Everpurse is a two-year-old fashion-technology company founded by Dan and Liz Salcedo that has designed innovative handbags that can wirelessly charge cell phones. The company has partnered with Samsung to use their advanced lightweight batteries for the bags.
The deal is unusual because Samsung normally only partners with large manufacturers. The company supports the Salcedos’ belief that the purses should be fashionable and that the designs should not be overwhelmed by the technology. The Everpurse handbags can charge a variety of phones, including the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.
Everpurse began when Dan Salcedo tried to create a handbag that could charge a cell phone for Liz in 2011. They realized that there was a market for the idea. They have obtained patents on some parts of the products and have patents pending on other components. Everpurse has been selling the handbags on Kickstarter.
They launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2012 with a goal of $100,000, but they wound up raising $238,000. They announced a seed round of close to $1,000,000 this spring with money from family, friends, and SOS Ventures, the largest hardware VC firm that has invested.
When they created early versions of the Everpurse, they did not have access to Samsung’s light, thin batteries or a manufacturer that could create the handbags and incorporate the technology, so they hand-sewed the bags themselves. They found that the handbags appealed to women 30 and up who were on the go, but some thought the bags were too large and wanted a light to indicate when the cell phone was fully charged.
Everpurse is in the midst of its second Kickstarter campaign to raise money for its 2015 collection, which does not have any visible wires or cables and weighs as much as an iPhone. The collection includes leather and vegan purses in a variety of colors. Some are limited editions. Everpurse has also designed a hard-shell clutch with a charging station on the outside and a wallet on the inside intended for younger women.
One version of the technology keeps a phone charged for 48 hours, and other keeps it charged for 96 hours. At night, the bag is laid to rest on a wireless charging mat.
Over a dozen large fashion and accessories companies have become clients and want to use the technology in their own handbags. Some of those companies’ products are in the prototype stage, and others are in the contract stage of figuring out costs and how many to produce. One men’s designer will unveil a limited edition accessories collection during the last two weeks of Everpurse’s Kickstarter campaign. Everpurse has also drawn the attention of some major news outlets, including Good Morning America.
Even though they have deals with fashion designers, the Salcedos want to continue to sell Everpurses on Kickstarter to continue the relationships they have built with fans and get input on how to improve. They are working on “asset tracking” RFID technology to let a user know if essential items, such as a wallet or keys, are in the purse.
Leave a Reply