Digi International

About Digi International

In 1985, long before the term "Internet of Things" entered the popular lexicon, a Minnesota-based company was founded by John Schinas, a former rocket scientist. This company, initially called DigiBoard, addressed a core inefficiency in the early days of personal computing: how to get a single computer to handle multiple devices at once. They developed intelligent circuit boards that allowed numerous users to connect to a single PC, a cost-effective alternative to expensive networks. The company found early success, and by 1989, it went public on the NASDAQ as Digi International, raising $11 million to fuel its growth. This event marked a pivotal moment, providing the capital to expand beyond its initial products. Throughout the 1990s, Digi grew by making strategic acquisitions, moving into Local Area Network (LAN) and Wide Area Network (WAN) connectivity, establishing itself as a key player in the I/O market. As technology evolved, so did Digi. The company astutely shifted its focus toward wireless communication and embedded systems, recognizing the massive potential of connecting machines to each other. This foresight positioned Digi as a foundational player in the M2M (machine-to-machine) and industrial IoT space. Rather than building flashy consumer gadgets, Digi focused on the critical, often unseen, hardware and software that enables industries like transportation, energy, and retail to operate more efficiently and reliably. Today, Digi International continues to operate as a public company, providing the essential building blocks for a connected world.