Ask HN: We Are Smartwatch Startup.Good Idea to Compete with Apple, Samsung? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: We Are Smartwatch Startup.Good Idea to Compete with Apple, Samsung?

5 pointsreach_kapil10 comments

We are a small startup in Bay and working on Smartwatch that looks like a Artistic Watch with movements and dials but Transforms into Smartwatch when desired!. We have a very unique product, technology, branding and positioning. We are working on refining our technology but looks like we are entering into a space when all Big giants are entering, killing the entire startup ideas with their Klout. We are unique because we believe watches stood for art and craftsmanship where movements and dials represent elegance, class and personality of an individual. We wanted to preserve what watches stood for and created this product and technology. However competing with big giants without exceptional marketing budget is going to be challenge. Are there any experiences of folks on ideas that would either support or disapprove to enter this competing product field?

www.getbonnett.com

It is an standalone smartwatch and virtually you can do everything on your watch as your smartphone and much more. Our major motivation stemmed from the fact when we researched and found out that 68% of smartphone users are 'distracted' users wasting ~3hrs daily by just getting distracted by notifications and engaging into other activities on phone. That accounts for almost 10yrs of your life getting distracted unintentionally and not realizing it. We started with the mantra of - "Organizers for your Mind" and heavily focus on giving Life back to users so that they can focus on important things in life without getting distracted

Thanks for your post. IMO every innovation should necessarily improve predecessor - products. Hence a "smartwatch" would need to be as available as my aviator chronograph is. This means, I wouldn't wear a smartwatch, that needs to be charged twice a week. Your comment on wasted life - time is indeed true. A watch, that'd show me the same notifications as my smartphone, is rather pointless. Build a valuable network around your product, focus on design and MEANINGFUL functionality. Happy to discuss this in detail.

Sure, Let me know how I can get in touch.

@SebSigloch via Twitter ;)

Tesla comes to mind here. They are competing with giants like GM, Ford, VW. But they have a unique product and revolutionized the electric car industry. I think if you want to make it you need to be very unique and different from other products. You can also try targeting a specific audience at first instead of everyone. Maybe women of certain age and background. Or make it something cool to have for the younger generation. You will need a killer feature that makes you distinct from others.

It will be a tough space no doubt. Even Motorola, LG, Sony and others will struggle. But you have an advantage. You can trade on individuality and the tied up emotions that come from hundreds of years of watchmaking, a personal and almost sacred trade. Apple and the others can never offer that. Don't compete with them. Create your own unique value. Emotion and personal connection is still critical with watches..

There's always room for boutique manufacturers. I would just focus on providing the kind of value that large companies cannot. Namely: being handmade, offering customization, exceptional customer support, dynamic product lines. Use your size to your advantage.

Would it have biometric sensors or do anything more than tell time?

sorry. is there a smartwatch that does wireless charging?

I refer to an Apple patent for kinetic charging:

http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=H...

Another possibility would be solar charging similar to: http://www.seiko-cleanenergy.com/watches/solar/

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