A place for the Internet of Things.

In February 2017, the city of Fishers, already an emerging tech-hub, announced the development of one of the nation’s first Internet of Things lab to bring together various players in the growing IoT sector. The initiative fell in line with Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb’s “Next Level Legislative Agenda,” which proposed investing $1 billion over the next 10 years in innovation and entrepreneurship.

“This will be where all these things come together,” Holcomb said. “It will be a key component of our economic future. To maintain our position as a leader in the new economy, IoT must be part of our strategy for the next generation of Hoosiers.”

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness and entrepreneur John Wechsler, founder of Launch Fishers, had a vision for the 24,562-square-foot lab: to allow entrepreneurs to work on embedded technology for products benefiting Indiana’s core industries of agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics.

“Our economy is at a critical time where innovation must happen in the heart of Indiana’s core industries,” said Fadness. “By creating a physical space to allow innovators and entrepreneurs to come together with industry leaders, Fishers will lead the way for innovation in our state and beyond.”

The lab officially opened its doors a year later, with 8 in-house companies and 50 members at the time of the highly-attended Grand Opening, and has since received broad support from both public and private sectors through sponsorship and membership commitments. Workshops, seminars, meetups, exclusive events, and more contribute to making the Indiana IoT Lab a thriving hub of innovation, education, and networking opportunities.