2026 IoT Company of the Year

Submission overview

The 2026 IoT Company of the Year category recognizes the organization that delivered the greatest overall impact across the Internet of Things during 2026. This distinction honors a company that combines meaningful innovation with strong execution, measurable customer outcomes, market leadership, and a clear contribution to the advancement of connected technology.

Winning companies do more than introduce impressive products. They demonstrate the ability to turn technology into practical value across customers, industries, partners, or communities. That may include accelerating IoT adoption, expanding a connected platform, scaling successful deployments, solving difficult operational challenges, or establishing new expectations for what IoT companies can achieve.

This category is open to established organizations and growth-stage companies operating throughout the IoT ecosystem, including hardware manufacturers, software and platform providers, connectivity companies, solution providers, integrators, and organizations delivering connected technology at scale.

This award is a great fit if your company

• Demonstrated meaningful market traction, customer adoption, or business growth during 2026
• Delivered measurable operational, financial, safety, sustainability, or customer outcomes
• Introduced or materially advanced an IoT product, platform, service, or deployment model
• Successfully scaled connected technology across customers, locations, industries, or geographic markets
• Strengthened the IoT ecosystem through partnerships, interoperability, standards, education, or industry leadership
• Combined technical innovation with reliable execution and a clear long-term vision

Entry schedule

• Entries Open: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
• Early Bird Deadline: Friday, January 15, 2027
• Final Entry Deadline: Friday, February 12, 2027
• Winners Announced: Tuesday, March 9, 2027

Entry fees

• Early Bird Entry: $395
• Standard Entry: $495

Each category submission must be entered separately. Organizations may enter multiple 2026 Best of IoT Awards categories when each submission represents a legitimate fit.

What to submit

Your submission should explain why your organization deserves recognition as the 2026 IoT Company of the Year and provide credible evidence supporting that position.

Include:

• Company overview: A concise description of your organization, its role within IoT, and the markets or customers it serves
• 2026 achievements: The products, platforms, partnerships, deployments, expansions, or strategic initiatives that defined the year
• Evidence of impact: Customer results, adoption data, revenue or growth indicators, deployment metrics, efficiency improvements, or other measurable outcomes
• Innovation: An explanation of how your technology, service model, strategy, or execution differs from established alternatives
• Leadership: Evidence of industry contribution, ecosystem development, thought leadership, standards participation, or partnership activity
• Supporting materials: Relevant case studies, product information, customer references, reports, media coverage, screenshots, or videos

Confidential information may be summarized or redacted for judging. Supporting evidence should still provide enough detail for judges to evaluate the organization’s claims and overall impact.

Judging criteria

Entries are evaluated using the IoThinkTank Best Of & Recognition Awards framework:

• Evidence & Measurable Impact | 30 points: Strength of the documented customer, operational, financial, market, safety, or sustainability outcomes
• Innovation & Differentiation | 20 points: Meaningful distinction in technology, products, services, strategy, or business model
• Execution & Scalability | 20 points: Reliability, operational maturity, delivery capability, market readiness, and ability to scale
• Leadership, Vision & Industry Contribution | 20 points: Influence on IoT adoption, ecosystem development, partnerships, standards, education, or industry direction
• Category Fit | 10 points: Overall alignment with the intent and expectations of the IoT Company of the Year category

Judging is based on the strength of the submission rather than company size, funding, or brand recognition. Clear evidence, real-world results, and credible supporting materials carry significant weight.

Eligibility

• Open worldwide to companies and organizations operating within the Internet of Things
• Entries should focus on achievements completed, launched, expanded, validated, or materially advanced during 2026
• Organizations of any size may enter, including growth-stage companies and established global businesses
• Evidence of customer adoption, market validation, deployment success, or measurable outcomes is strongly encouraged
• Organizations may enter additional Best of 2026 categories with separate submissions and entry fees

Submission process

1. Review the category requirements and prepare your supporting evidence.
2. Visit the Best of 2026 application page.
3. Select IoT Company of the Year as your award category.
4. Complete your submission and payment by the applicable deadline.

Questions about category fit or the submission process may be sent to awards@iothinktank.com.