Latest news with #Basso
Forbes
25-04-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
From Lagos To The World: E1 Racing's Groundbreaking Event Set To Catalyze Innovation And Sustainability Across Africa
THE UIM E1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY PIF SET TO RACE IN LAGOS In a bold move to expand its global presence, the UIM E1 World Championship Presented by PIF (E1) Electric Racing series has selected Lagos, Nigeria, as the first African city to host a race. This decision marks a significant milestone for both the sport and the continent. Lagos, known for its vibrant culture, growing tech landscape, and dynamic economic growth, provides a unique backdrop that exemplifies Africa's rising influence on the world stage, particularly in sustainability and innovation. Lagos is characterised by its energetic pulse and entrepreneurial spirit, thriving on change and progress. It is a city where industries and ideas come together, and the demand for sustainable solutions is becoming increasingly essential. The city's coastal location, situated along the Atlantic Ocean, serves as an ideal setting for this cutting-edge electric racing series. More than just a race, this event represents a shift in the global conversation, recognising Africa's crucial role in shaping the future of clean technologies and sustainable innovation. In an exclusive interview with Rodi Basso shared insights on why Lagos was chosen for the race, the preparations involved, the potential to boost local tourism and economic growth, and how the event can empower the youth. When asked about the motivations behind selecting Lagos for the race which is to be held over the weekend of October 4th to 5th, Basso was quick to share his enthusiasm for the decision, highlighting several key factors that influenced it. 'We've always wanted to ensure representation from every continent in our calendar,' Basso explained. 'As we expand in season two, we've already incorporated two new continents. But Africa was always the next logical step. It has immense potential, and it felt like the right moment to enter.' E1 CEO Rodi Basso For Basso, the decision was not only about logistics or timing; it was also about the people. Through conversations with influential figures such as Didier Drogba, founder and owner of Team Drogba, and Gabrielle Lemaire, vice-president of the Didier Drogba Foundation, he gained a deeper understanding of the evolving dynamics across the continent. Basso reflected, 'I've had the chance to engage with leaders like Didier and Gabrielle, who provided valuable insights into the momentum building in Africa.' He emphasised the importance of these interactions, demonstrating both conviction and curiosity. 'What I'm seeing is a continent that's not just on the cusp of growth, but actively embracing change, ready to challenge norms and set new standards,' he continued. 'That's why Lagos felt like the right city for us to make our mark.' As excitement grows surrounding E1's debut in Africa, Basso acknowledges that hosting a race in unfamiliar territory presents its own set of challenges. "The reality is, we've never raced in Lagos. It's a completely new market for us," he admits. However, he remains undeterred; in fact, the unknown seems to invigorate him. "With that comes the usual set of challenges: logistical hurdles, understanding the local culture, and finding the right partners to make it happen," he continues. 'But we're not discouraged. In fact, it's exactly what makes this exciting.' Didier Drogba and Gabrielle Lemaire of Team Drogba The team's strategy for overcoming these challenges is based on collaboration, particularly with local authorities and stakeholders. Basso's face lights up as he reflects on his discussions with government officials: "When I first met with the local government, their response was so positive that it honestly blew me away," he shares. 'They said, 'It's going to be tough, but we will make it happen together.' The level of support we've received has been amazing. It's all about teamwork. There's a shared belief that this race is going to be a game-changer.' This is where strong local partnerships, such as those with Afreximbank and Team Drogba, become crucial. "It's not just about our team's efforts. We've partnered with incredible local leaders like Gabrielle and Didier, who are ensuring that the race not only goes off without a hitch but also leaves a lasting impact," Basso adds. One of the most exciting aspects of E1 Electric Racing's entry into Lagos is its potential economic impact. Basso acknowledges that while the sport is still in its early stages, the signs are already promising. 'Even though we're still building our platform, the numbers we've seen are incredibly encouraging. Our races are broadcast globally, reaching a vast audience,' he says. 'We're talking about millions of viewers tuning in from every corner of the world. The exposure that Lagos will receive is something no one could have predicted.' E1 Series Race In Doha In February 2025 The global reach of the race is undeniable. According to Basso, the viewership alone could significantly benefit Lagos' tourism industry. 'Through our partners, we're reaching over 1.1 billion people just on social media. That's a staggering figure. We're broadcasting live to all these countries, and people are tuning in to watch a race right in the heart of Lagos.' However, the true value of the event lies not only in its digital reach but also in the direct influx of international visitors. Basso explains that the race weekend is expected to generate substantial local revenue: 'We've conducted a third-party analysis, and in terms of economic impact, we're looking at approximately 20 million euros. This is because we're attracting fans, teams, and media from all over the world. Additionally, there's the lasting effect of showcasing Lagos as a premier destination for global events in the future.' The race's proximity to Lagos' coastline also makes it more appealing to tourists. 'We've designed the event so that people can experience the race up close, right on the coastline. This makes it even more attractive to families and tourists, and we anticipate it will create a buzz that will ripple through the local economy,' Basso says, his optimism palpable. E1 is more than just a race; it is a platform for innovation and collaboration, particularly in ... More technology. While the excitement surrounding the race is infectious, Basso is also focused on the long-term impact that E1 Racing can have on Lagos and the broader African continent. He emphasises that E1 is more than just a race; it is a platform for innovation and collaboration, particularly in technology. 'As an engineer, I see our race boats as more than just high-speed machines. They are technology platforms. We are providing an opportunity for innovators to showcase their work on a global stage,' Basso explains. 'We are already in discussions with global partners who want to test their innovations on our boats. It is exciting to see the potential for these technologies to solve real-world challenges.' According to Basso, the goal is to use E1's platform to foster collaboration with local universities and startups. 'We would like to engage with local universities and clean-tech startups. It's about creating opportunities for them to showcase their work to the world,' he shares. However, Basso's vision goes beyond merely creating a tech showcase. He wants to provide a real, tangible platform for local entrepreneurs. 'We are offering local startups the chance to present their innovations to an international audience. Many of our partners are C-level executives from global companies and finance. This could be the exposure they need to take their businesses to the next level,' he says. Through these partnerships, E1 Racing hopes to inspire the next generation of African innovators, demonstrating that they can have a global impact starting from their local communities. 'It's about providing opportunities. If we can help spark the next big idea, the next African unicorn, that would be an incredible legacy,' Basso concludes. E1 Racing hopes to inspire the next generation of African innovators E1 Racing's groundbreaking move into Lagos is more than just a race; it is a powerful declaration that Africa is no longer an afterthought in global conversations. The continent is driving the future. By bringing this premier event to Lagos, E1 Racing is positioning Africa as a critical force in the evolution of sustainability, innovation, and technological advancement. In a world racing toward change, Africa is not a passenger; it is the driver. The future is being written here and now. Africa will not be left behind but will instead be at the forefront, setting the pace for the world to follow. As Basso reflects, the true measure of success lies in the ability to inspire. "We want to inspire the next generation,' he shares. 'We believe in protecting our water for the future and providing opportunities for kids from school to university to connect with this movement. If we can ignite enthusiasm in just a few young minds, showing them that sustainability is not only essential but also cool, that's success for the sport." This race isn't just an event; it's a catalyst for change a platform where the next generation understands that making a difference is not just achievable; it's the ultimate goal. Ultimately, E1 Racing's legacy in Africa will be defined by its ability to inspire youth to embrace a brighter future, leading with purpose, passion, and sustainability.
CNN
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
E1 Series: Why Will Smith, Tom Brady, LeBron James and other stars are running futuristic racing boat teams
Will Smith, Tom Brady and Rafael Nadal dial in to a Zoom call. No, this is not the setup of a joke – in the star-studded world of E1, it's simply a regularly scheduled meeting of owners. Launched in 2024 as the first ever all-electric raceboat championship, the E1 Series – partly bankrolled by the Saudi government-controlled Public Investment Fund (PIF) – boasts nine teams headed up by some of sport and entertainment's most recognizable names. In Brady, Nadal, Virat Kohli, Didier Drogba and LeBron James – who launched a team ahead of the 2025 season – E1's ownership roster features all-time greats spanning American football, tennis, cricket, soccer and basketball respectively. Add in actor Smith and singer Marc Anthony, and their collective résumé has some impressive highlights. Yet for Italian E1 CEO and co-founder Rodi Basso, it is not just the owners' reputations that make them so valuable to the fledgling 'sport and entertainment platform' – it's their combined '1.1 billion-strong' social media following. Smith, for example, was in attendance at E1's most recent event, in Doha in February, sharing footage from the race weekend around the Qatari capital's Pearl Island with his 69.6 million Instagram followers. His Westbrook Racing team finished fourth, with Nadal's capturing its maiden E1 victory, finishing ahead of teams headed by DJ Steve Aoki and football icon Didier Drogba respectively. 'As part of our agreement, they need to post before, during and after the race,' Basso told CNN. 'This (social) following for a newborn sport is an incredible number, and we know from our experience that of all the other sport platforms it took maybe five to 10 years to get anywhere near these KPIs (key performance indicators).' Former NASA and Formula One engineer Basso founded E1 alongside chairman Alejandro Agag, the Spanish politician-turned-entrepreneur who launched all-electric motorsport championship Formula E in 2014. Agag later invested in Seabird Technologies, a startup aiming to build boats that dovetailed electric propulsion with hydrofoil technology, which involves the use of wing-like structures under the hull. Seeking someone to help make the vision a reality, in 2020 he contacted Basso, who – while serving as motorsport director at technology company McLaren Applied – had overseen the development of a lithium-ion battery that could power a Formula E car for an entire race without the need to stop. Basso's answer came back the following day in the form of a proposal: 'Why not build Formula One electric on water?' 'I don't regret those days (in Formula One),' Basso said. 'At the same time, I realized that we cannot afford anymore to only rely on one source of energy which is fuel. 'I enjoy being part of, in an entrepreneurial way, this new journey which will be the base of future mobility, at least on water. I think it's a need – not a choice.' With PIF funding secured, little over six months later, attention turned to creating the sport's vehicle. Enter Seabird's RaceBird, a boat capable of speeds up to 93 kilometers (58 miles) per hour. Taking inspiration from birds gliding across water, Seabird founder Sophi Horne designed the 24-foot-long boat to leave significantly less wake when racing, by using hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water at speeds beyond 31 kilometers (19.5 miles) per hour. Fewer waves could have a 'massive impact' on reducing coastal area erosion, argued Basso, who believes such technologies will come to serve as the cornerstone of sustainable marine transport. 'More than 50% of the population of the world live nearby water – lakes, rivers, oceans,' he said. 'We want to be part of the solution in order to make sure that a lifestyle near the water can be experienced for future generations.' Those green goals could be undermined by the carbon emissions associated with transporting people and equipment to each race. F1 teams, for example, regularly use air travel to transport as many as 4,000 staff and 25 tons of essential cargo to race venues. But Basso said that only between two and five percent of the total freight for an E1 race weekend travels by air, with the majority moved via shipping freight or on the road, adding that the number of staff traveling by plane has been reduced by 20% from the inaugural season. He would also like to expand E1 so that the teams could have another set of powerboats, stored in Asia, for example, that would reduce the distances that boats are shipped between races. 'You can think of being in Miami one week, and after two weeks being in Singapore without having to ship everything around,' Basso said. The long-term future of the championship still needs to be proven, however, after the premature ending of the inaugural season – in which three events on the original calendar never went ahead – and the fact this year's calendar has been shortened from seven planned races to five. Lifestyle is 'first and foremost' for Basso when it comes to E1, with celebrity involvement a key factor in the sport positioning itself as a premium experience, with high-end hospitality in some of the world's most luxurious destinations. Race locations for the 2025 season include Monaco, Italy's Lake Maggiore and Miami, with the celebrity owners often attending to watch their team's two pilots compete across a two-day event consisting of testing, free practice, qualifying and racing – much akin to Formula One. 'I have to pinch myself when I see a Zoom call together with Tom Brady, Marc Anthony, Didier Drogba, Rafa Nadal, Will Smith, Virat Kohli and all the others,' Basso said. 'We get fantastic insight on the sport proposition side … and also on the marketing and entertainment side. So for us it's an added value to also have them as advisors.' It is currently an all-male ownership list, but Basso is confident a first female team owner will be announced before the season ends in Miami this November, adding that talks are underway with five candidates. Each team's raceday duo must be composed of a male and female pilot. Spain's Cris Lazarraga posted the fastest lap time in both qualifying and races as she and fellow Team Rafa (Nadal) pilot Tom Chiappe won in Doha, a performance that Basso believes is testament to a boat design that rewards skill above all other attributes. 'I think we paid a toll for the legacy, or the old-style reputation, of powerboating (racing, which) was perceived in the past as maybe a male-driven sort of sport,' Basso said. 'This boat is very much an exercise in strategy … not driven by either muscles or any other forms of power and energy. So the playing field is very levelled, and the competition is very close.'
CNN
25-03-2025
- Entertainment
- CNN
E1 Series: Why Will Smith, Tom Brady, LeBron James and other stars are running futuristic racing boat teams
Will Smith, Tom Brady and Rafael Nadal dial in to a Zoom call. No, this is not the setup of a joke – in the star-studded world of E1, it's simply a regularly scheduled meeting of owners. Launched in 2024 as the first ever all-electric raceboat championship, the E1 Series – partly bankrolled by the Saudi government-controlled Public Investment Fund (PIF) – boasts nine teams headed up by some of sport and entertainment's most recognizable names. In Brady, Nadal, Virat Kohli, Didier Drogba and LeBron James – who launched a team ahead of the 2025 season – E1's ownership roster features all-time greats spanning American football, tennis, cricket, soccer and basketball respectively. Add in actor Smith and singer Marc Anthony, and their collective résumé has some impressive highlights. Yet for Italian E1 CEO and co-founder Rodi Basso, it is not just the owners' reputations that make them so valuable to the fledgling 'sport and entertainment platform' – it's their combined '1.1 billion-strong' social media following. Smith, for example, was in attendance at E1's most recent event, in Doha in February, sharing footage from the race weekend around the Qatari capital's Pearl Island with his 69.6 million Instagram followers. His Westbrook Racing team finished fourth, with Nadal's capturing its maiden E1 victory, finishing ahead of teams headed by DJ Steve Aoki and football icon Didier Drogba respectively. 'As part of our agreement, they need to post before, during and after the race,' Basso told CNN. 'This (social) following for a newborn sport is an incredible number, and we know from our experience that of all the other sport platforms it took maybe five to 10 years to get anywhere near these KPIs (key performance indicators).' Former NASA and Formula One engineer Basso founded E1 alongside chairman Alejandro Agag, the Spanish politician-turned-entrepreneur who launched all-electric motorsport championship Formula E in 2014. Agag later invested in Seabird Technologies, a startup aiming to build boats that dovetailed electric propulsion with hydrofoil technology, which involves the use of wing-like structures under the hull. Seeking someone to help make the vision a reality, in 2020 he contacted Basso, who – while serving as motorsport director at technology company McLaren Applied – had overseen the development of a lithium-ion battery that could power a Formula E car for an entire race without the need to stop. Basso's answer came back the following day in the form of a proposal: 'Why not build Formula One electric on water?' 'I don't regret those days (in Formula One),' Basso said. 'At the same time, I realized that we cannot afford anymore to only rely on one source of energy which is fuel. 'I enjoy being part of, in an entrepreneurial way, this new journey which will be the base of future mobility, at least on water. I think it's a need – not a choice.' With PIF funding secured, little over six months later, attention turned to creating the sport's vehicle. Enter Seabird's RaceBird, a boat capable of speeds up to 93 kilometers (58 miles) per hour. Taking inspiration from birds gliding across water, Seabird founder Sophi Horne designed the 24-foot-long boat to leave significantly less wake when racing, by using hydrofoils that lift the hull above the water at speeds beyond 31 kilometers (19.5 miles) per hour. Fewer waves could have a 'massive impact' on reducing coastal area erosion, argued Basso, who believes such technologies will come to serve as the cornerstone of sustainable marine transport. 'More than 50% of the population of the world live nearby water – lakes, rivers, oceans,' he said. 'We want to be part of the solution in order to make sure that a lifestyle near the water can be experienced for future generations.' Those green goals could be undermined by the carbon emissions associated with transporting people and equipment to each race. F1 teams, for example, regularly use air travel to transport as many as 4,000 staff and 25 tons of essential cargo to race venues. But Basso said that only between two and five percent of the total freight for an E1 race weekend travels by air, with the majority moved via shipping freight or on the road, adding that the number of staff traveling by plane has been reduced by 20% from the inaugural season. He would also like to expand E1 so that the teams could have another set of powerboats, stored in Asia, for example, that would reduce the distances that boats are shipped between races. 'You can think of being in Miami one week, and after two weeks being in Singapore without having to ship everything around,' Basso said. The long-term future of the championship still needs to be proven, however, after the premature ending of the inaugural season – in which three events on the original calendar never went ahead – and the fact this year's calendar has been shortened from seven planned races to five. Lifestyle is 'first and foremost' for Basso when it comes to E1, with celebrity involvement a key factor in the sport positioning itself as a premium experience, with high-end hospitality in some of the world's most luxurious destinations. Race locations for the 2025 season include Monaco, Italy's Lake Maggiore and Miami, with the celebrity owners often attending to watch their team's two pilots compete across a two-day event consisting of testing, free practice, qualifying and racing – much akin to Formula One. 'I have to pinch myself when I see a Zoom call together with Tom Brady, Marc Anthony, Didier Drogba, Rafa Nadal, Will Smith, Virat Kohli and all the others,' Basso said. 'We get fantastic insight on the sport proposition side … and also on the marketing and entertainment side. So for us it's an added value to also have them as advisors.' It is currently an all-male ownership list, but Basso is confident a first female team owner will be announced before the season ends in Miami this November, adding that talks are underway with five candidates. Each team's raceday duo must be composed of a male and female pilot. Spain's Cris Lazarraga posted the fastest lap time in both qualifying and races as she and fellow Team Rafa (Nadal) pilot Tom Chiappe won in Doha, a performance that Basso believes is testament to a boat design that rewards skill above all other attributes. 'I think we paid a toll for the legacy, or the old-style reputation, of powerboating (racing, which) was perceived in the past as maybe a male-driven sort of sport,' Basso said. 'This boat is very much an exercise in strategy … not driven by either muscles or any other forms of power and energy. So the playing field is very levelled, and the competition is very close.'
WIRED
19-03-2025
- Entertainment
- WIRED
The Creator of the Smash Indie Game ‘Animal Well' Is Already Working on His Next Project
Mar 19, 2025 7:00 AM Billy Basso talks about the seven years he spent developing his hit game, and what he's up to next. Billy Basso, creator of Animal Well , at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco on March 17, 2025. Photograph: Darrell Jackson Billy Basso was glued to his computer. It was launch day for the Chicago developer's debut solo game, a surreal Metroidvania called Animal Well , and he couldn't stop reading reviews online and watching people play the game. He'd pulled off the impossible: breaking through a turbulent industry to create a hit game that would grow to be a critical and commercial success. He just didn't realize how big of one it would be quite yet. Most successful video games are made by teams of people that vary in size from a half dozen to somewhere in the hundreds. Basso had made Animal Well entirely on his own, start to finish. Music, art, story—it was all his, dictated by the singular goal to finish the game. He thought it would take six months. It took seven years. 'My entire life has completely changed since the game has come out,' Basso, 36, says. This year, Animal Well is up for five awards at the Game Developers Choice Awards, including prizes for Best Design, Best Audio, and Best Debut. The awards are being handed out this week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, where Basso is also a featured speaker. At a talk on Monday detailing the nitty gritty of how he made the game, from coding to describing the game's lighting, Basso held court in front of a rapt audience packed to the brim. Attendees laughed and 'ooh'd' his presentation. While describing some of his more homebrew methods of development, one developer in the audience whispered 'this guy is the GOAT.' After his talk, a circle of fans surrounded Basso to offer praise and ask questions. Basso had arrived. It just took some time to get there. Basso meets with his fellow developers after his talk on Monday afternoon. Photograph: Darrell Jackson Basso wasn't a new developer when he started Animal Well . He'd worked at large companies before, including a stint at NetherRealm working on mobile versions of Mortal Kombat . He was working at a medical startup that created mobile games for doctors—'as weird and niche as you might expect'—and tinkered with his own projects at night. He'd spent a decade of his career with 'the desire to make something that I would actually be a fan of.' For four years, Basso worked on a primitive version of Animal Well in his free time, supporting himself with his day job. 'It was very clearly a self-indulgent side project for myself,' he told me in an interview. But as the game grew more sophisticated, and Basso invested more time into it, he started to think of it differently. 'It gradually started to seem more like something I could actually release, that I could maybe make a living off of,' he says. Basso gathered his confidence and plotted an exit from his day job. His family didn't quite understand his ambitions. 'My dad didn't want me to quit my job to work on it,' Basso says. 'They were worried that I should keep a full-time job.' Animal Well fans peppered Basso with questions. Photograph: Darrell Jackson They also listened attentively. Photograph: Darrell Jackson Then, in 2021, a turning point: Basso got in touch with Dan Adelman, an industry vet known on the business development side, for help. 'I was kind of an introverted person that doesn't feel very comfortable posting things online and marketing the game,' Basso says. Adelman is well known for running Nintendo of America's indie program and championing small developers. 'Luckily enough, he was into the project,' Basso says. 'He wanted to start working together and then, from that point forward, I felt like I just became a much luckier person.' Basso and Adelman began applying to events like Day of the Devs, an indie showcase, to let people see the game. Their efforts paid off, with Bigmode—the publisher run by YouTuber videogamedunkey—signing Animal Well . 'A little less than a year after working with Dan, I had saved up enough money and had a road map to finishing the game,' Basso says. He quit his job to focus on Animal Well full-time. 'It ended up still being about three years until it was done,' he says. Over the many years of Animal Well 's development, friends urged him to release what he had when interest seemed to be high. 'I knew where the quality bar was for myself and what people expect out of a game,' Basso says. He didn't like the idea of 'cashing out' on what he felt wasn't a complete project, despite the long years that had gone into it. 'It was hard to explain how much work actually goes into releasing a polished game,' Basso says. 'You can't just kind of put pencils down at any point and click the release button on Steam.' How his game debuted mattered. If people like it, 'they'll trust you in the future to buy one of another game.' During his GDC talk, Basso walked through the years of development that went into Animal Well . Photograph: Darrell Jackson His bet had paid off. With Animal Well 's success, Basso says he's now able to 'make whatever arbitrary thing I want and not really have to worry about whether it will sell well or not.' All that matters, he says, is 'I find it fun.' In the game industry of 2025—where funding has been scarce, even studios with popular projects close down, and devs are being laid off en masse—that kind of freedom is a rarity. 'There's so much pressure to chase trends and put AI in your game,' Basso says. 'Or, if you're trying to raise money, you kind of have to pander to a different crowd of investors that are totally out of touch.' Basso is already working on his next project in earnest—a 2D sidescroller that will share some elements of Animal Well —though he's only about six months into it. He says that while it won't be a direct sequel, 'I think it's something people who enjoyed Animal Well will also enjoy. It will have its own identity.' It's too early to share much else about the game, to Basso's relief. 'I'm back in the good, pure phase where I just get to make something on my own, without sharing it with anybody. I guess I'll relish that for the next few years.' Still, Basso says he finds it flattering when people ask about his next game, which he says will likely be even more ambitious. ' Animal Well took seven years,' he says. 'I don't think this next project will take nearly as long. Hopefully.'
Yahoo
22-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
5 Best First Jobs If You Want To Make $80K in 3 Years
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the last recorded real median household income was $80,610 in 2023. This means roughly half of all households earn more than that, while half earn less. The actual average hourly income, for private nonfarm industries, was $35.87 in January 2025 — that's about $74,568 for full-time workers. Read More: Try This: This goes to show that it's completely doable to earn $80,000 from your job. You just might have better odds of doing this with the right skill set, education and a few years of experience. Even if you don't start out earning that much, you can always get pay bumps along the way. Here are some of the best first jobs that can earn you around $80,000 a year after three years. According to ZipRecruiter, an entry-level data analyst earns an average of $32.94 an hour. This translates to about $68,515 a year for a full-time employee. Some data analysts only earn $44,000 a year, while those with more experience can earn above six figures. As a data analyst, you can steadily raise compensation to $80,000 a year within three years by honing your skills. You'll generally need a good grasp on SQL, Python and other related skills. If you have a bachelor's or master's degree in computer science or a related tech field, that can help. Obtaining a professional certificate is another option. Discover Next: The average entry-level digital marketing specialist salary in the U.S. is $65,418, according to ZipRecruiter. In this role, you'll need skills that can help businesses with things like online expansion, lead generation, campaigns and related initiatives. A knowledge of pay-per-click (PPC), paid ads, search engine optimization (SEO), best marketing practices, and, of course, social media can help. The pay for a digital marketing specialist can easily rise to $80,000 after just a few years. It depends on factors like your skills, experiences and location. Business-to-business (B2B) sales are a great starting point that can get you a high salary, particularly if you niche down to software as a service (SaaS). 'Many software companies hire entry-level sales talent for sales development representative (SDR) positions,' said Mike Basso, CEO of Sales Talent. 'Software companies typically hire SDRs as recent college grads or with one or two years of entry-level sales experience.' According to Basso, entry-level SDRs generally start at about $50,000 to $65,000 and earn commissions ranging from $15,000 to $30,000. Even within the first year, it's possible to earn $80,000. Sales isn't for everyone, but it's got great earning potential. 'The SDR position almost always requires prospecting new business over the telephone, and it is not for everyone,' said Basso. 'However, those who excel as SDRs are often promoted to software account executives, which can take 18 months to two years, and potentially earn $140k to $160k per year.' A cybersecurity analyst typically needs at least a four-year degree in information technology, cybersecurity, or a related field, according to Cybersecurity Guide. Getting an internship while still in college can also help you secure a role after graduating. Getting a Global Information Assurance Certification (GIAC), CompTIA Security+ certificate or similar certification is also key to getting top pay. As per ZipRecruiter data, even an entry-level cybersecurity analyst can earn around $99,400 on average. But you might not get there right away. Those in the lowest 25 percentile earn an average of $72,200 — an amount that can easily increase to $80,000 after three years. If tech isn't your thing, there are other options, one of which is to become an insurance agent. ZipRecruiter estimates that the average starting pay for an insurance agent is $65,022 a year. With experience, you could earn closer to $80,000 — especially if you go into life insurance. The skills and qualifications needed to become an insurance agent depend on the type of agent you want to become: a captive agent — someone who sells insurance for a company or independent agent. You'll typically need at least a GED or high school diploma, an insurance license in your state, and the successful completion of the licensing exam. A bachelor's degree in a field like business or finance could increase your hiring odds. More From GOBankingRates10 Home Features That Have Decreased the Most in Popularity (And How Much Homes with Them Cost)Are You Rich or Middle Class? 8 Ways To Tell That Go Beyond Your Paycheck This article originally appeared on 5 Best First Jobs If You Want To Make $80K in 3 Years Sign in to access your portfolio
