Crowdfunding Mailbox: Shark Kage Ramp, Musaic, Cosy & Spudder

April 5, 2014 @ 2:30 pm By JD Alois

Sometimes you watch a pitch video and you see the creation in action and you think, “this really makes sense”. And then you wonder why someone else has not come up with this idea and realize that necessity truly is the driver of innovation. Watching the pitch video about the Shark Kage ramp and you can tell there is a huge market just waiting for this product. In a quote from inventor Cort Smith, he stated, “Every rider knows the pains of loading their vehicles onto a truck bed, one day I was pinned down under my bike after my ramp collapsed”. This probably was not his best day – but soon after removing himself from beneath his bike, Smith decided to rectify this shortcoming and his invention Shark Kage was born. Not only does this heavy duty equipment act as a ramp, ingeniously it can become a work table, cargo box and more. I see this becoming a standard part of any guys pick-up really soon. Crowdfunding on Kickstarter now.

Musaic is coming from London in the UK. Everything is going wireless we all know that. And audio devices quickly have entered the market to produce great hardware to take advantage of new technology. This is what Musaic is all about. At first I thought this was a Sonos clone – something we have at home and absolutely love – but Musaic steps it up a notch or two delivering a solid product at a reasonable price. Not only does Musaic integrate with WiFi but also allows BlueTooth connectivity as well. Musaic integrates with multiple music formats including loss less WAV, FLAC, AIFF and ALAC. It offers playback of 24 bit master files so you get great high fidelity. I love the stylish metal stand for iPhones and iPads. Musaic was founded by Matthew Bramble who has over 20 years experience in the consumer electronics industry so he probably has learned a thing or two along the way. Crowdfunding on Kickstarter now looking to raise £60,000 to get this product to market.

Next up we have Cosy, another device based in the UK (Cambridgeshire to be exact). Cosy is challenging the ever popular Nest by creating a similar product that does more / better. Cosy wants you to come home to house that is not only warm but – well – Cosy. There is an integrated thermostat that controls the heating and cooling but along with the device the creators are including additional smart plugs as part of the campaign so not only can you control the temperature but also anything else you have chosen to connect to their included App. Cosy is halfway to their goal on Kickstarter today.

Finally we have Spudder, a system for youth sports leagues to fundraise AND communicate between coaches, teammates and parents. Face it, youth sports in the United States ( and elsewhere) is simply huge. Frequently it is difficult to keep up to date with schedules, changes, requirements and so on. If you have more than one child doing multiple sports unless you are incredibly organized things can quickly turn into mayhem. Not only does Spudder act as a youth sports hub – it is a fundraising vehicle as well. Anyone who has children understands there is always another piece of equipment needed, new fields to be opened and facilities to build. It never stops and in today’s world it is the committed community that gets things done. And Spudder is there to help. Not quite certain where they got the name but great idea. This project is from Somerville, New Jersey and is crowdfunding on Indiegogo where they have already hit their $5000 goal.

Shark Kage Ramp by Shark Kage – Kickstarter

Shark Kage serves 6 awesome functions: Motorcycle / ATV ramp, Truck bed extender, cargo cover, cargo & tool box, worktable, & sunshade.

Six tools in one.

Aside from serving as a sturdy ramp, which locks securely to the truck tailgate, the Shark Kage also serves five additional functions. As a bed extender, the frame is designed to cinch against the back tire of your loaded vehicle and stop it from bouncing, allowing for speed and security while driving. To create the cargo box, the ramp is folded and locked into a box shape within the truck bed for convenient storage. In the cargo cover formation the frame lays across the top of your truck bed, providing security while hauling or overnighting on the road. For keeping cool on a hot day, the Shark Kage also folds over perfectly to create a sunshade. Lastly, for a handy place to set your gear and work on projects between rides, the Shark Kage folds out to create a sturdy worktable that can be used to elevate your vehicle for repairs or lay out your gear.

Never Worry About Ramp Fail Again.

Every rider knows the pains of loading their vehicles onto a truck bed. In fact, the idea of Shark Kage came when one of our developers got pinned down by his bike after his ramp collapsed. Shark Kage will eliminate these kinds of ramp related headaches forever. Shark Kage is secured to a truck tailgate with the Shark Bite mounting plate, which supports all six of our configurations. With a maximum load capacity of 1,200 lbs the Shark Kage multi-use ramp prevents slipping or falling during use, providing riders with confidence and ease while loading their favorite toys.

Musaic Wireless HiFi Music System – Your music, Your way by Musaic – Kickstarter

Stylish and compact Wi-Fi and Bluetooth hi-fi speakers, controlled by apps for Apple iPhone & iPad, Android phone & tablet, Mac & PC.

Hi and thanks for checking out our project! We’re really excited about it and we hope you will be too. Any questions get in touch!

For all the pledges on the right you get the items listed in direct reward for your pledge amount.

Musaic is a new kind of HiFi system made up of wireless speakers that you place around your home, designed from the ground up for sound quality and ease of use.

But Musaic is not just a HiFi system, it’s an Internet of Things connected device. Musaic can create and control lighting moods, integrate with security and other home automation technologies in novel ways and be part of a Smart Home. Read more about lighting control and watch a demo video.

Come home to Cosy: the smart heating system from geo by Green Energy Options – Kickstarter

Cosy is so much more than a heating control & app – it’s about a warm, lit and welcoming home.

About Cosy

Cosy is a unique wireless home solution that allows you and your family to control your home environment, so you always come home to cosy.

Download the App at the App Store or Google Play
Install the Switch & plug in the Hub
Power up the Display and you’re good to go

So much more than heating control

Cosy is a whole-home, agile solution with far-reaching potential. It’s much more than just heating control – it’s environment control. After all, you wouldn’t call a dark, silent home ‘cosy’, would you? With your help, we can offer device control as standard so that you can schedule lamps, appliances or even the radio to switch on and off according to your Cosy home preference.

Revolutionize Youth Sports with Spudder.com – Indiegogo

Support our campaign to build a system for youth sports leagues to fundraise, communicate and share updates effectively.

What is Spudder?

A FREE, safe and easy-to-use platform for Youth sports leagues to communicate and fundraise effectively.

* ONLINE FUNDRAISING: We have created a simple fundraising tool for potential team sponsors to contribute funds and measure their impact on the team.

* SPORTS UPDATES (SPUDs) – We have our own update system that can send out live updates, called SPUDs, to team followers. All who subscribe to their local team’s Spudder network will receive SPUDs in the form of texts, images or videos.

* SAFE COMMUNICATIONS: Centralized virtual communications system for coaches, parents and players. To ensure your child’s safety, all communications must go through a Spudder account set up by an adult at least 18 years of age.

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