How Silicon Labs Works With was created, the Conference for Connected Technology

The Inspiration

I have always been fascinated by the potential of connected technology to improve our lives, whether it's in the home, the city, or the health sector. But I also realized that there was a gap between the vision and the reality of this technology. Many products and platforms were not compatible with each other, creating silos and fragmentation in the market. I wanted to create a conference that would bring together the growing technology ecosystems and foster collaboration and interoperability among them.

The Journey

The idea for Works With was born in 2019, after visiting Apple, Amazon, and Google in the Bay Area and observed how they were building out an IoT infrastructure that would enable the smart home product adoption. I was impressed by their innovation and scale, but also saw the need to quickly enable the edge devices to connect with these massive IoT ecosystems. I decided to launch a conference that would provide a platform for developers and manufacturers, to learn, network, and exchange ideas.

The Growth

Works With has grown exponentially since its inception and first conference in 2020, adding new ecosystems and domains every year. In 2021, we introduced Sidewalk and Matter, two initiatives that aimed to create a common standard for the smart home. In 2022, we expanded to the smart city domain, featuring WiSun, a wireless mesh network that enables smart grid and smart lighting applications. In 2024, we are adding the emerging market of connected health, showcasing how wearable devices, and remote monitoring can improve health outcomes and reduce costs. Works With has attracted market leaders and market makers, as well as tens of thousands of developers, who have attended our sessions, roundtables, workshops, and demos.

The Future

Works With is not just a conference, it's a movement. It's a vision of a world where connected technology works seamlessly and securely across different platforms and domains, enhancing our lives and solving our challenges. In 2024, we are taking this virtual conference to the next level, hosting it in three locations: San Jose, Hyderabad, and Shanghai. We are excited to connect with the global community of innovators and enthusiasts who share our passion and curiosity for connected technology. Join us at Works With 2024 and be part of the future! Learn more at https://www.silabs.com/about-us/events/works-with-2024