Thread Group Starts Enabler Program to Encourage Innovation From Startups

The Thread Group said it launched an enabler program based on the recognition that much of the innovation in the connected home will come from small startups that can’t afford membership fees. The Thread Innovation Enabler Program is designed to give low-budget innovative companies a chance to play a role in “defining the connected home through access to Thread technology,” it said Wednesday. Once a quarter, the program will provide one company with up to 18 months of contributor-level membership to enable it to build new products using Thread, and companies will be picked based on the creative potential of the ideas they submit, Thread said. The group is soliciting submissions from companies that are pre-Series A funding; planning a connected product or service for the home based on Thread; or planning to ship products in the second half of this year or first half 2016. Projects on Kickstarter or Indiegogo will be considered, and in addition to the Thread membership, winners will receive Thread certification for one product, a listing on the Thread website, access to member meetings and potential inclusion in Thread marketing, the group said. The Thread Group, with 80 members, also said it added home control company Somfy and fire protection and security company Tyco to its board, which also includes ARM, Big Ass Fans, Freescale Semiconductor, Nest Labs, Samsung Electronics, Silicon Labs and Yale Security.