Akshay Sharma of neXt Curve shares his key takeaways from ITExpo 2018 held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. He provides his top picks and his predictions for the world of IT in 2018.

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reThink Webcast
Event Review: IT Expo 2018
February 8, 2018
Version 1.0

2. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Introducing neXt Curve
Leonard Lee
Managing Director &
Founder of neXt Curve
neXt Curve is a San Diego-based
boutique consulting and venture
capital focused on advising
entrepreneurs, enterprises and
governments in the building of a
better digital future for all.
“We believe that a better
future requires the proactive
incubation and funding of
transformative ideas and the
businesses that will make
those ideas happen.”
An executive consultant with
23-years of experience with
leading tech and strategy firms.

3. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Featured neXt Curve Principal
Akshay Sharma
Leading Industry Analyst
neXt Curve Principal
Akshay Sharma is a Principal analyst and
consultant with neXt Curve. He is a renowned
industry and technology analyst who
specializes in a range of ICT topics such as 5G,
SD-WAN, NFV/SDN, mobile and network
technologies and telco digital transformation.
He serves on the board for several startups
that provide innovative digital products and
services including streaming video and gaming,
CRM, and 5G technologies.
Prior to joining neXt Curve as a principal
Akshay was a Research Director (analyst) at
Gartner, for over a decade, where he gave the
Gartner Cool Vendor awards leading to M&A
activities of over $2 Billion. He is quoted often
in CNN, Bloomberg, and the Wall St. Journal,
etc., on next-gen topics.
Executive technology consultant and
industry analyst with decades of
experience with leading tech and
strategy firms.

4. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Featured neXt Curve Principal
Judge at IT Expo Startup Awards Ceremony

5. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
The Main Event
Miles driven to Ft.
Lauderdale
Number of interactions with
companies
Panels on Cybersecurity &
Chatbots and the need for AI
Session Border Controls.
Number of award ceremonies
attended as judge-Startup
Awards
20
2
50
1

6. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Research Topics
SD-WAN
UCaaS
Artificial Intelligence/ChatBot
Convergence (Use Cases/Platforms)
Cybersecurity
Behavioral Analytics
Network Infrastructure
Blockchain and IoT

7. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Key Takeaways & Insights
Akshay’s Top 5 Picks of IT Expo 2018
Predictions For 2018
Discussion Agenda
1
2
3
Questions & Answers4

8. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Agenda Topic 1
Key Takeaways & Insights
1

9. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Key Takeaways from IoT Evolution Expo
Blockchain Everywhere
SD-WAN with Virtualized
Applications
AI with Chatbots
Behavioral Analytics for Cyber
Security
IoT Platforms for “SD-LAN”
AI Needs Session Management

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Agenda Topic 2
Akshay Top 5 Picks of IT Expo
20182

11. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Picks of IT Expo 2018
Akshay
5
Fiber Mountain–Optical Cross Connects for DCI

12. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Picks of IT Expo 2018
Akshay
4
TIE: Chirrp.AI for Chatbots and
Observables Inc. for IoT

13. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Picks of IT Expo 2018
Akshay
3
Versa Networks – SD-WAN

14. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Picks of IT Expo 2018
Akshay
2
Mavatar: Blockchain Ad Exchange

15. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Picks of IT Expo 2018
Akshay
1
Tied: BeKindr and Welwaze

16. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Akshay’s Top 5 Picks
1
2
3
4
5
Kindr and Welwaze with Cryptocurrency
Mavatar Ad Brokering with Blockchain
Versa Networks – SD-WAN
Chirrp.AI for Chatbots. Observables Inc. for IoT
Fiber Mountain for Optical DCI

17. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Agenda Topic 3
Predictions For 2018
3

18. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Predictions For 2018
Blockchain ICOs create newer solutions and monetization methods
AI Platforms merge, a new AI “Session Border Controller” emerges
Optical is sexy again with 5G, Web 3.0 players jumping in
AI/Machine Learning with Behavioral Analytics becomes part of Cybersecurity
1
2
3
4
SD-WAN with SD-LAN for 20185

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Where can I find more information?
Go to our website at www.next-curve.com
Download our reThink research note
Set up an inquiry call with neXt Curve

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Follow Us
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Twitter: @neXt_Curve
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How can neXt Curve help?
neXt Curve offers services that can help your
team and organization conceptualize and
design new products and business models
against critical trends in digital technology that
will shape the market and competitive
landscapes of your industry.
neXt Curve works with you through four basic
formats that can get our extensive network of
executive-level consultants and renowned
industry analysts engaged with you in
addressing your most critical challenges.

22. © 2018 neXt Curve and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Contacts
Leonard Lee
Managing Director
neXt Curve
leonard.lee@next-curve.com
(619) 405-8329
www.next-curve.com

23. Thank You!