A Bright Idea: Runners Become Entrepreneurs To Make Pre-Dawn / Post-Dusk Running Safer
Florida couple launches Kickstarter campaign to fund innovative new running safety product, calls upon running community for support
Orlando, FL – May 16th 2013 –With the development of their innovative Night Runner™ product, Doug Storer and his fiancé Renata, both avid runners, are on a mission to make pre8dawn and post-dusk running safer for the overwhelming percentage of runners who run during those times of day. The couple has launched a Kickstarter campaign to secure funding to help continue their mission to bring the Night Runner™ to market. The Kickstarter campaign can be accessed via the following link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1690988499/night-runner-led-shoe-lights
The Kickstarter campaign has a modest goal of securing $38k by June 10th 2013 to help fund the development of additional prototypes and the initial tooling process for manufacturing the finished product. The couple is calling on the running community to contribute to the Kickstarter campaign to help make the product a reality. As is standard with all Kickstarter campaigns, contributors receive a “thank you” ranging from Night Runner branded sport phone holders to tech shirts to the product itself for contributors at the $50+ level).
“The running community is exactly that – a community” noted Night Runner co-founder Doug Storer. “The Night Runner is a product developed by runners, for runners to help solve a problem any of us who enjoy early morning or evening runs face every day. Our mission is to help make low8light running safer by illuminating the path with Night Runner, so we’re hoping the running community can rally around this idea and help bring it to life via our Kickstarter campaign.”
Inspired by their own challenges with visibility during pre-dawn and post-dusk runs, the couple developed the concept for shoe8mounted, rechargeable LED lights that illuminate the runner’s path directly at their feet to help avoid obstacles that might otherwise present safety issues on a low8light run.
In addition to helping runners avoid injuries by avoiding obstacles, the wide, bright low beams help alert motorists that a runner is near. Night Runner is designed for runners, walkers, hikers, bikers a bicycle mount is under development), and anyone who enjoys outdoor activities in low light conditions.
Functional prototypes of the Night Runner™ have been in field testing since January of 2013. The couple has a goal of completing the design process by summer 2013, and will then begin the tooling process for the injection molding and the electronic assembly. The units will be packaged and shipped with a targeted delivery date of December, 2013.