Springwise

Lightweight flatpack truck can be assembled in a...

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:57:27 +0100

Lightweight flatpack truck can be assembled in a day

Netherlands-based Sandwichbikes has already enabled consumers to build their own bikes from a self-assembly kit. Now UK’s Global Vehicle Trust wants to bring the OX – a lightweight flatpack truck that can be built in a day – to African regions in need of cheap transportation. READ MORE…

Airbed amplifies breaths of air to inflate in seconds Outdoors...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:06:35 +0100

Airbed amplifies breaths of air to inflate in seconds

Outdoors types are always innovating and looking for ways to make items more practical – as our recent coverage of the Earl survival tablet proves. Similarly, the Windcatcher is a portable air bed that can be fully inflated in seconds. READ MORE…

Through app, physical books become more like e-books For an...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:47:09 +0100

Through app, physical books become more like e-books

For an industry that is currently undergoing a shift from analog to digital products, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen innovations that merge the two – such as Poland’s Elektrobiblioteka. Now the Booke app is a companion for readers of physical books, offering digital search, copying and note-taking facilities. READ MORE…

App helps organizers bring local community events to...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:50:26 +0100

App helps organizers bring local community events to life

Platforms such as Gidsy have already offered a way for locals to find new experiences in their city. Now a new app called Commune enables event organizers to promote community projects and recruit volunteers to bring them to life. READ MORE…

Platform helps food trucks go digital We’ve already seen Eu que...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:52:48 +0100

Platform helps food trucks go digital

We’ve already seen Eu que Fiz help those in Brazilian favelas to start their own catering businesses. Now New York City-based FoodtoEat.com wants to get immigrant workers running food trucks to learn how to use digital technology to boost their businesses. READ MORE…

Solar-powered tablet designed to work in the wild We recently...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 15:19:38 +0100

Solar-powered tablet designed to work in the wild

We recently covered the SatSleeve, an iPhone case that turns the device into a powerful satellite phone capable of making calls from any location. Now the Earl is a tablet specifically engineered for rigorous outdoor use and featuring a built-in solar panel. READ MORE…

In Nigeria, recycling rewards via SMS Online platforms such as...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:58:18 +0100

In Nigeria, recycling rewards via SMS

Online platforms such as France’s CitéGreen have enabled consumers to receive rewards for eco behavior, but what about regions where the internet isn’t so readily available? Wecyclers is a project based in Nigeria that aims to incentivize recycling through text message points that can be exchanged for everyday items. READ MORE…

Segway-style vehicle is ultra portable We’ve already seen...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 15:53:32 +0100

Segway-style vehicle is ultra portable

We’ve already seen portable transport upgraded from fold-up bicycles to the suitcase-sized Moveomotorbike. Now the Hovertrax is a Segway-like electric gyroscopic vehicle that is hands-free and can fit in the user’s backpack. READ MORE…

Social network for hospital patients connects users via similar...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 14:54:59 +0100

Social network for hospital patients connects users via similar interests

When it come to hospital stays – especially lengthy ones – it can make a big difference to help patients feel as comfortable as possible. We recently saw Scotland’s Hospital Passport scheme aim to put children at ease, and now France-based startup Hôpital Affinité wants to connect those in hospital with fellow patients that share similar interests. READ MORE…

Platform offers visual lesson plan ideas for teachers With all...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:49:52 +0100

Platform offers visual lesson plan ideas for teachers

With all of the resources the web has to offer, teachers can now go beyond the textbook when organizing their lessons plans, and tools such as Learnist have already made it easier for them to collect their online research. Now Linked2Teach aims to provide a way for educators to gain inspiration by seeing what’s going on in classrooms around the world through themed pinboards. READ MORE…

‘Urban bellhops’ meet and greet Airbnb guests Airbnb has opened...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 16:13:30 +0100

‘Urban bellhops’ meet and greet Airbnb guests

Airbnb has opened up a new market for consumer-provided tourist accommodation, and we’ve seen other businesses such as EatWith inspired by the service. Now San Francisco-based Urban Bellhop is tapping into the Airbnb customer base by offering a check-in service for those hosting tourists. READ MORE…

Listings site aims to be Craigslist for disabled people Disabled...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:11:38 +0100

Listings site aims to be Craigslist for disabled people

Disabled residents of London have already been kept aware of some of the stylish events happening at locations with access for wheelchair users through the Blue Badge Style platform. In a similar vein, New York-based Ability List is now hoping to become the Craigslist for less able people. READ MORE…

Girls’ shoes enable endless customization Customizations and...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 12:52:38 +0100

Girls’ shoes enable endless customization

Customizations and personalization have been big themes in the fashion world in recent years, with platforms such as Keds Studio enabling consumers to design their own shoes and sell them. Now Bobbi-Toads is enabling young girls to alter the look of their footwear on a regular basis, with nail polish and remover that is applied straight onto the shoe. READ MORE…

In Korea, tariff enables unused smartphone data donations Hot on...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 20:49:09 +0100

In Korea, tariff enables unused smartphone data donations

Hot on the heels of our coverage of DOODAD, the SIM card that offers an alternative data plan for frequent travelers, we’ve come across another innovative package for telecoms consumers. Korea-based network T is offering the LTE Data Gift plan, which enables customers with leftover data allowance at the end of the month to donate it to a contact. READ MORE…

At Rio carnival, beer cans recycled in exchange for train...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:53:23 +0100

At Rio carnival, beer cans recycled in exchange for train rides

One way to encourage people to recycle their trash is to offer something in return – something that Mexico’sMercado du Trueque scheme took advantage of. Now the Beer Turnstile marketing campaign in Brazil has seen carnival-goers hand in empty beer cans in return for a free train ride home. READ MORE…

Springwise Updates It’s always exciting to hear about the...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 16:04:04 +0100

Springwise Updates

It’s always exciting to hear about the progress made by businesses that we’ve previously featured. Here are some updates from founders who have all got in touch to share their latest news. READ MORE…

From Israel, software detects emotion in speech While startups...

Wed, 12 Jun 2013 12:22:00 +0100

From Israel, software detects emotion in speech

While startups such as Soma Analytics have given smartphone users the power to monitor their mood through data, our latest spotting aims to make emotion detection completely automatic. Beyond Verbal is a platform that analyzes vocal intonations in order to determine how speakers feel about what they’re saying. READ MORE…

Smartphone-based intercom enables homeowners to see who’s at the...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 16:29:15 +0100

Smartphone-based intercom enables homeowners to see who’s at the door remotely

LaunchKey has already helped web users to boost their online security with logins verified on their smartphone, but what about security in the real world? Doorbot is a system that aims to replace the doorbell with a camera that broadcasts direct to homeowners’ smartphones. READ MORE…

Farmville-like game raises money for Hurricane Sandy victims It...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 15:01:51 +0100

Farmville-like game raises money for Hurricane Sandy victims

It may well have been several months since Hurricane Sandy hit the east coast of the US last year, but restoring the destruction it caused is still ongoing. Repair The Rockaways is a new platform that gamifies the donation process to charities rebuilding communities in the affected area. READ MORE…

Robot can perform injections better than doctors Injections are...

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 12:31:38 +0100

Robot can perform injections better than doctors

Injections are never the most pleasant experience, but we have seen innovations to make it eaiser for those who need to take medication intravenously to keep track of their schedule, such as the Timesulin. Now Veebot aims to automate the process of drawing blood, making it more accurate and less stressful for patients. READ MORE…