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{{Short description|British businessman}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name = Piers Linney
| name = Piers Linney
|image =
| image =
|caption =
| caption =
|birth_date = February 1971
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1971|02|15}}
|birth_place =
| birth_place = [[Stoke-on-Trent]], Staffordshire, England
⚫
| nationality = British
|residence = [[London]], [[England]]
⚫
| known_for = ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]''<br>''[[The Secret Millionaire]]''
⚫
|nationality =
⚫
| education = [[The University of Manchester]]
⚫
|known_for = ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]''<br>''[[The Secret Millionaire]]''
⚫
| alma_mater =
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|education = [[The University of Manchester]]
⚫
| occupation = Businessman<br>television personality
⚫
|alma_mater =
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| spouse = Tara Bishop
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|occupation = [[Businessperson|Businessman]]<br>Television personality
(m. 2003; div. 2018)<ref name=mirror>{{cite web|author=Daisy Buchanan |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dragons-den-piers-linney-10-2145466 |title=Dragon's Den Piers Linney: 10 things you need to know about new Dragon |publisher=Mirror Online |date=11 August 2013 |accessdate=18 August 2013}}</ref>
⚫
|spouse = Tara Linney
|children = Tiger and Electra
| children = Tiger and Electra<ref name="mirror"/>
|website = [http://pierslinney.com/ Official website]
| website = [http://www.pierslinney.com www.pierslinney.com]
|networth =
| networth =
}}
}}
'''Jonathan Piers Daniel Linney''' (born 15 February 1971<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92/dragons/piers-linney Piers Linney biography] at ''Dragons' Den'', BBC Two. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130803024705/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92/dragons/piers-linney |date=3 August 2013 }}</ref><ref>[http://search.findmypast.co.uk/results/world-records/england-and-wales-births-1837-2006?firstname=piers&lastname=linney Findmypast.]</ref><ref>[http://www.spearswms.com/news/piers-linney-net-worth-4301341 "Piers Linney Net Worth"], Spear's.</ref>) is a British businessman and investor.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.british-business-bank.co.uk/our-people/piers-linney/|title=Piers Linney – British Business Bank|work=British Business Bank|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> He is a non-executive director of the UK government-owned development bank, British Business Bank, which has facilitated over £12 billion<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://annualreport2018.british-business-bank.co.uk/objectives/objective-1|title={{!}} British Business Bank|date=26 November 2018|website=British Business Bank|language=en-gb|others=British Business Bank|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> of financing for UK small and medium-sized businesses and also operates the StartUp Loan Company and British Patient Capital, a £2.5bn fund launched in 2018.


'''Piers Linney''' (born February 1971)<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006vq92/dragons/piers-linney</ref> is a [[United Kingdom|British]] businessman, who is the current Co-CEO of cloud-based IT business [[Outsourcery]], best known for being a 'dragon' on the [[BBC Two]] business series ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]''.
He was the co-CEO and owner of Genesis Communications <ref name="icaew.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.icaew.com/archive/technical/corporate-finance/mergers-and-acquisitions/piers-linney-on-the-acquisition-of-genesis-communications|title=Piers Linney on the acquisition of Genesis Communications|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en}}</ref> and was the co-CEO of cloud-based<ref name="icaew.com" /> IT business [[Outsourcery]]. He is best known for taking part on the [[BBC Two]] business series ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]'' from 2013 to 2015.


Linney also appeared on the [[Channel 4]] series ''[[The Secret Millionaire]]'' in 2011, where he worked in [[Wolverhampton]] at a Young Offenders' institution.
Linney also appeared on the [[Channel 4]] series ''[[The Secret Millionaire]]'' in 2011, where he worked in [[Wolverhampton]] at a young offenders' institution.

In November 2018, he was named in the top 20 of [[Financial Times]]'s list of the top 100 minority ethnic leaders in technology.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/54a7e6c4-dddb-11e8-9f04-38d397e6661c|title=The UK's top 100 black and minority ethnic leaders in technology|website=Financial Times|date=14 November 2018 |language=en-GB|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref> He was also named in the FT as one of the top 100 BAME Leaders in Tech.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 November 2018 |title=Top 10: The most influential BAME tech leaders in the UK |language=en-GB |website=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/70dab5dc-e28c-11e8-a6e5-792428919cee |url-access=subscription |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

Linney is also content creator and public speaker that supports entrepreneurs to start-up or grow their businesses as part of his initiative.<ref>{{Citation|last=Piers Linney|title=What is #ScaleUp?|date=18 November 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K45srjut6kk|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
Linney was born to Derek and Norma Linney in 1971. He has Bajan ([[Barbados]]) and English heritage. He grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and moved aged nine to the small former mill town of [[Bacup]] in [[Lancashire]],<ref>Hannah Prevett, Emilie Sandy, [http://elitebusinessmagazine.co.uk/interviews/item/dragons-den-star-piers-linney-is-sitting-pretty "Dragons' Den star Piers Linney is sitting pretty"], Elite Business, 2 May 2014.</ref> where he attended the local secondary modern school (Fearns) after failing his [[eleven-plus exam]].
With both Barbadian and English heritage, Linney grew up in a small mill town in [[Lancashire]], North-West England where he attended the local comprehensive school after failing his 11+. With aspirations of being his own boss even at the age of thirteen, Linney cut out his local newsagent by going direct to the wholesaler to start his own paper round, planting his entrepreneurial seed by building it up and then selling it off.<ref>{{cite web|author=Daisy Buchanan |url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/dragons-den-piers-linney-10-2145466 |title=Dragon's Den Piers Linney: 10 things you need to know about new Dragon - Mirror Online |publisher=Mirror.co.uk |date=2013-08-11 |accessdate=2013-08-18}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Although Linney is usually described as an entrepreneur, he has a professional background in the City. After studying Accounting and Law at The [[University of Manchester]], he qualified as a solicitor in the City with [[SJ Berwin]]. He left law to join the UK investment banking team at [[Barclays de Zoete Wedd]], where he met Simon Newton in 1997, followed by time spent working at [[Credit Suisse]], where he specialised in mergers and acquisitions and leveraged buyouts. Linney left banking in 2000 to start an internet business and has since been involved in a number of technology, media and telecommunications businesses as a founder, director, investor and adviser. After becoming the CEO of a corporate finance boutique, Linney became a partner in an alternative investment fund providing structured debt and equity financing to small cap public companies.
Linney studied accounting and law at The [[University of Manchester]], and subsequently qualified as a solicitor with [[SJ Berwin]]. He then worked in investment banking, first at [[Barclays de Zoete Wedd]], followed by [[Credit Suisse]]. Linney left banking in 2000 to start an internet business and has since been involved in a number of technology, media and telecommunications businesses. After becoming the CEO of a corporate finance boutique, Linney specialised in technology venture capital and securing structured equity and debt finance from US hedge funds for small and mid-cap listed companies. Linney became a partner in a €90 million alternative investment fund providing structured debt and equity financing to small cap public companies.{{Citation needed|date=August 2018}}


In 2007, Linney led, in alliance with his friend and business partner, Simon Newton, the buyout of Genesis Communications,<ref>{{cite web|author=Marcus Leach |url=http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/business_advice.php?CID=16&AID=11649&PGID=2#.U0V1P1dkz5N |title=Who is Piers Linney? - Fresh Business Thinking website |publisher=www.freshbusinessthinking.com |date=2011-03-11 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> a mobile voice and data reseller company. In 2009 Genesis acquires [[Thus]] Mobile from Cable&Wireless and rebranded as [[Outsourcery]] to focus on the cloud IT and communications opportunity. Between 2011 and 2012, the mobile business was sold<ref>{{cite web|author=James Graham |url=http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/510813-outsourcery-sells-mobile-business.html |title=Outsourcery sells mobile business - The Business Desk website |publisher=www.thebusinessdesk.com |date=2013-09-03 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> to create a pure-play cloud business, which was funded by the founders and private investors.
In 2007, with his business partner Simon Newton, Linney led the buyout of Genesis Communications, a mobile voice and data resale company. In 2009 Genesis acquired [[Thus (company)|Thus]] Mobile from [[Cable & Wireless plc|Cable & Wireless]] and rebranded as [[Outsourcery]] to focus on cloud IT and communications. In 2012 the mobile business arm was sold to [[Daisy Group]] for £15 million.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Begum (12 November 2013)|first1=Shelina|title=Outsourcery on cloud nine|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/outsourcery-on-cloud-nine-6293808|website=Manchester Evening News|date=12 November 2013 |accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=James Graham |url=http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/northwest/news/510813-outsourcery-sells-mobile-business.html |title=Outsourcery sells mobile business – The Business Desk website |publisher=www.thebusinessdesk.com |date=3 September 2013 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref>


[[Outsourcery]] was floated on the [[Alternative Investment Market]] (AIM) in 2013 raising £13 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Doug Woodburn |url=http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2269894/piers-linney-if-youre-not-gunning-for-gbp100m-get-out-of-cloud |title=Piers Linney: If you're not gunning for £100m, get out of cloud - CRN website |publisher=www.channelweb.co.uk |date=2011-04-22 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> The business is now regarded as one of Microsoft’s leading Cloud Services Providers after it was selected as one of only five UK Cloud OS Network partners.<ref>{{cite web|author=Outsourcery |url=http://www.outsourcery.co.uk/News/PR/Pages/Outsourcery-enters-microsoft-cloud-os-network.aspx |title=Piers Linney: Outsourcery enters new alliance with Microsoft – by joining the Microsoft Cloud OS Network - Outsourcery website |publisher=www.outsourcery.co.uk |date=2013-12-12 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>
Outsourcery was floated on the [[Alternative Investment Market]] (AIM) in 2013 raising £13 million.<ref>{{cite web|author=Doug Woodburn |url=http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2269894/piers-linney-if-youre-not-gunning-for-gbp100m-get-out-of-cloud |title=Piers Linney: If you're not gunning for £100m, get out of cloud – CRN website |publisher=www.channelweb.co.uk |date=22 April 2011 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> The business was provided with a debt facility by [[Vodafone]].{{clarify|date=January 2017}} In June 2016 the business was sold for an undisclosed sum and the company placed into administration, having reached revenues of £10m, but remaining unprofitable.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}}
Linney was a founding member of the Governance Board of the UK’s [http://www.cloudindustryforum.org Cloud Industry Forum]<ref>{{cite web|author=Cloud Industry Forum |url=http://cloudindustryforum.org/governance/governance-board-members/98-piers-linney-outsourcery |title= Piers Linney - Cloud Industry Forum website|publisher=www.cloudindustryforum.org |date=2012-09-08 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> and regularly appears in the media to discuss the benefits of cloud computing. In 2013, Linney was recognised in the [[J.P. Morgan & Co.|JP Morgan]] sponsored [http://www.powerful-media.com Power List 2013] as one of the top 100 most influential black Britons.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kaya Burgess |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/tv-radio/article3711085.ece |title=Piers Linney, Dragons’ Den latest, flies in from the cloud - The Times website |publisher=www.thetimes.co.uk |date=2013-03-12 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>


Linney was a founding member of the governance board of the UK's Cloud Industry Forum<ref>{{cite web |author=Cloud Industry Forum |url=http://cloudindustryforum.org/governance/governance-board-members/98-piers-linney-outsourcery |title=Piers Linney – Cloud Industry Forum website |publisher=www.cloudindustryforum.org |date=8 September 2012 |accessdate=9 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413124421/http://cloudindustryforum.org/governance/governance-board-members/98-piers-linney-outsourcery |archive-date=13 April 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and has made appearance in the media to discuss the benefits of cloud computing.{{citation needed|date=January 2017}} In 2014, Linney joined the [[Cabinet Office]] SME Panel, advising on small and medium business issues.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cabinet Office (28 July 2014)|title=Dragons' Den investor Piers Linney joins Cabinet Office SME Panel|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dragons-den-investor-piers-linney-joins-cabinet-office-sme-panel|website=Gov.uk|accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref> Linney established the now defunct not-for-profit organisation workinsight.org, a national digital platform that connects young people to local employers.<ref>{{cite web|last1=New Business (8 May 2014)|title=Technology entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star launches innovative digital portal to transform work experience|url=http://www.newbusiness.co.uk/articles/starting-a-business/technology-entrepreneur-and-dragons%E2%80%99-den-star-launches-innovative-digit|website=newbusiness|accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref>
⚫
===''Dragons' Den''===
⚫
{{Main|Dragons' Den (UK)|l1=Dragons' Den}}
In 2013, Linney joined the panel on the [[BBC Two]] television series ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]'', along with fellow new dragon [[Kelly Hoppen]]. They joined in the eleventh series. Linney also appeared as a dragon in the twelfth series of ''Dragons' Den'' which began airing on 20 July 2014.


Linney is a founding trustee of the Powerlist Foundation,<ref>{{cite web |author=Powerlist Foundation |url=http://powerlistfoundation.org.uk/about-us/trustees/item/36-piers-linney |title=Piers Linney Trustee – Powerlist Foundation website |publisher=Powerlist Foundation |date=13 November 2011 |accessdate=9 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413141823/http://powerlistfoundation.org.uk/about-us/trustees/item/36-piers-linney |archivedate=13 April 2014 }}</ref> and is also a trustee of both the innovation charity [[Nesta (charity)|Nesta]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Nesta |url=http://www.nesta.org.uk/users/piers-linney |title=Piers Linney Trustee |publisher=Nesta |date=24 January 2014 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> and careers website Plotr.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Enterprise Nation|title=Enterprise Nation Founder Emma Jones joins Plotr as Chair|url=https://www.enterprisenation.com/blog/posts/enterprise-nation-founder-emma-jones-joins-plotr-as-chair|website=Enterprise Nation|accessdate=8 August 2014}}</ref> Linney is involved with [[Virgin Unite]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Natalie Graham |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e09bbd0a-220a-11e3-bb64-00144feab7de.html#axzz2yPBCXTqu |title=Piers Linney: I won't take no for an answer |publisher=FT Online |date=27 September 2013 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> and a range of other charities as a donor or patron.
;''Dragons' Den'' investments
*Skinny Tan - £60,000 for 10% of the business (joint investment with [[Kelly Hoppen]])
*Mainstage Travel - £100,000 for 15% of the business
*Vini & Bal's Rustic Indian - £50,000 for 30% of the business
*energyEGG - £50,000 for 30% of the business
*Skribbies - £30,000 for 12.5% of the business (joint investment with [[Kelly Hoppen]])
*Lost My Name - £100,000 for 5% of the business


In May 2023, Piers co-founded Implement AI.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-03-15 |title=Piers Linney becomes AI and technology lead at Champions (UK) |url=https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/100046/piers-linney-becomes-ai-and-technology-lead-at-champions-uk |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=Finextra Research |language=en}}</ref>
==Trustee==
As an extension to his interest in business, Linney is a founding Trustee of the [http://powerlistfoundation.org.uk/ Powerlist Foundation]<ref>{{cite web|author=Powerlist Foundation |url=http://powerlistfoundation.org.uk/about-us/trustees/item/36-piers-linney |title=Piers Linney Trustee - Powerlist Foundation website |publisher=Powerlist Foundation |date=2011-11-13 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> which aims to identify and support tomorrow’s leaders irrespective of their race, gender, faith or ethnicity. He is also a trustee of the innovation charity with a £300 million endowment, [[NESTA]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Nesta |url=http://www.nesta.org.uk/users/piers-linney |title=Piers Linney Trustee - Nesta website |publisher=Nesta |date=2014-01-24 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref>


===''Awards''===
Linney is involved with [[Virgin Unite]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Natalie Graham |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e09bbd0a-220a-11e3-bb64-00144feab7de.html#axzz2yPBCXTqu |title=Piers Linney: I won’t take no for an answer - FT Online |publisher=FT.co.uk |date=2013-09-27 |accessdate=2014-04-09}}</ref> and a range of other charities as a donor or patron. Linney is also in the process of establishing his own charity, Work Insights, to provide equal opportunities for work place insights. Linney believes in ’do well, do good’ and in the power of business as a positive force for change.
In 2013, Linney was recognised in the [[J.P. Morgan & Co.|JP Morgan]]-sponsored Power List 2013 as one of the top 100 most influential black Britons.<ref>{{cite news|author=Kaya Burgess |url=http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/arts/tv-radio/article3711085.ece |title=Piers Linney, Dragons' Den latest, flies in from the cloud |newspaper=The Times |date=12 March 2013 |accessdate=9 April 2014}}</ref> In 2014, Linney was named Entrepreneur Leader of the Year at the first Black British Business Awards sponsored by EY.<ref>[http://www.thebbbawards.com/winners/ 2014 winners]. Black British Business Awards.</ref>


⚫
===''Dragons' Den''===
⚫
==Interests and Personal life==
⚫
{{Main|Dragons' Den (UK)|l1=Dragons' Den}}
Linney has two children Tiger and Electra and is married to Tara. Linney is a keen cycling and mountain-biking enthusiast.
In 2013, Linney joined the panel on the [[BBC Two]] television series ''[[Dragons' Den (UK)|Dragons' Den]]'', along with fellow new dragon [[Kelly Hoppen]] beginning in the eleventh series. In January 2015, Linney announced that he would be departing from the show at the end of series twelve, in order to focus on other projects.<ref>Rebecca Burn Callander, [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/11379135/Piers-Linney-quits-Dragons-Den-after-just-two-years.html "Piers Linney quits Dragons' Den after just two years"], ''Daily Telegraph'', 30 January 2015.</ref> Linney invested in [[Wonderbly]] (formerly Lost My Name), an award winning independent technology and publishing business that offers personalised children's picture books. Launched in 2012, Wonderbly has sold over 2.7 million books in over 200 countries around the world. Wonderbly raised $8.5m in 2017 from Ravensburger, a leading European publisher of games, puzzles, and children’s books and its existing investors include Google Ventures, Project A Ventures, Greycroft, The Chernin Group and Allen & Co.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/07/31/wonderbly/|title=Lost My Name, the tech-driven kids book publisher, raises $8.5M and partners with Roald Dahl Estate|work=TechCrunch|access-date=26 November 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

⚫
==Personal life==
Linney married Tara Bishop and they have two children, Tiger and Electra.<ref name="mirror"/> Linney and Bishop were divorced in 2018. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pierslinney.com/|title=Piers Linney I ScaleUp|website=Piers Linney I ScaleUp|language=en|access-date=20 December 2018}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://pierslinney.com/ Official website]
* {{Official website}}
*[http://twitter.com/pierslinney Official Twitter]


{{DragonsDenUK}}

{{Persondata
| NAME = Linney, Piers
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH = 1971
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
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}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linney, Piers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Linney, Piers}}
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[[Category:Dragons' Den]]

Latest revision as of 07:14, 23 December 2024

Piers Linney
Born (1971-02-15) 15 February 1971 (age 53)
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
NationalityBritish
EducationThe University of Manchester
Occupation(s)Businessman
television personality
Known forDragons' Den
The Secret Millionaire
SpouseTara Bishop (m. 2003; div. 2018)[1]
ChildrenTiger and Electra[1]
Websitewww.pierslinney.com

Jonathan Piers Daniel Linney (born 15 February 1971[2][3][4]) is a British businessman and investor.[5] He is a non-executive director of the UK government-owned development bank, British Business Bank, which has facilitated over £12 billion[6] of financing for UK small and medium-sized businesses and also operates the StartUp Loan Company and British Patient Capital, a £2.5bn fund launched in 2018.

He was the co-CEO and owner of Genesis Communications [7] and was the co-CEO of cloud-based[7] IT business Outsourcery. He is best known for taking part on the BBC Two business series Dragons' Den from 2013 to 2015.

Linney also appeared on the Channel 4 series The Secret Millionaire in 2011, where he worked in Wolverhampton at a young offenders' institution.

In November 2018, he was named in the top 20 of Financial Times's list of the top 100 minority ethnic leaders in technology.[8] He was also named in the FT as one of the top 100 BAME Leaders in Tech.[9]

Linney is also content creator and public speaker that supports entrepreneurs to start-up or grow their businesses as part of his initiative.[10]

Early life

[edit]

Linney was born to Derek and Norma Linney in 1971. He has Bajan (Barbados) and English heritage. He grew up in Stoke-on-Trent and moved aged nine to the small former mill town of Bacup in Lancashire,[11] where he attended the local secondary modern school (Fearns) after failing his eleven-plus exam.

Career

[edit]

Linney studied accounting and law at The University of Manchester, and subsequently qualified as a solicitor with SJ Berwin. He then worked in investment banking, first at Barclays de Zoete Wedd, followed by Credit Suisse. Linney left banking in 2000 to start an internet business and has since been involved in a number of technology, media and telecommunications businesses. After becoming the CEO of a corporate finance boutique, Linney specialised in technology venture capital and securing structured equity and debt finance from US hedge funds for small and mid-cap listed companies. Linney became a partner in a €90 million alternative investment fund providing structured debt and equity financing to small cap public companies.[citation needed]

In 2007, with his business partner Simon Newton, Linney led the buyout of Genesis Communications, a mobile voice and data resale company. In 2009 Genesis acquired Thus Mobile from Cable & Wireless and rebranded as Outsourcery to focus on cloud IT and communications. In 2012 the mobile business arm was sold to Daisy Group for £15 million.[12][13]

Outsourcery was floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in 2013 raising £13 million.[14] The business was provided with a debt facility by Vodafone.[clarification needed] In June 2016 the business was sold for an undisclosed sum and the company placed into administration, having reached revenues of £10m, but remaining unprofitable.[citation needed]

Linney was a founding member of the governance board of the UK's Cloud Industry Forum[15] and has made appearance in the media to discuss the benefits of cloud computing.[citation needed] In 2014, Linney joined the Cabinet Office SME Panel, advising on small and medium business issues.[16] Linney established the now defunct not-for-profit organisation workinsight.org, a national digital platform that connects young people to local employers.[17]

Linney is a founding trustee of the Powerlist Foundation,[18] and is also a trustee of both the innovation charity Nesta[19] and careers website Plotr.[20] Linney is involved with Virgin Unite[21] and a range of other charities as a donor or patron.

In May 2023, Piers co-founded Implement AI.[22]

Awards

[edit]

In 2013, Linney was recognised in the JP Morgan-sponsored Power List 2013 as one of the top 100 most influential black Britons.[23] In 2014, Linney was named Entrepreneur Leader of the Year at the first Black British Business Awards sponsored by EY.[24]

Dragons' Den

[edit]
Main article: Dragons' Den

In 2013, Linney joined the panel on the BBC Two television series Dragons' Den, along with fellow new dragon Kelly Hoppen beginning in the eleventh series. In January 2015, Linney announced that he would be departing from the show at the end of series twelve, in order to focus on other projects.[25] Linney invested in Wonderbly (formerly Lost My Name), an award winning independent technology and publishing business that offers personalised children's picture books. Launched in 2012, Wonderbly has sold over 2.7 million books in over 200 countries around the world. Wonderbly raised $8.5m in 2017 from Ravensburger, a leading European publisher of games, puzzles, and children’s books and its existing investors include Google Ventures, Project A Ventures, Greycroft, The Chernin Group and Allen & Co.[26]

Personal life

[edit]

Linney married Tara Bishop and they have two children, Tiger and Electra.[1] Linney and Bishop were divorced in 2018. [27]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Daisy Buchanan (11 August 2013). "Dragon's Den Piers Linney: 10 things you need to know about new Dragon". Mirror Online. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  2. ^ Piers Linney biography at Dragons' Den, BBC Two. Archived 3 August 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Findmypast.
  4. ^ "Piers Linney Net Worth", Spear's.
  5. ^ "Piers Linney – British Business Bank". British Business Bank. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  6. ^ "| British Business Bank". British Business Bank. British Business Bank. 26 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ^ a b "Piers Linney on the acquisition of Genesis Communications". Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  8. ^ "The UK's top 100 black and minority ethnic leaders in technology". Financial Times. 14 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  9. ^ "Top 10: The most influential BAME tech leaders in the UK". Financial Times. 13 November 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  10. ^ Piers Linney (18 November 2018), What is #ScaleUp?, retrieved 26 November 2018
  11. ^ Hannah Prevett, Emilie Sandy, "Dragons' Den star Piers Linney is sitting pretty", Elite Business, 2 May 2014.
  12. ^ Begum (12 November 2013), Shelina (12 November 2013). "Outsourcery on cloud nine". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ James Graham (3 September 2013). "Outsourcery sells mobile business – The Business Desk website". www.thebusinessdesk.com. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  14. ^ Doug Woodburn (22 April 2011). "Piers Linney: If you're not gunning for £100m, get out of cloud – CRN website". www.channelweb.co.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  15. ^ Cloud Industry Forum (8 September 2012). "Piers Linney – Cloud Industry Forum website". www.cloudindustryforum.org. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  16. ^ Cabinet Office (28 July 2014). "Dragons' Den investor Piers Linney joins Cabinet Office SME Panel". Gov.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  17. ^ New Business (8 May 2014). "Technology entrepreneur and Dragons' Den star launches innovative digital portal to transform work experience". newbusiness. Retrieved 8 August 2014. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  18. ^ Powerlist Foundation (13 November 2011). "Piers Linney Trustee – Powerlist Foundation website". Powerlist Foundation. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  19. ^ Nesta (24 January 2014). "Piers Linney Trustee". Nesta. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  20. ^ Enterprise Nation. "Enterprise Nation Founder Emma Jones joins Plotr as Chair". Enterprise Nation. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  21. ^ Natalie Graham (27 September 2013). "Piers Linney: I won't take no for an answer". FT Online. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  22. ^ "Piers Linney becomes AI and technology lead at Champions (UK)". Finextra Research. 15 March 2024. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
  23. ^ Kaya Burgess (12 March 2013). "Piers Linney, Dragons' Den latest, flies in from the cloud". The Times. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  24. ^ 2014 winners. Black British Business Awards.
  25. ^ Rebecca Burn Callander, "Piers Linney quits Dragons' Den after just two years", Daily Telegraph, 30 January 2015.
  26. ^ "Lost My Name, the tech-driven kids book publisher, raises $8.5M and partners with Roald Dahl Estate". TechCrunch. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  27. ^ "Piers Linney I ScaleUp". Piers Linney I ScaleUp. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
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