The Internet of Things is making its creeping its way into every facet of our lives, our pets included. That's right Fido is getting connected and this month we look at the growing Pet Wearables space.
People love their pets and will do anything they can to make sure they are happy and healthy. In fact in 2013, Americans spent $55.7 billion dollars on their fur babies on vet bills and other expenses. A recent report by IDTechEx suggests that pet wearables (devices pets wear to track their activity, location and more) will reach $2.6 billion by 2025 and that may be on the conservative side.
Featured this evening is WonderWoof, a connected bowtie for your pup which lets owners keep track of its activity in the companion smartphone app which also acts as a doggy social network. Along with the presentation from WonderWoof we also feature a panel conversation on the future of pet care which also includes Urban Leash, PetBot, FIGO pet insurance and Binatone.
This event is FREE to attend. Pizza and beer will be served. Spread the word @WeAreWearables #WWCHI
NOTE: Pets are not permitted at the event but be sure to bring pics to show your fur babies off during networking!
Agenda
6:00-6:30: Doors Open and Demo area open
6:30-6:35: Opening Remarks & Welcome
6:35-6:50: "The WonderWoof Story: Why Women Are Key" presented by Betsy Fore, CEO & Founder of Wondermento followed by a Q&A
6:50-7:00: "PetBot: Inspiring Pet Tech Innovation" by Jason Yu, Co-Founder of PetBot
7:00-7:30: Panel: The future of pet care with wearables and IoT
- Betsy Fore, CEO & Founder of Wondermento
- Lina Pakrosnyte, CEO & Founder of Urban Leash
- Kevin Ludden, Creative Director & Business Development, FIGO
- Zoran Grabovac, Co-Founder, PetBot
- Jon Brody, Director of Sales, Binatone
- Moderated by Tom Emrich, Founder of We Are Wearables
7:30-9:00: Demo Area Open + Bar & Food
- Wondermento, creators of WonderWoof - a dog tracking app and wearable device that monitors your dog's daily activity
- Urban Leash, mobile enabled dog walking and cat sitting service
- PetBot, video-enabled remote pet monitoring and treat dispenser
- FIGO, the first cloud-based pet insurance company
- Binatone, exhibiting Motorola Scoutrainer 25 remote dog training system & Motorola ultrasonic dog bark training collar
A big thanks to our founding sponsor Uproar PR and our community partner 1871 for your support in making this event possible.
About Our Speakers
Betsy Fore is a midwesterner by heart and an inventor by trade -- having designed toys and games for leading entertainment companies for the past 8 years. Beginning her career in the US, she has invented products for toy giants Mattel® and Hasbro® including such brands as Polly Pocket, WWE, UNO, and more. Betsy was most recently in the UK at leading London tech firm, Mind Candy® where she developed the Moshi Monsters digital brand into a physical franchise of toys and games which became the number one toy brand in the UK. Betsy has developed over 100 products to date leading up to the launch ofWondermento. She strives to do everything with a sense of wonder.
Lina Pakrosnyte is an avid pet lover, attorney and entrepreneur focused on building a team of passionate and quality individuals as CEO and Founder of Urban Leash. Lina has rescued, fostered and raised animals her whole life.
Kevin Ludden is an accomplished brand consultant that has spent the last decade building an unmatched portfolio in cause marketing, events and film production, creative development and fashion styling. Through his ventures at various companies including his own consulting firm, he was able to construct an impressive client base, working with top-tier brands/events, from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and NBC, to Disney and MTV. He now works as the Creative Director and Business Development at FIGO, the first cloud-based pet insurance company.
Jon Brody has been with Binatone for nearly 2 years and is responsible for many mass and electronics retailer relationships as well as business development. Prior to Binatone, Jon spent time at Jawbone after 6 years in the housewares industry primarily with Hamilton Beach. Jon started his career in Minneapolis at Target Corporation which has provides him with a deep understanding of the partnership his retailers seek from the vendor community. Jon is a graduate of Indiana University and lives in Indianapolis with his wife and two children. In his free time he partners with his wife in leading a team of people selling Rodan & Fields skincare. When he’s not working he enjoys supporting his Indiana Hoosiers, working out and playing with his children. Their dog, Stella, is a 6-year old yellow Lab who is constantly “testing” the latest and greatest products from Motorola.
Zoran Grabovac is a co-founder of PetBot, where he works on everything from sales to investor relations to strategy. He is an experienced professional with a unique skill set in entrepreneurship, government, and innovation, and is most recognized for establishing a $2 million fund for social enterprises in Ontario, Canada. Zoran’s family has included a parrot, guinea pig, rabbit, and dog at different points in time, and his goal is to one day meet a sloth. He holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management (University of Toronto).
Jason Yu is both pet enthusiast and an innovation professional with over 10 years of experience in innovating for large corporates such as the Royal Bank of Canada and Oracle Corp. Inspired by his sheep herding corgi and his other rescued pets, his passion is now focused on improving the quality of life of pets through smart technology as a CoFounder of PetBot.
About Our Exhibitors
Wondermento is a female founded, focused, and funded entity that strives to lovingly integrate the convenience of mobile apps with the tangibility of elegant hardware. The company seeks to build more interactive applications and devices with an emphasis on the connection between efficient, healthy living and thehappiness of play. Wondermento was founded in November 2013 in London, they have offices on two different continents and are continuing to build out their hardware for different markets. WonderWoof, a product of Wondermento, is a dog tracking app and device that monitors your dog’s daily activity based on their size, breed and age. The app calculates how often they need to eat, exercise and socialize to ensure a happy life with you! Learn more at http://wondermento.com/
Urban Leash was started after seeing family and friends struggle to find reliable people to take care of their pets, whether for a weekend away, regular walks during the day or just a night out. Urban Leash provides a hassle-free way for pet owners to order on-demand pet care services straight through their smartphones. Learn more at
PetBot is a pet technology company focusing on creating meaningful connections between pets and their owners through intelligent technology. We make the PetBot, a small household device that enables audio/visual interactions, treat dispensing and automated pet training. Our unique device combines machine learning with audio, video, and treat dispensing to allow simple and powerful interactions to take place in a much more natural way than our competitors. Our long term vision, beyond the PetBot product, is to become the leading pet technology solution by providing a suite of integrated products and services to enhance the remote pet-care experience. Learn more at
Binatone is the Official Licensee of Motorola Mobility for monitoring products worldwide and other companies including lifestyle products and additional technology start-ups. Binatone designs, manufactures and markets high-quality Motorola products in close cooperation with Motorola Mobility. Binatone also designs and markets products under its own brand, and other consumer brands. For over 56 years, Binatone maintains its position as a key player in the consumer electronics industry by offering innovative products and solutions. Learn more at www.binatoneglobal.com
FIGO - We got our start in Chicago's premiere technology facility 1871. As part of Google’s Tech Hub Network this 75,000 sq. ft. membership only facility was established to cultivate and grow technology based businesses. Be-ing surrounded by this innovative energy fueled our passion to do pet insurance differently. With our love for pets, obsession with technology and background in insur-ance we built a platform that is entirely focused on making life easier for people and their pets -- or pets and their people. Today as a national pet insurance company FIGO is loyal to its roots. We know how incredibly important pets are to all of us and we can’t image our lives without them. We are committed to helping pets and their families enjoy their lives together - giving them insurance when they need it and technology along the way. Learn more at figopetinsurance.com.
About Our Sponsors
1871 is an entrepreneurial hub for digital startups. Located in The Merchandise Mart, the 75,000-square-foot facility provides Chicago startups with programming, access to mentors, educational resources, potential investors and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs that help them on their path to building successful businesses. Recently ranked 9th in the world in the 2014 UBI Index list of top university-associated business incubators, 1871 has become a global leader in the entrepreneurial community. 1871 is the flagship project of the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center. For more information, visit 1871.com.
Uproar PR is an innovative consumer technology public relations and social media agency. Along with their other technology practices, the firm has successfully built brand recognition for its wearable tech clients. Within the Toronto and Waterloo communities, Uproar works with Thalmic Labs, Bionym Kiwi Wearables and PUSH. With Uproar's media relations experience, those companies have been featured in media outlets including The Today Show, Business Insider, New York Times and CNBC, just to name a few. The firm specializes in developing campaigns that drive awareness and sales, creating industry buzz. For more information, visit www.uproarpr.com
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