Our First Product Launch: WakeMate

Arun Gupta
President, Perfect Third Inc. – A Connecticut Innovations Pre-Seed Support Services client

The launch of our first product, WakeMate, a cell phone accessory (wristband) that helps awaken users at an optimal point in their sleep cycle, was exhilarating – but I think it took about five years off my life. We launched in late November through a TechCrunch article and took pre-orders on our website www.WakeMate.com. We really didn’t know what to expect. Would consumers actually give this unknown company their credit card information for a product that wasn’t even out yet? Once the article posted, we immediately saw a huge stream of orders coming in; hundreds in the first hour. My co-founder Greg Nemeth and I manned our live online chat as best we could, but our screens were overflowing with IM windows from inquiring customers. All in all, the reception was very positive with a bunch of orders and some great feedback and ideas. It was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life.

 

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Posted under Portfolio company guest article

This post was written by admin on January 14, 2010

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2 Comments so far

  1. John January 14, 2010 4:25 pm

    Congratulations. I recall reading the TechCrunch article. The launch might have taken off a few years, but you should be able to make it up with the optimal wakeups with your device. Best of luck in 2010.

  2. Gary March 19, 2010 12:39 pm

    Don’t bother with these guys. Apparently the launch was for VAPORWARE. Looks like they took everyone’s money and ran.

    According to their website the product was supposed to ship January 2010, then was delayed to Q1 2010, whatever that means.

    Now they do not respond to inquiries of orders and the 800 number on their website does not work.

    Hoepfully anyone who invested in these guys can get their money back.

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