Myntra Acquires Consumer IoT Startup Blink (Previously WitWorks)

Flipkart-owned fashion e-commerce firm, Myntra, today announced that it has acquired Blink (earlier known as Witworks), a Bengaluru based technology startup, focused on the development of consumer IoT products, smart wearable devices and their underlying software.

As part of the acquisition Myntra has inducted the team into its Innovation Labs; further strengthening the company's robust technology team and augmenting its product development capabilities. The deal amount remain undisclosed.

"Wearables is currently a 300 crore industry in India and is growing rapidly, with online contributing 60 percent to the total business. This acquisition will help us to solidify our position in this segment and enable us to develop and launch cutting-edge wearable products like smart shoes, connected smart watches and interactive/intelligent clothing with biosensors," said Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Technology Officer, Myntra.

Witworks Consumer Technologies was founded in 2014 by Somnath Meher, Ankit DP and Chandrashekhar Iyer, alumni of IIT-Kharagpur. In 2016, the startup raised undisclosed amount in seed from from Fireside Ventures, Investopad, P39 Capital and a syndicated group of angels including Anupam Mittal and Abhinav Sinha, among others.

It launched its flagship wearable device, the Blink Watch in 2016, which operates on their voice-based platform, Marvin OS. The company also has a range of audio and fitness wearable devices, under the same brand.

The platform integrates a host of native and third-party services capable of innovative voice and visual interactions, designed specifically for wearable devices.

Witworks also has a range of audio and fitness wearable devices, under the same brand.

The company has a dedicated product development and marketing team, with capabilities to produce devices in India as well as in global production houses.

This acquisition will enable Myntra to develop wearable products for their in-house brands as well as leverage the technology to drive innovation and enhance consumer engagement in the future.

The above development was first reported in ANINews.in.

This is Myntra's first acquisition in IoT/Wearable space and eighth acquisition overall to date, as earlier the company has acquired 20Dresses in 2017, InLogg in 2017, Jabong in 2016, Cubeit in 2016, FITIQUETTE and Exclusively

Myntra Acquires Consumer IoT Startup Blink (Previously WitWorks)

Flipkart-owned fashion e-commerce firm, Myntra, today announced that it has acquired Blink (earlier known as Witworks), a Bengaluru based technology startup, focused on the development of consumer IoT products, smart wearable devices and their underlying software.

As part of the acquisition Myntra has inducted the team into its Innovation Labs; further strengthening the company's robust technology team and augmenting its product development capabilities. The deal amount remain undisclosed.

"Wearables is currently a 300 crore industry in India and is growing rapidly, with online contributing 60 percent to the total business. This acquisition will help us to solidify our position in this segment and enable us to develop and launch cutting-edge wearable products like smart shoes, connected smart watches and interactive/intelligent clothing with biosensors," said Jeyandran Venugopal, Chief Technology Officer, Myntra.

Witworks Consumer Technologies was founded in 2014 by Somnath Meher, Ankit DP and Chandrashekhar Iyer, alumni of IIT-Kharagpur. In 2016, the startup raised undisclosed amount in seed from from Fireside Ventures, Investopad, P39 Capital and a syndicated group of angels including Anupam Mittal and Abhinav Sinha, among others.

It launched its flagship wearable device, the Blink Watch in 2016, which operates on their voice-based platform, Marvin OS. The company also has a range of audio and fitness wearable devices, under the same brand.

The platform integrates a host of native and third-party services capable of innovative voice and visual interactions, designed specifically for wearable devices.

Witworks also has a range of audio and fitness wearable devices, under the same brand.

The company has a dedicated product development and marketing team, with capabilities to produce devices in India as well as in global production houses.

This acquisition will enable Myntra to develop wearable products for their in-house brands as well as leverage the technology to drive innovation and enhance consumer engagement in the future.

The above development was first reported in ANINews.in.

This is Myntra's first acquisition in IoT/Wearable space and eighth acquisition overall to date, as earlier the company has acquired 20Dresses in 2017, InLogg in 2017, Jabong in 2016, Cubeit in 2016, FITIQUETTE and Exclusively

Consumer IoT Start-up Witworks Raises Investment from Fireside Ventures, Top Management of OLA, OYO

Bangalore-based consumer IoT company, Witworks today announced that it has raised a Seed investment round from Fireside Ventures, Investopad, P39 Capital and a syndicated group of angels. Founded by a group of IIT Kharagpur alumni, having previously worked at Google, ITC and Tata Group, Witworks is looking to tap into the nascent smart wearables market currently dominated by large technology players.

The funds will be used for development & launch of Blink, a wrist-wearable platform designed to provide access to contextual information and services on-the-go. With their own voice-enabled operating system called Marvin OS (based on Android), the Witworks team looks to have a seamless integration of hardware and software to deliver an impeccable experience for the user.

Somnath Meher, Co-Founder & CEO of Witworks, said, “Wearables, especially watches, are at a very interesting stage at this point of time. The technology is in place, and there's enough eagerness amongst consumers. But lack of relevant use-cases, ease of interaction and genuine design-empathy have prevented them from taking off. With a blend of technology and design, we are looking to solve that and make smart-wearables ubiquitous.”

Talking about the product philosophy of Blink Ankit DP, Co-Founder & CPO of Witworks, said, “Not being a mobile OEM gives us the liberty to start ground-up instead of replicating the features and UX of a mobile phone on the wrist. Marvin, being a watch-first OS, has a completely reimagined interaction and features for a small 1.4 inch display screen. ”

Chandrashekhar Iyer, Co-Founder & COO of Witworks, who leads the manufacturing from Shenzhen said, “We have partnered with the most advanced manufacturing facilities in the world to make Blink. At the same time, we are working very closely with traditional watchmakers with over 25 years of experience in watch craftsmanship to bring in their design sensibility.”

“Blink is our starting-point in the connected products space as we look to scale the platform over time. And we are excited to bring on board a set of investors who concur with our vision of building a new-age consumer technology brand.”, added Somnath.

Kanwaljit Singh, Managing Partner at Fireside Ventures, said, “Team Witworks has beautifully combined Design, technology and functionality to create Blink. It has the potential to redefine the role of a smart watch.”

Arjun Malhotra, Founding Partner at Investopad said, “The team has fundamentally reimagined how technology is impacting real life and applied this to Blink. In India, so much information is actually pushed outside of apps through notifications and – by leveraging this and distilling what is important – Blink actually simplifies a user's interaction with technology by removing an always-on dependence on it."

Manish Singhal said, "Witworks team has done an incredible job in re-imagining what can go on a wrist in Blink. Very excited to be partnering with them.”

Witworks, in its earlier avatar, has successfully designed, manufactured, and launched a simple innovative solution for earphone entanglement called Rewind of which ~40,000 units has already been sold.

Witworks is a Bangalore based consumer technology company that makes smart devices in the home and lifestyle space. Founded in 2014 by a team of IIT Kharagpur alumni, Witworks aims to provide a seamless experience to users through their connected devices and platform.

Witworks claim to turn your ideas into working prototype or a product

Always had an innovative mind? But didn’t know how to turn your ideas into a reality, well there’s this Bangalore based Company called Witworks which can help you turn your dreams into a reality.

Witworks has organized an online community through which designers and inventors can bring their products to market by pitching their ideas to fellow inventors and designers. The company promises to deliver a prototype of the chosen idea or design in just 30 days. The manufacturing of these products is outsourced to companies to which Witworks has tied up with.

Witworks is a Bangalore based company co-founded by three IIT Kharagpur graduates-Chandrashekhar Iyer, Somnath Meher and Ankit DP in 2013. Two out of these three co-founders, Ankit DP and Somnath Meher had to let go off an opportunity to study at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad in order to start this venture.  Iyer had to quit his job with Tata Steel in Jamshedpur in order to associate with the venture. Witworks was started with a seed fund of Rs. 10 lakh from IIT kharagpur.

Rewind: The first invention

The startup has been successful in building a strong community of 1,000 in just one year of its operation. The online community decides how useful and unique an idea pitched to them will be as a final product.  The company then selects the three top ideas and starts working on them.  One of the ideas has already turned into a real product. Rewind is a simple device which ensures that your earphones never get tangled again. The founders of Witworks realized that this was a common problem which was being faced by most of us but no one really cared to solve it.

Rewind is available at a minimal cost of Rs. 190 and Witworks expects to sell around 60,000 of these.  The product can be bought from the company's online store. Witworks is currently in talks with ecommerce sites like Snapdeal and Flipkart to carry their products.

The company shares 5 percent of the sales with the product's designers. Witworks is aiming Rs.2 crore in revenue this fiscal and is in touch with angel investors to raise funds.

Witworks claim to turn your ideas into working prototype or a product

Always had an innovative mind? But didn’t know how to turn your ideas into a reality, well there’s this Bangalore based Company called Witworks which can help you turn your dreams into a reality.

Witworks has organized an online community through which designers and inventors can bring their products to market by pitching their ideas to fellow inventors and designers. The company promises to deliver a prototype of the chosen idea or design in just 30 days. The manufacturing of these products is outsourced to companies to which Witworks has tied up with.

Witworks is a Bangalore based company co-founded by three IIT Kharagpur graduates-Chandrashekhar Iyer, Somnath Meher and Ankit DP in 2013. Two out of these three co-founders, Ankit DP and Somnath Meher had to let go off an opportunity to study at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad in order to start this venture.  Iyer had to quit his job with Tata Steel in Jamshedpur in order to associate with the venture. Witworks was started with a seed fund of Rs. 10 lakh from IIT kharagpur.

Rewind: The first invention

The startup has been successful in building a strong community of 1,000 in just one year of its operation. The online community decides how useful and unique an idea pitched to them will be as a final product.  The company then selects the three top ideas and starts working on them.  One of the ideas has already turned into a real product. Rewind is a simple device which ensures that your earphones never get tangled again. The founders of Witworks realized that this was a common problem which was being faced by most of us but no one really cared to solve it.

Rewind is available at a minimal cost of Rs. 190 and Witworks expects to sell around 60,000 of these.  The product can be bought from the company's online store. Witworks is currently in talks with ecommerce sites like Snapdeal and Flipkart to carry their products.

The company shares 5 percent of the sales with the product's designers. Witworks is aiming Rs.2 crore in revenue this fiscal and is in touch with angel investors to raise funds.