New technology from startup ventures is transforming the sports industry. The mission of this series is to introduce startup companies in the sports technology space to a broader audience and allow Founders of promising new ventures to tell their story. This particular startup is taking part in the Hype Global Sport Innovation Competition In Rio De Janeiro on August 24th, 2016.
Company name: CDG LLC (Cool Down Gear)
Founder(s): Jesse Sutton and Leon Codner
Headquarters: Orlando, Florida
1. What is your elevator pitch?
Introducing America’s first cooling vest that utilizes wearable technology (Shiva). The main purpose of this utility patented garment is to cool the body’s core temperature. The two main functions that make our device novel and innovative are (1) the technology and (2) its ability to extract heat and moisture from the body. Shiva is a state of the art cooling vest specifically designed for long term sustainability, and comfort. Shiva is configured to monitor record and report the individual’s vital signs. This information is then transmitted to our app and uploaded to any smart device.
2. Problem & Solution
Problem:
Prolonged or intense exposure to hot temperatures can cause heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat stroke. Heatstroke has been determined to be the number one cause of death for heat related illnesses. As your body works to cool itself under extreme or prolonged heat, blood rushes to the surface of your skin. In most cases death can occur and is what experts are seeing among athletes from multiple sports at all level. The other concern that inspired us to create this vest was to help the 400,000 people in the United States and the 2.5 million worldwide suffering with Multiple Sclerosis.
Solution:
As stated earlier our vest is the only one on the market that can cool the wearer’s body down while taking, recording and reporting vital signs. Shifting from self-help to medical help, Shiva’s technology has the potential to make healthcare more efficient, convenient and effective for both patients and doctors.
3. What is your target market?
CDG, LLC will focus on athletics (School Districts, Colleges & Universities, and Professional Franchises Sport Medicine Programs) which will be the core market. Here are some other potential markets and outlets for the device to be placed:
- Medical
- Military & Law Enforcement Agencies
- Retail
- Home Improvement Stores
- Drug Stores
- Health & Nutrition Stores
- Hospitals
- Conventional Grocery Stores
- Mass Stores
- Outside Equipment Stores
- Industrial Supply Store
- Medical Supply Stores
- Theme Parks
- Airport Ramps
Shiva has two major opportunities for growth: Communalization & Licensing. The Shiva brand will be utilizing a Performance driven model. Every time our vest saves lives, provides comfort and provides accurate vital sign info to the user and their medical professional, the more it will sell. This means that we will be creating our own line of apparel and accessories that will be distributed directly to internet consumers as well as commercial retail channels.
Secondly, our Licensing approach is the long-term strategy for growth and aggressive expansion. Beyond working with existing brands such as sports, medical device or pharmaceutical companies, we feel that this will greatly add to the bottom line for all parties.
5. Who is on your Management Team?
Jesse Sutton (Co – Inventor)
Leon Codner (Co – Inventor)
6. What else do you want the audience to know about your venture?
Multiple Sclerosis Association of American (MSAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), have conducted further research on the link between MS symptoms and body temperature/body cooling. These scientific studies support the practical experience of MS patients: body cooling works!
As a novel wearable cooling vest, Shiva is the only cooling vest well positioned to benefit from the wearable technology market growth. IDTechEx analysts find that the wearable market will be worth over $30 billion by the end of 2016, and growing in three stages: 10% annually to over $40 billion 2018, but then accelerating to 23% through to over $100 billion by 2023, before slowing to 11% to reach over $150 billion by 2026.