Fitbit, producer of a sleek little device that clips onto your clothing and tracks your movement throughout the day and night, has raised $2 million from True Ventures, SoftTech VC and several angels in what appears to be the company’s first round of institutional funding.
The device, set to go on sale in early 2009 for $99 a pop, uses the information it gathers about your movement to help you determine how much exercise you’ve been getting and how many calories you’ve burnt. It can also tell you how many steps you have taken and how well you’ve slept, all based on its internal motion detector.
All data gets automatically synchronized to your computer and then the web through a wireless base station, so you don’t even have to plug it in. Once synced, you can view your health reports online.
Fitbit debuted just this September at TechCrunch50 where it was a runner up for the top prize.
See a recent Beet.tv interview of CEO James Park below:
Did I get enough exercise today? How many calories did I burn? Am I getting good quality sleep? How many steps and miles did I walk today?
Gee perfect device for Super size fat ass Americans ( greater than 50% of America ) who need BS metrics rather than actually trying to eat right and get fit.
Don’t be an ass. This is a really clever idea.
It’s a clever idea, but the OP is right. It’s a gimmick in line with those seen on late night infomercials, just spruced up to appeal to the web.
It’s a pedometer that you can sync to your computer, which is a good feature. No chance it accurately measures calories burned. Good quality sleep? AYFKM????
I remember reading about this a while back. Besides having the typical motion detection, it also has a special band that you can wear while you are asleep and it has a sensor that touches your skin and based of of electrical pulses, or something, it can tell you haw many hours you “really” slept.
I am not sure how accurate it is, but it sounded like it would work. Not sure about the calories either, but a lot of workout equipment can tell you that info once it’s been calibrated, why not this device?
I am really looking forward to it… come on Mark, wheres the beta invites?
http://www.fitbit.com/
agreed. basically a pedometer. may have some interesting analysis algorithms. definitely worthless for measuring quality of sleep. reminds me of that watch a while back that advertised it would wake you up at just the right moment so you didn’t feel sleepy all day.
A device like that used to track kids would be an instant hit.
I keep waiting to see that device. I just read the other day that Ford is developing something that will limit the speed of a car to 80mph when a kid is driving it. I’d say a device for parents to track their kids’ every move is just around the corner (if it’s not already developed and being tested some where).
Jake
NoteScribe: Premier Notes Software
Already exists: http://www.networkcar.com
I wonder if future versions could implement a GPS tracking device so you can get data on how much you travel?
By the way – To the folks behind the business, it’s nice to see a startup that has a product offering, seems like too many just want you to go to their website.
Web 2.0 is dead! No more VC! Hmm, wait…
Why did web 2.0 die?
Why? Because people are not surfing around like they used to, so getting traffic is extraordinarily difficult relative to the early days. Besides email, Google, news aggregator and Facebook/Myspace, people don’t do as much else online anymore.
Awesome .. looks like they got the last laugh out of the TC50 bunch.( hint.. yammer.)
Dude, I couldn’t agree more. Yammer is incredibly lame. I still can’t believe it won.
Damn I wanted to get some money in on those guys.
I admit I don’t get it yet, I’m sure I will when they are sold out.
I think this is a really nifty little gadget.
I suspect they’re going to be huge.
Good luck guys! Awesome design, awesome idea.
Don’t these device people understand that their market is dead with the rise of all the all-in-one mobile devices?
Try sleeping with an iPhone. I know, I know, some already do. But that’s because they have another problem.
This product is a good example of how UI and industrial design enable you to cross a threshold of usability and functionality that will drive adoption. When you can access information you didn’t know was there (i.e. how well did you sleep. How many calories did you actually burn today and how many did you take in…) you can change your habits. Driving a Prius is an example of that because driving becomes a game to save gas because it feeds realtime info back to you. It changes habits.
Their demo at TC50 was very impressive. Extremely well thought-out software, and the little device doesn’t need to be docked; it works by proximity, so if you’re just near the base station it uploads its stuff automatically. Of course, it was a demo, so who knows how well all that will work in real life. But obviously a lot of thought has gone into it, and some $$ people agree.
How is this not an iphone app?
Evan,
http://www.iphone4um.com
You fat ass geeks will buy anything that hooks up to the web!
Aren’t VCs supposed to invest in companies that can reach a large market and have a clear exit strategy?
The market for glucose meters is over $10 billion annually worldwide because they have a disposible component. This thing doesn’t seem to have that.
What’s the exit strategy?? There are only four companies that make glucose meters worldwide. You gonna sell the company to these guys? Why don’t they just add a pedometer and a web component to their meters and be done with it? What so defensible about their technology??
These types of companies show how Sillicon Valley has run out of ideas. No wonder nothing has gone public recently.
Sillicon Valley has become too insulated. Geeks raising money from other geeks and sellling their companies to other geeks.
When established companies, like Microsoft and Cisco slow (or stop) buying all these bankrupt concept companies, you guys in the Valley are going to have to get real jobs and create real products.
THAT WASN’T FUNNY WHO EVER SAID FAT ASS AMERICANS AND I THINK THE IDEA IS CLEVER
the real joke is all of you anonymous commenters crapping all over this idea. just because you are either a) fat and wish it cost less than $99 or b) stuck doing a job you hate and dislike hearing about people doing cool things, or worse yet, BOTH, doesn’t mean you need to crap on someone else’s hard work with retarded comments. The comments based on potential market size and feature vs company are much more thought out and relevant. as an investor, i see fitbit as the kind of company looking to create a new product category. is it a traditional pedometer, sleep meter, heartrate monitor, etc… no it is not. it is aiming to provide everyday americans with the ability to track useful information that otherwise goes untracked. and in this age of obesity awareness and battling obesity, i think they are coming along at exactly the right time.
btw this product may not resonate with techcrunch readers, because i suspect many readers are either old and out of shape and can afford personal trainers or other products/services or young and fit and capable to exercise and track nutritional information on their own (or with the aid of other web-based services). just because i wouldn’t personally buy something doesn’t mean a product doesn’t have a huge market, and everyone else in this thread should keep that in mind.
Dunno. Everyone here at my office loves this idea and we can’t wait for it. Ambient information tracking = <3.
…what about when travelling, etc… have to carry around the base station!!… at best, chubby gadget geeks will wear it for a week or 2, get sick of it and stuff it in the drawer with their pedometers, or the clip will fall off somewhere and that’ll be the end it… this won’t change people’s behavior
I think it’s a good idea, and I might even consider purchasing one if it weren’t being given away for free:
http://www.awar...epTrakLite.html
just imagine if insurance companies start subsidizing the thing…
$99 way to high, especially in these times.
I’d prefer a $29 price point, ala Nike Ipod Sports Kit.
Great app for a nokia phone.
To all those ‘targeted’ consumers out there… Caveat Emptor, baby!
I can’t wait, there is a cute girl in our accounts department I want to be near. I can fit this to her laptop and find out where she goes in the evenings and where she lives. I can also find out the address I guess of her family and that boyfriend that has to go first before she realises she loves me more.