This article was written by Krystine Therriault. You can find her on twitter here.
Kickstarter introduces new ideas to the world and lets you vote on whether or not they should exist.
It always surprises me how some of the items on crowdfunding sites either don’t already exist or haven’t been considered as a solution to problems we face every day. Below, I’ve put together a few products that aim to simplify our life by saving valuable time and money. Let me know which is your favorite and why!
1. Sense: Know More. Sleep Better.
Creator: Hello
Amount Funded: $567,735
Funding Period: July 23rd to August 22nd
Some of the most successful Kickstarter projects address problems that many people (if not most) have. Not everyone sleeps badly or has trouble getting the right amount of sleep. Many of us do though; and let’s face it, we all need sleep to function.
Sense is a product that was designed to be visually appealing and functions as an alarm clock while looking a lot less obnoxious and annoying than most traditional ones! The device has sensors – including light and temperature to name a few – that monitor the conditions that will affect how well you sleep at night.
It also comes with an app and small sensor that clips onto your pillow to track sleep disturbances (you can get one for your partner too!). Each night you get a sleep score, a combination of factors that allows you to identify patterns in your sleeping habits and fix any avoidable problems that might be keeping you up at night.
2. Cubii: World’s First Under-Desk Elliptical Trainer
Creator: FitnessCubed
Amount Funded: $206,989
Funding Period: June 18th to July 28th
The Cubii is definitely another product that is going to change the lives of countless people, like myself, who work sitting at a desk all day.
This elliptical trainer is an ergonomic solution that allows the typical office worker to stay active and burn some extra calories while on the job. Some fun environmentally friendly stretch goals that this project has reached include adding the ability to charge your phone or use Bluetooth by exercising!
The team behind this project seems really passionate about their product, has positive testimonials from people who have tried the Cubii and has had a lot of media coverage. While to some it may only seem like a small change, I think this is pretty ingenious. I would totally use one, and I believe many people will benefit from the extra stimulation while being cooped up in the office on a regular basis.
3. Klik Belts | Upgrade Your Belt
Creator: Klik Belts
Amount Funded: $29,795
Funding Period: July 15th to August 14th
The Klik Belt is a highly durable belt that was designed with simplicity in mind. Rather than dealing with your average belt with holes that wear out after using them for a while, the Klik Belt simply snaps together.
This product comes in different colors and the Kickstarter has plenty of video footage and pictures that show that Klik Belts can be used by both men and women, casually and formally. They also do a pretty cool demonstration where they pull a car out of a river with another car attached with their belt and rope, which seems pretty strong for a belt!
4. SMASH CUP: A reusable coffee cup that fits in your pocket
Creator: Ben Melinger
Amount Funded: $77,411
Funding Period: July 8th to August 7th
The SMASH CUP is an eco-friendly mug that may replace traditional travel mugs which have been growing in popularity. The SMASH CUP uses plastic that is free of chemicals and uses parts that are easy to wash. Oh, and you can smash it!
The SMASH CUP is great for hot or cold liquids and allows you to store it in small places like a purse or pocket without being overly bulky. The fact that you get to release some of your aggression in a fun and healthy way is just an added bonus. These cups come in different colors (including a limited edition Kickstarter version) and their newest stretch goal is the junior version.
This item is one that will save a lot of room compared to most of the reusable mugs on the market today, and surely will be embraced by many environmentally conscious coffee drinkers out there.
5. OmieBox: Hot & Cold Food in 1 Lunchbox
Creator: OmieLife
Amount Funded: $80,183
Funding Period: July 7th to August 31st
The OmieBox is a lunch box created with both parents and children in mind. The project’s founder, Nancy, came up with the idea when trying to pack healthy lunches for her son that he would actually eat.
By teaming up with a designer and an engineer, she was able to design a single lunch box that comes with various compartments that can hold both hot and cold foods together.
The OmieBox is designed so that it is easy for kids with small hands to use and for parents to wash, to help save time and effort when preparing lunches can typically be a bit of a nightmare. While lunch boxes with different compartments are not necessarily new, the design, easy use, and hot and cold feature combined make it extra convenient.
Conclusion
Each of these Kickstarter campaigns bring something new to consumers whose needs are not met by existing solutions. Judging by their traction, these projects have succeeded in exciting many people who are willing to back and support them. In return, those who back these campaigns get to have their lives changed in small ways, which may have a big impact!
Leave me a comment below with your favorite life-simplifying Kickstarter project!
