Unusual Ideas that Worked - The Million Dollar Home Page
by Startacus Admin
Buying pixels might not seem so revolutionary now, but back in 2005, Alex Tew a student from Wiltshire started a website called Million Dollar HomePage which within 5 months have netted Alex, a rather cool....1 Million Dollars. Alex had decided in 2005 that he wanted to go to University, but he was keen to avoid the post graduation financial burden that comes with study.
It is reported that Alex paid around $50 for the website set up, but in selling 10x10 pixel spaces for $100 a pop, Alex hoped that at least some people would help contribute to his student funds.
The story quickly went viral and Alex featured on major and Global News channels and newspapers, and by New Years Eve 2005, the site was reportedly getting around 250,000 visitors every hour!
Now whether Alex, when he started, fully realised the sites unique selling point to pixel buyers is unclear. But Alex had stumbled upon a great idea, and as soon as the story went viral, major retailers and online sites saw the potential to buy the pixel and link space, and be seen (and potentially clicked upon) by millions of people a week.
There have been hundreds of imitation sites since, but The Million Dollar HomePage, remains the creme de la creme of pixel space sales! Check out Buy My Face, a recent and successful adaptation of Alex’s idea. So we say, arise Sir Alex Tew, the pixel space sales innovator!
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Bring! is a digital grocery tool that simplifies grocery shopping for you and anyone you are shopping for.
In a bid to help brands during the current pandemic, the GreenJinn grocery app makes some rapid changes to its service
Coronavirus & furloughing employees. Nichola Hailes of Payfit looks to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the job retention scheme.
For startups entering the food industry, here's why accurate labelling on ready-to-eat food products is important.
Whether you’re looking to create a frugal startup, or it’s already up and running, here are 4 tips to reduce costs while keeping the work environment pleasant.
The Belfast-based startup that provides a fully managed 24/7 Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for securely storing and sharing assets, packages and containers.
The insolvency technology startup secures funding to help support the UK's most vulnerable consumers to avoid bankruptcy
Darren Hockley, MD of Delta International on how millennials may be helping businesses face the current COVID-19 pandemic
The innovative startup that's enabling businesses to connect with their customers via personalised handwritten communication
The lowdown on the Estonian startup that has created a multiplayer game to help kids practice math facts in a fun way...
Published on: 3rd August 2012
.png)
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- Cerebreon the Irish deep learning startup raises £1.5m in seed funding 31st Mar 2020 The insolvency technology startup secures funding to help support the UK's most vulnerable consumers to avoid bankruptcy
- Chivas Venture divides this year's $1m Venture Fund between 26 global Startups 23rd Mar 2020 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Chivas Divides its $1m No-Strings Venture Fund Between 26 Startups
- The open-source design of emergency ventilators for COVID-19 patients 20th Mar 2020 World Wide Community of over 500 designers engineers & medics finalising prototypes for safe scalable manufacture & rapid field deployment..
- Positive-ish reaction from small business and startup community to UK Chancellor’s Corona budget 11th Mar 2020 New UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak just delivered his first UK Budget. We took a look at first reactions from small business and startup leaders.
