The burgeoning Internet of Things market has prompted a strong hiring push at Irvine-based smart technology provider Greenwave Systems.
The company, which makes networking software and sensors that allow devices to talk to each other, has grown companywide employment past 200, up 70% from a year ago.
“Our explosive growth is a result of the increasing interest in the Internet of Things,” said Chief Marketing Officer Nate Williams. “The vast majority of big brands, particularly in the service provider and consumer electronics industries, are trying to capitalize on the IoT opportunity, and they’re looking for the right technology partner to make that happen.”
The growth prompted the company to move to a larger headquarters at 133 Technology Drive, expand its Denmark operation, and open offices in Silicon Valley and South Korea.
Greenwave’s technology allows users to easily program LED lighting systems through a smartphone, tablet or Web browser Wi-Fi connection, and automate personalized settings.
Big customers include Aurora, Ohio-based Technical Consumer Products Inc., which ships about 1.5 billion bulbs annually through big-box retailers and other channels, and German energy provider E.ON SE, which relies on Greenwave’s technology in its smart meters in customers’ homes.
The company implemented several management changes last month that included founder and Chairman Martin Manniche replacing Greg Memo at the helm.
“We made some important management changes to support our next phase of dynamic growth,” Williams said.
The company, which changed its name in April from Greenwave Reality, has raised $31 million in two financing rounds from The Westly Group and Craton Equity Partners since it was established in 2008.
Broadcom Posts Wins
Irvine-based chipmaker Broadcom Corp. announced two design wins at the recent International Broadcasting Convention conference in Amsterdam.
The company said it will power San Jose-based TiVo Inc.’s Ultra HD set-top box technology that expands streaming content and 4K resolution and decodes processing.
It also signed a deal to power Ultra HD set-top boxes of Vodafone GMBH, Germany’s second largest telecommunications company, with some 50 million wireless and wired customers.
Broadcom’s video coding systems-on-a-chip are billed to more efficiently use bandwidth, enabling uninterrupted and faster content delivery.
The deals add to Broadcom’s roster of big-name technology customers topped by Samsung Electronics Co. in Seoul, South Korea, and Cupertino-based Apple Inc. The consumer electronics giants and smartphone rivals accounted for about 34.6%, or $2.9 billion, of Broadcom’s $8.3 billion in sales last year.
Bits & Pieces
Toshiba America Business Solutions Inc., the Irvine-based printing equipment and services unit of Toshiba America Inc., has been selected as the official multifunction product provider of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The team is integrating Toshiba’s eSTUDIO products at its four primary locations: the Steelers practice facility; the warehouse of Sideline Store, the team’s official store; training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.; and at Heinz Field, its home stadium, for game-day information, playbooks, play-calling cards, and to support retail operations, marketing and the ticket office, among others. … Irvine-based software maker Kofax Inc. announced that Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director Jamie Arnold plans to resign from those posts within the next 12 months for “personal reasons.”
