‘This hasn’t always been easy’: We sit down with the founder and CEO of LADbible Group
Since launching in 2012, digital publisher, LADbible Group, has gone on to become one of the internet’s most popular brands with almost 500 milion followers and an audience reach of over 1 billion. In this Australian exclusive, we sit down with founder and CEO, Alexander “Solly” Solomou, to discuss the origins of LADbible Group, the wins and losses, and what is still to come.
You started this business by buying an already functional Facebook group. What made you decide to make this move and were there any prior examples you’d seen of someone converting a Facebook page into a viable media business?
I founded LADbible Group in 2012 while studying business management, using my life savings to purchase the original LADbible Facebook page. Recognising the rapid growth of social media and its power to share content widely, I saw a unique opportunity to build something significant, that makes people laugh, think and act.
In just over a decade, the company has grown from a single Facebook page to a global media entertainment company for young adults with nearly 500 employees across offices in the UK, Ireland, and US. In 2021, we hit a major milestone by going public on the London Stock Exchange.
LADbible Group now reaches over a billion people globally each month. In Australia we’ve expanded our presence through a multi-year commercial partnership with Val Morgan Digital – Australia’s leading digital youth publisher. This has allowed us to offer Australian brands increased reach, capabilities and measurement via Val Morgan Digital.
I can’t work out what LadBible is all about? Is it satire of purposely pushing conspiracies?