SmartCone Technologies Inc.

Ottawa is increasingly considered one of the hottest and most diverse tech hubs in North America. One of the companies contributing to this wave of excitement is SmartCone Technologies Inc., headquartered in the Stittsville area southwest of Ottawa’s Kanata suburb.

Led by founder and chief executive officer Jason Lee, SmartCone Technologies produces entire connectivity systems consisting of one or many “SmartCones”—deployable sensor devices that collect sensor data, analyze it using advanced computing power and software, and use that information to keep people safe in vulnerable and hazardous areas. Examples of its detection capabilities include video cameras, motion sensors, facial and gender recognition, licence plate recognition, air quality testing, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), among others. The entire device fits inside a three-inch plastic pipe and is often placed at the top of a sawed-off traffic cone, hence the name “SmartCone.”

Because they are so easy to set up and use, SmartCones offer a seemingly endless list of applications. For instance, as part of a recently completed project for the City of Ottawa, SmartCones were installed at an intersection to notify drivers of approaching cyclists riding in a bike lane. As a cyclist approached the intersection, LED lights begin flashing to tell drivers that a cyclist s approaching. Other applications include licence plate recognition for a rental car company, traffic incident management for transportation agencies, and safety monitoring at construction sites.

Lee developed the idea for the SmartCone as he travelled extensively on a research project from 2009 to 2010. After visiting such diverse locations as Siberia, Bolivia, and the Middle East, he realized that there was not enough technological infrastructure in place to keep military personnel safe. Upon researching this concept further, Lee found his results about military personnel could be extrapolated to other individuals facing high-risk situations, like first responders, police officers, and the general public. From there, he set about developing a solution that could leverage modern technology to foster a safer environment, wherever it may be. When the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution gained momentum around 2015, Lee realized that he and his team were already significantly ahead of the IoT game, and he decided to start the company.

The past three years have involved excitement, growth, and hard work for the team at SmartCone Technologies. As a result of this hard work, the company has secured seven contracts to date, and is on the verge of a few more major deals. Lee notes that this success can be attributed to many factors.

First, the product itself is astoundingly innovative and useful. Not only does the SmartCone contain some of the most advanced technology on the market, but it is extremely deployable. SmartCone Technologies offers turnkey solutions for its end users, and implementing its products can be as simple as dropping a cone in the desired location. As Lee explains, the SmartCone was designed in such a way that anyone—from military officers and first responders to construction workers—could understand and operate it seamlessly.

Another attractive aspect of the SmartCone is its affordability. Customers can purchase a SmartCone with as many or as few features as they desire, since it was built creatively using open-source software and an add-on style product model. This factor ensures that SmartCones remain accessible to diverse markets.

The third component that sets SmartCone Technologies apart from other firms is its tight-knit, family-style employee base. When talking about his employees, Lee is quick to point out that he loves everyone he works with. SmartCone Technologies hires people based on character as opposed to their knowledge base, because Lee wants the culture of the company remain one of collectiveness and work ethic.

Having such a qualified, dedicated team has helped SmartCone Technologies immensely in securing new business. The firm’s 15 employees comprise engineers, marketers, and software experts, with everyone working together in a collaborative workspace to ensure they are all pursuing the same goal: SmartCone Technologies’ success. In talking to the employees, you get the sense that it is truly a team environment and each individual wants nothing more than to see SmartCone Technologies succeed.

A final quality that has contributed to SmartCone Technologies’ growth and success is tenaciousness. Lee recognizes that today’s competitive business landscape is a daunting one for start-ups. Therefore, he asserts, the company must come up with creative ways to advertise and secure business.

Like any thriving start up, SmartCone Technologies has overcome several challenges, and continues to face others. One challenge Lee expects to face is interest and pressure from large stakeholders in the IoT industry as word spreads about SmartCone Technologies. Every day, individual innovators and large corporations come up with new ways to leverage IoT. For SmartCone Technologies to remain at the cutting edge of the industry, the company must work tirelessly to maintain close relationships with its customers and secure new business.

The other challenging, but exciting, issue Lee and his team face is scaling the business. SmartCone Technologies is at the point where it has experienced some success and uncovered ample opportunity to expand. Lee notes that he wants to grow the business and continue innovating, while simultaneously maintaining the current tight-knit culture at the company.

It is an exciting time for everyone at SmartCone Technologies. Because of the wide variety of uses and applications for SmartCones, SmartCone Technologies is looking at targeting many different industries. The manufacturing, autonomous vehicle, and mining industries all contain many different areas where the SmartCone Solution can add major value. Further, as modern cities begin their transition into becoming “smart” cities, SmartCones can be distributed throughout to generate real-time data that stakeholders can use to improve the safety of the general public. SmartCones have the ability to transmit data to the cloud so individuals who are not on site can still analyze and learn from it. They can also detect near misses, such as a close encounter between a car and a cyclist, and process this data to minimize future similar interactions.

The city of Ottawa is abuzz with talk about SmartCone Technologies. Jason Lee and his team know that now is the time to harness the growing excitement about their product and use it to expand into new locations and industries across the globe. The initial months of operations yielded useful lessons for them, and although it took some time for everyone to find their groove, the future now looks bright indeed for SmartCone Technologies.