This document discusses what it means to be an Internet of Things (IoT) startup. There are four categories of IoT startups: 1) Kickstarter-addicts who repeatedly test products with early tech adopters through crowd-funding, 2) Bootstrapping consultancies that do consulting work to fund IoT product development, 3) Incubator babies that are supported by startup incubators, and 4) Corporate partnerships where startups work directly with large corporations like Bosch and GE. The document calls for more traditional funding for IoT startups and for telecommunications companies to better connect and support IoT startups.

1. What
does
it
means
to
be
an
iot
startup?
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
@iotwatch
alex@goodnightlamp.com

2. Tinker London
2007-2010
Good Night Lamp
March 2012
First UK distributor
of the Arduino
R&D projects for corporates
A family of
internet-connected
lamps.
IDII
2004-2006

3. #iot
The internet of things can be loosely
defined as:
1. what happens when we
embed connectivity in everyday objects.
2. what happens when those objects
are designed with an understanding
of the affordances of the web.

4. #iot
&
startups
There
are
2
ways
of
reading
the
current
situation.

5. Categories

6. tinyurl.com/iotmap13
Maps

7. the
shape
of
the
conversation
Hardware
(open/closed)
Connectivity
(wifi, zigbee/radio,
GSM)
Battery life
Standards
Privacy
Security
Insert
startups
here

8. Startups
Consumer
Goods
Products
as
part
of
an
ecology.

9. 4
types
of
startups
1. Kickstarter-addicts
2. Bootstrapping consultancies
3. Incubator babies
4. Corporate partnerships

10. Kickstarter-­‐addicts
Crowd-funding is being used to test the
techno-centric early-adopters.
Repeatedly.
A mix of agencies & industrial designers
who have been around the block.

11. Mint Digital
ReaDIYmate & Telesound

12. …formerly of Nabaztag

13. Bootstrapping
People doing consultancy work to power
internet of things products.
BERGcloud
Good Night Lamp

14. Incubator
babies

15. (Psst. Same people behind both programs)

16. Corporate
partnerships
Bosch
GE & Quirky

17. What’s
missing?
Traditional
funding.
Telcos
need
to
connect
the
dots.
Telco
thingcubator
anyone?
(I
have
the
url
for
another
2
weeks)

18. Thanks.
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
@iotwatch
alex@goodnightlamp.com