EdgeQ founder and CEO Vinay Ravuri wants to make standing up a mobile network as easy as plugging in a wi-fi router.

Whether it’s connecting an airport tarmac or a factory floor, most companies that need to provide internet access in commercial settings can’t simply turn on their own small-cell network. That’s partly because most microprocessors that power 5G networks require heavy customization to make them work in an enterprise context, Ravuri said.

At the same time, the main alternative—wi-fi networks—don’t usually offer the stability needed to support the high volume of traffic generated by large enterprises, according to Ravuri. That’s where EdgeQ, one of the few 5G chipmaking startups, hopes to step in.

“We’ve basically integrated what would be separate chips into a single chip. You can treat it as black box, and you can also make modifications if you have the wherewithal, but you don’t need to. It’ll work out of the box,” Ravuri said. “If I have a customer that wants a small cell…the ease of use is like wi-fi.”

Ravuri recently spoke with Tech Brew about how his startup plans to make private 5G networks more accessible by creating tech that’s purpose-built to support next-generation mobile infrastructure with minimal customization required.

Keep reading here.—KG

Human resources supports your org’s most valuable asset: people. But not all businesses—especially small ones—have a dedicated HR department.

The good news? You don’t need a huge team to set your company up for success. All you need is Slack.

Instead of hunting down paperwork, forwarding emails and calendar invites, or dusting off outdated handbooks, let Slack’s tools and automation manage your HR workstreams and onboarding processes instead.

The Slack platform is your central hub for information, files, and conversation, helping you share knowledge with team members quickly. New hires can find solutions and immerse themselves in company culture from day one.

Even the smallest HR team can make a big difference with the right strategy. Learn more.

Last year brought a wave of clean energy investments, according to a new analysis.

The US saw nearly 200 new clean energy projects, representing almost $64 billion in investment, announced in 2023, according to an analysis of private sector activity by Environmental Entrepreneurs, or E2, a nonpartisan business group that advocates for clean energy.

The projects that E2 tracked last year run the gamut from new solar panel factories to renewable energy developments. In all, they’re expected to create roughly 61,000 new jobs, primarily in the EV and manufacturing sectors.

Capping off the year, businesses announced eight new “large-scale” clean energy projects in December, according to E2. They’re slated to create approximately 2,600 jobs in five states and represent about $1.8 billion in investment. Most of them are tied to solar and EV manufacturing, including a $1 billion investment by Waaree Energies to build a solar factory in Texas.

“Every month we are seeing the spark ignited by the Inflation Reduction Act and other federal policies continue to heat up the economies of local communities nationwide,” Bob Keefe, E2’s executive director, said in a statement. “Clean energy is driving the biggest economic revolution we’ve seen in generations.”

Keep reading here.—JG

Coworking is a weekly segment where we spotlight Tech Brew readers who work with emerging technologies. Click here if you’d like a chance to be featured.

How would you describe your job to someone who doesn’t work in tech?

I build the products that make your day-to-day life easier, but are typically an afterthought for customers. My role at IBM is to help create the software and technology that enterprises use to power the seamless customer experiences that we all, myself included, take for granted and assume will simply work.

For example, when a person goes to an ATM to withdraw money, they’ve come to expect an experience that takes minutes and happens with just the press of a few buttons.

But this experience isn’t possible without creating the software that connects the many different systems of the bank and protects customer data. My job is to make it simpler for enterprises to deliver the experience their customers have come to expect.

Keep reading here.