Top 3 Crowdfunding Campaigns for May 2018: Smart Belt 2.0, Ovis & Hygen

Scope Weekly's Selection of the Most Notable Crowdfunding Campaigns for May 2018

Crowdfunding Filled with Fashion, Travel and the Environment

For the month of May, the highlighted crowdfunding platforms are Kickstarter, Indiegogo, and StartEngine.

Crowdfunding Platform Kickstarter: Try this on for Size, Smart Belt 2.0

For people who have no hips, such as myself, or those that can’t seem to wrap their minds around constant waist adjustments, this belt is for you. Founders of Delaware-based Harmattan Design, Holt Evans and Radu Zarnescu, is crowdfunding the latest version of their unique smart belt technology. The Smart Belt 2.0 breaks free from traditional 5 hole designs and replaced it with 32 adjustments for the best comfort possible. Their Kevlar Core material, was laboratory tested to prevent wear and tear while ensuring a light and comfortable feel. Their Italian leather is significant because of its natural vegetable tanning process that is claimed to be more resilient and eco-friendly. The Smart Belt 1.0 was the highest crowdfunded campaign in history for a fashion accessory and they plan to capitalize on this with even more choices. Backers create their ‘DIY’ belt with over 30 options to select from along with updated colors and buckles. They’ve already surpassed their goal of $10k currently standing at $416,213 with 51 days left in the Kickstarter campaign and plans to ship in August.

Crowdfunding Platform Indiegogo: Lead the Way with First-Ever Smart Suitcase, the Ovis

Perfect for travelers on the go, Ovis, is a suitcase that has a sophisticated deep-learning technology for their convenience. Created by San Jose-based ForwardX Robotics, this is a suitcase like never before. Its computer vision, known as Visual Simultaneous Location And Mapping (VSLAM), can locate travelers even in the most crowded environments. Once it spots them, it dodges obstacles in its path and follows them side by side as they walk. Its removable battery can be charged portably and is even TSA approved for air travel. Travelers will be notified on their mobile or smartwatch once Ovis becomes dangerously out of reach so they’ll never lose the case’s whereabouts. Coming in 4 colors, the interior of the case is optimized to save space while warranting a lightweight durability unique to its design. They have a month left in their Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign and have raised $56,889 of their $50,000 goal. Their first shipments for backers is set for December of this year.

Crowdfunding Platform: Startengine: Back to the Future with Renewable Fuel Agency, Hygen

Los-Angeles based startup, Hygen, is the first ever company created to produce and distribute hydrogen fuel in collaboration with station owners. They’re not just supplying the fuel but will install and operate the equipment while offering the owners a royalty of total sales. But even they claim their fuel is different stating the use of renewable electricity to divide water via electrolysis. This process guarantees the consumer(s) zero-emission fuel which is a big deal for the Golden State. By 2025, over twenty-percent of vehicles sold in California must be zero emission and the biggest car manufacturers already on board are Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai. Hygen received a $5.3 million grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to build their first station which is set to open in 2018. The company requires a $500 minimum investment and has raised $774,265 of their max goal of $20 million via crowdfunding on StartEngine. So if you’re passionate about the environment or want to invest in the future of auto, this may a good prospect to look.

If you want to see the crowdfunding list from April, check it out here.


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