There are a number of differentiators for LoRa® devices and the LoRaWAN® protocol that have helped in its widespread adoption, including long range connectivity, battery lifetime, security, network architecture, and network capacity. However, there is one particular feature that will drive LoRaWAN adoption for years to come. Technical challenges or limitations (range, capacity, battery lifetime, etc.) are no longer a barrier to Internet of Things (IoT) adoption. The remaining challenges of the IoT are system integration, digital transformation, return-on-investment (ROI), service level agreements (SLA), and ensuring interoperability across an ecosystem.

On October 24th, 2019, Semtech hosted a LoRa boot camp in conjunction with Comcast, MachineQ, Murata, RF Laboratories, and SolderWorks. SolderWorks, a diversely experienced hardware and software engineering firm, developed a way to monitor real-time fermentation data using LoRa-based devices. By brewing a special in-house “LoRa® Boot Camp IPA” that provided a unique way to test the LoRa Boot Camp IPA Coaster, the boot camp sponsors were able to demonstrate a potential use case and value proposition of LoRa devices and the open LoRaWAN protocol.

As a former startup founder myself, I realize how hard it can be to get your product/solution/service/whatever recognized. Any press or customer goodwill goes a LONG way when you are just trying to get your dreams off of the ground.

So, you take advantage of every opportunity you can find…and this one is a pretty nice one.

Momenta Ventures has created the The LoRaWAN Startup Challenge to recognize the most-innovative early-stage startups leveraging low power, wide area networks (LPWAN), specifically LoRaWAN-based technologies.