Coca-Cola Heir Alki David's Turbulent Rise in Tech and Holography
Alkiviades 'Alki' David is a name synonymous with innovation and entrepreneurship. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, in May 1968, Alki grew up in a family that had built a multinational bottling and trading business tied to the Coca-Cola empire.
David's early forays into internet television began in 2010 when he founded FilmOn, a platform that aimed to replace traditional cable boxes with personal antennas and data packets. However, this venture was marred by legal battles, particularly against major broadcasters such as CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox.
The U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision ABC v. Aereo in 2014 ruled that services like FilmOn performed works publicly, effectively closing the door on Aereo-style retransmission. David then shifted his strategy to claim a compulsory cable license under §111, but ultimately settled with the broadcasters in 2017.
David's ventures into holography began with the 2012 Coachella performance featuring Tupac's life-size moving image. He also founded SwissX, aiming to commercialize hemp and CBD for environmental and economic purposes. However, this venture faced regulatory hurdles, including a bankruptcy filing in the Bernese Oberland.
David's business activities have not been without controversy. From 2019 onwards, Los Angeles juries awarded millions in civil judgments against his companies for workplace sexual harassment, battery, and assault claims.