Crowdfunding: A Major Factor in the BLE Boom

By: Jordan Manser, Marketing Intern

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and its catalytic growth into new markets has been an increasingly hot topic in recent months. The technology is enabling what Tech Crunch calls the connected hardware boom, resulting in the development of several interesting and unique products. BLE is facilitating this hardware trend and fast becoming an enabler for the Internet of Things (IoT). Tech Crunch recently published an article that discusses the hardware boom and how crowdfunding bridges the gap between an innovative prototype and the cost of manufacturing the product.

With Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) now positioned to be a key technology in the wireless arena, more and more companies are looking to add BLE to a wide array of sensors to create innovative applications. According to Tech Crunch, “Bluetooth LE is allowing a new wave of physically minded startups to build devices that can fly long enough to become disruptors... [BLE] allows makers to build interesting devices that can keep communicating for up to a year on a single charge (in some cases). And that’s a game changer. Add in ubiquitous smartphone ownership and it’s a perfect storm” As companies use BLE to push the limits of mobile devices, the network of connected things continues to develop, facilitating the IoT.

Although this connected hardware trend is promising, companies still have to find a way to get their product to consumers, despite hardware and shipping costs. Fortunately, crowdfunding seems to be an effective solution to this issue.  Crowdfunding or fundraising websites, such as Selfstarter, Indiegogo, Crowdfunder, and Kickstarter provide the funding bridge between a promising prototype and the cost of manufacturing and shipping a product. No one can say exactly how long hardware will be in the spotlight. Some say there will be a huge surge in the next year or so, but for now developers are putting their creativity to the test, leveraging BLE to make their connected device dreams a reality.