This Media Company Used Hip Hop and Sneakers to Attract 55 Million Viewers and Sell for Over $250 Million

Andrew Medal chats with Rich Antoniello about how Complex Media is redefining the culture by sparking conversation through hip hop, sneakers, tech, news and sports.

learn more about Andrew Medal

By Andrew Medal •

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Rich Antoniello is the co-founder and CEO of Complex Media. Complex is the intersection of all things pop culture, from hip-hop to sneakers, and dominates the male market of 18- to 24-year-olds with 55 million monthly viewers. Through the company's latest annual conference, ComplexCon, it's now disrupting traditional retail by providing a fully immersive experience for event goers. It has been disrupting media for over a decade and caught the attention of Verizon and Hearst, who jointly acquired the company for reportedly well over $250 million in 2016.

Related: This Entrepreneur Built the Hottest Celebrity Spot on the Planet -- and a Brand With Staying Power
Andrew Medal

Entrepreneur Leadership Network VIP

Entrepreneur & Angel Investor

Andrew Medal is the founder of The Paper Chase, which is a bi-weekly newsletter. He is an entrepreneur and angel investor.

Related Topics

Growth Strategies Video Entrepreneur Network

More from Action & Ambition

Here's How This Former UFC Champion Runs His Company Today

This Comedian Breaks Down Stand-Up, Startups and Entrepreneurship

This Entrepreneur Says He Spends as Much as $200K a Month on Building His Brand

This Tattoo Artist Fell in Love With the Art When He Was 16. Here's How He Made a Career Out of It.

Editor's Pick

This 61-Year-Old Grandma Who Made $35,000 in the Medical Field Now Earns 7 Figures in Retirement
A 'Quiet Promotion' Will Cost You a Lot — Use This Expert's 4-Step Strategy to Avoid It
3 Red Flags on Your LinkedIn Profile That Scare Clients Away
Ben Higgins Talks Overcoming Insecurity, Finding Purpose and Juggling Multiple Business Ventures
'Everyone Is Freaking Out.' What's Going On With Silicon Valley Bank? Federal Government Takes Control.
Know Before You Buy: These Are the Costs Associated With Purchasing and Operating a Franchise

Most Popular

See all
Leadership

How to Detect a Liar in Seconds Using Nonverbal Communication

There are many ways to understand if someone is not honest with you. The following signs do not even require words and are all nonverbal queues.

By Don Weber

By Jacob Zinkula and Aaron Mok

Marketing

How to Get High Quality Leads From LinkedIn At No Cost

Struggling to figure out how to get top-quality leads through LinkedIn? Keep reading to learn the best LinkedIn lead generation practices that work and the common mistakes you must avoid.

By Vikas Agrawal

Business News

Panera Bread Is Testing a Sci-Fi-Esque Amazon Payment System — and Privacy Concerns Abound

The tech's already been pulled from one major Colorado venue after pushback.

By Amanda Breen

Marketing

After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.

Author Karen Inglis breaks down the strategies and tactics you need to generate awareness and sales for your self-published book.

By Dan Bova

Thought Leaders

What Walt Disney, Thomas Edison and Dr. Seuss Can Teach You About Entrepreneurial Longevity

Uncover the secrets of three of the most experienced entrepreneurs in history and create your lasting legacy.

By Nancy Solari