Eben Upton, founder of Raspberry Pi and a former Cambridge academic, continues to drive one of the United Kingdom’s most notable technology enterprises, blending innovation with education. Raspberry Pi, established under the Raspberry Pi Foundation in 2008, has sold over 75 million low-cost computers, aiming to democratize access to computing and coding education globally.

The foundation has invested £112 million since its inception, funded by outside donors and commercial proceeds. Although initially fully owning its commercial arm, the foundation currently holds 41 percent of Raspberry Pi’s spun-off manufacturing company. Revenue from this stake has enabled the foundation to support 2.3 million young people through coding clubs and to train more than 250,000 teachers. The company’s shares have increased more than 40 percent since its 2024 London Stock Exchange debut, providing a growing endowment for the foundation’s initiatives.

Upton’s passion for technology traces back to his early childhood in Papua New Guinea and his youth in Yorkshire, where he honed his programming skills on early home computers such as the BBC Micro. He co-created the Oxford Rhyming Dictionary with his father, Clive Upton, a dialectology expert, showcasing his interdisciplinary interests.

Concerned by the decline in computer science applicants and outdated learning platforms, Upton co-founded the foundation with the goal of replicating the vibrant computer culture of the 1980s through affordable, accessible technology. The credit-card-sized Raspberry Pi computers, priced initially at £25, have been pivotal in revitalizing interest in coding among students. Cambridge’s computer science undergraduate program reflected this shift, becoming the most competitive course with a 7 percent acceptance rate last year.

Addressing issues of inclusivity, the foundation, under CEO Philip Colligan since 2015, broadened its focus to engage a more diverse demographic. It now concentrates on schools, expanding its reach internationally, particularly in India, by running coding clubs, providing curriculum materials, and training educators.

Upton is a vocal advocate for coding as a fundamental literacy skill in the digital age, opposing the notion that artificial intelligence (AI) makes learning code unnecessary. He emphasizes the importance of understanding programming as a means to critically engage with technology and avoid manipulation by powerful interests.

Regarding AI, Upton expresses skepticism about the widely held optimism among Silicon Valley leaders who predict rapid advances toward superintelligence. While acknowledging AI’s impressive capabilities and potential economic impact, he cautions that its growth may plateau. He criticizes the tendency to portray AI with quasi-religious fervor, speculating that human intelligence could serve as an upper limit to AI’s development.

Upton also highlights how AI advancements could benefit Raspberry Pi’s business, particularly as smaller, more efficient AI models enable edge computing without reliance on expensive graphics processing units. Raspberry Pi’s hardware is already employed in diverse industrial applications, including airport displays, medical diagnostics, and agricultural monitoring.

The company, once seen primarily as a hobbyist and educational tool provider, is increasingly viewed as a serious player in cost-effective hardware for edge AI, though its market value remains far below leading chipmakers like Nvidia. Upton maintains a focus on Britain’s historical legacy of separating commerce from politics, warning of modern concerns over the growing entanglement of technology and political power.

He notes the heightened risks posed not by hypothetical runaway AI scenarios but by human geopolitical factors, citing Russia as a likely source of significant technological threats.

Upton also revealed insights into the company’s manufacturing strategy, having largely reshored production from China to a facility in Pencoed, South Wales, where Raspberry Pi devices are assembled alongside Sony products. The factory combines advanced robotics with local employment, demonstrating how high-volume manufacturing can coexist with European operations.

Through his work, Upton has successfully combined entrepreneurial success with a commitment to education and social impact, positioning Raspberry Pi as a distinctive force in the global tech landscape.