From informal coffee chats to industry meetups and sporting events, it’s clear that the South Florida social scene is rebounding from the pandemic. When you’re buzzing around the region, an uncharged phone battery can be devastating.
One Miami startup is working to make sure you’ve got a charge in your pocket whenever you need it. AquaVault, a consumer products company that got its start on Shark Tank, has developed a miniature charger that fits inside your wallet. With a thickness of a quarter inch, it’s just slightly bulkier than your average credit card. But it will have no problem sliding into a standard-sized slot. The stainless steel design fits right in with the trendiest of today’s premium credit cards.
Jonathan Kinas, one of the co-founders of AquaVault, is proud to have built a device that helps a wide variety of consumers. “Whether you’re a world traveler or someone who prefers to stay closer to home, this is perfect for you,” he told Refresh Miami. Kinas also highlighted the all-in-one aspect of the device, which does not require users to use their own cable. “The charger works for iPhones, Android phones, and other electronics,” he said.
Kinas noted that the device comes in handy in situations like concerts or while golfing – both times when it would not be practical to carry around a large charging device.
The device packs a punch. It provides 2,700 milliamps, which is roughly one full charge for a standard iPhone. That’s plenty of juice in a pinch. “It’s like a little insurance policy that you can keep in your wallet,” said Kinas.
In early September, AquaVault launched this new version of their charger, which has an improved, thinner design with a longer battery life. Currently, the company’s main distribution channel for the device is direct-to-consumer, right through their eCommerce website. However, Kinas acknowledged that the company will “test all channels, and we will allocate more resources to whichever proves most promising.” He continued, “there might be plenty of opportunities that we’re not aware of yet.”
Kinas is looking forward to going “full throttle into the rollout of the product” over the next few months. ” The AquaVault team expects this product to be popular with corporate clients and hotel chains as well as individual consumers.
AquaVault has been in business since 2011, developing products primarily focused on travel. They developed their flagship product, a portable safe, when their valuables were stolen while going out on South Beach. In 2015, co-founders Kinas, Rob Peck and Avin Samtani, appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank and received funding from investor Daymond John.
The development of this charger is part of the team’s pandemic pivot, when travel was at all-time lows. “The pandemic hit us with a situation we hadn’t seen before,” said Kinas. “We ultimately decided that we wanted to come out with something that had a bit of a broader market than just travel.” And so the charger was born.
READ MORE STORIES FROM REFRESH MIAMI:
- Stressed out? This Miami startup offers a holistic approach to staying healthy
- Meet the mother-daughter duo devising a tech solution for menopause
- Miami’s hard tech scene is bigger than you might think – and growing
- DigiBuild sets sight on global expansion, growth of construction procurement platform - April 24, 2024
- The hottest technology in Miami? Exowatt raises $20M, launches renewable energy solution - April 22, 2024
- This Earth Day, let’s shine a spotlight onSouth Florida innovators building a greener world - April 22, 2024