MākuSafe® wants to use wearables to protect factory workers
February 1, 2017
Gabe Glynn’s path to creating a company around wearable hardware is tied to family history, podcasting and a mix of ignorance.
“I don’t know that I would have necessarily dove into this project if I would have known just what all is involved. I didn’t realize how capital intensive it is, how resource intensive it is …” said Glynn, the co-founder of MākuSafe.
Based in Ankeny, MākuSafe® is developing a wearable device for factory workers that would sense environmental conditions, such as noise levels and temperature. The hope, Glynn said, is to provide up-to-date safety information and prevent fatal injuries.
In the eight months since MākuSafe® began, the company’s device has gone from a ‘gigantic’ beer-can sized alpha device to a smaller product workers can wear on their arms. Fourteen companies have agreed to beta test the device and MākuSafe® has raised $325,000 from outside investors.
“Back in May we just started walking and we just kept going and doors kept opening,” Glynn said.
The most recent investment amount — $200,000 – comes from EMC Insurance, which announced its investment just last week. The Des Moines insurance firm has agreed to purchase about $340,000 of the wearable tech if MākuSafe® has successful testing, Glynn said…
