Moving along in our series, this week we’re talking with MIP Finalists from the Information Communication Technologies category! Excited about our Finalists? Come see which company wins this category at our Most Innovative New Product Awards ceremony on November 30! Reserve your tickets or tables HERE.
Independa
Founder & CEO: Kian Saneii
About Independa: The Independa AnyTV Companion is an easy to install and use device that turns any TV into an Independa-enabled TV, providing simplified and integrated remote engagement and care for the user. Independa uniquely transforms the everyday TV appliance into a bidirectional engagement platform to assist in a wide range of benefits, from mitigating social isolation to managing chronic conditions to population health, obviating the need for computers with passwords, virus scans and software updates or tablets with battery charge issues and usability challenges.
How did you come up with the idea for your product? Currently, Independa is integrated inside LG commercial TVs. Our Independa AnyTV Companion, a new product, allows ANY TV to be Independa enabled, opening the world up to anyone who owns a TV and is in need of remote engagement and care. (Hint: Pretty much EVERYONE in need of remote engagement and care owns and knows how to use a TV, regardless of their age!)
What is one of your favorite parts of being a startup? No excuses. No complaining. No explaining. You get things done. And by you, I mean it’s the village! It definitely takes a village, and at Independa we’re very fortunate to have an amazing Village of employees, investors, customers, partners and overall stakeholders.
Cel-Fi GO by Nextivity
CEO: Werner Sievers
About Cel-Fi GO: Cel-Fi GO improves cellular voice and data service by eliminating dead zones and dropped calls. Cel-Fi GO is NEMA 4 rated and can be deployed in harsh environments, indoors or outdoors, for mobile or stationary applications.
What is the hardest obstacle you have had to face? The cellular ecosystem is extremely complex and is policed by government regulators and the mobile network operators that license the spectrum. Even though the product is subject to severe technical scrutiny and subject to significant performance metrics, getting the entire ecosystem to harmonize, all the way through the business model to a point of ultimately ensuring a compelling customer experience, is a tough hurdle overcome.
Who is someone who believed in you/your product? Telstra in Australia is a big supporter of Cel-Fi and Nextivity. Perhaps not that well known in the US, Telstra is one of the most innovative carriers in the world, often a front-runner with new ideas and technologies and highly regarded amongst its peers. They were very supportive throughout the product development process, contributing to and assisting in refining Cel-Fi GO, to the point where today it’s regarded as a world-class solution to cellular challenged environments.