Washington state delegation to Mobile World Congress includes UW Commotion startups, blockchain companies, AR/VR, minority-owned businesses
Commerce department hosts 15 innovative companies, showcases state’s booming tech sector in Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 26 – March 1
Olympia, Wash. – Washington State’s information and communication technology sector is a big reason for the state having the highest personal income growth in the U.S. and the #1 best state for business ranking by CNBC in 2017. It is an epicenter for innovation, from cloud computing and blockchain to artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR). In addition to tech giants Microsoft and Amazon, Washington is home to more than 14,000 companies employing nearly 200,000 workers, including more than 90,000 software developers.
Executives from some of Washington’s most innovative, small and medium-sized tech companies join the Department of Commerce next week at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain. Several of the exhibiting companies are startups from CoMotion® (at the University of Washington in Seattle, others are breaking out in blockchain, bitcoin mining and AR/VR, to name a few. About half the group is new to exporting, seeking to grow and expand their businesses through international sales and partnerships.
“One of the most cost-effective ways that Commerce strengthens communities is by helping Washington state’s small business owners and entrepreneurs access overseas markets and foreign direct investment opportunities,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. “Nearly 96 percent of consumers live outside the United States and two-thirds of the world’s purchasing power is in foreign countries – we provide free services and valuable resources to help startups, small and medium-sized companies grow and create jobs through exporting and global business development.”
The Choose Washington pavilion, located in AppPlanet Hall, Stand 8.1, A11 features a mix of startups and established businesses: Ad Lightning, Appnique, Apptentive, Asentria, Buddy®, Cyrcle Phone, Doghead Simulations, Glympse®, KLOA, Odd Atom, Rooam, Syntonic, Trusted Key, Tupl, and Unoceros.
“This is the second time we have participated in Mobile World Congress – both times as part of the Washington State Pavilion,” noted Jai Jaisimha, CEO of audience targeting company Appnique. “Mobile World Congress is where the next wave of transformative technologies for the mobile app and advertising ecosystem come together. It is the perfect environment for us to showcase our technology to the world.”
“We are thrilled to be attending Mobile World Congress 2018 as part of the Washington State Delegation,” noted Prakash Sundaresan, Co-founder and President of Trusted Key, a blockchain-powered digital identity solutions startup. “Mobile World Congress is the world’s biggest mobile technology trade show where we can connect with prospective customers and partners, and the financial support that Washington State provides through the Export Voucher Program are integral to a company like us being able to attend.”
Several members of the delegation are speaking or presenting at various events including Buddy Platform CEO Dave McLauchlan speaking about Smart Cities; Syntonic on disruptive services to grow average revenue per user (ARPU) at the Mobile Ecosystem Forum, and Tupl keynoting at a business development event with Spanish officials and businesses.
The Department of Commerce team organizes business matchmaking introductions for their exhibitor companies to meet with mobile carriers, hardware manufacturers, enterprise mobility strategists and marketers to negotiate licensing agreements and grow global awareness of their unique technologies and services. Members of Commerce delegations have reported over $24 million in new sales from participation in this event over the last six years.
Many small and medium-sized tech companies would not be able to attend international trade shows of this caliber without export vouchers provided by Commerce. Made possible through the U.S. Small Business Administration’s State Trade Expansion Promotion (STEP) program, these reimbursement-style grants will help offset the cost of international business development for all of this year’s delegate companies.
Washington State ICT Industry Snapshot:
- 14,000 companies
- 200,000 workers
- 90,000 software developers
- $25 Billion annual wages
For more information on the Choose Washington Pavilion’s featured companies, visit us online and follow us during #MWC18 on twitter and Facebook @WAStateCommerce.
In Barcelona: Please join us for a networking reception at 5 p.m. each afternoon, Feb. 26, 27 and 28 at AppPlanet Hall, Stand 8.1 A11. On-site contacts: Rob Fiddick +1 206 2578362, Lucy Atkinson +44 7899 804036.
