Two alumni from Electronics and Computer Science have launched a crowdfunding campaign for a smart alarm clock they developed during their studies here at Southampton.
Freddie Temperton and Toby Isaacs are pursuing a £150,000 Kickstarter target over the next four weeks for Rise, a dawn simulation alarm clock that has integrated Bluetooth, Spotify and FM radio technology.
The former student entrepreneurs created early prototypes with support from our Future Worlds startup incubator and have continued its development since graduating in 2016 to now offer the product’s first units.
Freddie explained:
“Humans are programmed to wake up with the sun. This isn’t compatible with modern life, so we use harsh alarms to force ourselves out of bed before our bodies are ready. Rise solves this. It gradually lights your room before your alarm goes off, simulating the sun.”
Rise can be controlled by a companion app and includes a colour changing LED lamp, speaker, auto-dimming OLED, Spotify integration and fast charge USB ports. The startup team, which includes Coventry University graduate Peter Garland, worked with renowned light designer Mortiz Waldemeyer.
Freddie added:
“I originally had the idea to combine all the desired technologies of a bedside lamp, alarm clock and speaker in one sleek and elegant device. We’ve learnt a lot over the last couple of years about the economics of bringing a product to market and more recently had a crash course in marketing and video editing.”
The Rise Kickstarter campaign will run until Saturday 24 February. You can view more information about the project or make a pledge here.
