Joel Morris: milestones
From starting the JMX YouTube channel at 13 to co-founding Fanvue and scaling it to $200M ARR: a sourced timeline of Joel Morris's career.
Age 13
Starts the JMX YouTube channel
Joel starts posting FIFA videos on YouTube under the name JMX.
Source: Joel on LinkedInAge 17
Leaves school to go full time on YouTube
By 16 the channel is earning him $100,000 a year. At 17 he leaves school to make videos full time.
Source: FortuneAge 19
Steps away from 2.5 million subscribers
With the channel at around 2.5 million subscribers, Joel stops uploading regularly to build a company instead.
Source: Joel on LinkedIn2020
Co-founds Fanvue in London
During the COVID lockdown, Joel co-founds Fanvue with Will Monange, later joined by Harry Fitzgerald.
Source: Wikipedia2023
Weeks from running out of money
The founders discover far less cash in the bank than they thought. They spend the summer cold-calling investors until one pitch secures six months of runway.
Source: Startups MagazineJan 2026
Closes a $22.1M Series A
Fanvue closes a $22.1M Series A, three years after nearly going under.
Source: Startups MagazineApr 2026
Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe
Joel, Will Monange and Harry Fitzgerald are named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list for Media & Marketing.
Source: ForbesMay 2026
Releases his documentary
Joel breaks years of silence with a documentary on the full story, from competitive swimming and YouTube to nearly losing the company.
Source: Joel on LinkedInMay 2026
Sunday Times Best Place to Work, again
Fanvue is named a Sunday Times Best Place to Work for the second year running.
Source: Joel on LinkedInMay 2026
$200M in annual recurring revenue
Fortune reports Fanvue at around $200M in annual recurring revenue.
Source: FortuneJul 2026
Fabrizio Romano launches on Fanvue
The football transfer journalist, with 47M Instagram followers, launches his exclusive transfer show on Fanvue.
Source: Joel on LinkedInAug 2026
Iggy Azalea invests in SHIFT
Iggy Azalea invests personally in SHIFT, the AI infrastructure company behind Fanvue, and joins as founding member of its Creator Advisory Board.
Source: Joel on LinkedInSep 2026
Iggy Azalea launches on Fanvue
After being announced as an investor in SHIFT, Iggy Azalea launches on Fanvue.
Source: Joel on LinkedIn