FRANKFURT, GERMANY--(Marketwired - Dec 10, 2014) - COBI raced past its Kickstarter campaign target, just 4 days after commencing on December 3. Highlights of the campaign include:
- More than $100,000 raised in only 4 days
- 600 backers from 18 countries
- 300 customer enquiries per day
- Over 35 bike manufacturer and retailer partner requests
- 6 investor requests
- 17 job applications
- Overwhelming response in social media
- More than 1 million people reached
- More than 80,000 video views
- Further countries added due to strong backer demand (e.g. Switzerland, Singapore)
COBI now ranks among the most successful Kickstarter campaigns from Germany.
The campaign runs for another 22 days and will be extended with stretch goals which will include expanded features and partner cooperation based on customer feedback. The first stretch goal has already commenced.
Andreas Gahlert, Founder:
"We are delighted by the overwhelming response from fans and the industry all over the world. We always believed in the potential of COBI. Thanks to the feedback we're receiving, we can go even further."
Financing of COBI:
In addition to Kickstarter, the COBI system has been financed by 11 investors so far. To date, nearly $1.3 million has been invested in product development. Venture Capital investments will support taking COBI into production too. Kickstarter funds provide an immediate influx in capital that allows COBI to speed to market.
The system: COBI is a world-first in many ways. It's the first integrated system for bikes, integrating the most popular smartphones, which turns every bike into a smart bike at an affordable price. The patented system integrates five typical bike accessories into one design: a light, a navigation system, a smartphone holder with charging function, a bell, and a bike computer. COBI's greatest strength lies in the in the seamless integration of more than 100 features that make biking more connected, smarter and safer: Navigation system, weather barometer, music player, smartphone-charger, thumb controller, brake light, Indicators, alarm system, online services, social media, mobile connectivity, fitness interface, styling kits and much more.
COBI was designed to be future proof: The modular construction allows COBI to be upgraded for the next generations of smartphones.
COBI offers a number of partner programs for bike manufacturers, retailers and service partners. An SDK for Software Developers will allow other companies to extend and integrate with the COBI system.
The company: iCradle began with the product development in Winter 2013 in Germany and has now started the final phase of product development in December 2014. iCradle launched COBI for one month on Kickstarter as the final step before production. Product delivery is set for summer 2015.
The Team: iCradle was founded by Andreas Gahlert. Before iCradle, he was the CEO of the multimedia agency "Niue Digitale" for 10 years before selling it to Razorfish in 2006. He managed dozens of customers and 200 employees and with his team he won over 300 awards for digital innovations, for customers like Adidas and Audi.
About COBI, the World's Smartest Connected Biking System
- Worldwide first Connected Biking Upgrade for everyone
- With Bluetooth, CAN, ANT+
- Delivers 10+ exclusive functions
- Incl. Navigation, Charging system, anti Theft, LED-Light, brake light, indicators, music player, etc.
- Supports Spotify, Google Fit, Apple Health, Podcasts, Gaming, Social Media, etc.
- Additional sensors: Light, Barometer, Accelerometer and Altitude
- Selling price: starting from $185, Kickstarter pre-order starting from $115
Requirements for COBI installation
- Standard Bikes with handlebars-Ø 25-34 mm, stem: width max. 60 & Ø max. 50 mm
- Apple iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, 6, 6Plus, Samsung S4, S5, Nexus 5 and additional will follow upon request
- Exclusive to E-Bike-Model: Current Bosch-System from 2013 COBI updates will follow to support newer editions and other CAN-compatible electric drive systems (e.g. Brose, Yamaha)
Kickstarter:
COBI on Kickstarter
Download Material & RSS:
www.press-service.info/cobi
Further information:
www.cobi.bike
Facebook:
iCradle on facebook.com
Contact Information:
Press contact:
Paul Wilke
CEO
Upright Communications
+1-415-881-7995
