Backers flood to support local product

Backers flood to support local product

(SnapPower)


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PROVO — A Provo startup company has received enthusiastic support for a typically unexciting product: a nightlight.

SnapRays Guidelight is a nightlight that looks as seamless as a built-in but is almost as easy to install as a plug-in nightlight, according to the company. The product was the brainchild of Jeremy Smith, an electrician, and uses a unique prong that draws power from the electrical box instead of through hard wiring.

The product quickly gained support on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Within two hours of posting the 30-day campaign on March 4, SnapPower hit its $12,000 goal. By day two, the funding was $120,000, and by day six it was up to $250,000. As of Thursday, the Kickstarter campaign had raised more than $290,000 and has more than 5,000 backers.

National tech blogs and sites like Gadgets Review, Entrepreneur and Inc.com have written about the product .

The success on Kickstarter is the result of creating a good product and taking time on putting together a professional and multi-media marketing campaign, Sean Watkins, co-founder of SnapPower said.

“I think it’s just a simple solution to a problem that people have,” Watkins said. “Ours is just a better solution than (others). It provides that nightlight people are looking for in an attractive way.”

Watkins, Smith and a third founder, patent lawyer Cam Robinson, have other ideas in the works for more powered cover plates that integrate technology into homes using the prong technology.

“Our whole vision is to create an environment in your home where every cover plate is powered.”

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UtahScience
Celeste Tholen Rosenlof

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