# Breaking IoT Connectivity Barriers with Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect

- Show: [Over the Air](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air)
- Published: 2024-07-25
- Length: 31m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/over-the-air/episodes/Breaking-IoT-Connectivity-Barriers-with-Chris-Baird--CEO-of-OptConnect-e2mca94

## Summary

Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect, discusses the evolution of IoT connectivity from early copper lines and Wi-Fi to modern cellular solutions for unattended devices like vending machines and kiosks. He details OptConnect's strategic pivot to private networks following the Heartbleed vulnerability and their current focus on 'Max Aware,' a hardware platform that enables edge instrumentation and anomaly detection for customers deploying at scale. Baird also highlights the growing IoT ecosystem in Utah, citing companies like Traeger and Monit as examples of successful connected product innovation.

## Chapters

- [0:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=5) Introduction and OptConnect Overview
- [2:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=131) Evolution of IoT Connectivity
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=360) Growth Areas: Irrigation and Energy
- [9:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=597) Consultative Sales and Customer Education
- [14:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=877) Hardware Strategy and Value-Add
- [17:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=1052) Heartbleed Pivot and Elevator Case Study
- [22:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=1340) Max Aware Product Launch
- [26:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect#t=1618) Utah Tech Ecosystem Spotlight

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- OptConnect (company)
- Very (company)
- Peridio (company)
- Heartbleed (other)
- Max Aware (product)
- Traeger (company)
- Monit (company)
- Divvy (company)
- bill.com (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Providing a Global IoT Connectivity Solution | OptConnect's Chris Baird | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-10-02-providing-a-global-iot-connectivity-solution-optconnects-chris-baird-internet-of) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [IoT’s Power to Innovate and Disrupt | Eseye's Nick Earle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2021-05-10-iots-power-to-innovate-and-disrupt-eseyes-nick-earle) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Enterprise IoT Connectivity Management | John Candish, Head of IoT Products at SAP Digital Interconnect | #IoTMakers E032](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-06-26-enterprise-iot-connectivity-management-john-candish-head-of-iot-products-at-sap) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Industrial IoT and Connectivity | Simply Embedded's Chris Karaplis | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2025-11-11-industrial-iot-and-connectivity-simply-embeddeds-chris-karaplis-internet-of-thin) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Connectivity Intelligence in IoT Devices | Eseye's Nick Earle | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-08-01-connectivity-intelligence-in-iot-devices-eseyes-nick-earle-internet-of-things-po) (IoT For All Podcast)

## Citing this page

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