Cloud Wars Expo 2022, held as a three-day, hybrid conference, featured keynote speakers from tech giants including SAP’s Chief Marketing and Solution Officer Julia White who discussed the RISE of Cloud ERP.
German software multinational SAP’s strategic pivot to the cloud has been demonstrated in recent years with the company’s efforts to develop cloud-based solutions and service offerings such as the renowned SAP S/4HANA and last year’s banner product RISE with SAP– reported to drive stellar second quarter financial performance this year. In addition, to further propel its cloud momentum, SAP also invests in tech startup companies through its accelerator program SAP.iO.
Most recently, 11 SAP.iO companies participated in the concluded Cloud Wars Expo 2022 held at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, California. Three of the top six participants in the Innovation Path startup competition were all products of SAP’s accelerator program namely Specright, Crosschq, and Wisy, which bagged the Startup of the Year title.
Cloud Wars Expo brings together thousands of business and technology industry professionals under a conference and expo experience for collaboration, learning, and networking. Aside from showcasing an expo hall of cloud solutions and platforms, this year’s hybrid event model held last month featured keynote and fire chat speakers– from global cloud companies’ C-suite executives to thought leaders in the academe.
SAP.iO’s Wisy Winning the Cloud Wars Expo
Wisy, the Cloud Wars Startup and Innovator of 2022, is a global AI platform for CPG brands and retailers that provides real-time image recognition to help enterprises achieve control and optimize products on display at scale to drive efficiency and sales as well as reduce loss in any retail location. The tech company was part of the SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco Experience Management cohort back in 2019.
Min Chen, CEO of Wisy, shared how the company gained from the accelerator program of SAP.iO, a strategic business unit in SAP focused on incubating startup innovation in the cloud. She said:
“The SAP.iO program enabled a strategic partnership with SAP to position Wisy’s image intelligence solution in the consumer goods and retail industry. We have benefited from SAP’s deep industry insights and exclusive network of customers worldwide that continuously accelerate innovation and growth at Wisy.”
Max Kahn, director of SAP.iO Foundries, commented in an interview with Acceleration Economy Network that Wisy’s topping the Cloud Wars did not come as a surprise. He explained:
“Wisy represents the intersection of the art of the possible with the reality of right now, where they solve a problem so many customers have and then they’re also able to deliver on it in real life. What Min does really nicely is to show, not tell. It resonates because it’s not just a mockup, it works really well for a lot of large customers.”
Kahn further emphasized that one of SAP.iO’s key objectives is to help SAP customers drive better business outcomes. He added:
“All this comes from a place of helping customers. We have one of the strongest portfolios of cloud solutions today, and one of the largest bases of customers. At the same time, customers have a lot of things they’re trying to revolutionize and we can’t solve everything as just SAP, so we’re being humble and doing it in an inclusive way.”
The other two SAP.iO startups that made it to the Cloud Wars’ Innovation Path shortlist are Specright, part of 2021’s SPA.iO Foundry New York sustainability cohort, and Crosschq, part of 2020’s SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco Future of Work cohort.
