Vince Bradley on New Venture Abundant IoT, Leaving AppSmart, WTG Legacy

Longtime telecom channel leader Vince Bradley is starting a new technology services distributor.

Bradley now serves as CEO of Abundant IoT, which helps partners bundle together IoT devices and services for their customers. Abundant IoT also provides mobility, energy, connectivity and cloud solutions.

Bradley, who recently left AppSmart, said the new company tackles the challenges of IoT commissions.

Abundant IoT’s Vince Bradley

“Technology advisers can get one-time commissions on IoT equipment, but what about the recurring residual commissions that the channel is accustomed to collecting? By combining the three key services in IoT, energy, mobility and connectivity, and bundling in IoT devices, advisers will be able to receive recurring revenue commissions on a complete custom solution and one throat to choke for their customers,” Bradley said.

Background

Bradley founded WTG (World Telecom Group) in 1996, the same year as the Telecommunications Act. He launched a mobility division, followed by an energy division. The company gained a reputation for its unique expertise in IoT and energy.

The dominoes began to fall in 2018, when Bradley agreed to sell WTG to AppDirect. The deal created business technology services marketplace AppSmart, which acquired other brokerages, such as Telegration, CNSG and MicroCorp.

Bradley, who most recently had been working as AppSmart’s vice president of corporate development and general manager of energy services, has now formed his own company with his own team. Emmet Tydings, 39-year president of AB&T Telecom, has joined Abundant IoT as chief strategy officer. Tyding’s firm also paced the industry in launching wireless mobility services.

In addition, Abundant IoT has hired Ian Mitchell, who has worked for three decades in banking, private equity and financial industries, as vice president of finance. Other appointments include Napoleon Canizales, former CEO of digital currency platform Givit, as vice president of brand, and new vice president of mobility, Tem Wu. Wu previously worked in mobility and IoT at WTG and AppSmart.

Looking Forward and Looking Back

Bradley spoke with Channel Futures about his plans for Abundant IoT.

Channel Futures: What inspired you to found the company?

Vince Bradley: I have always been fascinated with IoT and its endless possibilities. Since I have a background in connectivity, mobility and devices and recently took a deeper dive into energy, I felt I was in a good position to launch the new next-gen channel model.

CF: You made a name for yourself in the brokerage channel, particularly with WTG and AppSmart. How will this job be similar?

VB: In a similar motion, we will be focusing on the channel. A big difference with Abundant IoT is that the channel will truly be able to monetize equipment as recurring revenue. We are adding devices to the mix, so we are enabling IoT bundles (devices, energy, mobility and connectivity).

CF: WTG grew to be one of the most powerful forces in the channel. Do you look back on the company’s journey with a sense of pride?

VB: Absolutely! WTG was the first “master” to build out a diverse portfolio. We were the first in local service, mobility, then international services and more recently energy. It was an exciting journey. Then I enjoyed watching what we built become a foundation of the AppSmart marketplace. That journey continues with Abundant IoT.

CF: What would you like to directly say to the partner audience reading this article?

VB: The time is now for IoT in the channel. Cloud proliferation coupled with the pandemic has created the ideal market opportunity for the new channel model in IoT. Combining energy, mobility and connectivity with the devices is a very powerful go to market package for customers. Please come meet with the Abundant IoT team during the Channel Partners Conference and Expo in Las Vegas, Nov. 1-4 (booth 1167), and visit [our website] to learn more.