FLYING START

Crowd-funding platform Kickstarter has breathed life into myriad products and ideas, writes Craig Bright

Crowd-funding platform Kickstarter allows innovative ideas to see the light of day

Today’s world is more social and connected than it has ever been. Media such as Facebook or Twitter is the most universal manifestation of this, but crowd-funding platforms produce the most tangible results of communities coming together to create something new. Kickstarter is perhaps the most widely known and has helped bring to life numerous projects, from creative works to new inventions. More than a few travel-related products have sprung into existence as a result of successful Kickstarter campaigns. Here are just a few.

TRAVELERBUDDY

Development began: Mid-2015 Kickstarter goal: S$10,000 (US$7,000) Funding achieved: S$23,000 (US$16,300) Available to download free on App Store and Google Play Travelerbuddy wasn’t the first travel management app to hit the market, but nonetheless it contains numerous helpful features. Combining a number of different applications, the app allows you to generate an itinerary by forwarding your bookings and information to the Travelerbuddy team, receive real-time travel alerts, make expense claims, sync with your calendar, and collate all your documents in one place for easy online or offline access. It even checks ahead of time whether your passport is out of date, and informs you of specific customs and health documents you will need for your destination. travelerbuddy.com

AIR BOLT

Development began: Mid-2014 Kickstarter goal: A$50,000 (US$38,000) Funding achieved: A$202,000 (US$153,300) Available now A combination padlock and luggage tracker, Air Bolt managed to hit its Kickstarter target in a matter of days. Its creators eventually gleaned 400 per cent funding by the end of their campaign. Air Bolt can be controlled using a smartphone app, unlocking when a code is input or a smart device comes within Bluetooth range. As a security measure against theft, you can set the lock to sound an alarm when it gets too far away from your device. Crowd-sourced GPS also enables users to track their bags – the charge lasting a year before needing to be topped up via micro-USB. theairbolt.com

JETZY

Development began: January 2015 Kickstarter goal: US$5,000 Funding achieved: US$5,135 Available to download free on the App Store and Google Play Travellers can claim rewards for a whole variety of things on the road, from hotel stays to flights to purchases at retail outlets. But user-to-user social app Jetzy is taking this idea further by rewarding its users for posting photos, sending messages and referring friends to use the platform.

Jetzy is designed as a geolocation-based, user-driven platform for travellers to get instant local recommendations for hidden gems in a destination, meet new people and share their experiences while on a trip. The more they use Jetzy, the faster users can earn Jetpoints that can be redeemed for rewards such as spa vouchers, meals and free trips. jetzyapp.com

EVOLUS 3

Development began: Mid-2016 Kickstarter goal: € 30,000 (US$32,400) Funding achieved: € 65,837 (US$71,000) Available now The Evolus 3 docking system was designed by Germany-based Enblue Technology to provide a multi-device charging station that won’t become obsolete the minute new sizes of Apple gadgets are rolled out. The system includes charging spots for an Apple Watch, iPhone and iPad, along with a separate USB port on the side. The height of the adapters that connect with the devices can also be adjusted so you don’t need to remove any cases on your gadgets.

Specifically designed with travellers in mind, the Apple Watch charger can also be detached as a separate, smaller module, and with its own Lightning cable port can be used as a dual-charger for another device. There’s also space inside the module to wrap up the cable. eu.enbluetec.com

MOJOE

Development began: 2013 Kickstarter goal: US$20,000 Funding achieved: US$85,860 Available now According to founder and CEO Joseph Hyman, “Mojoe is not here to replace your coffeemaker at home. [It] was designed to deliver a high-quality coffee experience when you are not at home.”

The brewer and mug combo uses vacuum and drip brewing to make the coffee. Users pour water of any temperature into the mug, add some coffee grounds, press a button and the device heats the water up to 93°C before dripping through the grounds. It doesn’t need to be stationary in order to work, so it can brew in your bag, on a flight or in a moving car. Variable strengths of coffee can be set, while a reusable filter can also be bought to allow you to brew with your own ground coffee, tea bags or loose-leaf tea. mojoebrewing.com

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