Testimony of Mike Abbott, General Partner, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Hearing on 'The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things'

摘要

Chairman Thune, Ranking Member Nelson, and distinguished members of the Senate Commerce Committee, I appreciate the opportunity to testify before you today on the exciting and important topic of our connected world and the dynamic role of the Internet of Things ("IoT"). I would also like to thank Senators Fischer, Booker, Ayotte and Schatz for your interest in this topic and for requesting this hearing. I am here today in my capacity as a general partner at the Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Our firm, Kleiner Perkins has more than 40 years of experience helping entrepreneurs deliver world-changing ideas to market. Through our Consumer Digital and Enterprise Digital initiatives alone, we have invested in and are mentoring more than 30 entrepreneurial companies with over $300 million in investments in the IoT space. I am by background an engineer, an entrepreneur, an investor, and a serial optimist about the power of technology and innovation to help improve our lives. Today I will focus my testimony on 3 key areas: 1. The Internet of Things is a robust and vibrant ecosystem - in both the consumer and enterprise space - with new platforms and applications coming on-line every day and strong venture capital investments to help grow it. 2. The rapid growth in both data and devices leads to a next wave of innovation focused on efficiencies and smart systems using the cornerstones of successful IoT: smart hardware, software and cloud integration. 3. IoT - or "the Third Wave of the Internet" as analysts like to call it, is nascent but very competitive. Consumer confidence is paramount, but we must not over-regulate and stifle innovation.