Mike Johns, Founder and CEO, UrbanWorld Wireless

Mike Johns is the founder and CEO of UrbanWorld Wireless, the Los Angeles based company that bridges wireless technology and hip-hop culture.  UrbanWorld is a vision Johns had early in his career while working as Marketing Director for Larry Flynt’s Rap Page Magazine. In 2001, he turned his dream into reality, brokering the company’s mobile content provider deal with T-Mobile; partnerships with Infospace, Jamster, and AT&T (UrbanWorld’s voicetones have been featured in the top ten voicetone category on AT&T for three consecutive years). Capitol Records become the first record label to conduct mobile marketing with the “urban” audience, utilizing UrbanWorld’s mobile platform followed by such industry players as Def Jam, Vibe Magazine, Adidas and Fox Network. UrbanWorld Wireless has become a worldwide leader in the distribution of urban content, while earning praise from executives at ABC Radio, BBC Radio, XXL Magazine, and an endless list of partners, vendors and clients.

Beyond education and professional experience, Johns’ passion and personality gives him a natural ability to reach young people on the streets of Crenshaw as well as the power brokers on Wall Street. It is a skill that has made his company a recognizable force in the wireless industry and the hip-hop world.