Annual worldwide spending on the IoT exceeded a trillion dollars in 2020. Double digit growth is set to continue this year. 

In this month’s Tech Round-Up we ask how the full economic potential of IoT can be realised, as we examine the impediments that need to be overcome - and we profile three clients who are actively seizing the opportunity.

Enjoy, from all of us at North Ridge Partners.

Original Thinking From North Ridge Partners

An estimated 22 billion devices will be connected to the Internet of Things in 2022, with that number expected to swell to almost 39 billion by 2025. All those things will unlock trillions of dollars worth of new economic value, according to industry analysts. Read about it here!

Alesca Life, Aeroqual and Fleet Space are deploying IoT solutions to create new business value. In our second piece of original thinking this month, we describe how these pioneers plan to capitalise on the massive opportunity that is the IoT.

And in our March minicast, Kevin Waller hones in on how companies are making money from the Internet of Things.

Meanwhile, as you read our thoughts on the IoT, why not channel your inner robot with this month’s music playlist? Enjoy!

Asia Tech News

Bill Gates wanted a computer on every desktop, but Xiaomi founder Lei Jun sees them all over the house. And he’s building a multibillion-dollar empire based on this vision.

Alibaba misses analyst expectations as its revenue growth slows to 10%.

Bubble trouble: the Grab SPAC bubble has burst. The tsunami has also tanked Sea’s shares.

To GoTo or to not GoTo? That is the question! Indonesia’s favourite unicorn is set to list on the Jakarta Stock Exchange, but at the worst of times.

The HKSE plans to woo PRC tech companies, even though the Fragrant Harbour is struggling to maintain its top tier status as an IPO centre.

Markets Action

There have been some spectacular declines in share prices in recent times, with stocks like Robinhood, Virgin Galactic and Lemonade all falling more than 80 per cent from their peaks.

As the old saying goes: history doesn’t repeat, it rhymes — as Scott Galloway reminds us in this must-read post.

Big Tech

Apple’s path to $1 trillion in revenues might take a bit longer now that Russia is off the list.

Perpetual growth has been Facebook’s superpower — what if it loses that?

Microsoft wants its people back in the office — will they come?

Google tightens user privacy — Apple might have a point after all.

The Podcast Wars: Amazon and Spotify duke it out.

Investor Brad Slingerlend believes personal chatbots could be the centre of everything we do. Meta wants to win this race.

Ukraine and Tech

A few interesting things you may not know about IT in Ukraine. The embattled nation’s internet sector is small but growing - and it has some thoughts about Russia.

Ukraine legalized bitcoin and cryptocurrencies just before the shooting started.

War in Ukraine means real danger for chip manufacturers worldwide. 

Meta and Alphabet cut out Russian media, as Apple pauses sales there. Meanwhile Twitter is shaming Russian media, and Snap has halted sales to Bela/Russian entities.

Robots Are Taking Over Your Garden and Your Kitchen

Israeli company Tevel is addressing the acute shortage of labour in the orchard sector with its automated drones that pick apple crops.

Traptic is harvesting strawberries using robots.

Kitchens are short of staff. See how robots are making salads, flipping burgers and mixing smoothies.

Stuff We Found Interesting:

Go figure - now we have non-refundable fungible tokens, as OpenSea users lose out in a cyber attack.

Art is neither cheap nor rational — but at least you can get an NFT of a piece of a supercar (Yes, you read that right!)

From the Be Very Afraid files: AI chip rewires itself to think like a human brain.

Insurance claims through the roof as VR users create havoc.

Video of the Week

Scott Galloway plots the performance of Zoom against Hilton — with surprising results.

North Ridge Partners: technology investment banking across the Asia Pacific

North Ridge Partners works with technology companies across the Asia Pacific to achieve transformational outcomes through providing strategic financial advice, advising on M&A transactions and raising capital. We’re experienced deal-makers who have built, run, and sold numerous technology companies.

Contact us here.

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