Editor’s note: This article was first published in June 2017. Product prices, availability and crowdfunding status are as of that year, and several of the products, such as the Automatic car adapter, may no longer exist or may have changed.
Previously we looked at 8 original products that are already a reality this year, 2017. This time we are going to look at some ideas for original products, most of them funded through crowdfunding platforms (Indiegogo and the like).
Some of these ideas are useful, others are whims and others are curious to say the least, but we could say they have all been well received at first. As you can see, all these business ideas are based on the most basic thing: a problem or a concern, and meeting that need, even if they are not the most innovative.
(See also: 10 original products to sell in Spain)
1. Kingii – a life-saving wristband
With the boom in water sports, and as a way to protect children, this is without doubt the product of the summer. The wristband carries a CO2 cartridge that you can trigger if you get into trouble in the water, and a balloon automatically inflates that takes you up to the surface and keeps you there. As with airbags, after use you have to replace the CO2 cartridge; replacement cartridges can be bought.
This business idea was funded on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo.
On Amazon the price is around €90.
2. The anti-monster bed
This bed helps children overcome their night-time fears. Through an app, the bed measures the child’s pulse, heart rate and sleep phases. When it detects that the child has fallen asleep, the lights go off. If it detects that the child wakes up in the middle of the night, it turns the lights back on.
The developers of this idea are NGlife, a company specialising in technology for sleep systems, and the bed will cost from €1,450.
Watch: The anti-monster bed video
3. Flash bikes: the evolution of electric bikes
Bikes are increasingly replacing cars in cities, because of some of the drawbacks of driving. That is also why the number of companies renting out bikes by the hour has grown, which has turned out to be a profitable business.
The creators of Flash bikes have tried to solve many of the problems faced by people who use a bike to get around.
First of all, this bike has an anti-theft system: once you lock it, if someone tries to take it, an alarm goes off. It also sends an alert to your smartphone. It has GPS, front and rear lights and even indicators to show whether you want to turn left or right.
According to its creators, the battery has a range of about 50 miles (75 km).
Watch: Flash electric bike video
4. Juiced: the electric skateboard
From innovation in electric bikes we move on to the electric skateboard. Its creators say it is not the most powerful skateboard, nor the fastest, nor the top of the range, but it offers exceptional value, safety for beginners and a very high-quality board at a low price.
The battery charges in about 45 minutes and has a range of about 11 kilometres.
5. Water Walker & Spa: an aquatic treadmill
The creators of this idea have designed a system for running in water, where the resistance and effort are greater but your feet and knees suffer less. And it also doubles as a bath.
Watch: Water Walker & Spa video
6. Kippy Vita: a GPS and activity monitor for cats and dogs
This GPS lets you know where your dog or cat is at all times, so you can find it if it gets lost. The app also shows you the route your pet has taken that day.
You can mark out a territory and get an alert on your smartphone if your pet leaves that area. The manufacturer says the battery lasts about 7 days.
On sale on Amazon for €50.
7. Automatic: a smart driving assistant
This product is only available in the United States. Automatic plugs into the car and accesses the vehicle’s data, so it can detect any fault or problem with the car. It helps you take the shortest route, helps you save on fuel and, in the event of an accident, automatically calls the emergency services.
It can also connect to your smartphone, acting as a GPS and offering many other complete features.
8. Saddle Baby
A habit as common as carrying your child on your shoulders has given rise to a business idea.
The advantages of this product are, on the one hand, that the child is held securely, since their feet are firmly strapped in. The parent can keep their hands free with peace of mind, and the child sits comfortably.
The price on Amazon is €99.
See also: This idea could save plane passengers’ lives in a crash
Featured image: BriHees, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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