Page 3 Profile: Nick D’Aloisio, Internet millionaire

Nick D'Aloisio (Charlie Forgham-Bailey)

Where have I heard that name before?

D’Aloisio is the creator of Summly, an app he invented at the age of 15 with the intention of making news articles shorter and easier to read for people with busy lives. Now, at a positively ancient 17, he’s a multi-millionaire.

I don’t know whether to hate him or ask for his hand in marriage

Yahoo! has bought the app for “dozens of millions” of pounds. Since he publicly launched the app in November it has had nearly 1m downloads and 90m summaries have been read. Though he still likes to spend money on clothes and trainers, he managed to successfully secure investments from Rupert Murdoch, Yoko Ono and Stephen Fry. You can bet he learned from his parents – a lawyer and an investment banker.

How did he find the time?

He’s been developing software in his bedroom in Wimbledon, south London, since the age of 12. When he sensed that Summly would be big he persuaded his school to give him a sabbatical.