Category: Press

Kopis will be utilizing Zipit’s IoT connectivity and device management technologies to reduce time to market for companies bringing IoT products to market.

Cary, NC (September 13, 2021) – Three leaders in IoT design and solutions have come together to deliver an all -in-one, comprehensive IoT Reference Platform.

Internet of Things (IoT) design engineering firm, Connected Development, partnered with cloud-based IoT solutions firm, Kopis, and cellular connectivity and subscription platform, Zipit, on this platform that is aimed to help customers with size, power, and cost constrained IoT applications accelerate time to market.

The feature-rich IoT Reference Platform offers pre-certified, detailed schematics, including Silicon Labs’ BG21 Bluetooth System on Chip (SoC); Telit’s ME310 LTE CAT-M1/NB-IoT cellular modem (AT&T and Verizon); and an array of proven and pre-tested cloud service SDKs, drivers, and sensors.

This powerful combination of pre-tested hardware and software building blocks allows customers to rapidly prototype their unique application, while benefitting from a cost-effective and seamless transition to volume manufacturing.

“With an engineering team averaging 25 years of experience in the industry, we understand the pain points of IoT product development,” said Gregor Bleimann, VP and General Manager at Connected Development. “We created the blueprints, initiated the testing, and integrated the leading software to help developers take off on the ground running.”

The customizable IoT design platform is an ultra-low-power consumption design–offering integrated security features and extensive cellular connectivity for applications like industrial IoT, asset tracking, sensor monitoring and reporting, remote asset control, motion detection and reporting, and battery-operated IoT devices.

“The Kopis IoT platform has been strategically designed to streamline and automate common IoT processes,” said Andrew Kurtz, President & CEO at Kopis. “We are pleased to partner with industry leaders like Connected Development and Zipit to broaden the possibilities of our offering and allow developers to focus their time on what matters most–their application.”

“The IoT Reference Platform isn’t just another development starter kit,” said Frank Greer, CEO & Co-Founder at Zipit. “We’ve brought together three experienced powerhouses in IoT to eliminate the obstacles that prevent developers from delivering solutions that are market ready. The Zipit team is proud to offer our cellular connectivity and subscription services to provide for a seamless deployment.”

The IoT Reference Platform is available now and can be customized to meet the form factor, sensor needs, and more, of diverse applications. Learn more by visiting: www.zipitwireless.com/lp/iot-development-platform

For additional information:

Britany Ochalek

Marketing Manager – Kopis

Britany.Ochalek@kopisusa.com

About Connected Development

Led by a team of well-known and respected experts in wireless, M2M and IoT, Connected Development provides the most comprehensive set of services on the market to bring products from concept to reality quickly and painlessly. Further, their network of partners, spanning every aspect of the wireless community, let Connected Development position customer solutions for success from the start. For more information, visit www.connecteddev.com.

About Kopis

Kopis is a Greenville, S.C.-based technology firm focused on providing high impact software and cloud solutions to businesses and state agencies in the Southeast. With a growing team of over 50 employees, Kopis is one of the fastest growing software companies in South Carolina. Kopis is the 2020 Greenville Chamber Small Business of the Year. For more information, please visit www.kopisusa.com.

About Zipit

Zipit is a leading Internet of Things platform company, delivering trusted tools that reduce time to market for connected devices and digital services. Zipit’s platform removes the complexities of connecting devices to wireless carriers, as well as enabling and managing subscription services – making it easier to launch and monetize IoT solutions anywhere in the world. To learn how Zipit can help your business, visit: www.zipitwireless.com.

The “Z” logo and Zipit are registered trademarks of Zipit Wireless, Inc.

Eric Weissmann Hired to Lead the Upstate Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – August 19, 2021

(Greenville, SC)- Entrepreneur Eric Weissmann is the new Executive Director of NEXT, an entrepreneur support organization in Greenville, SC that has impacted more than 120 companies, who in turn have raised $28 million in capital. NEXT provides connections to mentoring, capital, facilities, and access to a peer community of aspiring founders across the region.

Weissmann was part of the founding team at Cintrifuse, a similar ecosystem catalyst, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he serves as Vice President of External Relations. Weissmann launched “StartupCincy,” an initiative that started as a simple social media hashtag and bloomed into a full-fledged, connected community. He previously worked in the marketing and creative services industries. Weissmann has helped establish the Disney Cruise Line brand leading up to the maiden voyage of the Disney Magic.

“I’m excited by the opportunity and encouraged by the amount of collaboration I already see in the Greenville community,” said Weissmann. “We’re at a unique moment in time where cities across the country are fostering entrepreneurship by leveraging their unique strengths to attract talent and dollars with the goal of increasing economic development. Greenville’s got the raw materials to make a huge impact on the region and I’m ready to get to work!”

Find Great People led a nationwide, comprehensive search. The interview committee selected Weissmann because of his extensive experience developing innovation ecosystems, supporting entrepreneurs in securing venture capital, leading diversity and inclusion programs, and supporting ventures from concept to exit.

“Eric embodies the qualities we desired in the leader of NEXT: a proven leader with experience building world-class ecosystems for start-ups and developing innovative, collaborative teams and communities where entrepreneurs can thrive,” said Carlos Phillips, Greenville Chamber President/CEO.

NEXT was founded in 2006 and has three locations including NEXT Innovation, NEXT on Main and NEXT Manufacturing.

“As we look to the future, NEXT has a goal of tripling investment in the entrepreneurial ecosystem that we serve,” said Scott Millwood, Chair of NEXT. “Under Weissmann’s leadership, we are confident NEXT will have the strategic and visionary leadership needed to accomplish these goals.”

The City of Greenville is a primary investor in NEXT, as part of its Economic Development strategy to attract small and medium sized companies that provide high wage, knowledge-based jobs.

“NEXT is the vehicle the city utilizes to support early-stage scalable businesses,” said Greenville City Manager John McDonough. “We ‘get’ entrepreneurs and the dreams that drive them. Hiring a founder who has successfully started companies, grown companies and marketed companies, to lead the NEXT organization showcases our commitment to becoming “the place” for brilliant minds to start and grow their business.”

Weissmann is expected to begin in September.

ABOUT NEXT

NEXT, launched as a production of the Greenville Chamber in 2006, is an entrepreneurial support organization that attracts and helps high-impact, knowledge-based companies grow by developing an entrepreneurial ecosystem and connecting entrepreneurs to it. NEXT currently supports over 120 knowledge-based companies in Upstate South Carolina. For more information, visit www.nextgengvl.org

Kopis and Zipit Announce Strategic IoT Partnership