Internet of Things

The IoT technology stack spans sensing, connectivity, edge computing, and cloud analytics. MEMS sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors, gas sensors) provide the physical measurements that IoT systems rely on, with each generation offering better accuracy, lower power consumption, and smaller form factors. Edge AI processors (NVIDIA Jetson, Qualcomm, Intel Movidius) enable machine learning inference directly on IoT devices, reducing latency and bandwidth requirements. Digital twins create virtual replicas of physical systems that combine real-time IoT data with physics-based models to simulate, predict, and optimize system behavior. Time-series databases (InfluxDB, TimescaleDB, QuestDB) are purpose-built for the high-volume, time-stamped data that IoT devices generate. LPWAN connectivity (LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT) provides kilometer-range connectivity for battery-powered sensors that need to operate for years without maintenance. Device management platforms handle the provisioning, updating, monitoring, and security of thousands to millions of deployed IoT devices.

IoT applications span industrial, commercial, consumer, and municipal environments. In manufacturing, IoT sensors monitor equipment vibration, temperature, and performance to predict failures before they cause unplanned downtime, with companies like Augury and Samsara providing cloud-connected monitoring platforms. In smart buildings, IoT systems from companies like Verkada and Sensormatic optimize HVAC, lighting, and security based on real-time occupancy and environmental data. In agriculture, soil moisture sensors, weather stations, and drone imagery enable precision irrigation and fertilization that reduces water usage by 30-50% while improving yields. In fleet management, GPS tracking, engine diagnostics, and driver behavior monitoring platforms reduce fuel costs, improve safety, and ensure regulatory compliance. In healthcare, remote patient monitoring devices track vital signs (blood pressure, glucose, heart rhythm) and alert clinicians to anomalies, enabling proactive care for chronic conditions. In smart cities, connected traffic signals, environmental sensors, and utility meters enable data-driven urban management.

The global Internet of Things market exceeded $800 billion in 2025 and is projected to surpass $1.5 trillion by 2030, driven by industrial IoT adoption, smart home proliferation, and the integration of AI at the edge. The number of connected IoT devices reached 18+ billion globally in 2025, generating vast amounts of data that create opportunities for analytics, automation, and AI-powered decision-making. IoT venture investment has focused increasingly on the software and analytics layers rather than hardware, as investors recognize that the value in IoT is captured by the platforms that make sense of sensor data, not the sensors themselves. Enterprise IoT spending, particularly in manufacturing, energy, logistics, and healthcare, represents the largest and fastest-growing segment.