Canadian entrepreneur Eric Migicovsky’s firm can do no wrong these days. His company Allerta developed the Pebble, stylish and clean wristwatches that synch and function in concert with your handheld smartphones (iOS and Android platforms). The firm has recently created a great deal of buzz by raising over $5 million from upwards of 39,000 people on Kickstarter; a funding platform for those looking to invest in innovative ideas. Even more remarkable is the fact that these funds were raised over the course of a few days, with another twenty plus days left for people to back the project.
The slickly designed pebble allows you to synch your wristwatch to your smartphone in an effort to make life easier. The phones use a similar e-paper technology to your favourite e-readers to create an easy to read display and battery life of up to a week. The true beauty of the device however is how simple and versatile it is as a tool. Via Bluetooth connectivity, athletes can use it in concert with several running and bicycling apps to track distance, speed and location. Music related apps can be used to change songs and adjust volume settings from your wrist while also being cognisant of caller and text message information instantly. The company also plans to allow innovative developers to create other useful applications for the watches, potentially increasing their functions exponentially.
Like many great start-up stories, it is worth noting that the firm had a less than stellar beginning to their story. Allerta was unsuccessful in a California funding trip, being jilted by several prominent VCs. Through sheer grit and determination, Migicovsky and his team were able to acquire a few hundred thousand dollars from a small group of angel investors, allowing them to bring a strong and well-designed product to the eager investors at Kickstarter. The rest has been nothing short of remarkable, as investors who appreciate the simplicity and functionality of the devices have been contributing in droves.
Check out Allerta’s (Pebble’s developers) video presentation on Kickstarter by clicking here.
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