2bSmart supports organizations in understanding and applying IoT sensor, blockchain and smart contracts technology. It does this by offering interactive workshop simulations. These simulations show a business process of monitoring and settlement of performance using smart contracts, sensor data and blockchain.
As part of their journey on BlockStart’s Acceleration Programme, as a DLT/blockchain startup provider, they were looking for new opportunities for collaboration with end-user SMEs that could validate and help them improve their “Smartys” blockchain solution.
We spoke with Founder and CFO Jeroen Perquin to know more about 2bSmart and their participation in BlockStart.
In one paragraph, what is 2bSmart?
We support organizations in understanding and applying IoT sensor, blockchain and smart contracts technology.
Can you tell us how the idea for your startup began?
In 2018 and 2019 we gave Blockchain workshops and noticed that a normal training or workshop doesn’t really help people to capture the power of this technology. We started to use a Blockchain Simulation, which means that people actually build a blockchain, they need to get on with it, be interactive. That worked. And we were a bit disappointed about the speed of adoption of Blockchain. The lack of understanding and many people explaining it to business people in a much too technical way is a key reason for that. So we got on with this problem and build a new simulation for a logistics process called Smartys, using IoT sensors and a real working Blockchain application. People liked it and we knew we were on the right track. The fantastic extra effect of it is that we now use this Simulation to make a headstart when designing and building similar applications for other sectors, like in the Blockstart pilot for Facility Management. A new sector for us, but we use the existing Building Blocks. We now have the tools to build quickly and the extra bonus is that we have the Smartys simulation tool to help the people in the organisation to really understand and apply the smart contract technology in the right way.
What is 2bSmart passionate about achieving?
That we use smart contracts in organisations and thereby reducing organizational waste in organisations.
Who are the team members and what backgrounds do you have?
Jeroen Perquin and Robert Rongen are the 2 founders in the company and both have a background working in international, corporate companies. We know and understand how large organisations work and how complex they are. We want to help companies understand and apply smart contracts to make their business processes simpler and more efficient. Robert is IT architect and Smart Contract specialist. Jeroen is a Financial Executive and trainer/workshop moderator.
Can you tell us about the prototype you have developed with the support of BlockStart Acceleration Programme?
This has been a fantastic experience and we managed to get 3 companies from the Facility Management sector enthusiastic for our prototype aimed at air quality management in buildings. These are 3 companies that have not yet had any experience before with smart contracts, so for us this fits perfect within or vision and ambition to bring smart contracts into business processes. We managed to convince them to participate using our simulation product Smartys, as well as the interesting opportunities that the Blockstart Program offers.
What were you most excited about in taking part of BlockStart Acceleration Programme?
Of course, the funding is important because with that we can actually build. But also, the connections with other companies and the support from the organisers of the programme.
Which were the major challenges you have faced during the development and market/fit validation of your prototype?
To be very focused in what you can achieve in a pilot with a short amount of time and a limited budget. The good thing is that it forces you to focus on what is really important and what is the key objective of the pilot.
What unique aspects does your company and the prototype you have developed have to offer to the market sectors/type of companies you wish to enter/sell and to the blockchain ecosystem in Europe, as a whole?
We bring IoT in combination with Smart contracts technology into the Facility Management business. This is a very large business sector that has unique challenges, now in particular with Corona. Safe buildings are key and the sector needs reliable and trustworthy systems to manage that. Our product proposition using the unique characteristics of blockchain technology in combination with IoT sensors does provide the solution for this.
Is collaboration with SME adopters important for piloting your solution?
Yes, very important as they bring the sector knowledge and customer needs into the project.
Where do you see your company in 5 years?
As the leading IT partner in further developing and commercialising the safe building application into Europe.