Price'less pursuits in tech

A regular Friday night for most teenagers in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, would typically consist of hanging out with friends after a long week in school. But not for 16-year-old Mohammed Ali. The teenager prefers to tinker with his computer at home, and has no qualms about not living the life of a ‘regular’ school kid in Britain. For Ali has bigger projects at hand. Besides having sold off his popular game, Project 2006 for over £40,000, he’s also been the CTO of World Currency Gold Rates, a financial app for the stock market he developed himself. Currently, Ali is busy running his website WeNeed1.com, for which he recently rejected an offer of a sum worth of £5 million.

Ali explains that the website and technology he designed sitting in his bedroom works as an opposite of a classified ad site. “WeNeed1.com is a price comparison service, where the buyer is in full control,” he says. “I’ve developed an algorithm that brings buyers and sellers together using keywords. We collect real-time data and analytics to help sellers improve their business and gain more buyers.” The money-saving website that lists everything from cars to dating ads, and everything in between, essentially functions as a buyer-friendly site, with the aim of providing the purchaser an upper hand in dictating the price he wants to pay. The idea struck Ali’s business partner, Chris Thorpe, who heard about the wonder kid’s escapades with programming.

While one would expect a teenager to be nervous about handling finances worth millions of pounds, Ali has his head firmly on his shoulder as he explains why he rejected the offer of over £5 million from a global data driven company. “In terms of the general public, it is a risk. However, when it comes to a business, it’s a small risk. And it is a risk I’m willing to take, as I know WeNeed1.com is worth billions; the concept is useful for everybody,” he asserts, adding, “It helps create new jobs, which is good for the economy, and at the same time connects people together. Just add in what you need, and we will alert everybody out there offering their service.”

If Ali sounds like a veteran in the business, it’s probably because of his experience in not just creating but also marketing his work. The youngster explains that he took to gaming and programming at the tender age of four, going on to teach himself coding and building apps using the Internet. “I taught myself using YouTube, and by reading books day and night,” Ali reminisces. “Initially, I used to work for clients at no cost, and built my portfolio. I created my game Project 2006 and received my first paycheque of £20. That day, I knew I was an entrepreneur. My skills and experience were a huge bonus, as I didn’t need anybody, initially, to help me get this off the ground.”

This, he believes, is what impressed 60-year-old Chris into offering him a chance to make his first million with building WeNeed1.com. Ali is quick to assure us that despite his entrepreneurial ambitions, the sixth form student, who is studying for his A-level tests, has not let his studies suffer. “My attendance in school has been 100 per cent. I just happen to treat my business as youngsters play outside. I’ve never really done ‘normal’ things a youngster would do,” shrugs the teenager, who stays with his parents and brother, and ends up putting all his money into savings.

The programming whiz kid says he’s had to face his fair share of trolling and hate messages online, as his popularity has risen, with his age being the main point of attack. “Age is always a factor in everything,” he says slowly, adding, “But for a teenager, adults treat children as if we’re naïve or inexperienced. I don’t blame them, though; it disgusts me when people my age go smoking and drinking every weekend.” Even as he looks to build his business, Ali hopes to study newer things that are removed from the world of computers.

“People may call me a nerd,” he laughs, “But I’d love to study law or journalism, which will definitely support my future businesses. I’ve been programming since the age of four, so computer science at college would be useless.” An admirer of Richard Branson and Bill Gates, Ali advises youngsters to teach themselves skills, as far as possible. “In order to get away from debts in business, self-teach and start from there. Moreover, if you have big dreams, you will definitely aim high yourself. I remember thinking it was a requirement to have rich parents to succeed. But if you act rich, then you’ll become rich,” signs off Ali.