Helium
Helium is taking a unique approach to building a low-power wide-area networks by incentivizing consumers to buy and set up gateways across the world with cryptocurrency. The San Francisco, Calif.-based startup runs its so-called People’s Network with a decentralized networking protocol called LongFi, and it runs on specialized gateways that reward its owners with a digital currency for simply keeping the device on and when a device connects to it. Companies using Helium’s network include Salesforce, InvisiLeash, LoneStar Tracking, ConnectedFresh and Smart Mimic.
