Utah company launches helmet speakers, raises $23K in 24 hours

Utah company launches helmet speakers, raises $23K in 24 hours

(BE Headwear)


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OREM — For many extreme sports enthusiasts, their sport and music go hand in hand. Utah company, BE Headwear is bringing those components and safety together. Surround sound in your helmet? This holiday and ski season, it’s a possibility for consumers.

On June 23, BE Headwear launched its fourth generation helmet speakers on funding platform, Kickstarter. The three-year-old company reached its goal of $23,000 in less than 24 hours. In three weeks, the company has raised more than $44,500 from 395 backers.

“Combining our two loves” was the inspiration for the product, according to Nick Moore, Co-Founder and Brand Manager of BE Headwear.

“We wanted to enjoy our music when we rode our bikes or skied and snowboarded," he said. "Every time we wanted to listen to music, it became an unpleasant experience whether it be cords that got snagged or stuff would fall out of your pocket. We couldn’t combine the joy of listening to our favorite music and the joy of riding.”

The BE-LINK helmet surround system can be used with most helmets, including motorcycle, bike, skateboard and snowboarding. The fourth generation is the first in the brand to be IPX5 waterproof, allowing water sports athletes to also enjoy the product.

“You can use the fourth gen for anything,” Moore said. “A lot of the accessories are based around motocross, mountain biking and motorcycle use. It’s cool when you build a product and who uses it and who loves it changes. We’re evolving with our fan base.”

The sound system has a microphone for calls and an external mountable controller. The battery life lasts eight to 10 hours and takes about two hours to charge. It integrates with iOS and Android platforms, allowing for turn-by-turn directions from GPS. It's also compatible with Harley Davidson and BMW onboard bluetooth and navigation systems.

Courtesy of BE Headwear
Courtesy of BE Headwear

Advantages of the new version include it being 40 percent smaller, 12 percent slimmer and louder than the previous model. The fourth-generation model launched nine months after its predecessor was released.

“As a company, we’ve never sat still, we’ve never felt this is good enough," Moore said. "We’ve always been evolving and advancing to try and keep up with consumer feedback and new emerging technology."

The company has enjoyed its Kickstarter success and use the platform as a tool to improve its products.

“Kickstarter is really amazing," Moore said. "It’s the most engaged consumer base. We put out a survey to everyone who bought the third gen off of Kickstarter asking, 'What do you like, what don’t you like?' We got probably 600 surveys back, and that’s how we designed gen four. Even though we are a small team, we had an international work tank. It’s an incredible tool if you’re willing to listen to your consumers. We had a focus group, which is so rare for being a young blood brand.”

Consumers who pre-order now will have their system delivered in November when ski season starts.

“We’re really proud to be a Utah company," Moore said. "It means a lot that we’re right in the heart of the mountains. It’s been a great community of people to work with."


Carlos is a student at Utah Valley University and currently works as a news writing intern for KSL.com. You can follow him on Twitter at @Car1osBaquerizo or email him at carlosbaquerizo@ymail.com.

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