In early 2014, Jalousier had a great little idea for a product that could add smart home features to any existing window shades. The company decided to go the Indiegogo route to get funding, but the campaign was a bust.
“We learned the lesson and continued working on our project,” said Kseniia Vinogradova, Jalousier’s co-founder. “To date, we have gone through hardware accelerator, relocations, successful fundraising and about 17 iterations. Now the product is ready, as we ourselves are more mature as a company.”
Besides a better product, the company also has a better product name. The Comfee can turn any shades into motorized window shades and really, who doesn’t love that? Having to replace all of those shades can be costly, dusty, and just an overall pain. Instead, this little device clips to the shades and can automatically adjust them based on lighting and temperature changes in a room. That basically means that when the room gets too hot, the Comfee will be triggered to close the shades. Once it cools down beyond a preset temperature, the Comfee will let in a little of that warming sunshine. It even has automation features based on daylighting, so the shades will close at night and open during the day.
Users can also override the settings or control shades manually using a smartphone or tablet with the Comfee app for iOS and Android devices. The Comfee can also be integrated into other devices in the home, thanks to support for Bluetooth LE and ZigBee.
And even though this is a pretty high-tech little gadget, the Comfee is an eco-friendly gadget. It can actually create motorized window shades using solar power.
Originally from Estonia (EU), Jalousier is planning to relocate to the U.S. this fall, in order to be closer to the company’s target market.
If you’re looking to add motorized window shades without the expense and hassle of replacing existing shades, Comfee may be an option. Of course, it’s an option that’s not quite available just yet. To get updates, including info on availability, you can enter your email on the Comfee website.
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