The value of connected asset data is growing, with usage based insurance being one of the most promising use cases. This intense interest has been validated this month with Munich Re acquiring Relayr for $300 million through its Hartford Steam Boiler subsidiary. 

Blockchain tech is also a focus of insurance and recently the People's Insurance Company of China announced plans to leverage the IoT and blockchain-powered smart contracts to streamline insurance claim management. 

There are growing calls to slow down adoption of IoT for security reasons, notably from security guru Bruce Schneier. However, there are current best practice efforts at work, with CTIA introducing a new IoT cybersecurity certification. Legislators are seeking to ameliorate some of the security challenges for consumers in IoT – two bills recently passed in California would compel manufacturers and those that sell connected products to provide “reasonable security features” beginning in 2020, though specific compliance is not specified.

In other IoT news we've seen the mainstreaming of quantified self technologies through as new Apple Watch capabilities including ECG, EKG and other heart monitoring. Connected transportation remains one of the most exciting areas of innovation, with VW planning to invest $4 billion on connecting vehicles.   

The challenges ahead managing data security and privacy are not trivial, but innovation continues to accelerate as adoption of connected technologies and data analytics create new avenues for value. 

Industry News 

Curated top stories

Munich Re Buys IoT Middleware Startup, relayr, a Deal Worth $300M

The purchase of relayr is evidence that insurance giants and telcos have a clear strategic interest in IoT.

Major Chinese Insurer Announces IoT-Powered Blockchain Solution

PICC is a large state-owned insurer in China. Its plans to put blockchain and IoT to use and suggest this use case is moving further from theory and closer to practice.

Schneier: Slow Down the Internet of Things

Cybersecurity expert Bruce Schneier, calls for goverment action to slow down IoT development to ensure that the world won't head towards a cyber disaster. 

New Cybersecurity Certification Program for Cellular-Connected IoT Devices 

The wireless industry association, CITA, has announced the creation of the CTIA Cybersecurity Certification Program for cellular-connected IoT devices.

Hey, Alexa: California Just Passed Internet of Things Bills

Two cybersecurity bills are headed to the legislature. The bills, however, intentionally lack specifics about what reasonable security features devices must have.  

Volkswagen Will Spend $4 Billion to Connect its Cars to the Internet of Things

Volkswagen is planing to introduce it's first all electric car, the I.D. in 2020, coinciding with the company's efforts to introduction autonomous driving functions.  

LAST CHANCE TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

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A New Talent Divison for Momenta Partners
Momenta Partners is joining forces with Enertech Search Partners to create a new Search Division focused on Deep Talent.

Quantal Search is focused on placing talent that are designing and operationalizing disruptive technologies including data science, blockchain and augmented reality, as well as associated operational and commercial teams – across Connected Industry.

Readers Monthly Picks
Our most popular content during September

Podcast:

#26: The Social Singularity - A Conversation with Max Borders

Portfolio Insights: 
Eigen Innovations - The 5 Levels of Autonomous Manufacturing

Value Vector: 
The Opportunities of Location Intelligence

Come and meet
us at the IoTSWC!

October 16-18, Barcelona

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MEET OUR TEAM 

AT BOOTH No. B234

Podcast #27 

Robotics, Blockchain, AI & Game Theory

Thuc Vu, Co-Founder of OhmniLabs and Kambria

Podcast #26
The Social Singularity
Max Borders, Author and Founder of Social Evolution

Podcast #25
Aligning Data to Business Value is Key to Success in Industrial IoT 

Dan Yarmoluk, Director of IoT for ATEK Companies  

Explore Uncaptured IoT Value in the Basics
Rob Tiffany Technologist, CTO, Board Member, Blogger & Entrepreneur

Momenta Ventures
News from Momenta's Venture Portfolio

• Expeto Wireless Inc. has raised $3.9 million in a Series A funding round.

   

• BP has launched a trial of its FreeWire Electric Vehicle charging service in the UK.
  
  

• Geli Inc is helping to power a mainland US military facility.

• Senseye is rolling out is new Trend Recognition algorithms capable of automatically identifying machine problems at an earlier stage than was previously possible.
  
  

• Crate.io is referenced in "The Big Data in the Automotive Industry: 2018 - 2030 - Opportunities, Challenges, Strategies & Forecasts report".
  
  

• Sight Machine announces a strategic partnership with Macnica Networks Corp., one of Japan’s leading value-added distributors for advanced network products and information technology.

Talent
Momenta Partner Executive Search

Ambyint, a Calgary headquartered, AI-powered, O&G solutions company retain Momenta Partners to appoint a Chief Data Scientist who will spearhead the next phase of the company’s growth into the advancement of industrial autonomy offering.

Hitachi Vantara continues their global innovation and expansion retaining Momenta Partners to support an additional search.

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