NB Startup Semi-finalist in Cisco’s Innovation Grand Challenge
FREDERICTON –A New Brunswick business is competing with companies from around the world in Cisco’s Second Annual Innovation Grand Challenge.
Fredericton-based Eigen Innovations is one of 15 semi-finalists for the competition. The company is building a platform that helps industrial companies optimize and improve operations. The company uses the Internet to connect data from sensors, such as digital vision cameras, and look for signals in the data to trigger automation on the plant floor (also called Internet of Things, or IoT) .
“Cisco is the world leader in networking technology, and their Grand Challenge is becoming the premier event highlighting people working in the space,” said Greg Picot, Eigen Innovations director of product development.
“We’re really excited and proud to see our work get this type of recognition, but also humbled to be included in a list of companies that are creating really exciting IoT solutions from around the world.”
The Challenge is aimed at statups working on breakthrough technologies. Eigen was picked from 3,000 applicants from over 100 countries. That was part one of the challenge.
The next part is to get selected for the top 6 in November. If selected, the company will be invited to Dubai, UAE, to present and defend their innovation to a board of judges in December. Right now they are up against companies from France, Los Angeles, Argentina, Spain, United Kingdom, just to name a few.
Picot said Eigen is already selling its product to customers in different parts of the world. He says being a part of the Cisco’s Innovation Grand Challenge will help increase the company’s exposure to potential customers and global players in the industry.
“However, even on a global stage, it comes down to meeting people and building relationships and trust. An event like the Grand Challenge creates opportunities to meet people from around the world to share what we do, and learn from what others are doing,” Picot said. “Those connections are invaluable to creating opportunities for new innovation and business development.”