The “FLIP-ing” Experience
This article encapsulates the erudition that our team acquired by interacting with the founder of a budding entrepreneurship venture, FLIP technologies and this whole learning experience would not have been possible without the guidance of our mentor Mr. Sijo K.
FLIP Technologies
FLIP Technologies is a startup based at Startup Village Kochi, Kerala, a team of two young student entrepreneurs who have earned global acclaim for their RideBlock device and smartphone application designed to improve the skills of skateboarders.
They are focused on developing cutting edge IOT devices & activity tracking devices for adventure sports. Currently based in LA , they have steadily grown in a considerably short span of time. In a short span of their journey they have won the Next Big Idea Contest 2014 by Digital Media Zone (DMZ), Toronto; Zone Startups, Mumbai & Ryerson Inc., were the third runner up at Firehack 2014, IITB, runner-up at Qualcomm Qprize runner-up, India and were also awarded for being among the “Top Five Emerging Startups”, under the aegis of Startup Village.
RIDEBLOCK
The product they are currently working on is RIDEBLOCK. RIDEBLOCK is a device (Skateboard tracker) designed for skateboarders to enhance their ability to perform and analyse tricks irrespective if he is an amateur or professional. The device is connected to the truck of the skateboard and tracks the dynamics of the board and the data is sent to a smartphone app via Bluetooth LE. The app can determine the trick performed and help the skateboarders to improve their skills and also show off their skills and abilities on social media. According to the founder the device is a great learning tool too basically personalized trainer for everyone.
“THE TEAM”
To get started with our interactive session with JIBIN JOSE, the co-founder of FLIP Technologies, we went and met him up at Makers Village, Kochi. The interaction was to know more about his venture and to get insights into his journey so far. And to our amazement a young fellow arrives in front of us on a skateboard and we knew that this session was going to be so much more than a project for us.
Jibin is a young, enthusiastic entrepreneur who along with his friend Abhimanyu started Flip Technology and is currently working as Business Developer handling management, operations and fundraising. From participating in Hackathons in the initial stage to being a part of Q-play (another entrepreneurial venture) to participation into Mars Rover project as part of University Rover Challenge 2014, Utah and his trip to the Silicon Valley which was the turning point in his career.
“THE IDEA”
A casual conversation and argument with his friend and now co-founder Abhimanyu, triggered and ignited the idea behind their new product RIDEBLOCK, a device which can measure the performance of a skateboarder.
The product currently targets fifty percent of the total skateboarder population of US, which currently spends around 750 USD annually for skateboarding. For all those who think that startups today are mostly about softwares and apps and involves heavy coding then this product just proves you wrong.
To have an IOT device on a skateboard to track your activity and performance is revolutionary and imagine how amazing it would be have something like this in other sports and games, maybe cricket or badminton someday.
“Turn your passion into your profession”, is the mantra that Jibin has followed wholeheartedly and it has done wonders for him. Persist and believe in your product and your team”.
Know more about JIBIN his team and RideBlock at:
