Boston is well known for its plethora of healthtech and biotech startups, as well as its robust B2B software scene. But what about its flourishing consumer product sector?
This industry often flies under the radar in the Hub, but it shouldn't. From smart bikes to doggie DNA kits (yes, you heard that correctly), the following five consumer product companies are making some pretty innovative stuff. Check them out below.
Who wouldn’t want an extra boost while riding their bike to work? That’s the goal of Superpedestrian, the creator of the “Copenhagen Wheel,” a semi-autonomous wheel attachment that makes cycling more efficient. The wheel retrofits to most bikes and learns from movement, capturing energy when the brakes are applied and using it later whenever an extra boost is needed. If you’re still not convinced of the wheel’s coolness, it even connects to smartphones for ride analysis.
Introducing, Jibo. This “social robot for the home” can look, listen and learn using artificial intelligence to interact with your family in a highly personalized fashion. Got a big family? Jibo uses advanced facial and voice recognition technology to learn up to 16 people. Among the many amazing things Jibo can do: Take photos, play music, turn on the lights, set an alarm, read the news and much, much more.
Want to know more about your pup’s background? Embark makes a “Dog DNA Test” that has been dubbed the most comprehensive pet genetic test on the market, tracking over 200,000 genetic markers. That’s in comparison to other tests on the market, which typically only look at 5,000 markers. After testing your dog’s drool, Embark’s results offer ancestry analysis as well as an extensive overview of genetic disease risk and heritable traits. In other words: in four to six weeks, you can learn whether your dog is intolerant to certain types of food or is predisposed to Lymphoma and other types of cancer.
Calling all aspiring sommeliers: Kuvee is a direct-to-consumer wine service that delivers curated wines to your doorstep. The company is known for its specially-made wine dispenser that keeps wine fresh for up to 30 days, solving the issue of less-than-fresh wine. As you use the dispenser, it provides more information about the wine you’re drinking, including where it’s from and suggesting pairings and other wines you might like.
Never worry about an accidental home fire again: The Wallflower smart monitor turns your existing stove into a smart appliance that connects to an app on your phone. The app sounds an alarm on the device and notifies your phone if the stove is turned on or if you forgot to turn it off. The Wallflower system also supports multiple users per home, so you don’t have to be the only one in charge of keeping your pad safe.
