This Doctor Turned Into Entrepreneur by Selling Sneakers
Kola Tytler was born to Nigerian parents in Latina, near Rome, Italy, 27 years ago. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in medicine from King’s College London and now practices as an ER doctor in a city center hospital. Vivid Minds interviewed Tytler about balancing his medical career and his passion for limited-edition sneakers.
When not treating patients, Tytler is the founder and CEO of Dropout, a physical and online store selling limited-edition sneakers and streetwear, valued at $2.6M. On June 7, he opened a store on via Montenapoleone in Milan, next to luxury brands like Gucci and Armani.
No Easy Game
Does he have much free time? I asked. “Yes, but if I weren’t a doctor, I’d have too much of it,” he replied.
He developed HypeAnalyzer, an algorithm predicting marketing trends and adjusting markups for resale, to streamline his busy life.
The business caters to sneaker enthusiasts eager to acquire rare models quickly, fueling competition for limited-edition releases.
“Our store in Milan is one of the few independent sneaker resellers on such a high-end street,” he said. “Back in 2015, I loved basketball and streetwear. I used to visit stores and leave my phone number, hoping for a call when the shoes arrived.”
He once bought a signed Kanye West box in London for £800 on eBay, signaling potential earnings in the sneaker market.
He considered dropping out of university to focus on Dropout but decided to continue studying, delegating parts of the business to colleagues. He believes medicine and business complement each other, with healthcare teaching resource efficiency and business grounding him.
The swimming pool accident
“Now, most activities happen online. I just need a computer,” Kola said.
Dropout predicts trends, authenticates shoes from individual sellers, and resells with dynamic markups. They also offer cleaning, storage, and insurance services for collectors.
The sneaker hype has intensified competition, including bots that buy shoes in milliseconds using VPNs and proxies.
Dropout is valued at $2.6M, has raised $750,000, and sold about 9,000 shoes.
“It wasn’t easy to reach this point,” he said. “My family and friends doubted the business, not seeing its market potential. But I followed my instincts, engaging with passionate sneaker lovers online.”
At 16, Kola nearly drowned in a swimming pool and spent a week in intensive care. That experience made him realize life is short and he should pursue what he loves.
Proudly independent
He started Dropout with his co-founder, Andrea Canziani, investing €250,000 and valuable sneakers. Working up to 30 hours weekly during studies helped him save money, as his expenses were low. They bought and sold sneakers whose values increased over time.
They still own two-thirds of the company; the rest is split between venture capital funds (20%) and smaller investors.
How to keep the pace
“I wake early, work hospital shifts, then listen to podcasts on business and marketing in my car. I read, watch inspiring movies, and occasionally play basketball. Luckily, the algorithm handles most of the work,” he said.
He politely concluded, “My family supports me emotionally. They’re happy with what I’m doing.”
By Antonio Piemontese, Milan-based freelance journalist with a background in Political Science, who has contributed to Wired and CNBC.
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