The Student Entrepreneurs
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In a glass-walled office just off London's tech corridor, two entrepreneurs sit with the calm intensity of people used to making things happen. Joseph Black and Oliver Jacobs, co-founders of SHOUT, an influencer marketing agency, aren't typical agency founders. Their work doesn't revolve around polished pitches or influencer stunts. Instead, their success lies in something simpler - giving young people meaningful access to work, opportunity, and scale.
From dorm rooms to digital domination
SHOUT want their first rodeo. First off, the idea for UniTaskr, the student work app they co-founded in 2016, resulted in a multimillion-pound platform that enables students to monetise their skills through flexible freelance work. It was born from a very real tension observed during their university years.
"Students struggling to support themselves financially, and in some cases even having to drop out of university," Black says. "We wanted to build something that could act as a bridge between education and employment, giving students real, flexible opportunities to earn and gain experience while they studied."
What began as a gig economy platform soon uncovered something else - the quiet power of the student voice online. That realisation gave rise to SHOUT, a marketing engine fuelled not by celebrity endorsements but by the authenticity of nano and micro creators. "On the surface, the two companies might seem quite different," Black continues. "One's a freelancer platform, the other an influencer engine, but at their core, they're deeply aligned. Both champion the underdog - whether it's a student breaking into the working world or a small creator making a big impact for a global brand."
The Gen Z disconnect
If there's one demographic Joseph and Jacobs understand better than most, it's Gen Z. But for many brands, says Oliver, the reality of engaging this generation is still misunderstood. "Honestly, not yet, at least not at scale," he admits. "There's still a disconnect between how Gen Z actually interacts with brands and how companies think they do." He outlines a new model of engagement - one rooted in authenticity, not advertising polish. "This generation grew up with the ability to skip, block, or scroll past anything that doesn't speak to them directly. They value authenticity, creativity, and community. The brands that are winning with Gen Z are the ones that listen, co-create, and let go of control a little."
Going Stateside
SHOUT's recent expansion to the United States marks a pivotal moment in the company's growth. For Black, it was always inevitable. "The US has always acted as a leader in the creator economy, so for us, it was less a question of if and more when," he says. "We came in with a clear point of difference, our ability to activate thousands of nano and micro creators quickly, and actually tie that activity back to business results." That difference has already yielded results. Among the new clients signed is Inspire Brands - the parent company of Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin' Donuts, and Baskin Robbins. But the expansion wasn't without its adjustments.
"Being physically present has helped massively," Black reflects. "In the UK, you can often build remotely, but in the US, relationships move things forward. Face-to-face matters." Oliver adds that the shift has also catalysed operational transformation. "We've had to mature fast," he says. "Scaling delivery, refining internal systems, and ensuring every touchpoint - from contracting to creator comms - fits U.S. expectations." From platform tweaks to campaign segmentation, the move has sharpened SHOUT's global execution.
Landing giants
Their client list is formidable - Amazon, Red Bull, Adobe, TikTok. But for Black, the road to big names wasn't paved with flashy campaigns, but quiet consistency. "It's all about relationships and results," he says. "We pitched like we belonged in the room, even when we were the smallest agency at the table." Their TikTok win stands out as a symbolic milestone. "We started as a TikTok-first agency... so to later be asked to support their own campaigns on TikTok felt like a full-circle moment. It validated the years we'd spent understanding the space inside-out."
What comes next?
Both founders speak about growth with a measured optimism. UniTaskr, Black notes, remains focused on impact. "We've just brought on a new Head of Growth and Strategy - Jenny Welsh - who's already bringing fresh energy to the business," Oliver adds. For SHOUT, KPIs are centered on scaling verified creators, refining ROI tracking, and linking influencer content to commercial results more tightly than ever before. "Ultimately, we want both businesses to not just grow, but grow intelligently and sustainably," Jacobs explains.
Despite their rapid rise, Black and Jacobs remain grounded in the mission that sparked it all. "We genuinely believe the creator economy is still in its infancy," Blacksays. "The way brands connect with audiences is evolving fast and Gen Z is leading that shift." "At the core of it all," Jacobs adds, "we're still driven by the same mission we started with. Giving young people access, opportunity, and a platform to build from."
And in a world that often moves at the speed of a scroll, it's that steady, student-first ethos that might just be the reason they've cut through.
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Here's what's on deck: Monday Palo Alto Networks (PANW), Blink Charging (BLNK) Tuesday Home Depot, Xpeng (XPEV), Medtronic (MDT), La-Z-Boy (LZB), Toll Brothers (TOL) Wednesday Target, Lowe's, Baidu (BIDU), TJX Companies (TJX), Estée Lauder (EL) Thursday Walmart, Intuit (INTU), Zoom Communications (ZM), Workday (WDAY), Ross Stores (ROST) Friday BJ's Wholesale (BJ) With Nvidia's Q2 earnings in sight, Trump deal could boost outlook Nvidia's (NVDA) deal with President Trump to give the US government a 15% cut of H20 chip revenue in China adds an interesting wrinkle to the company's earnings. China has responded by urging companies not to use the chips. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley writes that the payment, which could face legal challenges, won't show up in Nvidia's Q2 report but could boost its Q3 outlook if the administration moves quickly. Howley notes: Read more here. Nvidia's (NVDA) deal with President Trump to give the US government a 15% cut of H20 chip revenue in China adds an interesting wrinkle to the company's earnings. China has responded by urging companies not to use the chips. Yahoo Finance's Daniel Howley writes that the payment, which could face legal challenges, won't show up in Nvidia's Q2 report but could boost its Q3 outlook if the administration moves quickly. Howley notes: Read more here. McGraw Hill posts profitable quarter in first post-IPO earnings report McGraw Hill (MH) stock gained 2% after reporting its first quarterly results since going public. It traded around $13.61 on Thursday afternoon. In July, shares opened at $17 apiece in the company's IPO. Total revenue increased 2.4% year over year to $535.7 million. The education solutions company also swung to a $0.5 million profit, compared to its $9.4 million loss a year ago. Market share gains, enrollment, and continued demand for digital learning solutions fueled the higher education business, which saw revenue jump 14.1% year over year. Revenue for the K-12 segment, however, declined 1.4%. These two business units make up the bulk of McGraw Hill's business. The smaller international business noted weakness, with an 11.7% decrease in revenue, while sales in the global professional business held steady. For 2026, McGraw Hill sees revenue in a range of $1.98 billion to $2.04 billion. Listen to the earnings call here. McGraw Hill (MH) stock gained 2% after reporting its first quarterly results since going public. It traded around $13.61 on Thursday afternoon. In July, shares opened at $17 apiece in the company's IPO. Total revenue increased 2.4% year over year to $535.7 million. The education solutions company also swung to a $0.5 million profit, compared to its $9.4 million loss a year ago. Market share gains, enrollment, and continued demand for digital learning solutions fueled the higher education business, which saw revenue jump 14.1% year over year. Revenue for the K-12 segment, however, declined 1.4%. These two business units make up the bulk of McGraw Hill's business. The smaller international business noted weakness, with an 11.7% decrease in revenue, while sales in the global professional business held steady. For 2026, McGraw Hill sees revenue in a range of $1.98 billion to $2.04 billion. Listen to the earnings call here. Quantum Computing stock slips as losses accelerate Quantum Computing (QUBT) CEO Yuping Huang said that the company continued to make progress in growing commercial traction in the second quarter, but the industry is still focused on reaching technology milestones. Second quarter revenue totaled approximately $61,000, compared to $183,000 in the same period a year ago. The company reported a net loss of $36.5 million, or $0.26 per share. In Q2 2024, Quantum Computing posted a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.06 per share. Quantum Computing stock fell 2.3% after hours in what's been a whipsaw year for quantum stocks. In June, the stock spiked 25% in one day after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing "is reaching an inflection point." But the industry is still in its infancy. The other big quantum player, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), reported a technology breakthrough in its recent results but also big losses. "We are talking of a market that's hundreds of billions of dollars a decade or two from now," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Market Domination Overtime. "But right now, we are clearly in the R&D stage. We clearly need to perfect the technology to get to that big milestone in about four years, which we call quantum advantage." Read more about quantum computing here. Quantum Computing (QUBT) CEO Yuping Huang said that the company continued to make progress in growing commercial traction in the second quarter, but the industry is still focused on reaching technology milestones. Second quarter revenue totaled approximately $61,000, compared to $183,000 in the same period a year ago. The company reported a net loss of $36.5 million, or $0.26 per share. In Q2 2024, Quantum Computing posted a net loss of $5.2 million, or $0.06 per share. Quantum Computing stock fell 2.3% after hours in what's been a whipsaw year for quantum stocks. In June, the stock spiked 25% in one day after Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said quantum computing "is reaching an inflection point." But the industry is still in its infancy. The other big quantum player, Rigetti Computing (RGTI), reported a technology breakthrough in its recent results but also big losses. "We are talking of a market that's hundreds of billions of dollars a decade or two from now," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Market Domination Overtime. "But right now, we are clearly in the R&D stage. We clearly need to perfect the technology to get to that big milestone in about four years, which we call quantum advantage." Read more about quantum computing here. Applied Materials stock sinks as policy uncertainty weighs on Q4 guidance Applied Materials (AMAT) recorded an earnings beat for the July quarter but said that the "dynamic" policy environment is creating uncertainty for the business. That led the chip equipment maker to issue a revenue forecast of $6.7 billion for the fourth quarter, below what the Street was expecting. 'We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,' CFO Brice Hill said. 'We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.' The company, whose clients include Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel, posted record revenue of $7.30 billion in Q3, up 8% year over year, surpassing estimates for $7.2 billion. Earnings per share of $2.48 also beat estimates by $0.12. Applied Materials stock fell 11% in after-hours trading. Read more here. Applied Materials (AMAT) recorded an earnings beat for the July quarter but said that the "dynamic" policy environment is creating uncertainty for the business. That led the chip equipment maker to issue a revenue forecast of $6.7 billion for the fourth quarter, below what the Street was expecting. 'We are expecting a decline in revenue in the fourth quarter driven by both digestion of capacity in China and nonlinear demand from leading-edge customers given market concentration and fab timing,' CFO Brice Hill said. 'We are navigating and adapting to the near-term uncertainties by leveraging our robust supply chain, global manufacturing footprint and deep customer relationships.' The company, whose clients include Taiwan Semiconductor and Intel, posted record revenue of $7.30 billion in Q3, up 8% year over year, surpassing estimates for $7.2 billion. Earnings per share of $2.48 also beat estimates by $0.12. Applied Materials stock fell 11% in after-hours trading. Read more here. Earnings and revenue beats lift Dillard's stock Dillard's (DDS) stock rose 7% on Thursday after the department store chain reported revenue and profit beats for the quarter. Net income fell to $72.8 million compared to $74.5 million a year ago, but earnings per share rose $0.07 year over year after the Arkansas-based company bought back stock. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $1.52 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $4.66 also topped estimates of $4.00 per share. Total retail sales were flat, with strength in juniors' and children's apparel as well as ladies' accessories and lingerie. The weakest performing category was home and furniture. Other major retailers, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Macy's (M), will report second quarter results in the coming weeks, providing a more in-depth look into consumer spending habits. Dillard's stock is up 23% year to date. It has climbed 78% since its April 8 low. Dillard's (DDS) stock rose 7% on Thursday after the department store chain reported revenue and profit beats for the quarter. Net income fell to $72.8 million compared to $74.5 million a year ago, but earnings per share rose $0.07 year over year after the Arkansas-based company bought back stock. Revenue of $1.53 billion beat Wall Street estimates of $1.52 billion, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence. Earnings per share of $4.66 also topped estimates of $4.00 per share. Total retail sales were flat, with strength in juniors' and children's apparel as well as ladies' accessories and lingerie. The weakest performing category was home and furniture. Other major retailers, including Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), and Macy's (M), will report second quarter results in the coming weeks, providing a more in-depth look into consumer spending habits. Dillard's stock is up 23% year to date. It has climbed 78% since its April 8 low. Advance Auto Parts stock sinks 14% on gloomy financial outlook Advance Auto Parts (AAP) stock sank 14% on Thursday morning after issuing a downbeat profit forecast. The Raleigh, N.C.-based company beat Wall Street's earnings estimates but lowered its full-year earnings per share outlook to $1.20-$2.20 from its previous range of $1.50-$2.50. Advance Auto Parts attributed this change to a higher net interest expense related to its recent senior notes offering. In the earnings call, executives noted that approximately 40% of the company's cost of goods is exposed to tariffs at a blended rate of 30%. During the quarter, Advance Auto Parts saw lower transactions but higher tickets, as prices increased by 2%. The company noted that its competitors are also raising prices in a similar fashion. "If you look at the maybe lower to mid-income cohorts, they are more pressured than others right now," CFO Ryan Grimsland said about the price impacts of tariffs. "The wages aren't necessarily fully keeping up with some of the inflation that's in there. And so there are trade-offs that they're making. And we're still seeing that. It'd be interesting to see how that plays out in the back half of the year." Advance Auto Parts (AAP) stock sank 14% on Thursday morning after issuing a downbeat profit forecast. The Raleigh, N.C.-based company beat Wall Street's earnings estimates but lowered its full-year earnings per share outlook to $1.20-$2.20 from its previous range of $1.50-$2.50. Advance Auto Parts attributed this change to a higher net interest expense related to its recent senior notes offering. In the earnings call, executives noted that approximately 40% of the company's cost of goods is exposed to tariffs at a blended rate of 30%. During the quarter, Advance Auto Parts saw lower transactions but higher tickets, as prices increased by 2%. The company noted that its competitors are also raising prices in a similar fashion. "If you look at the maybe lower to mid-income cohorts, they are more pressured than others right now," CFO Ryan Grimsland said about the price impacts of tariffs. "The wages aren't necessarily fully keeping up with some of the inflation that's in there. And so there are trade-offs that they're making. And we're still seeing that. It'd be interesting to see how that plays out in the back half of the year." China's tops quarterly revenue estimates on steady e-commerce demand Chinese e-commerce giant (JD) rose 1% in premarket trading after the company beat estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, highlighting robust shopping traffic. However, profits halved year over year. Total revenue rose 22.4% to 356.66 billion yuan ($49.73 billion) during the second quarter, above analysts' average estimate of 331.63 billion yuan. Profit fell by more than 50% to 6.2 billion yuan ($864 million) from 12.6 billion yuan a year earlier as the company invests in new businesses such as food delivery, competing with Meituan (MPNGY) and Alibaba (BABA). Reuters reports: Read more here. Chinese e-commerce giant (JD) rose 1% in premarket trading after the company beat estimates for quarterly revenue on Thursday, highlighting robust shopping traffic. However, profits halved year over year. Total revenue rose 22.4% to 356.66 billion yuan ($49.73 billion) during the second quarter, above analysts' average estimate of 331.63 billion yuan. Profit fell by more than 50% to 6.2 billion yuan ($864 million) from 12.6 billion yuan a year earlier as the company invests in new businesses such as food delivery, competing with Meituan (MPNGY) and Alibaba (BABA). Reuters reports: Read more here. Tapestry forecasts annual profit below estimates on tariff pain Tapestry (TPR) stock fell 8% before the bell on Thursday after the Coach handbag maker forecast annual profit below estimates. The company cited higher costs due to tariffs that have hit its margins. Reuters reports: Read more here. Tapestry (TPR) stock fell 8% before the bell on Thursday after the Coach handbag maker forecast annual profit below estimates. The company cited higher costs due to tariffs that have hit its margins. Reuters reports: Read more here. Lenovo stock drops despite profit beat Lenono Group LTD., the world's top PC maker, reported better-than-expected profit on PC sales but the stock dropped on worries over its cloud division. From Bloomberg Intelligence: Read more here. Lenono Group LTD., the world's top PC maker, reported better-than-expected profit on PC sales but the stock dropped on worries over its cloud division. From Bloomberg Intelligence: Read more here. Deere's third-quarter profit falls, stock drops (Reuters) – Farm-equipment maker Deere & Co reported a lower third-quarter profit and tightened its annual profit forecast on Thursday, pressured by headwinds from U.S. tariffs and muted demand. ... Deere's net income in the third quarter came in at $1.29 billion, or $4.75 per share, compared with $1.73 billion, or $6.29 per share, a year earlier. Overall, quarterly sales fell about 9% to $12.02 billion from a year ago. Read more here. (Reuters) – Farm-equipment maker Deere & Co reported a lower third-quarter profit and tightened its annual profit forecast on Thursday, pressured by headwinds from U.S. tariffs and muted demand. ... Deere's net income in the third quarter came in at $1.29 billion, or $4.75 per share, compared with $1.73 billion, or $6.29 per share, a year earlier. Overall, quarterly sales fell about 9% to $12.02 billion from a year ago. Read more here. Birkenstock beats profit estimates on strong full-price footwear sales Reuters reports: Read more here. Reuters reports: Read more here.
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
UK Drops Apple Backdoor Mandate After Talks With U.S. Spy Chief Gabbard
U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said Monday the U.K. agreed to drop its order requiring Apple (AAPL, Financials) to create a back door to access encrypted data of American citizens. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 8 Warning Signs with NXST. Gabbard said on X she worked for months with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and British officials to secure the deal. Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in Washington on Monday for talks with Trump and other European leaders. The U.K. mandate, issued earlier this year, had forced Apple to suspend its Advanced Data Protection feature for British users in February. The iPhone maker challenged the order at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, warning that backdoors could be exploited by hackers and authoritarian regimes. U.S. lawmakers argued the demand could have violated the CLOUD Act, which restricts governments from ordering access to the encrypted data of another country's citizens. Gabbard had raised the concern in a February letter to Congress. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
