Tamara Chuang
Matt Anderson, Arrow Electronics’ chief digital officer, is spearheading the electronics distributor’s move into the startup world by reaching out to crowdfunders on Indiegogo and now partnering with IBM Watson for internet of things products.
Arrow Electronics really, really wants to help interesting internet-of-things crowdfunding projects, and on Thursday, the Centennial technology company says it will begin inviting qualified projects on Indiegogo to tap into IBM’s Watson for free.
The new option gives project developers a chance to see if Watson, IBM’s artificial intelligence platform, has a service to help their product. Watson offers a number of applications. For those working on internet-based products, Watson offers Bluemix, cloud technology that lets developers connect a gadget to the IBM cloud to more easily manage and secure the data the device collects.
“As one of the world’s largest providers of electronic and IT products and services in the world, Arrow has the breadth of resources and depth of expertise to successfully shepherd promising entrepreneurs along their path to market,” said Arrow’s chief digital officer, Matt Anderson, who is scheduled to be in Munich, Germany, on Thursday to announce the deal with IBM.
“Arrow engineers around the world are eager to collaborate with Indiegogo entrepreneurs on cutting-edge tech designs that incorporate the best that IBM’s Watson IoT and cloud services have to offer,” Anderson said.
Last May, electronics distributor Arrow reached out to the Indiegogo crowdfunding community offering no-cost advice and resources to help get technology developed. Arrow employees, who know how much it costs to build technology, offered realistic reviews of production costs, access to research, and tips on bringing a product to market.
A few months later, Arrow said it would also give $1 million to certain campaigns the company deemed fit for manufacturing. Arrow didn’t ask for equity or repayment.
In return, Arrow offers an altruistic explanation: It hopes for loyalty and that the young successful companies will buy components and continue doing business with Arrow.
Arrow said it has already worked with several startups, including the Fitly SmartPlate, a plate with sensors to analyze and track what you eat; and PlayDate, a smart ball that lets pet owners remotely play with their dogs or cats.
