Nigel Toon

Nigel Toon is a prominent technology entrepreneur and executive, currently serving as the Non-Executive Director at Pienso. He is also the CEO and co-founder of Graphcore, a company specializing in processors designed to accelerate artificial intelligence applications. Under his leadership, Graphcore has secured over $700 million in funding since its inception in 2016, positioning it as a key player in the AI hardware sector.123

Background and Achievements

• Professional Experience: Nigel has extensive experience in the semiconductor industry, having previously held CEO roles at two venture capital-backed processor companies and serving as a senior executive at a major publicly listed semiconductor firm in Silicon Valley. He co-founded Icera, a cellular modem chip company that was sold to NVIDIA for $435 million in 2011.14

• Recognition: He has received multiple accolades for his contributions to technology, including being named Icon of the Year at the Barclays Entrepreneurs Awards and ranking number one on Business Insider’s list of the 100 most influential people shaping British technology.13

• Board Memberships: In addition to his role at Pienso, Nigel serves on the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which oversees significant funding for research and innovation in the UK.14

Contributions to Pienso

At Pienso, Nigel Toon plays a crucial role in guiding the company as it develops AI solutions aimed at enabling non-technical users to construct and manage customized AI models. His expertise in AI and technology leadership supports Pienso's mission to bridge the gap between complex AI technologies and user-friendly applications.25

In summary, Nigel Toon is an influential figure in the tech industry, particularly within AI and semiconductor sectors, with a strong track record of leadership and innovation.