It is quite typical for a start-up company to be made up of young people, and, indeed, FreeHour Malta fundamentally embraces youth in order to continue growing within the industry and beyond, according to its founders, who launched the platform in 2017. 

Across its upper management and over 20 employees, the workforce at FreeHour Malta has a combined average age of just 22. The innovative student online platform was started by Zach Ciappara in 2017, when he was only 18 years old, but it has now grown significantly and is used by over 95 per cent of students in Malta. As testament to its popularity and innovation, just four years after it was launched, FreeHour was awarded ‘Best App’ in the 2021 TechMT eBusiness Awards.

In addition to the online app, the company’s Instagram account currently stands at 45,000 followers, all of whom form part of the younger demographic ranging between 13-27, Mr Ciappara, who now also serves as the company’s CEO, confirms. “Aside from entertaining TikToks and viral Trivia Livestreams, the company also provides its loyal audience with important news updates and educational content on Instagram, all tailor-made to be consumed by the upcoming social media-first generation,” he says, explaining the account’s popularity.

With the significant amount of growth that FreeHour has experienced, especially in the last two years, the company has also inherited a certain level of responsibility to those young people who follow the brand. “Now, having attracted this large following, we understand and embrace their role as a source of both entertainment and education for young people,” the founder and CEO says.

This educational perspective is evident through the various campaigns the company runs throughout the year. Examples include their recent politics campaign for Malta’s general election in March and the Mental Health Awareness campaign conducted in July 2021.

Look ahead, their youth demographic will remain fundamental to the company. “To this end, FreeHour gives its  employees the space to develop their skills and carry the vision of the organisation, while also allowing its people to grow within the company itself,” Mr Ciappara says. 

Indeed, just recently, Denise Perini was promoted from Social Media Executive to Projects & Policy Manager, achieving the rank of Manager at just 21. “Like Denise, FreeHour’s managerial team is made up of young creatives with a range of different backgrounds, all of whom are aged under 25 and are hungrier than ever,” Mr Ciappara attests. “Traditional companies often argue that appointing someone in their twenties as a manager might not be the right move. However, FreeHour embraces the unconventional to continue being a key player, raising the bar in its industry.”

In line with this philosophy, FreeHour’s employees also receive training and guidance to be able to settle into their new roles and gain valuable skills for the future, with continuous professional and personal development being at the forefront of the company’s culture.

“FreeHour Malta is a company built for youth by youths, which means that a young perspective will always be present at the core of anything it does. Whether it is a local news post, an opinion-based article, or a piece of branded content, the end goal is always to communicate and connect with a young person through a 6-inch screen in the most valuable and meaningful way possible,” Mr Ciappara concludes.