Jake Millar, a 26-year-old millionaire turned businessman, has been found dead in Kenya.
Kiwi entrepreneur Jake Millar has died in Kenya, eight months after the 26-year-old left New Zealand there.
His cause of death has not been confirmed.
In March, the former Forbes 30 under 30 lister and teenage millionaire had sold his business education start-up Unfiltered – a move that displeased his cashed-out investors and earned him widespread criticism from the New Zealand media .
Founded in 2015, at its peak, Unfiltered worth 11.47 million dollars, but reports indicate that he was forced to sell his company to the Board of Education for a group Crimson closer to 84,000 dollars amount.
“Rough and fast”
In a revealing interview with the Spinoffwriter Jihee Junn, described the reaction to Mr Millar’s withdrawal as “brutal and rapid”, with some even comparing it to failed projects like WeWork, Fyre Festival and Theranos.
Speaking to the publication, Mr Millar defended his risky approach to business.
“As a young entrepreneur, some people would probably blame me for defense mechanisms strong enough,” he wrote. “I always standing up for what I believed and against those who have wronged me, often even if they were much wiser and have been more successful than me. When I reflect on my trip, I think this is one of the reasons why I became inadvertently more controversial than ever I set out to be “.
“Poppy Syndrome top NZ is the worst”
Since news of his death was announced, notable businessmen have shared their tributes on social media, including former New Zealand Prime Minister Sir John Key.
“From the first time I met him, I knew he was someone special. He had a mixture of courage, warmness, intelligence and a maturity and strength to face adversity, which is never easy for a youngster. I respected him and I miss him “, he said New Zealand Herald.
“Very sad Jake Millar. Entrepreneurship is a tough game and sure enough to give it a go when so many others are too scared to try,” another Twitter post said.
Some also criticized the backlash that Mr Millar received when he sold Unfiltered, the buyer Crimson Education, Jamie Beaton, saying “New Zealand too often stifles ambition among its youth.
“I never met anyone in New Zealand Millar like Jake. Jake had an ability to connect with people was fascinating,” he said. “He understood what motivated people and could the inspire, lead and unite. “
Another Twitter user blamed Mr Millar’s criticism on ‘big New Zealand poppy syndrome’.
‘Can’t help but feel uncomfortable that the same media is now reporting JakeMillar’s passing is a tragedy, is the same media that tore him to shreds when he succeeded, and when he tried and failed “wrote Hutt City Councilor Brady Dyer. “Great NZ poppy syndrome is the worst! RIP Jake, you were an inspiration “.
Previous tragedy of the death of the father
Mr Millar first came to prominence when he founded Oopher with his friend Yuuki Ogino, when they were still students at Christchurch Boys’ High School.
The motivational app was sold to Careers New Zealand for an undisclosed six-figure fee in 2015, with the duo then moving on to create Unfiltered.
In 2010, Mr Millar also lost his father, Rod Millar, in a plane crash at the Fox Glacier parachute jump on New Zealand’s South Island. At the time it was the country’s deadliest plane crash in 17 years, which killed nine people.
His father was also a co-owner of the company and master of the tandem.
While initial reports suggested the crash was caused by the plane being excessively unbalanced and taking off too early, the Transportation Accident Investigation Commission (TAIC) later confirmed that it was not the reason for the incident.
In light of the change, Mr. Millar asked TAIC to apologize for its mistakes.
“It’s a complete turnaround, it’s a complete reversal of what they originally said,” Millar said, speaking to News Hub.
“From the first day, each driver and each aircraft to whom I spoke said they were wrong, they thought they were right. It took a team 3D journalists to come and tell “No, you are mistaken.”
