Fadell

Fadell is a surname that is most widely associated with Tony Fadell, an American engineer, inventor, and entrepreneur known for his work in consumer electronics and smart home technology.

Tony Fadell (born 1969) is recognized for his role at Apple, where he led the development of the iPod and contributed to early iPhone work as part of the company’s hardware and product teams. His involvement with the iPod helped establish a foundation for Apple’s flagship portable devices and digital music strategy.

In 2010, Fadell founded Nest Labs, a company focused on smart home products. Nest gained prominence with the Nest Learning Thermostat and expanded its product line to include other connected devices such as cameras and smoke detectors. Google acquired Nest Labs in 2014 for an estimated several billion dollars, and Fadell served as Nest’s chief executive during the acquisition integration before stepping down from day‑to‑day leadership in 2016.

After Nest, Fadell pursued initiatives in investment and advisory work through ventures and organizations such as Future Shape, a global venture fund and think tank focused on technology projects. He has also published works on product development, including Build: An Unorthodox Guide to Making Things That Matter, which outlines approaches to creating meaningful hardware and software products.