Hologram Inc.

High-Level Overview

Hologram Inc. is a Chicago-based IoT connectivity platform founded in 2013 that provides global cellular connectivity for IoT devices using a single SIM card compatible with over 470 carriers worldwide.[1][2][3][7] It serves businesses in sectors like micromobility, healthcare, and logistics by solving the complexity of multi-carrier contracts, offering real-time device monitoring via a cloud dashboard, 99.95% uptime, and effortless global deployment across 190+ countries, with over 5,000 customers transmitting 2TB of data daily.[1][3] The company's growth includes recognition as an Inc. Best in Business winner in 2021, backed by investors like Tiger Global Management and Converge Ventures.[2][4]

Origin Story

Hologram emerged from a vision to simplify global IoT connectivity, founded in 2013 in Chicago, Illinois.[1][2][7] Co-founders Benjamin Forgan (CEO), an entrepreneur experienced in building global companies, and Patrick F. Wilbur (CTO), a systems architect with over 10 years in machine-to-machine (M2M) communications including innovative projects like near-space weather balloons, drove the inception.[2] What began as an innovative project to connect devices to any network instantly evolved into a robust platform, gaining early traction through its multi-carrier eSIM technology and expanding to serve thousands of customers worldwide.[1][2]

Core Differentiators

• Global SIM Simplicity: One SIM auto-connects to 470+ carriers, eliminating multiple contracts and ensuring the strongest signal for seamless deployment anywhere.[1][2][3]
• Reliability and Uptime: 99.95% SLA with 550+ carrier partners and automatic network switching for continuous performance.[1]
• Cloud Dashboard Excellence: Real-time visibility into usage, data limits, billing, and fleet health (e.g., Hologram Inflight for alerts), enabling easy management and optimization.[1][3][5]
• Flexibility and Scalability: Customizable profiles adapt to business needs across one country or globally, with a focus on IoT security, eSIM management, and developer-friendly tools.[1][2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

Hologram rides the explosive growth of IoT adoption, where billions of devices demand reliable, low-friction global connectivity amid rising demand in smart cities, logistics, healthcare, and micromobility.[1][3] Timing aligns with eSIM proliferation and 5G rollout, reducing hardware costs and enabling edge computing at scale—market forces like carrier consolidation and data sovereignty favor multi-network aggregators like Hologram over single carriers.[2] It influences the ecosystem by empowering developers and startups to prototype and deploy faster, fostering innovation in connected hardware while serving as a trusted partner rather than just a provider.[1][3]

Quick Take & Future Outlook

Hologram is poised to capitalize on IoT's expansion into AI-driven edge devices and massive machine-type communications (mMTC) with 5G/6G, potentially deepening integrations like predictive fleet analytics and zero-touch provisioning.[1][5] Trends such as satellite IoT hybrids and stricter data privacy will shape its path, amplifying its network effects through partnerships. Its influence may evolve from connectivity enabler to full-stack IoT orchestrator, solidifying its role in a world of ubiquitous connected devices—echoing its founding vision of effortless global IoT.[1][2]