The Insight Entrepreneur™
Richard Silvester is a Webby Award winning founder starting up new categories at the intersection of insight, technology and design 📈🛠️⛰️
From real-world lessons to purpose-driven ventures
The Journey
At 18, I skipped university, believing I was learning far more at my Saturday job in a local computer store. So, I jumped straight into launching a web company, it failed two years on.A couple of years later, at 23, I bootstrapped an experiential media company offering standout vehicles and immersive experiences. It took off, establishing itself as a category leader, and earning a feature on The Apprentice before my exit.At 28, I found myself at Sony, managing digital campaigns for some of the biggest names in music - Beyoncé, to name just one. I couldn’t help but notice how decisions were being made - more often than not, on hierarchy or impulse, rather than any kind of solid data. This experience helped me realise the power of communicating granular insights succinctly.By 30, I knew that insights and their design needed a complete overhaul, that’s when infogr8 was born. I have been fortunate to work with some of the world’s most influential thinkers and organisations like Google, Harvard, Microsoft, WHO, and Spotify helping them make data-driven decisions that actually move the needle. As a board member of the Data Visualization Society, I’m continuing to stay grounded in this evolving field, whilst scaling infogr8’s federated network of data specialists. Ironically, I did end up at university, but as a visiting lecturer at London's LSBU, teaching digital journalism with a focus on data.Now I’m focused on Photo-graph, a personal insights venture creating a living career portrait that guides self-discovery, pathways, and alignment with others. I’m genuinely excited to extend Infogr8’s ‘data for everyone®’ mission to the personal realm, helping people from all walks of life make meaningful progress.What I’ve come to believe is that today’s uncertainty offers us incredible opportunities. The biggest breakthroughs come when you are grounded in purpose, not just profit.Thank you for reading.
Productivity platform
Photo-graph
A data-driven productivity platform designed to revolutionise how you find purpose, balance, and optimise the aspects of life that matter most to you.Stay tuned for more updates as we move closer to unveiling the next big step in redefining personal growth.
Consultancy
infogr8
A global data visualisation consultancy on a mission to unlock the value of data for everyone® visually.👉 Pod subject matter expertise
👉 Global federated network of data specialists
👉 FutureFridays innovation days
Richard's role at infogr8
As the founder and CEO of Infogr8, Richard leverages his expertise in design thinking, data visualization, and technology to create innovative, accessible, data-driven solutions for some of the world’s most impactful organizations. His clients include Alphabet, Harvard, Microsoft, Spotify, and the World Health Organization.
Adviser
Data Visualization Society
Richard has played a key role in advancing the field of data visualization through his work with the Data visualization society.As a member of its advisory council, he provides strategic guidance to help shape the future of the discipline, championing technology-driven insights, making data accessible to everyone, and bridging global perspectives with personal impact.
Opinions on the future
Essays
⚪ Designing AI products and services
⚪ A sandbox for data innovation
⚪ Fostering connections between the global data visualization community
⚪ Driving positive educational outcomes through data storytelling
⚪ Data literacy's vital role in the tech landscape
⚪ Open vault of over 600 visual references
Biography
Richard Silvester - Entrepreneur
Richard Silvester is a British early-stage entrepreneur leading new categories at the intersection of data, technology, and design.Based in Putney, West London, Richard is the founder and CEO of infogr8, a data-driven consultancy he has led since 2012.Over the past 15 years, Richard has dedicated his career to making data more accessible, championing its role in driving equity across diverse societal applications. He has served as a visiting lecturer at London South Bank University, a board member of the Data Visualization Society, and currently holds a position on its advisory council.On 25 April 2023, Richard Silvester and his team at infogr8 were recognised with a Webby Award in the category of Websites and Mobile Sites Employment 2023 for their work on The American Opportunity Index project.In 2024, Richard studied AI product design and development with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he gained expertise in building cutting-edge AI solutions.
Industry conversations
Richard Silvester's talks
Richard is a frequent speaker and contributor in the fields of data visualization, AI, and storytelling.
Outlier 2024 Chicago
Richard presented the vision for Future Fridays, a collaborative sandbox for innovation, organised in partnership with the Data Visualization Society during the Outlier conference 2024 which took place at the Northwestern University Pritzker School of law, 375 E Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL between the 12th and 14th of June 2024.
EdTech World Forum
Richard delivered a talk on “How Data Storytelling Drives Positive EdTech Outcomes” at the EdTech World Forum 2022 organised by EdTech conferences at the Kensington Conference & Events Centre (The Great Hall ), Hornton St, Kensington London W8 7NX on May 31st, 2022.
TBD: Technology.Behaviour.Data
Richard delivered a keynote on “Why Data Literacy Will Play a Critical Role in the Tech Landscape” at the event organised by TBD (Technology, Behaviour, Data) at Republic, 2 Clove Crescent, East India, London, E14 2BE between December 6th 2019 and December 7th 2019.
Let's collaborate on what's next
Get in touch
Whether you're a potential collaborator, investor, or simply curious about my latest ventures, I'd love to hear from you. Reach out to explore new opportunities, share ideas or ask questions, I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
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