IoT Texas

4.8•493 ratings

About us

For good or bad, the Matrix is coming. The Internet of Things. IoT. What is it and why does it matter?

According to Global Standards Initiative, IoT is the global infrastructure for the information society, enabling advanced services by interconnecting (physical and virtual) things based on existing and evolving interoperable information and communication technologies.

Essentially, IoT is about connectivity and data, and its evolving ecosystem is driven by mobility and convergence. Whether you're a software developer, hardware engineer or tech evangelist, it's up to us to shape the future.

What we want to become, Star Trek or Skynet (Terminator), starts here.

Twitter @IoTTexas - #IoTTexas - #IoTDFW

Please check out our Pages section and iottexas.org for more information and shared content.

Addendum: IoT Texas is a neutral and not for profit Meetup site. Any solicitations from members to members is NOT representative of IoT Texas. If this occurs and you have questions about the solicitation, please DM the head Organizer. Thank you.

Upcoming events

See all

The Pilot Trap: How a Structured Approach Can Turn AI Pilots Into Success
Thu, Apr 2 · 6:30 PM CDT
SpringHill Suites Dallas Richardson/Plano, 3251 E President George Bush Hwy, Richardson, TX, US
START TIME CHANGED TO 6:30 PM.

These IoT/Technology Meetups are held on the first Thursday of each month (except July and January when we'll meet the following Thursday after the holiday) and are free to anyone interested in the business of high technology.

Come and connect with other like-minded technologists, business execs, entrepreneurs, etc. or join us online at:
https://meet.google.com/qjq-aaoe-xdj

This month's presenter will be:

Kenneth Lowe
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/kennethlowe/)
- Startups.com - Strategy Advisor
- Common Ground - Strategic Solution Design - Principal Consultant
- Austin Technology Incubator - Mentor
He will present:

The Pilot Trap:
How a Structured Approach Can Turn Pilots into Successful Initiatives

Abstract

If your organization is building AI experiments but struggling to translate them into real value, this session will show why the problem is more predictable—and more solvable—than it appears.

Something strange is happening inside many organizations right now.

Proof-of-concept projects are everywhere. The prototypes are impressive. The demonstrations work.

And yet… almost none of them become real products.

Instead, companies accumulate a growing collection of successful experiments that somehow lead nowhere.

The problem is rarely the technology. In fact, the technology usually works exactly as expected.

The real issue lies in how organizations design and interpret innovation experiments.

In this talk, we’ll examine why proof-of-concept projects so often fail to produce real outcomes—and how a structured approach to experimentation can turn promising pilots into successful initiatives.

If your organization is building AI experiments but struggling to translate them into real value, this session will show why the problem is more predictable—and more solvable—than it appears.

Bio

Ken Lowe is a technology strategist and consultant with over 30 years of experience helping organizations turn ambitious ideas into working systems. His focus is the intersection of strategy and execution—especially in high-stakes, zero-to-one initiatives where traditional planning often falls short.

He began his career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture), building large-scale software systems for global telecommunications clients. That early exposure to complex, mission-critical environments shaped a career spent leading product strategy, guiding innovation efforts, and correcting course on struggling engagements.

Ken is known for his ability to stabilize teams, restore shared understanding, and deliver results under pressure. He has led globally distributed teams across the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, working with professionals representing more than 35 nationalities.

His consulting work currently focuses on helping organizations build internal innovation labs—enabling them to expand beyond their core competencies and take practical advantage of AI.

Beyond client work, Ken is deeply committed to developing future leaders. He serves as a mentor at the University of Texas at Austin Technology Incubator and as a coach for the Mandela Washington Fellowship. He is a frequent speaker on technology strategy, innovation, and leadership.

Ken holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland and an executive CTO certificate from The Wharton School, where his studies focused on technology strategy.
---------------

The meeting is now held at SpringHill Suites (east Richardson) near the intersection of Geo. Bush and E. Renner Rd. (2 blocks south on Shiloh from the Methodist Hospital at Renner and Shiloh - see below for details).

Come early and stay late if you can. Bar opens at 5 pm (self-paid).

Program runs from 6:30 to 7:45 pm.

***
1st Thursday IoT Happy Hour:

These are hybrid and free events. For those that can attend in person, it allows us to come together and network with other IoT and technology professionals, business execs, entrepreneurs, etc... and help us find resources, talent and solutions to our issues... and learn about new trends and tech in the industry.

Come early and stay late if you can (bar opens at 5 pm. - self paid. Leave whenever you like... or when the bar closes.)

The folks that attend have technical and business expertise in many varied segments of the IoT/tech industry... from end device/sensor/actuator builders, to connectivity gurus (wired, wireless, satellite), to backend computer systems/platforms and analytic tools specialists... and even edge computing/processing, security and AI/ML/ChatGPT/Agentic AI and Quantum experts.

1st Thursday IoT Happy Hour @ SpringHill Suites ((3251 E. Geo. Bush Tpke, Richardsson, TX))
Each 1st Thursday of 2025 · 6:30 – 7:45pm

Google Meet (a Zoom-like platform) joining info:
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/qjq-aaoe-xdj
Or dial: ‪(US) +1 443-399-3866‬ PIN: ‪891 528 379‬#
More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/qjq-aaoe-xdj?pin=8679601782853

A sincere thanks to our sponsors:

4.0 Solutions (www.iiot.university/)
- founded by Walker Reynolds (www.linkedin.com/in/walkerdreynolds/)
4.0 Solutions was created around the concept of the restructuring the way we think about systems integrators, suppliers, hardware & software manufacturers, and distributors in a way that is compatible with the 4th industrial revolution.

ObjectSpectrum, LLC (www.objectspectrum.com)
- founded by Eric Lenington (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericlenington/):
"ObjectSpectrum was founded with the sole purpose of making the Internet of Things an Internet of useful, efficient, cost-cutting, ROI-maximizing things."

James Brehm & Assoc. (https://www.jbrehm.com/)
- James Brehm, Founder and Chief Technology Evangelist
(https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesbrehm/)
James Brehm & Associates is a consulting and market intelligence firm providing project based and retained strategic advisory services to technology companies worldwide focused on IoT and digitial transformation.

Chuck McCoy (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chmccoy/),
Founder of: TechTargets - Smart Targets. Smarter Shooters.
(https://techtargets.com/)
TechTargets uses modern IoT components to bring low cost interactive target systems to Law Enforcement live fire training environments.

If you'd like to support these meetings through a one-time donation, or ongoing monthly support, contact Ed Hightower at ed.hightower@iotandbeyond.com. I can send an invoice via PayPal and you can pay/ donate via credit card. Thanks.

This link takes you to many of the presentations that have been presented at our IoT Texas meetings over the last 6+ years. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC69LBjxiKDx8tVkkVs9T0NA/videos
4 attendees