goTenna Cofounder and CEO Daniela Perdomo Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of 100 Most Creative People in Business

Fast Company today announced its annual list of the Most Creative People in Business for 2018, honoring an influential and diverse group of 100 leaders from a vast range of global industries including tech, design, entertainment, healthcare, media, government, nonprofit, finance, food, and more. Among the top leaders recognized is Daniela Perdomo, CEO and co-founder of goTenna, the mesh networking company on the frontlines of decentralized communications technology. One of the most prestigious rankings in business, the award is in recognition of Perdomo’s visionary work in decentralized networks, and her exceptional leadership at goTenna and beyond. 

The Most Creative People in Business list recognizes individuals whose work might not necessarily be quantifiable by numbers, but who are nonetheless having a measurable impact on the world. These scientists, executives, programmers, comedians, founders, designers, musicians, writers, and activists have accomplished something new this year within their field that’s driving their industries forward—and solving global and societal problems in novel ways.

This year’s group represents Fast Company’s hallmark of diversity: 56 are women, 44 are men, 12 hail from outside the United States, and more than two dozen are people of color.

Six years ago, Perdomo and her cofounder saw an opportunity to create seamless, secure, self-powered communications networks compatible with modern smartphones -- an idea that was reaffirmed by mass centralized network failure during Hurricane Sandy. Since inception in 2012, goTenna has launched three products to build next-generation wireless architectures and power bottom-up communications networks that get stronger as they grow. The company has also raised $16.8 million in funding to support that broader vision. 

Under Perdomo’s leadership, goTenna’s consumer mesh networking device, goTenna Mesh, has been adopted by over 100,000 people in 42 countries, embraced by everyone from outdoor enthusiasts and international travelers to users looking to create a more robust daily communications stack. Beyond consumers, goTenna’s mesh networks are used by the U.N., Google, FEMA, Raytheon, the French Army, US Special Operations Forces and the City of New York as parallel networks designed to both enable completely off-grid communication and augment traditional systems by extending the practical edge of connectivity. Most recently, a mobile, ad-hoc mesh network was created in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria disabled nearly 93% of all power and cell service on the island. 

“Centralized networks across the globe lack the resiliency and dependability consumers deserve and fall short to provide access to everyone in need,” Daniela Perdomo, goTenna’s CEO and co-founder stated. “We’re committed to building a people-powered network that works based on need, not access. To be named on Fast Company’s list, among such great companies and business leaders, is a true honor and testament to the importance of the goTenna team’s relentlessly innovative spirit.”

Fast Company editors and writers spend a year researching candidates for the list, scouting every sector of business: technology, fashion, cybersecurity, biotech, entertainment, beauty, social good, food, data, consumer goods, and more. The people selected have all accomplished something truly innovative within the past 12 months or so that is having a meaningful effect within their industries. They’re also discoveries; none has ever been profiled in Fast Company before. Taken together, they represent where business is heading right now.

“Other titles catalog wealth, corporate power, or company size,” says Stephanie Mehta, editor-in-chief of Fast Company. “Only Fast Company identifies and celebrates leaders, many unsung, who are making an impact with their creativity.” 

To see the complete list go to: fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2018

Introduced in 2009, the Most Creative People list was quickly established as one of Fast Company’s most esteemed franchises. Each year, the magazine’s editors present an all-new list of 100 people chosen according to a proprietary methodology. This year’s honorees join the expanding community of Fast Company’s Most Creative People 1000. 

Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business issue (Summer 2018) is available online now at fastcompany.com/most-creative-people/2018. The official newsstand on-sale date for the print issue is June 5. Join the Most Creative People conversation on social media using #FCMostCreative.

About Fast Company 
Fast Company is the world’s leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethical economics, leadership, and design. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, one of the U.S.’s leading media companies.

About goTenna
Based in Brooklyn, goTenna is a protocol company powering the most powerful, people-powered decentralized mesh network that enables connectivity independent of top-down traditional communications systems. goTenna was co-founded by siblings Daniela and Jorge Perdomo, whose vision to create resilient, people-powered connectivity ignited during Hurricane Sandy when up to a third of cell towers and power stations were knocked out. The company is backed by notable investors like Union Square Ventures, Walden Venture Capital, MentorTech Ventures, BBG Ventures (a subsidiary of Verizon), and Bloomberg Beta. For more information visit gotenna.com.

Contact Information

Maggie Philbin

Associate Director

Wareness for goTenna

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