Carl Pei

Carl Pei is a Swedish entrepreneur known for his contributions to the consumer technology industry as the co-founder of OnePlus and the founder and CEO of Nothing. Pei's interest in technology began in childhood, influenced by early experiences with devices such as the Apple iPod. As a teenager, he taught himself HTML, built websites, and sold advertising, marking his initial steps into entrepreneurship. Pei briefly attended the Stockholm School of Economics before leaving to pursue a career in the smartphone industry, working at Nokia and Meizu, and later serving as international markets manager at Oppo under Pete Lau.

Pei and Lau co-founded OnePlus in Shenzhen, China, with Pei serving as director of global operations. The company's first device, the "OnePlus One," achieved significant commercial success, selling close to 1 million units. Pei led the global marketing strategy for OnePlus, positioning the brand as a provider of premium smartphones at competitive prices and introducing the "flagship killer" concept to the market. He also directed the launch of the "OnePlus 2" via a virtual reality video, recognized as the world's first VR product launch. During his tenure at OnePlus, Pei was named to the Marketing Week Vision 100 and Forbes 30 Under 30 lists for his influence in technology and marketing.

After leaving OnePlus, Pei founded Nothing, a London-based consumer technology company focused on smartphones and audio products. Early investors included Casey Neistat, Tony Fadell, and EQT Ventures. Nothing's first product, the "ear (1)," was noted for its transparent design. The company expanded its portfolio with the "Nothing Phone (1)," which received positive reviews for its design, glyph system, display, and value. Nothing continued to grow with the introduction of the "Nothing Phone (2)" and the launch of its sub-brand, CMF.

Nothing has grown to an 800-employee company with offices in Europe, India, and North America, selling millions of units and generating more than $1 billion in revenue. The company completed a $200 million Series C funding round, reaching a valuation of $1.3 billion. Nothing is recognized as a fast-growing brand in the smartphone and consumer audio sectors and is the only new smartphone business to emerge in the past decade. Pei has been recognized with the Fortune 40 Under 40 award and is regarded as a prominent voice in consumer technology, frequently speaking on the future of technology and user experience.