Managing Director

Clint Wheelock is the founder and managing director of Tractica. He leads all research operations at the firm, including management of its analyst team as well as client interactions and consulting engagements. His personal research focuses on artificial intelligence and user interface technologies.

Wheelock has an extensive background in market intelligence focused on emerging technologies. Most recently, he was founder and president of Pike Research, a leading market intelligence firm focused on the global clean technology industry, which was acquired by Navigant Consulting, after which Wheelock led the rebranded Navigant Research business as its managing director. In this role, he managed all aspects of company operations, including research, sales, marketing, finance, and operations. Prior to forming Pike Research, Wheelock was chief research officer at ABI Research, vice president at the NPD Group, and research director at In-Stat. Previous positions also include senior product management and strategic marketing roles at Qwest Communications and Verizon Communications, as well as prior experience in management consulting and private investment banking. Wheelock holds an MBA from the University of Dallas and a BA from Washington & Lee University.

Research Director

Aditya Kaul is a research director at Tractica, with a primary focus on artificial intelligence and robotics. He also covers blockchain and wearables as part of his research. Kaul has more than 12 years of experience in technology market research and consulting. He is based in London.

Prior to Tractica, Kaul was a practice director at ABI Research, where he led the firm’s Mobile Networks research group. Kaul has also worked as an analyst and team leader at firms including Pioneer Consulting and Evalueserve, and has provided independent consulting services in the areas of Internet of Things, wearables, and smart cities. Kaul started his career as an electrical engineer designing chipsets and wireless networks with stints at Qualcomm and Siemens. Kaul has been a prolific speaker, moderator, and panelist at industry conferences and events, and has appeared frequently in the media including The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Forbes, CNBC, The Motley Fool, VentureBeat, Unstrung, ZDNet, Wireless Week, EE Times, and CommsDesign, among others.

Kaul holds two master’s degrees in engineering, from Colorado State University and Pennsylvania State University, as well as a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from National Institute of Technology, Surat in India.

Principal Analyst

Mark Beccue is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s User Interface Technologies practice, with a focus on virtual reality, augmented reality, virtual digital assistants, natural language processing, and other intelligent interfaces and collaboration tools.  Beccue, who is based in Tampa, is a veteran market research analyst with more than 20 years of experience in market and business strategy.

Prior to joining Tractica, Beccue was an independent consultant and industry analyst who provided clients with custom and syndicated qualitative market analysis and insights, with a primary emphasis on mobile consumer trends.  Previously, he was a senior market intelligence analyst at Syniverse with responsibility for identifying key market trends, market barriers, and market opportunities for the company within the evolving mobile ecosystem.  Beccue also served as a senior analyst at ABI Research, where he concentrated on mobile consumer trends, mobile applications, and mobile payments.  Beccue was previously vice president at Tucker/Hall, a public relations and marketing consulting firm.

Beccue has been cited hundreds of times by international media outlets including CNBC, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, and CNET.  He holds a bachelor of science degree in journalism from the University of Florida.

Principal Analyst

Wendell Chun is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s Automation & Robotics practice, with focus on commercial and industrial applications for robots.  Chun has more than 30 years of domain expertise as a leading technologist in robotics, unmanned systems, autonomy, artificial intelligence, autonomous navigation, design engineering, advanced manufacturing, and vehicle management systems.

In addition to his work with Tractica, Chun is an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, where he teaches courses in robotics and space robotics, as well as at the University of Colorado-Denver, where he lectures on design in the electrical engineering department.  Previously, Chun had a career spanning 33 years at Lockheed Martin, where he was a senior engineer managing research and development efforts in manipulation, mobile robots, and autonomous operations.  Chun has led numerous projects in support of NASA, DARPA, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and the U.S. Department of Energy, among others.

Chun holds a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the University of Hawaii and completed a graduate program in engineering design at Carnegie Mellon University.  He holds multiple patents related to robotics and autonomous systems, and has contributed to more than 50 industry papers and publications.

Principal Analyst

Jessica Groopman is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s Automation & Robotics practice, with a focus on blockchain and artificial intelligence technologies. Groopman, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, has 10 years of experience in research with a strong background in technology, business, and anthropological study, both qualitative and quantitative.

In addition to her work with Tractica, Groopman is an independent analyst and advisor providing clients custom qualitative market research and insights supporting B2C and B2B2C IoT strategies and applications. Previously, Groopman was research director and principal analyst at Harbor Research, where she led the research and content program and served as lead analyst focused on the consumer-facing Internet of Things (IoT) market. In that role, her research concentrated on the application of sensors and smart systems in consumer-facing businesses, with an emphasis on user experience, the ethical use of data, privacy, contextual marketing, automated service, and wearables.  Before Harbor, Groopman led IoT and emerging technology research at Altimeter Group, and she also previously served as manager of market research and directing research analyst at Focus Research.

Groopman is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and her research results and analyses have been widely cited in publications such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, CNBC, The New York Times, and Advertising Age, among others. She was also included in Onalytica’s list of the 100 Most Influential Thought Leaders in IoT. Groopman holds bachelors of science degrees in anthropology and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University.

Principal Analyst

Joe Hoffman is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s Artificial Intelligence practice.  Hoffman’s primary focus at Tractica is on the application of blockchain technology and the new enterprise business models that result.  Having addressed strategy from the perspective of development engineering, product management, and industry analysis, Hoffman brings a unique perspective for moving disruptive innovations from concept to actually shipping products.

Hoffman’s professional career began in electrical and systems engineering at IBM Federal Systems and Lockheed Martin, where he developed high-reliability products for the space and classified markets.  Later at Motorola and Nokia, Hoffman focused on product strategy, identifying when, where, and how firms should evolve over a 3 to 5-year journey.  Pulling these together as an executive consultant and industry analyst, Hoffman delivers the key insights and detailed analysis to find and connect the dots to help strategy executives answer the question: “What’s next?”

Hoffman holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Kentucky, an M.S. in systems engineering from Virginia Tech, and an MBA from Arizona State University.  His career background includes positions at IBM, Lockheed Martin, Motorola, and Nokia.

Principal Analyst

Anand Joshi is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s Artificial Intelligence Advisory Service, with a focus on computer vision and semiconductor technologies that enable AI applications.  Joshi is a technology industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience, including specialization in the embedded devices market.  During the course of his career, he has successfully built startup businesses as well as business units within larger companies.

Prior to his work with Tractica, Joshi was vice president and general manager of a business unit at Calsoft Labs, which was Adobe’s scaling partner and specialized in Adobe Flash Player.  During his tenure at Calsoft, Joshi started the business unit and grew it to over 100 people worldwide, releasing more than 50 high-profile products.  Earlier, Joshi founded Poseidon Design Systems, a startup focused on hardware acceleration of video via coprocessor.  His team successfully raised two rounds of capital and grew the company to 45 people.  Joshi’s early career spanned various engineering and marketing positions at Synopsys and LSI Logic.  He currently serves as entrepreneur in residence at F50 Ventures, where his areas of expertise include Internet of Things, smart devices, and wearable devices.  In this role, he advises numerous startups on various technology and business issues.

Joshi is an experienced market analyst, having authored reports for BCC Research on the topics of embedded systems technology, mobile and web applications, multimedia technology, flash memory for enterprise applications, and the Internet of Things.  He holds an MBA from the University of California-Irvine, an MS in electrical engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and a BE from Amravati University.

Principal Analyst

Keith Kirkpatrick is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s User Interface Technologies practice, with a focus on emerging interface technologies for automotive, consumer, enterprise, and industrial markets.  Kirkpatrick, who is based in New York, has more than 20 years of experience in a variety of research, marketing, and consulting-based fields.

Kirkpatrick began his career as a financial and technology journalist, and has written for a wide variety of national and trade publications, including Investment Dealers’ Digest, The Red Herring, BusinessWeek, The Communications of the ACM, and Mobile Computing & Communications, among others.  Kirkpatrick has also developed expertise in primary and secondary research, and has authored a wide range of primary market forecast studies covering a range of technology and communications topics.  He has authored reports for ABI Research, Navigant Research, and his own firm, 4K Research & Consulting, LLC.

Kirkpatrick is a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP) and the Alliance of Alternative Asset Professionals (TAAAPs).  He holds a BA in magazine journalism and sociology from Syracuse University.

Principal Analyst

Phil Solis is a principal analyst contributing to Tractica’s Artificial Intelligence and Robotics practices, with an initial focus on computer vision technologies and markets. Solis has been tracking, analyzing, and commenting on technology markets for over 14 years.

In addition to his work with Tractica, Solis covers wireless and mobile connectivity markets, including Wi-Fi, WiGig, LPWAN, and 5G, for SAR Insight & Consulting. Previously, he was a research director at ABI Research, where he covered a diverse array of topics including robotics, application processors, wireless connectivity, mobile devices, and mobile networks. Solis also worked in the telecommunications industry for 8 years at Verizon as an engineer and sales engineer.

Solis has been widely quoted in the press, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Businessweek, the BBC, and EE Times. He has participated as a keynote speaker, moderator, and panelist at many different trade shows and conferences. Solis holds an MBA in marketing and information systems from Pace University and a bachelor of engineering in electrical engineering from Stony Brook University.

Principal Analyst

Charul Vyas is a principal analyst at Tractica, with a focus on digital health technologies and markets.  Vyas has 15 years of experience as an industry analyst, with an extensive background covering mobile and wireless, telecommunications, Internet of Things, consumer and enterprise technologies, cleantech, and financial services.  She is based in San Diego.

Vyas began her market research career as a senior analyst in IDC’s Wireless & Mobile Communications program, researching mobile operators and services.  She has held positions as a research manager for iGR, a senior manager at the NPD Group, and a lead analyst for emerging technologies at the TowerGroup.  Vyas has also served as a contributing analyst to firms such as Navigant Research and ABI Research.

Vyas has consulted with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies to identify and measure strategic goals, assisted with key strategic initiatives such as brand and product positioning, and has conducted portfolio analysis, long-range business planning, and competitive analysis.  In addition, she has extensive experience in public relations, advertising, brand analytics, and journalism.  Vyas holds a BA in journalism from the University of Texas and an MBA from Colorado State University.

Senior Analyst

Andrew Broderick is a senior analyst contributing to Tractica’s Digital Health practice, with a primary focus on population health management software and services.  Broderick, who is based in San Francisco, has 20 years of experience in technology market analysis and strategic planning with a focus on issues related to digital health, healthcare policy, and public health.

In addition to his work with Tractica, Broderick is research center director at the Center for Innovation and Technology in Public Health, where he leads efforts to advance the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of patient-centered digital health interventions, and to disseminate findings for use in public policy and health practices.  In this role, he is principal investigator for the evaluation of digital health solutions among underserved populations and in the safety net setting, in addition to leading user experience research and conducting focus groups and interviews with all levels of stakeholders in healthcare settings.  Broderick was previously director of research and forecasting at the Health Technology Center.  Before that, he spent more than 10 years as a senior consultant focused on strategic technology foresight and planning at SRI International.

Broderick holds an MA in economics and geography from Trinity College Dublin and an MBA from San Francisco State University.

Senior Analyst

Wil McCarthy is a senior analyst contributing to Tractica’s User Interface Technologies practice, with a primary focus on flexible display technologies.  McCarthy, who is based in the Denver area, has more than 25 years of experience as a technologist and technology writer.

In addition to his work with Tractica, McCarthy is a fractional CTO for emerging technology companies.  He has served as VP of Technology for Brite-Line Technologies and was president, co-founder, and CTO for Ravenbrick, having been inventor of its flagship product, an energy-saving polymer/liquid crystal window film that tints when it gets hot.  McCarthy is a former contributing editor for WIRED magazine and science columnist for the SyFy channel, where his popular “Lab Notes” column ran from 1999 through 2009.  He has also written for TV and video games, has appeared on The History Channel and The Science Channel as a subject matter expert, and has published nonfiction in half a dozen magazines, including WIRED, Discover, GQ, Popular Mechanics, IEEE Spectrum, and the Journal of Applied Polymer Science.  Early in his career, McCarthy was a senior engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space and a senior engineering manager at Omnitech Robotics.

McCarthy holds 29 patents in the fields of electronics, optics, and smart materials.  He earned a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado.

Research Analyst

Sherril Hanson is a research analyst at Tractica, contributing to the firm’s coverage of artificial intelligence, robotics, and user interface technologies, with a primary focus on analyzing the industry ecosystem and profiling the strategies of key industry players.  Hanson has over 20 years of experience in market research, analysis, and competitive intelligence.  She is based at Tractica’s headquarters office in Boulder, Colorado.

Prior to joining Tractica, Hanson was a market research manager and consultant at West Safety Services and its predecessor company Intrado.  In this role, she focused on competitor tracking and profiling, assessing the impact of industry news and developments, and managing primary research projects.  Previously, Hanson was a product manager at US West (now CenturyLink), manager of research and information services at the Visiting Nurse Associations of America, and research analyst at World Information Technologies.

Hanson holds a bachelor of arts in psychology from Rutgers University and an MBA in marketing from the University of Colorado.

Research Analyst

Manoj Sahi is a research analyst contributing to Tractica’s Automation & Robotics practice, with a focus on emerging business and technology trends in the global robotics market.  Sahi, who currently resides in Tokyo, has significant past experience in robotics technology development.

In addition to his work with Tractica, Sahi is founder of Sensoids, Inc., which is developing the critical capabilities of robotic systems with a current focus on the next generation of smart sensors and software in personal and social robots.  He is also associated with The Robot Report as an editorial consultant, where he conducts in-depth research on trends in robotics businesses and technologies.  Previously, Sahi was co-founder and CTO of Robots Alive, where he led the development of various products and technologies related to industrial robots for SMEs and edutainment robots in association with the National Institute of Design and futuristic wearables for the fashion industry.  He also served as head of R&D for ADA Robotics, which became part of Robots Alive in 2009.  Sahi was previously a software engineer at Infosys.

Sahi holds a degree in mechatronics engineering and is currently his doctoral research on emerging psychological issues in human-robot coexistent societies and workplaces in eastern Asia.