Joint Press Release

New City Ventures and NC RIoT Partner with NC Next Generation Networks and North State for US Ignite Smart Gigabit Communities Reverse Pitch Competition in North Carolina.

Competition to be launched February 28th via simulcast “Reverse Pitch” events in Greensboro, Raleigh and Charlotte.

February 8, 2017 - Greensboro, North Carolina -- Today, New City Ventures and RIoT announced the organizations will co-host reverse pitch events throughout North Carolina on February 28, 2017 at 6 p.m. to launch North Carolina’s US Ignite competition. This event will be produced with the support and partnership of NC Next Generation Networks, US Ignite and the National Science Foundation and take place in Greensboro at HQ Greensboro and simulcast to audiences in Charlotte at The Launch Factory and in Raleigh at HQ Raleigh.
 
The North Carolina pitch events are being co-sponsored by US Ignite and North State. In addition to ultra-fast gigabit Internet services in the Piedmont Triad region, North State delivers best-in-class IT and cyber-security solutions in the southeast U.S. through its Data Chambers and Stalwart subsidiaries.
 
The Reverse Pitch will challenge the most innovative, creative and brightest engineers entrepreneurs, developers, designers, data scientists, coders and civic hackers to develop ideas for a chance to win one of two $19,000 prizes.
 
“We have some of the brightest, most talented technologists in North Carolina looking for important problems to solve,” said Joel Bennett, Principal of New City Ventures. “We are thrilled to co-host this event with RIoT for NC Next Generation Networks and US Ignite.  US Ignite is a national initiative that is identifying the next generation of smart, connected applications that leverage advanced networks to solve the problems of Smart Cities.”
 
Civic and industry leaders will present up to four Reverse Pitches that identify Smart Gigabit Community problems to be solved by scalable applications that will require high bandwidth and low latency features of gigabit fiber infrastructure with clustered cloud computing.
 
“We will live in a world with a technology-driven economy. This is an exciting time where ultra-high speed, low latency, software defined networks are enabling us to significantly increase our quality of life in a data-driven and hyper-connected world," says William Wallace, Executive Director of US Ignite. “We are enthusiastic about innovative technology we will see at the upcoming reverse pitch events. We look forward to nurturing and guiding these projects to fruition so that each entrepreneur's community can realize the full benefits.”
 
“We are excited to be a part of the Reverse Pitch competition.  North State plays a vital role in helping our customers to thrive in the digital age.  As more of what we do in our daily lives becomes digital, entrepreneurship and software development are key to innovation and progress,” says Scott Watts, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of North State.  “We look forward to being part of the selection process and also mentoring those who enter the competition seeking better use of high-speed, fiber-based Internet service.”
 
This event will is part of US Ignite’s Smart Gigabit Communities initiative, which is powered by a network of communities nationwide that have each committed to leverage next-generation  Internet technologies to keep pace with the world’s rapidly changing, technology-driven innovation economy. Each Smart Gigabit Community agrees to develop and share its gigabit applications with other communities in the network.
 
For more information, please visit: www.IgniteNC.co
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WHO:               
WHAT:     
WHERE:     
WHEN:     

Municipal, Community and Industry Leaders, Academic Institutions, Businesses, Entrepreneurs,
Developers, Civic Hackers, Civic Leaders and Activists, Innovators and Creatives 
Compete for Funding in a Reverse Pitch for Smart City Gigabit Applications
Greensboro at HQ Greensboro (live), Raleigh at HQ Raleigh (simulcast) and Charlotte at The Launch Factory (simulcast)
February 28, 2017 6:00PM

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About North State
North State is a technology company focused on inspiring the Internet-driven lifestyle through high touch experiences. Its fiber-delivered, ultrafast Internet and Internet-driven applications enable residential customers and businesses to efficiently and securely take advantage of the Internet.  Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Data Chambers and Stalwart Systems, North State provides best-in-class data center colocation, customized cloud and IT solutions, managed disaster recovery services, managed security and unified communications. For more information, visit northstate.net. 

About New City Ventures
We advise and assist communities, companies, institutions and organizations who want to build their entrepreneurial and innovation capacity. We deploy programs, engagement strategies, asset identification and communications to activate and grow local and regional economies by connecting fresh ideas and diverse communities with an entrepreneurial approach. http://www.newcityventures.net/
 
About RIoT
RIoT represents a network of technologists, engineers, business leaders, academics, policy makers, and entrepreneurs, all of whom have a stake in the Internet of Things industry. Companies ranging from startups to international heavyweights meet frequently to exchange ideas, to learn new technologies, and to create new opportunities. The Internet of Things is here, and it’s growing. Our mission is to create a community that captures IoT opportunities locally, nationally, and globally. RIoT also runs RIoT Labs an IoT incubator located @ HQ Raleigh. RIoT operates as an extension on the Wireless Research Center of North Carolina, a 501 (3)(c) located in Wake Forest, NC. http://www.ncriot.org/
 
About NCNGN
North Carolina Next Generation Network (NCNGN) is a regional initiative focused on stimulating the deployment of next generation broadband networks in North Carolina. The coordinated effort is led by six municipalities and four leading research universities and supported by local Chambers of Commerce and businesses in the Research Triangle and Piedmont regions. NCNGN’s goal is to encourage private sector providers to deliver ultra-fast bandwidth at highly affordable prices to ensure our regions and state remain competitive and at the forefront of developing the next-generation applications essential to all sectors of the economy. http://www.ncngn.org/
 
About US Ignite
US Ignite nurtures the creation of next-generation applications and services that run on advanced networks to create Smart Communities throughout the world.  The organization helps to accelerate new wireless advances from research to prototype to full-scale Smart City development. Americans across the country are starting to experience transformative, next-generation applications. Simultaneously, US Ignite is identifying and driving new economic and social opportunities and accelerating the adoption of ultra-fast broadband in communities nationwide. http://www.usignite.org/
 
About the National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, its budget is $7.5 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 48,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $626 million in professional and service contracts yearly. 

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Media Contacts

US IGNITE 
Caitlin Scott
Full Court Press Communications
caitlin@fcpcommunications.com  
​510-550-8176

North State
Scott Carpenter
Capture Public Relations
scott@capturevalue.com
336-722-9660

NCNGN 
Dennis Newman
dennis.newman@duke.edu
336-414-0889

RIoT
Bob Stennett
bob@ncriot.org
919-949-2284

New City Ventures
April Harris
april@newcityventures.net
336-686-0288