Mindhelix garners $ 89,000 for its home security innovation

Kochi Startup Village firm, Mindhelix, has come up with Rico, a sensor-equipped hardware that works by itself or with a spare smart phone

Home security device developed by a Kochi-based Startup Village company has raised US $ 89,000 from 690 backers from the online crowd funding platform Kickstarter.

The Kickstarter campaign for Mindhelix, which ends on October 30, has already raised 89 per cent of its targeted US$ 100,000. It is hoping to meet the target in the remaining four days and take the device into production.

Mindhelix's Rico is a sensor-equipped hardware that works by itself or with a spare smart phone to detect and alert users about changes inside a home, including temperature, humidity, noise levels, smoke, carbon monoxide or cooking gas. It allows users to watch live video feeds of the rooms and can also be used to control home appliances remotely.

Kallidil Kalidasan, the company's CEO, said Rico was a cheaper and smarter replacement for a multitude of heavy and expensive home security hardware currently that are available. Additionally, it allows people to reuse their old or discarded smart phones.

"Rico uses your old smart phone as its brain and eyes. And it is very easy to use. All you need to do is install an app in your old smart phone, insert it into Rico and turn it on to activate your smart home security companion," said Kalidasan.

Startup Village chairman Sanjay Vijayakumar said the Village aims to create awareness among people that young innovators were being backed internationally. And we need to give them support at home from early adopters who can help the campaign reach target by raising US $ 11,000 more in four days. "

Rico uses the existing hardware of smartphones - such as HD cameras, microphones, 3G and WiFi connectivity and processor - to offer functions over and above its own sensor capabilities. Smartphones with Android 2.2 and above and Apple devices with iOS 6 and above can be plugged into Rico. It supports devices with screen size of 5.7 inch or below.

Kalidasan said that the company has put in extra effort with the design of the product. Unlike the usual boxy electronic devices, Rico has a quirky, fun design and comes in bright appealing colours.

Once it meets the funding target, Mindhelix will finalise the engineering design, analytics, production and supply details. It hopes to ship the product to its Kickstarter backers by November 2015.

Mindhelix is also part of the Alchemist Accelerator program in the Silicon Valley.