What makes someone a ‘tech influencer’?
Every year when we launch the Tyto Tech 500 we get a question – the same question many times over: ‘How do I get on the list?’
I would be lying if I said the answer was simple, because influence is a complex concept that is not determined by just a single aspect. Our ranking takes that complex reality into account, so the algorithm we use to score influence employs several factors with different weights to come up with a number that reflect the level of influence.
Nowadays, influence is often linked mainly to having a large audience on LinkedIn or having a high engagement on Twitter. But for us it is much more than that, social media influence is just one factor in determining who is a true tech influencer. As I explained in the Tyto 500 episode of our Without Borders podcast, « At Tyto, we see influence as a well-rounded concept. » An influential personality in the technology environment must also have a presence in the media, either because he leads companies or initiatives that evolve the industry or because his analysis and commentary on technology are highly respected. To this we must also add the dissemination work done by that person, either by generating valuable content in, for example, a blog or podcast, or by publishing books/papers on technology, which is very important for academic experts.
In the end, it all comes down to being relevant. Every year we see how the list varies, but relevance always plays a key role in the rankings. You only need to look at the top trends we identified in our latest report to see how closely influence and relevance are linked. In 2021, a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, the volume of BioTech influencers increased by 69% and the number of HealthTech influencers grew by 35%. What’s more, one in ten influencers in the Top 500 in the UK, Germany and France belonged to one of these two sectors. During this healthcare crisis, figures such as Kate Bingham, Özlem Türeci, Uğur Şahin, and Chris Whitty became some of the most influential personalities in Europe.
Another example of this connection between influence and relevance is demonstrated by the GreenTech burst. 2021 was a year where sustainability gained a large media presence and was a hotly debated topic on social media. Our Tech 500 highlighted the substantial increase in GreenTech influencers. In 2020, only 2% of influencers belonged to the GreenTech category. In 2021, the figure tripled to 6.4%. In the UK, for example, the number of such influencers increased by 160% and in Germany there was a 47% increase.
What is clear is that no one becomes an influencer overnight. And frankly, no one should aim to be an influencer as an ultimate goal. The goal should be to provide value and generate quality content and relationships. That is what will ultimately lead to being considered an influential individual. An example of this would be Andrew Bud, the CEO of our client iProov, a facial biometric authentication company. We have been working with them for over four years and have been achieving increased visibility for iProov, mainly in the UK. As we have achieved this, we have also raised Andrew Bud’s profile so that he is listed in our latest edition of the Tech 500. This should demonstrate that becoming an influencer in the technology sector (and in any sector really) requires constant work to achieve visibility and a reputation that allows you to increase influence in your areas of expertise.
Tyto Tech 500 2022 opens for submissions
Every year, we aim to refine our report to make it as accurate and useful as possible. We want to ensure we have the most complete and up to date picture of tech influencers, not leaving out of our long list of thousands of influencers anyone who could be considered a leading personality in the tech sector. So this year, we want to hear your voice. Who should be part of the Tyto Tech 500 in 2022? Who is setting the agenda in the technology sector in the UK, Germany and France? Who is leading technological breakthroughs or being a source of inspiration on social media?
To nominate a person, simply fill out this online form before June 10. We will then evaluate their influence using our proprietary methodology to determine whether they are worthy of being part of the top 500 most influential people in the technology sector in the UK, Germany, and France. Stay tuned as we will publish the Tyto Tech 500 2022 in November.
For now, you can view the Tyto Tech 500 2021 Power List for the UK, France, and Germany and download the full report to gain a better understanding of the technology influencer landscape in Europe and the key trends that dominated last year.
