There are been some extraordinarily successful crowdfunded wearable projects, it's true. Pebble and Omate are famous for raising more than $1 million each and going on to commercial success. But an analysis on TechCrunch indicates that only 23 percent of venture-funded wearables companies got their start in crowdfunding -- and only 19 wearables companies that crowd-raised more … [Read more...]
Are Identity and Science the Big Wearables Play?
Jawbone CEO Hosain Rahman spoke yesterday at the TechCrunch Disrupt conference and laid out two big ideas that we've been talking about a lot around here: wearables and identity, and wearables as the generator of huge data sets. Rahman talked about using wearable devices as a means to interact with other connected devices and use them to customize your environment. Think … [Read more...]
Techcrunch: Osterhout/Microsoft Deal Was for IP, Cost Up To $150 Million
Way back in September, we wrote about a report that Microsoft was talking to the secretive Osterhout Design Group about buying the company and its portfolio of wearables patents for $200 million. Techcrunch managed to get a very rare interview with Ralph Osterhout, who says he sold a portfolio of patents and not his entire company; another source put the value of the deal at … [Read more...]
Basis Selling Itself to Whomever, says Techcrunch
Monday morning usually brings a spate of M&A news/leaks. Today, Techcrunch reports that Basis -- the heart monitor wristband company -- is either trying to sell itself or raise a Series C round. The acquisition candidates include Apple, Google, Samsung, or maybe Microsoft. The Basis tracker has the reputation for being one of the more accurate products on the market, but … [Read more...]