Connecthings

Connecthings is a French multinational software company with dual headquarters in Paris, France and New York City, New York, that operates contactless smart city technology, including Bluetooth and NFC beacons, as well as SaaS management platforms. The company specializes in the technology market, and partners with municipalities, transit authorities, international airports, stadiums and commerce centers to connect passive, public objects with mobile users in bringing contextualized, personalized information.
Connecthings was founded in July 2007 by Laetitia Gazel Anthoine and currently operates in six countries which include France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil and The United States.
Founder and CEO
Laetitia Gazel Anthoine founded Connecthings in 2007 with the idea that smartphone technology would ultimately connect the physical and digital world. Prior to founding the company, Laetitia worked as a senior consultant for Orange, the French multinational telecommunications corporation, as well as Nortel, the Canadian telecommunications corporation, where she helped implement wireless security networks for the Singapore Coast Guard.
Aside from serving as the CEO of the company, Laetitia serves as a board member for the , as well as serving as a mentor for the Women’s Business Mentoring Initiative (WBMI) program.
Laetitia is a graduate of the École Supérieure d'Électricité, known as Supelec, with degrees in engineering, telecommunications, and project management. Connecthings utilizes three types of beacon technology:
* : Beacon technology that utilizes a low energy standard communication protocol called Bluetooth 4.0. It allows compatible smartphones, with Connecthings Mobile SDK applications, to detect the signal of nearby Bluetooth beacons - up to 30 meters. The signal emitted by the beacon “awakens” the application - even when closed. Deployed by Connecthings within cities, airports, commercial centers and at transportation stops.
* Wireless, short ranged (1-2 cm), and high-frequency technology that allows two related devices to exchange information when in close proximity to each other. Connecthings utilizes NFC beacons in public signage that demand user interaction.
* Two-dimensional barcodes that store digital information that can then be read on a smartphone after scanning or taking a picture.
ADTAG
ADTAG is the Connecthings SaaS platform used by cities and organizations to manage and contextualize in real-time the beacon network deployed in urban spaces. The platform allows users to program and define the mobile experience at a specific point and time, as well as provide analytics and customized metrics.
Unique to the ADTAG platform is the ability to personalize the mobile experience at each connected point. To do so, ADTAG integrates various real-time data flows to contextualize notification content sent to mobile users while on the move in the city. ADTAG infrastructure allows for integration and management from the same interface of any type of Bluetooth beacons, from different manufacturers and customers. Additionally, the ADTAG platform enables multiple organizations and businesses to access the same beacon network within a city. This consolidation allows for organizations and brands to create with cities to solve complex problems such as promote safety and improve quality of life for residents.
Funding
In September 2015, Connecthings received $10.6 million as part of their Series-B funding round from French investment firms Siparex, Calao Finance and Xerys Funds. The fundraising was effort was created to enable Connecthings expansion into North America.
Smart City Development and Strategic Partnerships
Smart Cities
* Barcelona: Already known as a world-leading smart city, Connecthings worked with the city of Barcelona to extend their “Barcelona Contactless” service to more than 8,000 locations within the city.
* Paris: In 2013, Paris City Hall partnered with Connecthings to implement an indoor guidance system that utilized NFC Technology within the Hôtel de Ville.
* Nice: Connecthings selected in 2011 by Nice Côte d’Azur to deploy thousands of NFC tags throughout the city to connect transportation stops and tourist attractions, including the Museum of Modern Art.
* Bordeaux: In 2014 the Conurbation of Bordeaux partnered with Connecthings to equip 3,500 bus stops with NFC tag technology.
* Rio de Janeiro: Connecthings partnered with the Rio Smart City Project in 2014 to outfit 5,000 bus stops with NFC tagged smart stickers for the 2016 World Cup and Olympics.
* Madrid: In 2013, The Municipal Transport Authority of Madrid partnered with Connecthings to launch the Smart Madrid program to outfit 500 of the city’s public transportation stops with NFC and QR code technology. In 2015, the entire network of transportation stops - 5,500 in all - were outfitted by Connecthings with NFC technology making it the largest network equipped with contactless technologies in Spain.
* Bouches-du-Rhône: Connecthings is awarded a contract in 2015 for 10,000 NFC transit stops by the General Council of Bouches-du-Rhône throughout the department. The cities included in the plan include Marseille, Aix-en-Provence, Arles, Aubagne, Istres, Martigues and Salon-de-Provence.
* Grenoble: In 2013, the Grenoble City Council contracted Connecthings to scatter NFC Tags and QR codes throughout pedestrian-heavy areas to promote tourism.
* Düsseldorf: Connecthings provides iBeacon services to the 2015 Plakadiva, a large event for the Out of Home advertising industry.
* Strasbourg: In July 2016, Connecthings and Compagnie de Transports Strasbourgeois (CTS), the operating manager of the city’s public transportation network, piloted solution based on beacons across the city to provide smart travel aid for visually impaired. Connecthings first worked with the city in 2012 to launch the first connected-city service in France known as StrasPlus.
* Milan: Powered by Connecthings, the northern Italian city Milan launched Milano Connect in April 2016. Pedestrian areas throughout the city were outfitted with NFC tags and QR codes to assist the city’s thousands residents and tourists with transportation and tourism information.
* Montpellier: In 2016 Connecthings helped Montpellier to become the first smart metropolis to deploy a large scale Bluetooth beacon network across the city. 1800 beacons in total were spread throughout the city, and allowed citizens to connect with information about daily life, tourism and transportation.
International Airports
* : In June 2016, Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport, the international airport of Bologna, Italy, became the first Italian airport to equip Bluetooth beacons throughout their terminals. Aside from beacons, Connecthings also outfitted the airport with NFC tags and QR codes to boost the application usage of the new BLQ One Touch app. BLQ is listed as the 7th largest Italian airport and services 19,000 visitors per day.
Partnerships
* Keolis: Connecthings partnered with Keolis, the global transportation management corporation, in 2016 to address new mobility solutions and services using Beacon, NFC and QR code technology.
* Engie: Connecthings has partnered with the multinational electric utility company, Engie, to help set up smart city programs in Europe, such as Barcelona.
* JCDecaux: Connecthings partnered with multinational outdoor advertising corporation, JCDecaux to equip advertising panels in subway stations with NFC and QR code technology.
* : In 2014, Connecthings partnered with Altavia and L’Oréal to outfit 100 hair salons across Italy with interactive posters featuring NFC and QR code technology.
Awards and Recognitions
* 2012 Contactless Mobile Award
* 2013 Contactless Mobile Award
* Living Labs Global Awards 2012 and 2013
* SmartGrids France Best Product For Intelligent Transportation For The City And It’s People 2013
* French National RFID Centre and ESCP Europe’s Best Application For Local Authorities Award 2013
* New York State’s App Quest 3.0 People’s Choice Best Transport Application (in partnership with 1-Touch NYC)
* “Caen, Summer 44” (powered by Connecthings) Wins Innovation Prize in Calvados Tourism Awards
* Semi-Finalist at Cisco’s IoT Innovation Grand Challenge 2015
* Smart City World Expo’s Most Innovative Apps For Transport 2015
* Ericsson’s Best IoT Startup 2016
* USDOT List of Organizations To Help Develop Smart Cities
* Smart City World Expo’s First Prize For Mobility & Sustainability 2016
* SmartCAT Challenge First Prize For Mobility & Technology 2016

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