Bluesmart
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Travel technology, Internet of Things |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Defunct | May 1, 2018 |
| Fate | Intellectual property acquired by Travelpro; operations ceased |
| Products | Smart luggage (Bluesmart One, Bluesmart Black Edition, Series 2 collection) |
Number of employees | 15 (2015) |
Bluesmart Inc. was an international travel technology firm focused on Internet of Things innovations for travel accessories. In 2014, it introduced the Bluesmart One, a technologically advanced carry-on suitcase, through an Indiegogo crowdfunding effort. This campaign secured $2.2 million in funding, making it the most successful travel-related product on the platform at that period.
Operations were halted on May 1, 2018, after major US airlines prohibited smart luggage containing non-removable batteries. Subsequently, the company's intellectual property rights were acquired by Travelpro, and product support was discontinued.
Crowdfunding campaign
Bluesmart debuted its initial product on Indiegogo in October 2014, offering pre-orders as incentives. The funding goal was achieved within two hours, with 10,000 units pre-sold across 114 countries and total contributions exceeding $2.2 million. During the ongoing campaign, Bluesmart was also chosen to participate in Y Combinator’s Winter 2015 startup accelerator program in Silicon Valley.
Manufacturing the first smart carry-on
Following successful reliability testing of its manufacturing prototype in June 2015, Bluesmart Inc. created a Mass Production division and established a local team in China, eventually employing 15 staff members. The company commenced shipping the Bluesmart One in August 2015.
Products
The Bluesmart One was launched toward the end of 2015.
In 2016, Bluesmart unveiled the premium Bluesmart Black Edition carry-on, which featured improved robustness and an advanced exterior anti-theft mechanism.
By June 2017, Bluesmart expanded its offerings with the Series 2 collection, comprising the Bluesmart Cabin, Check, Laptop Bag, and Passport Pouch.
Bluesmart Inc. earned the prestigious Red Dot Best of the Best Design Award for its product design excellence.
See also
- Airbus Bag2Go, a related concept introduced in 2013
- Delsey, which launched a similar product