Toronto, Ontario–(May 18, 2017) – McRock Capital, a leading venture capital fund focused exclusively on the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), announced the three category winners of the McRock IIoT Awards during its 6th Annual McRock IIoT Symposium in Montreal today. The McRock IIoT Awards recognizes organizations and individuals in three categories: IIoT Corporate Leader of the Year, IIoT Entrepreneur of the Year, and IIoT Cybersecurity Company of the Year. The 2017 winners were selected by an industry-led judging committee consisting of: Ron Sege, Chairman and CEO of Echelon Corporation; Peter Williams, CTO of Big Green Innovations at IBM; and Jim Oosterbaan, former CEO of NGX of the TMX Group.
McRock IIoT Corporate Leader of the Year – Caterpillar Inc.
This award is presented to a corporation driving IIoT adoption by demonstrating a unique and successful IIoT solution internally or with a customer. Caterpillar has spent over 90 years committed to innovation and technology that helps its customers succeed. The company is focused on what it calls “the Age of Smart Iron”. An age where connectivity drives productivity and the IIoT is being used to make Cat products smarter, more productive and safer. Caterpillar has made a significant investment in fleet monitoring and is tracking around 500,000 connected assets, representing the largest connected industrial fleet in the world.
“Building upon Caterpillar’s tradition of leading in our industries, we’re continuing to merge our expertise in iron with new and evolving digital capabilities by connecting entire fleets, analyzing data and creating solutions that help our customers run, grow and innovate their businesses in the Industrial Digital Revolution,” said John Carpenter, Caterpillar Digital and Technology Manager. “We are not changing our core business, but we are changing the industry and Caterpillar is extremely honored to accept the McRock IIoT Corporate Leader of the Year award.”
McRock IIoT Entrepreneur of the Year – Vatsal Shah, Co-Founder and CEO, Litmus Automation
This award is presented to an individual that has experienced success in the IIoT as a founder and/or business leader in setting strategy, a developer creating a product, and everything in between. Vatsal co-founded Litmus Automation when he was 25 years old and the firm has grown from just its original three founders to now having 20 employees across four continents. From coding Litmus’ IIoT software platform from the couch of his brother’s dorm, to closing Nissan as the company’s first client, Vatsal’s energy, passion and success in the IIoT sector is impressive.
“McRock Capital has been at the forefront of the IIoT and I am extremely honoured to receive their Entrepreneur of the Year award. Litmus Automation has been enabling industrial companies to enter the IoT era since 2014 and this award is a culmination of all our team’s hard work and success,” said Vatsal Shah, Co Founder and CEO of Litmus.
McRock IIoT Cybersecurity Company of the Year – Sentryo
This award is presented to a privately held company that has had demonstrable success providing Cybersecurity solutions to IIoT markets. Sentryo, headquartered in Lyon, France, helps industrial corporations maintain the availability, resilience and safety of their industrial systems while controlling cyber risks and transforming their businesses through digitization. The company has established partnerships with more than 25 large industrial customers and is protecting companies and their assets in energy, transportation, and manufacturing.
“It is a great honour for Sentryo to receive the IIoT Cybersecurity Company of the Year award. We are sincerely grateful to McRock Capital and the judges for giving us such remarkable exposure in North America. Cybersecurity has become crucial to the development of Industrial IoT and this award is priceless encouragement for the Sentryo team,” said Thierry Rouquet, Co-Founder and President of Sentryo.
About McRock Capital – McRock is the first dedicated Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) venture capital fund focused on the intersection of sensors and software in large industrial markets. The McRock team has a unique background of building high-growth venture-backed IIoT companies while also having worked in the power, water, and oil & gas industries. McRock is backed by leading institutional investors as well as Cisco Systems, Électricité de France (EDF), and Caterpillar.
Visit www.mcrockcapital.com and follow on Twitter @McRockCapital.