Power Play

FROM TECH TO MUSIC, CLUBS AND START-UPS, THIS SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR IS ON TRACK ONCE MORE WITH A NEW HIGH-END VENTURE – M1NT DUBAI.

“I THRIVE on influence,” says Spencer Tarring, whose bio thus far reads like a Ferrari on fastrack. It’s so pumped it’s almost hard to fathom. Selling tech server company Dedipower Managed Hosting in the UK for 20 million pounds, he moved to China in 2012 where he became a celebrity DJ and Musical Director at what was then probably the world’s best nightclub – M1NT Shanghai.

“I think it’s fair to say I was the most famous foreigner in the city at that point,” says Spencer, who subsequently used his influence to foster a nascent nightlife scene in China and start the music streaming service Pyromusic.cn. He moved into crypto, using his data center experience to build huge mining facilities in the city, capitalizing on his social media profile along the way. Life was beyond good and he quite literally had it all. “I thought I was a king,” he says. “I thought I could do no wrong.”

He moved fast – probably too fast, says Spencer. With cash to burn in the bank, he invested in Horizen Bar on The Bund in Shanghai. “I put in around 4 million RMB, which was about $600,000 at the time, despite many people telling me I was mad, including my lawyer.”

It never made money. “Horizen burned through funds like it was going out of business, which it was. My investment contracts were poorly worded and I totally overlooked the business model and plan, and didn’t do my due diligence. All because I was desperate to own a club in Shanghai. After 12 months the club closed and all I had from it was a few good nights out and an extremely bruised ego.”

The Confidence Conundrum

Spencer Tarring freely admits that confidence and ego are at the center of his hits, and his misses. “I have had some big successes,” he says, “but I’ve also had failures along the way. I think it’s important to recognise those failures as they have helped me to better understand who I am.”

There’s been some property investments that have returned handsomely, and some that haven’t, sometimes because he’s allowed himself to be talked into projects and sometimes because he’s misjudged the economic cycle. And then there was Horizen Bar. “If you have a big ego,” he says, “there’s nothing wrong with that, because I certainly have one. But in hindsight it’s better to be the biggest dog at the club by being the best customer. Blow a few grand in one night, instead of investing half a million dollars. Believe me, it will be much less stressful and a much better use of money.”

Spencer Tarring is always striving for success and making a name for himself on the global stage. He’s the founder and host of Lock Stock FM, a podcast that features no-holds-barred conversations about business, life, and success. With a plethora of experience in entrepreneurship, encompassing tech startups, fund raising, web3.0, and the music industry, Spencer has a deep understanding of business, how to get things done, and most importantly executing on a strategy from inception to exit.

“Now that I look back I’ve started to realize my skill set is not in the actual running of a business,” says Tarring. “It’s definitely in the finding of the right person to partner with and filling in all the voids that they need to make the business a successful venture.”

A stint in Bali, Indonesia, offered him time to reflect on his successes –and his failures. “Bali is a great place to enjoy life, but in the end I just felt it wasn’t the place to rest on my laurels. After a couple of years I hungered for the challenge of doing business again on the big stage, and moved to Dubai. I was surrounded once more by competition, and this drove me back to my roots.”

The Future Is M1nted

His confidence levels are once again on the up. “I believe I’m destined to do something bigger,” he says. “I have the confidence that something’s going to happen, and if it doesn’t, it doesn’t matter.”

Incoming in April 2025 is M1NT Dubai. It’s another high-end club, but with a difference. It will be the world’s first Shareholder’s Club, says

Tarring, with up to 400 backers who each get to own a piece of the business. For a relatively small investment, shareholders get full member access and dividends from profits.

It’s microfinance set to deliver an amazing venue and atmosphere, offering exclusivity to investors for $30,000 a share. Given his experience in the nightlife world, there has been no shortage of interest. “It’s the team who founded M1NT Shanghai,” he says. “We are confident that M1NT Dubai will become a staple of the city’s nightlife scene. We’re offering people the chance to be part of it for what is ultimately a very small investment.”

He’s motivated by his past. “Being a DJ is an amazing feeling, largely because you’re influencing so many people. The biggest thing for me as a person is that I thrive on influence. I like people listening to what I say. Not that I want them to do what I say, it’s not like being a dictator, it’s the ability to have something important to say and having the ability to get people to listen to you.”

M1NT Dubai is set to be an entertainment venue for discerning guests, housing a high-end restaurant and lounge as well as the club. “The shareholder structure means it is good both professionally and socially for each of the owners,” he says. “It just makes sense and offsets the marketing budget for their businesses.”

Having so many owners also affects the atmosphere in the club, says Spencer. “Owning part of the club just elevates your experience of it, especially when you bring a group of contacts and friends. The vibe changes drastically when you own part of the brand, creating an electric atmosphere that’s unbeatable.”

Also incoming in the third quarter of 2024 is another venture combining Tarring’s tech skills with entertainment venues. Called Rendezverse, it’s a web3.0 tool that matches venues in the UAE directly with consumers. Using 3D and VR technology, it will offer a service along the lines of Airbnb for event spaces. “We’re basically building a directory of venues in the UAE, all with 3D and VR solutions. We’ve already got scans of around 1,000 venues and we’re hoping to launch within the next two to three months.”

Spencer Tarring stands out as a rare individual who successfully combines entrepreneurship, innovation, and magnetic charisma. His journey is marked by tech innovation, energetic DJ performances, and strategic investments that make an impact globally. From the lively streets of Shanghai to the bustling skyline of Dubai, Spencer’s path reflects a steadfast commitment to entrepreneurial excellence while embracing a lifestyle that balances work and play.

Still, ego and confidence are key to what he does. “Using ego is powerful,” says Spencer. “I don’t view it as a dirty word. If it gets off the rails then I trust close friends to pull me up and stay grounded. I also play golf, and that certainly keeps it real. Ego and confidence in what I do is most definitely important to me, and with experience I now know how to use and control it.”

@spencertarringceo