Q&A with Jay Gaines, CMO at Forrester

Media 7 | April 22, 2020

Cameron Worth, CEO & Founder of SharpEnd leads the company’s mission to help brands move closer than ever to consumers by connecting packaging, retail and experiential activity. He is a regular speaker and writer on how to build brands in a connected world. He has spoken at Cannes, the Festival of Marketing, LuxePack Monaco and New York, Ad:Week Europe and New York, DMA, the Connected Consumer Conference, Mobile World Congress and the IoT World Forum. MEDIA 7: How did the idea of “the agency of things” come to your mind? CAMERON WORTH: SharpEnd was created in 2015 as the world’s first Internet of Things focused agency, so there is a slight play on words when we say we’re the Agency of Things. I think the idea of giving things their own agency is an interesting concept, and the strapline fits our capabilities on multiple levels. M7: In what way does technology drive the association of SharpEnd with global brands? What approaches are followed to enable sustainability? CW: Our simple proposition is to help build brands in a connected world, and to do that you must always start with identified consumer needs or pain points and look at technology as just an enabler to deliver an appropriate solution (when appropriate).  Take the issue of sustainability, which is often a pain point for brands that grapple with issues such as how we can reward sustainable behaviour change. One of our approaches to this could be to look at communicating the recycling credentials of the different products. Whilst the consumer can engage with a product as part of a wider consumer experience, the same technology could also house content that could tell you whether the product is recyclable, which type of bin it goes in etc. SharpEnd’s work with Unilever is a case in point. We built a digital product that incentivised recycling through gamification but also served to educate through informing people how and where to recycle in a clear fashion. All users had to do was simply scan their packaging to have all this information at their disposal.

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MEDIA 7 | January 9, 2020

Sangram Vajre, Co-Founder & Chief Evangelist at Terminus is also an author and host of the podcast FlipmyFunnel. He is one of the leading minds in B2B marketing. MEDIA 7: What are you passionate about? SANGRAM VAJRE: Three things: Lead professionally. Grow personally. Love family. M7: Terminus has been recognized as one of Georgia’s 40 fastest-growing companies by ACG Atlanta. What factors contribute to this pace? SV: One of our core values is #OneTeam – which means we think and act as one team and know that if we treat our team right, they will treat our customers amazing. There are no great companies, only great people that make those companies.

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MEDIA 7 | November 28, 2019

Ed Breault, Chief Marketing Officer at Aprimo is a marketer with over 18 years of industry experience. At Aprimo, Ed is responsible for the global brand and growth which includes all Paid/Owned/Earned media, Brand Experience, Product Marketing, Industry Marketing, Influencer Marketing, Strategic Communications, Content Marketing, Analyst Relations, Alliance Marketing, Public Relations, Events, Demand Generation and Account-Based Marketing. MEDIA 7: What’s your superpower? ED BREAULT: I would say it’s applying the full spectrum of art and science that is required in marketing today. Not just left or right brained, but whole-brained strategy. Being human yet data-driven and really understanding numbers and (the right) metrics to make connections to business drivers. Add storytelling to that, so I can effectively communicate to my team, the CEO and CFO as well as my Board of Directors on those metrics, and connecting all that we are doing in marketing to the mission of the business. Then quickly shifting gears to the art and creative aspects of marketing that are required to engage an audience and tell great commercial stories that take complex concepts and craft them in a way that is interesting for people to pay attention to. I have to be the ultimate point of truth for the brand. M7: At Aprimo, how have marketing leadership roles and responsibilities evolved over the past few years? EB: There are so many dimensions needed by marketing leaders today. There are several elements driving this evolution, it’s the new experience battlefront that is emerging and also marketers themselves driving changes. From a market perspective, there is a clear appetite for disruption and consumers are wanting more experiential elements to their buying experience and interactions with brands. Take a few direct to consumer disruptions like trialing products in-home, purchasing directly from a brand or even wanting to ensure that the producer’s trade practices are in line with the buyer’s or even a regulator’s for that matter. Then we want to try before we buy, and we emotionally care about the supply chain of products. Do we TRUST this brand to do business with them? Behind all of this is a story that needs to be told, and it is those marketers who know their audience well and make connections that will win the commercial game. Back to the marketer, there are so many diverse backgrounds that marketers bring now and I’m really intrigued by those who have unconventional backgrounds because they contribute something uniquely new to the field. I love hearing about the marketer’s journey.

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ENTERPRISE IOT, DEVICES

Semtech | March 10, 2023

On March 09, 2023, Semtech Corporation, a company specializing in IoT systems, high-performance semiconductors, and cloud connectivity services, revealed a refreshed brand reflecting its redefined identity and vision following its Sierra Wireless acquisition. Semtech's offering now encompasses a broad Cloud-to-chip portfolio of products and services, including various cellular routers and modules, semiconductors, software, and connected services designed to simplify and boost digital transformation. The modernized brand represents the combination of the two companies' strengths in semiconductors, connectivity, and the Internet of Things. In addition, the company's focus on sustainable technology solutions for data centers, IoT, and consumer devices is reflected in the new color palette and redesigned logo. Semtech's LoRa®-enabled sensing solutions are addressing real-world issues across industries such as smart homes, smart cities, smart health care, manufacturing, and agriculture. From conserving natural resources to monitoring endangered species to lowering food waste, a variety of LoRa®-enabled solutions exist around the world to directly address sustainability issues. Additionally, cellular IoT enables a new level of data-driven insights and efficiencies. By combining the ultra-low power advantages of LoRa® with higher bandwidth functionalities of cellular, the company is delivering a comprehensive, streamlined, and scalable IoT platform to empower more IoT use cases, rapid adoption, simpler integration, and a shorter time-to-market. In addition, its protection business aids in eradicating e-waste, while its signal integrity business provides low-power solutions for renowned data centers. The company's new visual identity reflects its incredible array of technology solutions, modern outlook, and emphasis on sustainability. About Semtech Semtech Corporation is a California-based technology solutions provider specializing in IoT systems, high-performance semiconductors, and cloud connectivity services. Its goal is to foster a smarter, more connected, and more sustainable world through innovative technology solutions. Its global teams work to empower solution architects and application developers to create groundbreaking products for infrastructure, industrial, and consumer markets. Founded in 1960, the company has become a multinational technology innovator, tackling complex design challenges to impact society and the environment positively.

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ENTERPRISE IOT, DEVICES

Nozomi Networks | March 24, 2023

Nozomi Networks, the leader in OT and IoT security, today announced a new content pack for organizations working toward ISA/IEC 62443 compliance and certification. The ISA/IEC 62443 Content Pack makes it possible for Nozomi Networks platform users to quickly create custom queries and reports that help confirm their industrial automation and control systems (IACS) meet ISA/IEC 62443 standards. The Content Pack can also be used to assess an IACS’ security posture against ISA/IEC 62443 standards, identifying areas that align with the standards and areas that must be addressed in order to be compliant. “Nozomi Networks’ ISA/IEC 62443 Content Pack technology brings everyone together around a set of reports and queries that helps users access the details they need to reach compliance,” said Chris Grove, Nozomi Networks Director of Cybersecurity Strategy. “Rather than reinvent the wheel each time a customer needs this data, a user can create and distribute a single file where it can then be imported into a Guardian, run as-is or edited, and then re-distributed to the public, across Guardians, or to partners, collaborators, user groups, wherever you want to share it.” The ISA/IEC 62443 series of standards, developed by the International Society of Automation 99 committee (ISA99) and adopted by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), provides a framework to address and mitigate current and future security vulnerabilities in IACSs. The committee draws on the input and knowledge of security experts across the globe to develop consensus standards that are applicable to all industry sectors and critical infrastructure. Nozomi Networks’ Content Packs are owned by Nozomi Networks’ user community and make it possible to export a combination of queries and reports into a single JSON file that can be shared in a completely separate environment. Content Packs do not contain any proprietary information and are safe to share. This allows Nozomi Networks and its customers to quickly share custom reports or queries internally or with the Nozomi Networks user community. The new ISA/IEC 62443 Content Pack covers parts 2-1 (security program best practices) and part 3-3 (definitions for system security requirements and security capabilities levels). About Nozomi Networks Nozomi Networks accelerates digital transformation by protecting the world’s critical infrastructure, industrial and government organizations from cyber threats. Our solution delivers exceptional network and asset visibility, threat detection, and insights for OT and IoT environments. Customers rely on us to minimize risk and complexity while maximizing operational resilience.

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ENTERPRISE IOT

Skylo | March 20, 2023

Cloud-based cellular network provider Monogoto today announced a new roaming agreement with Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) service operator Skylo Technologies. This new agreement lowers the barrier for developers to add satellite connectivity to existing public and/or private networks already available on Monogoto Cloud, delivering the world's most affordable and accessible solution for NB-IoT Satellite connectivity for asset tracking products. In addition, low-power tracking and sensing solutions provider SODAQ will launch a new asset-tracking trial kit, using Monogoto connectivity and network. "Using Monogoto Cloud developers can now add satellite connectivity with a single API call, without worrying about expensive setup or training and for just a dollar per month. The advent of satellite NB-IoT technology, coupled with the maturity of 5G and 3GPP standards is game-changing for developers," says Monogoto CTO Maor Efrati. "For the first time, they can seamlessly connect their products, built for the regular cellular model, to satellite networks and add satellite coverage at a significantly lower cost." Efrati illustrates the potential of the Monogoto/Skylo/SODAQ solution by outlining a use case of a global logistics provider that is reliant upon cellular connectivity only to monitor driver behavior and/or assets. "Imagine the ability to add satellite connectivity when cellular or other networks are not available, giving developers the ultimate resiliency that devices will always be connected," he notes. "Skylo is excited to partner with Monogoto as its wholesale NTN operator partner," said Eric DaVersa, Vice-President of Business Development for Skylo Technologies. "The Monogoto focus on addressing the developer community where IoT solutions are conceptualized is ideal for the rapid integration of terrestrial/satellite roaming. This offering will help fleets obtain ubiquitous connectivity, which is becoming essential for their businesses." "Having the possibility to use the same hardware for both terrestrial and satellite communication is a real breakthrough. We can now offer connectivity with our hardware in places where it was never possible before and we can still benefit from the great throughput of the terrestrial networks to, for instance, do software updates," says Jan Willem Smeenk, Co-founder & Senior Solutions Architect, SODAQ. About Skylo Skylo Technologies is an NTN service provider based in Palo Alto, CA, offering a service that allows cellular modems and devices to connect directly over existing satellites. Devices connected over satellite are managed and served by Skylo's commercial NTN vRAN, featuring a 3GPP standards-based cloud-native base station and core. Skylo works with existing satellite operators, terrestrial mobile network operators, and device makers to provide subscribers with an anywhere, anytime connectivity solution that seamlessly roams between terrestrial and satellite networks. Skylo's focus is on enabling connected services for people outdoors and connected workflows for machines at work across critical industries such as agriculture, maritime, logistics, mining, and others, in addition to mass-market consumer devices.

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