Why PlayDate was flash funded by Arrow with $100,000

In its recent partnership with crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, Arrow Electronics has been on a mission to flash fund Arrow-Certified campaigns to bring projects to life. Winning recipient Kevin Li, CEO, and co-founder of PlayDate, was just flash funded $100,000.

PlayDate is the world’s first interactive smart ball equipped with a camera that allows users to control it from their mobile devices or computers, anywhere in the world. Li came up with the idea for PlayDate back in 2013 when he was fostering a dog, Hulk, which turned into adopting him.

“I have a tendency to obsess, and I started reading about canine cognition, dog psychology, and dog training. As a passion project, I built an activity tracker to put on Hulk to see what he was doing throughout the day and to make sure he was growing up to be a well-adjusted dog,” he said.

In 2015, he and his team considered commercializing the collar, but the more dog owners they spoke with, the more they realized that the biggest problem wasn’t activity tracking, but feeling guilty about leaving their dogs home alone all day. From there, the idea of PlayDate was born.

Pet owners can use PlayDate’s mobile app or log in via the website to interact with their cat or dog anywhere. Users can control and move the ball around, watch their pet in real time, record videos, save photos, and even hear the cat or dog through a microphone.

The camera is mechanically stabilized and provides an HD video feed in real time, letting owners take photos and record videos. A speaker and microphone equipped on the ball allow users to talk to their pets and hear what they have to say. Additionally, there is a customizable virtual squeaker that users can trigger with the touch of a button.

“The ball connects to our servers using some of the most advanced encryption available. We do additional real time video stabilization on our servers before delivering it to the owner's phone,” Li said.

PlayDate operates for 30 minutes of play time before a recharge is required. A wireless charging cradle is available so users can recharge the ball remotely. The device is also equipped with an outer shell made of thick, shatterproof polycarbonate. Over time, users can replace the outer shell, expanding the lifespan of the device.

At the moment, there are not many products available that compare to PlayDate. Most tech products are a mix of stationary cameras with additional features. 

“PlayDate is the first camera that owners can move around remotely. Because they can move it around, it supports true two-way interaction, even when owners are away from home,” Li noted.

Interested users can pre-order PlayDate through its Indiegogo campaign that is available at the moment. The device is expected to hit retail stores in early 2017 and will also be available on www.startplaydate.com.

Arrow is currently flash funding PlayDate, so sign up here for your shot at game-changing funds, engineering resources and tools, discounts, and personal guidance from experts.

Electronic Products is owned by AspenCore, a subsidiary of Arrow Electronics.