PHOENIQS Co-Founder and Executive Chairman Thomas Taroni Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026
Thomas Taroni, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Swiss technology company PHOENIQS, has won the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in the “Visionary Entrepreneurs” category. The award recognizes an entrepreneur committed to Swiss engineering and sovereign digital infrastructure for cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Thomas Taroni, Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of PHOENIQS, has been named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026. He received the award in the “Visionary Entrepreneurs” category at the Kongresshaus Zurich. An independent jury of eleven members selected three winners from nine finalist companies. A total of 70 entrepreneurs representing 57 companies were nominated for this year's awards.
Thomas Taroni built PHOENIQS together with a team of experienced entrepreneurs and technology experts. Today, the Swiss company develops and operates high-performance, sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure that meets the highest standards of security, data protection, and digital independence. This includes its commercially operated AI supercomputer in Basel, through which PHOENIQS provides businesses and organizations with powerful computing resources for demanding AI applications.
Commenting on the award, Taroni said: “My name may be engraved on the trophy, but this award is the result of a collective achievement. The jury is recognizing what we have built with PHOENIQS: sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, developed in Switzerland for customers around the world. Behind this achievement are people who work every day with passion, courage, and extraordinary dedication to turn our vision into reality. My special thanks go to our entire team, our customers and partners, and everyone who has supported us along the way. I am proud of what we have achieved together – and convinced that we are only just getting started.”
Thomas Taroni Sets New Standards
The EY Entrepreneur Of The Year Award has been presented in Switzerland for 29 years. Alongside Thomas Taroni, the 2026 winners were Daniela Marino of CUTISS in the “Scale-up Leaders” category and Pascal Bourquard Jr. of BIWI in the “Entrepreneurs in Family Business” category.
The jury stated: “Thomas Taroni stands out for his pioneering spirit, willingness to take risks, and clear vision. Driven by a strong commitment to innovation, he consistently pursues long-term opportunities and actively shapes the future of his industry. With PHOENIQS, he is laying the foundation for sovereign AI and cloud infrastructure, setting new standards for Europe's digital future. His passion for technology, courage to explore new paths, and unwavering focus on data sovereignty make him an entrepreneur who does not merely follow technological developments but actively helps shape them.”
Driving Growth and Strengthening Europe's Resilience
PHOENIQS is pursuing ambitious growth objectives, focusing on strengthening its market position in Switzerland and expanding internationally. This strategy is driven by a clear mission: PHOENIQS aims to make Switzerland and Europe more technologically resilient and independent. Europe should not have to rely exclusively on American or Chinese providers for critical technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. PHOENIQS firmly believes that Switzerland and Europe possess the expertise and innovative strength needed to develop powerful alternatives of their own.
With an established presence in Spain and plans to expand into Germany, PHOENIQS is strengthening its position in the European market. Strategic partnerships in the United Arab Emirates are expected to create additional opportunities for international growth. The company's goal is to scale sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure developed in Switzerland internationally, while reinforcing Europe's position as an independent technology hub.