Ding - smart doorbell innovation
by Startacus Admin
Ding is a doorbell. It’s smarter than a normal doorbell, but not as smart as a smart doorbell.
The Ding team considers these to be overly complicated, over-engineered, and generally overly high-tech things that most people don’t want in their homes. Ding is simpler and more refined. On the outside, a slim unit with grey or brass button, on the inside a fabric-covered speaker designed to look pleasing in the home.
But the useful part of Ding is its connectivity to your smartphone. When someone rings your doorbell, your doorbell rings you. Then, wherever you are, you can speak to the person on your doorstep and tell them to go away, wait while you come in from the garden, leave the package behind the flower pot and you’ll get it when you come home from Spain, etc.
The Ding team was one of 3 to win the Design Council Spark programme, netting themselves £65,000 and bringing their idea to a prototype and viable business plan. They have also been through the 12-week John Lewis JLAB accelerator, working with their design and buying teams to work on everything from price to packaging. 
As well as the Design Council funding, they have raised over $111,000 (more than 200% of the target) from Kickstarter, and have been gathering pre-orders from Indiegogo InDemand (a post-campaign solution that bridges the gap between fundraising and actually selling). They have also recently received nearly £20,000 more than their £250,002 (we assume the £2 is for coffee) goal on Seedrs.
So judging by all this, there is certainly a market for doorbells that ring you, and it opens the door (literally the only pun we could knock-knock out) to a suite of other products in the future.
The Ding team looks at the likes of Nest and Dyson and the way they have innovated common household things like the thermostat and vacuum cleaner, and feels like it is in a position to do the same for products focused around the front of the home, such as secure delivery boxes or, say, the doorbell.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.
Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...
 Daniel Dierkes, David Schara, and Maximilian Geißinger 2.jpeg)
Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.
.jpg)
Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.
SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future
A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated
Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 21st August 2017
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
