ISG Forms Strategic Partnership with Silicon Valley Accelerator and VC Firm Plug and Play

STAMFORD, Conn., March 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Information Services Group (ISG) (Nasdaq: III), a leading global technology research and advisory firm, today announced it has formed a strategic partnership with Silicon Valley-based Plug and Play, the world's largest technology innovation accelerator platform, that will give ISG an unprecedented opportunity to influence the digital future of business as a founding anchor partner of Plug and Play's newly launched Enterprise 2.0 program.

ISG is one of only two founding anchor partners of the Enterprise 2.0 program, and the only technology research and advisory firm to be a part of an elite group of market influencers that make up the Enterprise 2.0 ecosystem. The new platform – dedicated to the future of work and focused on technology innovation in all aspects of IT Platforms, Operations, Accounting, Legal and Human Resources – will be introduced later today during a launch event at Plug and Play's global headquarters in Sunnyvale, Calif.

ISG Chairman and CEO Michael P. Connors said his firm is "excited to have the opportunity to shape the digital future of business through the Enterprise 2.0 platform."

"As a founding anchor partner, we look forward to representing our clients' best interests and using our strong industry voice to advocate for the commercial development of those disruptive technologies that will most benefit our clients and have the greatest impact on the digital enterprise of tomorrow," Connors said.

Connors said ISG also will look to have a voice in additional ecosystems at Plug and Play, particularly InsurTech and Fintech. "We represent 24 of the top 50 global banks, including 11 of the top 15 in the U.S., and 15 of the top 25 insurance companies worldwide. These clients are looking to us to help them digitally transform their operations, including gaining access to the kind of cutting-edge technologies Plug and Play startups can provide."

ISG, Connors said, plays a critical role in the $1 trillion global market for technology services. "With our market-leading research, advice and support, we are helping drive the digital agendas of many of the world's largest companies, including emphasizing the need to incorporate emerging digital technologies into their partner ecosystems. Such disruptive technologies are critical to competitive success."

ISG counts among its clients 700 of the world's leading corporations, public sector organizations and technology and service providers, including 75 of the top 100 enterprises in the world. As a trusted advisor to these clients, ISG influences more than $20 billion annually in technology spending, with a focus on helping clients digitally transform their operations for greater efficiency and faster growth.

"Plug and Play is proud to welcome ISG, one of the world's premier technology research and advisory firms, as one of two founding anchor partners in Plug and Play's new Enterprise 2.0 platform," said Saeed Amidi, CEO and co-founder of Plug and Play. "ISG's incredible clients, global reach and sophistication offer an amazing foundation to accelerate innovative startups. I am personally excited about the influence ISG has in the industry and what that means for startups that join the Plug and Play ecosystem."

Added Mark Gregory, head of Product and Partnerships for Enterprise 2.0, "The landscape of innovation changes daily and Plug and Play's new founding anchor partnership with ISG is already generating strategic visibility into the digital enterprise of tomorrow. It's clear ISG is relentless in finding innovation for its world-class clients, and this partnership with Plug and Play will help move the needle for years to come – both for ISG's clients and for the startups that will partner with them."

Under its partnership agreement with Plug and Play, ISG will have two seats on the Enterprise 2.0 board that sets the technology agenda and oversees the application process for technology startups wishing to enter the program. From an initial pool of more than 500 applicants, ISG will have a hand in shortlisting the top 50 startups, choosing the 30 that get to make their pitch on selection day, and deciding on the 20 that make the final cut and enter the three-month accelerator program.

ISG also will have the opportunity to meet privately with the more than 400 tech startups onsite at Plug and Play's sprawling technology center. These so-called deal flow sessions will give ISG clients, advisors and research analysts the inside track on the latest disruptive technologies and access to the innovators behind them.

"This exposure will be enormously beneficial to informing our technology research agenda and building awareness among our consultants who are helping shape the digital strategies and future operating models of our clients," Connors said. "We are excited about the prospect of bringing the latest innovations to the attention of our clients and our global team of advisors and researchers."

Plug and Play was an early investor in Google, PayPal, Dropbox, LendingClub and Naturebox, among the more than 700 investments it has made in tech startups since its founding in 2006.

About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we have built accelerator programs, corporate innovation services, and an in-house VC to make technological advancement progress faster than ever before. Since inception in 2006, our programs have expanded worldwide to include a presence in 28 locations globally giving startups the necessary resources to succeed in Silicon Valley and beyond. With over 6,000 startups and 220 official corporate partners, we have created the ultimate startup ecosystem in many industries. We provide active investments with 200 leading Silicon Valley VCs, and host more than 700 networking events per year. Companies in our community have raised over $7 billion in funding, with successful portfolio exits including Danger, Dropbox, LendingClub, PayPal, SoundHound, and Zoosk. For more information, visit www.plugandplaytechcenter.com.

About ISG
ISG (Information Services Group) (Nasdaq: III) is a leading global technology research and advisory firm. A trusted business partner to more than 700 clients, including 75 of the top 100 enterprises in the world, ISG is committed to helping corporations, public sector organizations, and service and technology providers achieve operational excellence and faster growth. The firm specializes in digital transformation services, including automation, cloud and data analytics; sourcing advisory; managed governance and risk services; network carrier services; technology strategy and operations design; change management; market intelligence and technology research and analysis. Founded in 2006, and based in Stamford, Conn., ISG employs more than 1,300 professionals operating in more than 20 countries—a global team known for its innovative thinking, market influence, deep industry and technology expertise, and world-class research and analytical capabilities based on the industry's most comprehensive marketplace data. For more information, visit www.isg-one.com.

SOURCE Information Services Group, Inc.

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