RALEIGH & DURHAM, N.C. -- The Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of North Carolina
(Blackstone NC), a Triangle-based business cultivator focused on
growing opportunity and strengthening economic development, recently
sponsored the Raleigh Internet of Things (RIoT) event at HQ Raleigh
organized by StepLeader and the Wireless Research Center of North
Carolina. The September 30 meeting of 50+ area technologists examined
issues related to the interconnectivity of computing devices embedded in
everyday life.
“The Internet of Things -- the connectivity
of devices, systems and services -- will affect every part of our daily
personal and business life. Start-ups are developing applications for
environmental, industrial, energy, healthcare, home automation and
transportation. We project significant growth in the market from the
smart thermostats of today to health monitoring devices connected
directly to your provider to devices and systems that will enable
smarter, more effective efforts like search and rescue missions,”
Blackstone NC Executive Director Bob Creeden said, adding, “These are
the types of high-potential startups Blackstone NC is looking to grow
into the next generation of great companies.
“It made perfect sense for us to be involved in RIoT,” he said.
RIoT
included presentations by Connected Development, Verizon, Device
Solutions and IBM. This is the second RIoT meeting, with another being
tentatively planned this fall.
Reports by trusted industry
organizations and international corporations like Gartner and Cisco are
predicting the IoT market will be worth $300 billion in the next six
years, and between 25-50 billion devices will be connected to the
internet by 2020. Industry media re reporting major issues related to
the IoT are coming to light, such as alliances forming to develop IoT
standards and protocol between industry giants like Cisco, Microsoft,
LG, HTC, Google, AT&T, GE, IBM, Dell, Samsung and others.
In addition, there is growing competition between technology and telecom groups to grab a piece of the IoT market.
“Experience
and active involvement in various market sectors is essential to
keeping up with changes and developments in areas such as the IoT,”
Creeden explained, pointing to Blackstone NC’s unique
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence program as one way of connecting
up-and-coming companies with state-of-the-art industry resources.
The
EIRs, who work with Blackstone NC portfolio companies, bring expertise
and experience in collectively raising $750M and realizing more than $4B
in exit values to one-on-one and team interactions with promising
startups.
Blackstone NC continues to remain involved in
important business and technology events in the Triangle and statewide,
having recently participated in the hugely successful Coastal Connect
Entrepreneur and Capital Conference in Wilmington; Innovate Raleigh; the
Second Annual NC Datapalooza; and the 30th Annual CED Tech Venture
Conference. This targeted, substantive involvement in North Carolina’s
entrepreneurial ecosystem helps Blackstone NC make quality connections
between promising young technology companies and experienced, successful
professionals, creating a dense network of dealmakers and contributing
to economic growth.
For more information on Blackstone NC visit www.bennorthcarolina.com.
About the Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of North Carolina
The
Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network of North Carolina (Blackstone NC)
makes quality connections between promising young technology companies
and experienced, successful professionals in an effort to grow
opportunity and strengthen economic development. Launched in 2011 with a
gift from The Blackstone Charitable Foundation, Blackstone NC is an
important business cultivator in the state, with portfolio companies
making over 700 connections and raising $48.8M in 2013. The organization
helps entrepreneurs find their roles and works with them to understand
what specific actions are necessary to lead to an investment, then
connects those entrepreneurs with individuals and resources to
successfully commercialize their products. Blackstone NC focuses on a
team approach to strengthening the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem,
partnering with area universities, advocacy groups, business leaders,
investors, and the innovation community at large to provide unparalleled
access to sought-after resources. Through its unique
Entrepreneurs-in-Residence and Blackstone Fellows programs, the
organization provides participating companies with tactical and
strategic guidance, connections to investment and invaluable insight.
Learn more online at www.bennorthcarolina.com.
