She Strengthens

From Brainwave to Reality: The Challenges of Bringing Melon to Life

Arye Barnehama’s innovative brainchild, Melon, stunned the Kickstarter community by raising over $300,000 in just 30 days. Now, the co-founder and his team of four face the daunting task of transforming this promising idea into a functional product that will meet the expectations of over 2,700 backers.

The High Stakes of Innovation

Barnehama, with his background in consumer marketing and brain measurement technology, is determined not to squander this opportunity. He acknowledges that the real challenge lies in balancing innovation with the pressure of delivering a product that lives up to its promise.

What is Melon?

Melon is a revolutionary headband and mobile app combo that measures and claims to improve focus by tracking the electrical activity of the brain. The sensors in the headband detect EEG signals, which are then sent to the app via Bluetooth, providing users with real-time charts, graphs, and even mini-games to help them maximize their productivity and calm their nerves.

Designing for the Masses

One of the biggest hurdles Melon faces is manufacturing 5,000 headbands that cater to different head shapes and user needs. The company is prototyping for the final manufacture, planning to include sizing spacers that can be added or removed to preserve the design while allowing for customization.

Adding the Extras

Melon’s success on Kickstarter enabled the team to add “stretch” goals, including an accelerometer to track movement data and supplement EEG data. This feature will enable users to measure focus during various activities, such as yoga or weight training. A web dashboard for Kickstarter backers is also in the works, which will be integrated into the potential beta test.

Scaling Up

As Melon prepares to ship its first 5,000 units, the team must navigate the challenges of scaling up production. This includes hiring new staff, developing systems to manage internal structure and external consumer base, and finalizing tooling and injection molding tools.

Software Challenges

Melon aims to be as “open source” as possible, allowing amateur coders to manipulate the code and create their own apps. The team must strike a balance between catering to the tech community and creating software that benefits everyday users. The neural network feature, which learns about users’ behavior patterns, will be a key aspect of the testing phase.

The Road Ahead

As Melon transitions from Kickstarter sensation to real-world product, the stakes are high. The company must test its features on a wider audience, ensure the product delivers on its promise, and navigate the competitive fitness tracker market. We’ll be checking in with Melon to see how they overcome these challenges and bring their innovative product to life.