A filmmaker, entrepreneur, and table tennis aficionado, Franck Raharinosy has worked in a number of fields over the years. Born in France to French and Madagascan parents, Franck Raharinosy was raised on the idyllic island of La Reunion, near Madagascar. A natural entrepreneur, Franck Raharinosy saw an opportunity to manage his local college's student cafeteria, an enterprise that netted him nearly $30,000 at age 18; he earned dual degrees in business and law from Ecole de Gestion et de Commerce de la Reunion and subsequently moved to Los Angeles for a job in the marketing department of the French airline Air Outre Mer. Offered an opportunity to stay with a cousin in New York, Franck Raharinosy became an intern at MTV News during the day and spent his evenings as a staff member at exclusive New York nightclubs Life, Lot 61, and Lotus. After stints as a documentary filmmaker, during which time he made a film about fashion designer Sebastian Pons, and a clothing designer, who's line was sold exclusively at Barney's, Franck Raharinosy became interested in table tennis after winning a tournament at a friend's birthday party. With friends, he formed the weekly party Naked Ping-Pong, which attracted celebrities ranging from rapper 50 Cent to actor Susan Sarandon. The party was such a success that Franck Raharinosy and his friends decided to open a table tennis themed nightclub, SPiN New York, in 2009. The large space hosts 16 Olympic-quality table tennis tables, and has attracted famous faces ranging from author Salman Rushdie to actor Owen Wilson. With a special lounge designed by Todd Oldham and sponsored by classic sportswear designer Fred Perry, SPiN has played host to numerous corporate groups, including Cartier, Hermes, Microsoft, Vanity Fair, Credit Suisse, and Google. Franck Raharinosy recently received the National Arts Club's Medal of Honor for his contributions to table tennis and will be hosting a World Champions night at SPiN in June 2010 to be hosted by actor and table tennis fan Judah Friedlander.
