Nothing

Nothing Technology Limited is a London-based consumer electronics manufacturer established on October 29, 2020. The company operates on a direct-to-consumer and business-to-consumer model, selling its products directly through its website and through partnerships with e-commerce platforms and physical retailers. Revenue is generated from the sale of its hardware products, which include smartphones, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches. By 2024, Nothing had achieved over $1 billion in lifetime sales and sold more than 7 million devices worldwide.

The company was founded by Carl Pei, who previously co-founded the smartphone brand OnePlus alongside Pete Lau in 2013. Feeling that the tech industry had become stagnant, Pei left OnePlus in October 2020 to create a new venture aimed at making technology feel intuitive and exciting again. His experience and reputation were instrumental in securing initial funding and talent. Nothing launched with $7 million in seed funding from prominent investors including Tony Fadell (inventor of the iPod), Casey Neistat, Kevin Lin (co-founder of Twitch), and Steve Huffman (CEO of Reddit). The company has since raised a total of $250 million over six funding rounds, with major investors like GV (formerly Google Ventures), EQT Ventures, and Highland Europe.

Nothing's product line is defined by a distinctive transparent design aesthetic, developed in partnership with the Swedish electronics company Teenage Engineering. Its debut product, the Ear (1) wireless earbuds, launched in July 2021, establishing the brand's signature look. This was followed by the highly anticipated Phone (1) in July 2022, which introduced the 'Glyph Interface'—a system of 900 rear-facing LEDs that light up for notifications and other functions. The phone was named one of Time Magazine's "Best Inventions of 2022". The product portfolio has since expanded to include the Phone (2), the more affordable Phone (2a), and other audio products like the Ear (stick). In 2023, Nothing launched a sub-brand, CMF by Nothing, to offer more accessible products focused on color, material, and finish, including the CMF Phone 1, Buds Pro 2, and Watch Pro 2. The company targets tech-savvy, design-conscious individuals, initially aged 25-45, and has since expanded its focus to a younger 18-35 demographic.

Keywords: Carl Pei, consumer electronics, smartphones, wireless earbuds, transparent design, Glyph Interface, NothingOS, direct-to-consumer electronics, tech accessories, CMF by Nothing, Teenage Engineering, GV, Google Ventures, EQT Ventures, Highland Europe, Phone (1), Phone (2), Phone (2a), Ear (1), Ear (2), design innovation, London tech, consumer technology, alternative tech ecosystem