Impinj

What began in the year 2000 as a vision to connect every item in the world has blossomed into Impinj, a pioneering force in the RAIN RFID industry. Founded by Dr. Chris Diorio and Dr. Carver Mead, the company's journey started with groundbreaking research at the California Institute of Technology. The name 'Impinj' itself, an abbreviation of 'Impact-ionized Hot-electron Injection,' hints at the deep technological roots from which the company grew. The initial concept was to leverage a unique wireless technology to enhance the power efficiency of 3G wireless base station radios. However, the burst of the dot-com bubble necessitated a strategic pivot. After extensive analysis of various technologies, the founders steered the company towards the then-nascent field of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).

This strategic shift proved to be a masterstroke. Impinj became a key player in establishing the RAIN RFID standard, a move that has been instrumental in the widespread adoption of the technology by over 150 companies globally. By 2006, Impinj was at the forefront, introducing the first products based on the EPCglobal UHF Gen 2 standard. The company's growth has been marked by significant milestones, including strategic partnerships in Asia, the acquisition of Intel's RFID division in 2008, and a successful Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2016. Today, Impinj stands as a global leader, having connected over 75 billion items to the internet. Their platform, encompassing endpoint ICs, readers, gateways, and software, provides the crucial link between the physical and digital worlds, enabling businesses across retail, healthcare, logistics, and more to gain unprecedented visibility and intelligence into their operations. From tracking inventory in real-time to ensuring patient safety and authenticating products, Impinj's technology is quietly and powerfully shaping the future of the Internet of Things.