. Then, in 2010, he launched two more companies: Creative Spark and Burn Media. He used his own money to start these businesses because he couldn't find investors.
Five years later, in 2015, he sold most of his company to M&C Saatchi. This deal included both his digital agency and his publishing websites like Memeburn and Ventureburn. Later, in 2018, he took back control of the publishing part of his business. Ventureburn is a website that shares news about new businesses and investors in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
Matthew was a key speaker at the launch of the Silicon Cape Initiative. He was also chosen to be on its first board. The Silicon Cape Initiative is a group in South Africa that wants to make the Western Cape a hub for new technology companies. Matthew said this group inspired him to leave his corporate job and start his own businesses.
In 2012, Matthew Buckland was named in the "Power of 40" list. This list featured 40 entrepreneurs under 40 years old who were "Doing Interesting Things." From 2013 to 2014, he was a member of the Entrepreneurs Organisation in Cape Town.
Recognitions and Achievements
Matthew Buckland received many awards and recognitions for his work:
- He was chosen as one of Fast Company Magazine's Most Creative People in Business in 2015.
- In 2015, he was named an "Oude Meeste Master of Digital." He had a public discussion with the famous actor Idris Elba.
- He was a judge for new startup companies at Social Media Week in Johannesburg.
- He also judged the Startup World event in Cape Town.
- Matthew was a judge for the Standard Bank Sikuvile journalism awards.
- He was listed in Destiny Magazine's "Power of 40: 40 entrepreneurs under 40 doing interesting things."
- He was featured in the Old Mutual "Do Great Things" Entrepreneur guide.
- An app called Afridoctor, which he was involved with, won Nokia's Africa-wide innovators competition. It came with an US$80,000 prize.
- He was named one of the top 100 "South Africa's most influential media and advertising people" by The Annual.
- The Mail & Guardian Newspaper listed him as one of "300 Young South Africans you should take out to lunch."
- He was nominated for the 2009 Men's Health "Best Man" awards.
Later Life and Passing
Matthew Buckland passed away in April 2019 due to cancer. He is remembered by his wife and two daughters.
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Matthew Buckland
