British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is missing after a luxury yacht sunk off the coast of Sicily, leaving one person dead and six others missing. Lynch, known for co-founding Autonomy and backing successful tech firms, was regarded as the UK’s answer to Bill Gates. His wife, Angela Bacares, has been rescued.
Lynch made his riches by selling Autonomy to HP in 2011 for $11bn, but faced a decade-long legal battle over the acquisition. He was acquitted in the US in June on fraud charges, which could have led to two decades in jail. In an interview, Lynch attributed his ability to prove his innocence to his wealth.
Born near Chelmsford in Essex, Lynch studied at the University of Cambridge and founded Autonomy in 1996. The company’s success led to numerous awards and accolades, including an OBE in 2006. After the sale to HP, Lynch established tech investment firm Invoke Capital and invested in cybersecurity company Darktrace.
The sale of Autonomy to HP came under scrutiny, with Lynch facing accusations of inflating the company’s value. Despite maintaining his innocence, Lynch expressed frustration at needing wealth to defend himself. He now looks forward to returning to innovation after the legal saga.
