From school expulsion to billionaire: how Britisher Dakomb became Europe's youngest self-made millionaire

New record: 25 years old and a billion dollars

In August 2026, the British technology sector marked the emergence of a new record holder. The 25-year-old entrepreneur Dakomb officially entered the ranks of the youngest billionaires in Europe who earned their fortune independently. His success has become a bright symbol of a new wave of tech founders whose wealth is inextricably linked to the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. Unlike heirs to fortunes, Dakomb built his wealth from scratch, transforming from a teenage programmer into one of the key players in the neurotechnology and chip market.

Two pillars of the empire: Olix and CoMind

The foundation of Dakomb's financial success is two technology companies. The first is Olix, a London startup specializing in the production of specialized chips for artificial intelligence. It was Olix that became the catalyst for the entrepreneur's rapid growth in wealth. Founded just two years ago, the company demonstrated explosive growth in value. In early August 2026, Olix raised a funding round of $312 million, bringing its market capitalization to approximately $3.3 billion. Dakomb owns about 30% of the company's shares, which after the latest round made the value of his stake more than a billion dollars.

The second important asset is CoMind, a company engaged in brain activity tracking technologies. Dakomb founded it back in 2017. In August 2025, the company raised $102.5 million in investment, and Dakomb's stake in it is about 12%. Despite the success of Olix, Dakomb continues to personally manage the development of both businesses, demonstrating a rare ability for such young entrepreneurs to manage several complex projects simultaneously.

The path from 13 years old to Thiel Fellowship

Dakomb's biography is a classic example of how an early start can lead to global success. He began programming applications and creating websites at the age of 13. However, his path to greatness did not go through traditional academic peaks. He studied at Ashville College in North Yorkshire, but at 17, he made a radical decision: drop out of school to devote himself entirely to the development of CoMind. This decision did not go unnoticed: Dakomb was accepted into the prestigious Thiel Fellowship program. The initiative, founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, gives young entrepreneurs $250,000 to skip university in favor of building a business.

The phenomenon of "naivety" and global context

In an interview with The Sunday Times, Dakomb explained his success with the paradoxical advantage of youth — "naivety". According to him, the absence of "scars" from failures allows young entrepreneurs to try bold solutions that more experienced colleagues might reject. Today, Dakomb is part of an elite club of 11 self-made billionaires under the age of 30 worldwide, and he is one of four members of this group living outside the US. His success places him on par with Mark Zuckerberg, who became a billionaire at 23, and Evan Spiegel, who reached this milestone at 24.

Contradictory data

In sources covering Dakomb's success story, there is a slight discrepancy in terminology. One source (vietnam.vn) mentions that Dakomb "dropped out of school at 17", while another context (tienphong.vn) emphasizes that he "saw no future for himself in the traditional education system". Although both facts point to the same stage of life, it is important to note that in the British education system, 17 is the age of completing compulsory secondary education (GCSEs) or starting preparation for A-level exams. The exact date of leaving the education system (whether it was a complete refusal to study or a transfer to distance learning) is not detailed in open sources, however, the fact of participation in the Thiel Fellowship confirms that he officially refused university education in favor of business.