Kinetic, a New York City-based company that creates wearable technology for the connected workforce, raised $4.5 million in seed funding round for its wearable device called REFLEX that aims to reduce workplace injuries for industrial workers. Backers included Crosslink Capital and Primary Venture Partners. The company intends to use the funds to expand manufacturing capabilities and scale operations.
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The wearable device can be attached to a worker’s belt where it measures activities like unsafe postures, jumping off vehicles or slips and falls, that may put them at risk of injury. Deskless workforce comprises over 80% of the global workforce. In the United States, there are 25 million workers that put themselves at risk of injury on the job. They handle moving goods and powering industries. Last year, US companies spent $60 billion on lifting related injuries alone. However, in spite of being such a large part of the economy, these workers have generally been left behind in the larger trend of building technology for the enterprise.
“What excites us about Kinetic is the ability to simultaneously impact both safety and operational efficiency for deskless workers. Over the past few years, I’ve watched the Kinetic team work tirelessly to find the right way to address these challenges. The company is showing impressive results with a wide range of leading employers, and we are thrilled to partner with them as they change the nature of work for this often-overlooked category,” said Brad Svrluga, General Partner at Primary Venture Partners.
The wearable device developed by Kinetic reduces unsafe postures in the workplace by up to 84%. When the device detects unsafe postures, it immediately alerts the worker with a vibration. By gamifying the process, workers compete with their colleagues to stay under a certain goal of unsafe motions per day. Managers can then view insights and analytics on the company’s dashboard. The cost of serious workplace injuries is on the rise, and in 2015 they cost US companies $58 billion. Lifting related injuries were the leading cause, mostly driven by the growth of e-commerce and the last mile delivery of goods, industries which are poised to grow aggressively.
“Every time you order an item through e-commerce, that product is manipulated at least 25 times before it reaches your home, and that’s true whether you order a ballpoint pen or a 75-pound piece of furniture,” says Kinetic cofounder and CEO Haytham Elhawary. “With increasing volume of goods shipped and faster delivery times, it’s no surprise that workplace injuries are on the rise.”
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Kinetic’s wearable device has already demonstrated its ability to reduce injuries at several sites. Customers include Iron Mountain and Crane Worldwide Logistics as well as large manufacturers and logistics/transportation providers.
Founded in 2015 by CEO Haytham Elhawary and CTO Aditya Bansal, Kinetic builds REFLEX, a wearable device that reduces workplace injuries for industrial workers. The wearable attaches to a worker’s belt and automatically detect high-risk postures and provides workers with real-time feedback. Workers can use REFLEX to improve their biomechanics over time, resulting in fewer injuries and improved well-being.
from Wearable Technologies https://ift.tt/2qWZLcR
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