Tom Lewis began his entrepreneurial journey at age 15 by freelancing from his bedroom, writing travel content for boutique hotels and crafting custom itineraries for tourists. Charging £50 per project initially, he quickly scaled his efforts, reaching £20,000 in monthly earnings by 2020.
Early Hustle and School Days
Unable to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot due to the high training costs, Lewis turned to freelancing after observing his father’s use of platforms like Fiverr. ‘Don’t ask me why, as I still don’t know to this day, but I landed on writing travel content,’ Lewis, now 22 and from Worcester, explains.
He dedicated hours to his work, often shutting himself in his bedroom during the hot summer of 2018. ‘I would shut my bedroom door and sit at my desk for hours on end. My mum would come in and remark, “Wow, it’s absolutely boiling in here.” I’d be sweating but so focused that I wouldn’t realise,’ he recalls.
At school, Lewis maximized every opportunity, spending lunchtimes at the library computer. He built a rapport with the librarian, Mrs. Jeffrey, who remained unaware of his side hustle, while classmates viewed him as simply studious.
Diversifying Ventures and Rapid Growth
By his sixth form years, Lewis had raised his rates by 500% in just one year. Rejecting university due to the potential £70,000 debt and the appeal of traditional jobs, he invested his savings in launching an online confectionery business importing American sweets. His first major shipment arrived via articulated lorry, filling his parents’ garage.
‘Whether it was rain, sleet, or shine, I took 50-60 parcels, in three or four trips a day, to the courier on my electric scooter,’ Lewis describes his hands-on approach to fulfilling orders.
Later experiments included an online shop where a portable dog water bottle flopped—prompting a sympathy buy from his mother—but Bluetooth earbuds proved successful, generating £200 daily. Through these efforts, Lewis mastered advertising on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger.
In 2023, using an inheritance from his grandmother, he completed a specialized course in ad management and returned to freelancing as a consultant on Fiverr.
Partnership, Expansion, and Life in Dubai
A networking event led to a connection with a colleague of investor Steven Bartlett, founder of Diary of a CEO. This sparked a client relationship that evolved into a partnership, co-founding MetaStat, an agency specializing in ad development.
‘Steven invests in entrepreneurs, not businesses,’ Lewis notes, crediting Bartlett’s guidance during key moments. The agency has generated over £75 million for clients and now operates at seven figures in revenue.
Lewis relocated to Dubai to fuel business growth, likening the move to starting university. He maintains a small circle of friends, primarily in their late 20s or early 30s, prioritizing company expansion. ‘My circle is small. It probably sounds very unsociable, but I have very few close friends just because I’m so focused on building my company,’ he shares.
The team has expanded from three to 15 employees in 18 months, with plans for further hires to balance youthful energy and experienced talent. Lewis works 12 to 14 hours daily, including weekends, with brief breaks for early-morning paddleball sessions.
‘I’m almost obsessed with the business and how we can grow it, so that occupies my brain most of the time,’ he admits. Lewis advises aspiring entrepreneurs to freelance first, acquire niche skills through courses, and monetize them effectively. ‘Nine times out of 10, you can start making money from that.’
