Editor’s note: Tom Snyder is Executive Director of RIoT, the regional Internet of Things uses group based in Raleigh. Katherine Dupree is Marketing Specialist at RIoT. The grop is hosting a town hall on June 25 to discuss diversity and inclusion.
RALEIGH – RIoT has continued to lean in to the conversations and challenges that are dominating the national stage right now.
MISSION-R was our rapid response to COVID-19 and continues as we try to launch new startups in the RIoT Accelerator this summer.
The pandemic has proven that the US economy is built on small businesses, not the Fortune 500. While multinational companies dominate the news cycle, there has been comparatively little economic impact to them (as measured by stock market performance) compared to the impact on small business, where the majority of job loss has occurred. The “for good” series is our effort to spotlight positivity and demonstrate that small companies, steering into the storm, are performing well. There is a path to success even in a recession.
Tom Snyder. Photo by Sarah Glova.
Our latest initiative is to catalyze real action in racial equality in the wake of George Floyd and the many other pointless deaths in the black community. There is no better time for significant change than during a crisis. This town hall is part of gathering everyone’s voices into the conversation and then coming back with actionable next steps at individual, company and policy levels.
RIoT has always believed that new jobs are created at the edge of emerging technology. We’ll remain a technology-forward organization. But tech is not the point. The measure should be jobs and economic security and inclusive participation by all people. Tech is an enabler that we can build a better community upon.
The June 25 event isn’t the first event we’ve had around the topic of racism and equity. Last week we featured an event with an awesome community leader and black founder, Desmond Wiggan. It was a very insightful conversation and you can find the recording here. This was following a series of “for good” events we’ve had recently including a tech for good event as well as an entrepreneurship for good event.
