Skylo Adds Global Business Leader Neelam Dhawan to Board of Directors
Skylo, the world’s first and most affordable end-to-end solution connecting machine and sensor data via satellite, today announced that Neelam Dhawan has joined the company's board of directors.
Dhawan currently holds several board positions including Philips, ICICI Bank, Yatra Online, Inc., and Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi. She held country leadership roles at Microsoft and HP in India and was a member of the Executive Council at National Association of Software & Services Cos. She received her MBA from the Faculty of Management Studies and graduated from St. Stephens College.
Dhawan joins Skylo’s board comprising veterans from the wireless and data industries including Ambassador Terry Kramer (ex-Global Head of Strategy at Vodafone), the company’s Chairman, Scott Brady & Harpinder Singh from Innovation Endeavors, David Chao from DCM (former CFO/CTO of Japan Communications) and Yoshi Segawa from SoftBank Group, and Skylo’s CEO Parth Trivedi.
“Dhawan’s experience scaling enterprise data businesses in India and her commercial expertise in our core markets are going to be a key influence as we grow our endeavor in India," said Skylo CEO and co-founder, Parth Trivedi. “Our mission is to deliver a reliable end-to-end solution providing 100% coverage for machines, sensors, and devices, especially for the under-connected machines at work in remote, inaccessible & rural areas around the world. As we help our customers expand their operations using data, create new opportunities, open new industries, and even save lives, Dhawan’s insights will be invaluable.”
Today’s networks were designed to connect people. The world’s machines and sensors, especially those in remote and underserved areas like rural farms and boats out to sea, require a reliable network that is 100% continuous. Skylo’s end-to-end solution consists of its geostationary satellite-based network, the Skylo Network, its easy to use Skylo Hub, and the immersive Skylo Data Platform, accessible on mobile and desktop. Enabling customers to increase safety, drive economic development and job creation, and help with disaster preparedness and response, Skylo serves customers across public and private sectors in industries including farming, fishing, logistics, railways, and more.
“The Skylo team has an outstanding opportunity to impact under-served, under-connected markets to bring much needed data connectivity to businesses in India and beyond, large or small," said Mrs. Dhawan. “I'm excited to join the board because of the company's mission to transform industries, improve the lives of people and communities as they drive innovation.”
In January 2020, Skylo secured its Series B capital round of $116 million, led by Softbank Group along with participation from new and existing investors DCM, Innovation Endeavors, Boeing HorizonX, and Moore Strategic Ventures. Skylo was founded in 2017 by CEO Parth Trivedi, CTO Dr. Andrew Nuttall, CPO Tarun Gupta, and Chief Hub Architect Dr. Andrew Kalman from Stanford University.
The Skylo Hub is a rugged, easy-install, affordable ‘IoT hotspot’ for sensors, and connects through wire, WiFi, or BLE, collecting information continuously. Whether the machines are moving or stationary, operating in the ocean, in a pipeline, or in the dirt, the Skylo Hub will continue to transmit data, 100% of the time. Using geostationary satellites, the Skylo Satellite Network securely delivers data anywhere, all the time. The Skylo Platform interface -- mobile or desktop -- sends data, notifications, and alerts to give people the ability to make immediate decisions.
