WIth the Whistl, Pittsburgh-based LifeShel is looking to create a smartphone case that protects far more than a user's phone.
In less than a year, the AlphaLab Gear graduate has grown from an idea between three Carnegie Mellon University engineering graduates, to a 12-person team. Along the way the startup has even picked up praise from President Barack Obama during his most recent visit to Pittsburgh.
Now the company is turning to Kickstarter in attempt to raise $70,000 that will allow them to begin production of the smartphone case, which aims to prevent sexual assault and violent crime.
CEO Jayon Wang, said LifeShel is still seeking traditional venture capital investment, but has turned to Kickstarter to open the Whistl's design to a national audience to see if people like the product and obtain feedback.
"Attracting investment is important, but at the end of the day, you have to serve your customer and have a product that they want," he said.
The case has a powerful alarm system designed to disorient a perpetrator, an immediate connection to 911 emergency services and loved ones, and protective video and audio recording.
With two clicks of a button the device strobes a temporarily blinding 90-limen LED light and sounds an alarm at 120 decibels. It also connects through the phone's Bluetooth to send a 911 alert, notifies loved ones through a group SMS chat, and activates protective video and audio recording.
The case also has a check-in feature that can be activated that will check on the user every few minutes, and if the user does not respond it will automatically activate the alarm and notification system.
Since the campaign's launch Oct. 7, the company has raised over $30,000 of its $70,000 goal. LifeShel is hoping to start production in March.
"Our main goal is to connect the product to people that need it and want it," Wang said.
The Kickstarter campaign runs through Nov. 2.
The Whistl case is designed for the iPhone 5, 5s, and the 6. The app will launch on iOS first. There are plans to launch an Android case in the future.
The company operates out of AlphaLab Gear's East Liberty incubator as an alumni-in-residence.