Internet-Connected Products and the Importance of Giving Back with Aeris CEO Marc Jones

Welcome back to How I launched this, A SaaS Story! This week, Carter (@carterthecomic) and Stephanie (@stephr_wong) welcome Marc Jones, President, CEO & Chairman of Aeris, a technology company that helps organizations create and sell internet-connected products that consumers and businesses love. Aeris’ software powers 15 million connected devices worldwide, enabling medical professionals to remotely monitor patients, homeowners to remotely lock their doors, and vehicle owners to download self-driving capabilities at the push of a button. With a long-term view of how hardware and software will necessarily converge, Marc explains how he and his colleagues jumped into Aeris and refocused the company in the early 2000s, harnessing the power of wireless connectivity to help businesses do more things more easily. We hear the story of growth as Aeris grew 35% year-on-year, from zero revenue in 2009 to more than $100M in annual revenue today -- all leveraging its own profits and with no venture capital investment.Later in the show, we discuss race and how it has influenced Marc's path, and he offers valuable advice and inspiration for other Black entrepreneurs as they begin their careers. Emphasising the importance of responsible risk-taking, Marc explains why he feels people of color are underrepresented in the technology industry and how he hopes to improve this situation through his involvement in Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT).  MLT works to mentor and support men and women of color, providing them with the opportunity to network with and learn from successful role models.We wrap up the show with a look at how Aeris is connecting the world and helping non-profit companies leverage connectivity technology to accelerate their impact. Marc provides powerful examples from around the world -- from Syrian refugees to African farmers --, showing us how people and companies working for good can create a better planet for everyone. He takes a look into the future and tells us the advancements he'd like to see, not only in the technology space, but in society, and how the two can help each other.Episode Links:AerisMLT