Here is our Q1 2017 summary report on the Internet of Things (IoT) startup sector. The following report includes a startup landscape overview, graphical trends and insights, and recent funding and exit events.

We are currently tracking 1,809 IoT companies in 20 categories across 50 countries, with a total of $32 Billion in funding. Click here to learn more about the full Internet of Things market report.

Source: Venture Scanner

For the first time, people can buy products they discover via Instagram using Amazon’s payments platform.

Amazon has partnered with high-end clothing retailer Moda Operandi to integrate Amazon Pay directly within Moda’s Instagram posts.

When a user sees something they want to buy on Moda’s Instagram, they can now check out using their Amazon log-in info, removing the need to manually type in address and other payment information.

Amazon Pay is not directly embedded within an Instagram feed; users will need to click a link on Moda’s Instagram profile bio, which directs them to Moda’s “Like2Buy” platform — powered by Curalate — that enables purchases via its Instagram posts.

Moda and Amazon previously partnered last year to implement Amazon Pay on Moda’s website.

Amazon continues to expand its payments platform that allows customers to use their Amazon accounts to pay on sites beyond Amazon.com. The company said in February that more than 33 million unique customers have used Amazon Payments since the service launched in 2013.

Michel Poignant, CEO & Founder at Paytoo

Michel's Bio:

Michel Poignant is the founder and CEO of PayToo Group that consists of several companies including PayToo International Bank where he provides leadership and oversees development and deployment of growth strategies. Michel is a veteran of the financial and technology industries with more than 20 years of experience establishing and successfully managing multi-national companies and global corporations. He is also known for launching several innovative products such as: The Moby-Desk, the First Mobile Desktop and the Photo Bingo, the first Roll Film vending machine.

Michel has a vast knowledge in providing high quality financial services to fulfill community and customer needs with focus on increasing shareholder value. As motivational leader, he has established and directed a highly skilled management team to maximize profits with the best interest of shareholders, customers, employees and communities.

The VAT is coming in UAE from 1 January 2018.The VAT will be implemented in UAE with the 5% rate on some goods and services. All GCC States have agreed on unified VAT framework agreement.According to GCC VAT framework agreement the basic rate of VAT of five percent as well as allowing for certain supplies of goods and services to be zero-rated or VAT-exempt. Some sectors like as Education, Health, Real Estate, Local transport will be exempted from VAT.

Here are the links to the bios we received from the speakers. They are listed in the same order as the agenda for the event.

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Anthony Gibbs, Managing Director Financial Industry Advisory Services (former CFPB Director) at Alvarez & Marsal

Anthony's Bio:

Anthony Gibbs is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal Financial Industry Advisory Services based in Chicago, specializing in all aspects of governance, enterprise risk management, regulatory compliance, and process and system optimization. His primary areas of focus are Consumer Financial Protection laws and regulations and designing and building effective, efficient and sustainable enterprise compliance risk management processes. Anthony also helps clients proactively prepare for regulatory expectations and help navigate them through regulatory supervisory examinations and their aftermath for all regulatory agencies.

With more than 25 years of private and public sector experience in public accounting, financial services and financial services regulation, compliance and governance, Mr. Gibbs has been a recognized leader in providing a unique ability, to not only develop risk management strategies, but to execute and operationalize those strategies. Mr. Gibbs leverages on his global experience to ensure the highest level of ethics, compliance and operational effectiveness and efficiency.

Prior to joining A&M, Mr. Gibbs served as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Midwest Regional Director where he had responsibility for building directing a team of 120 supervision staff to supervise depository financial institutions with assets over $10 billion as well as large participants in the non-depository financial services industry. He was also heavily involved with CFPB headquarters in Washington D.C. developing and implementing policies, programs, systems and operations of this new agency. Mr. Gibbs was also a frequent speaker at industry and regulatory associations and conferences discussing the mission, priorities and methods of the CFPB.

Before the CFPB, Mr. Gibbs served in a variety of executive management roles in the U.S. and Europe at HSBC where he gained substantial experience leading complex business, risk and compliance activities and the remediation of significant regulatory issues. Mr. Gibbs started his career as a financial statement auditor at PwC for a variety of financial services companies.

Mr. Gibbs earned masters of business administration degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and a bachelor of science in accounting from the University of Toronto. Mr. Gibbs is a Certified Public Accountant in the U.S. and Canada and a Certified Information Systems Auditor.