Sydney surfer startup founder is behind the world-hit contactless payment sunglasses
An Australian startup has been revealed as the key technology partner of new contactless payment sunglasses which have led to a world sensation after being unveiled at the iconic South by Southwest (SXSW) Festival.
Global payments giant Visa unveiled the WaveShades sunglasses to an international audience at the festival in Austin, Texas. The unveiling has attracted television and online media attention across the globe.
The fascinating and little-known back story however is that FinTech Australia member Inamo came up with the sunglasses payment concept and provided the near field communication (NFC) chip which is powering the WaveShades.
Inamo founder Peter Colbert, a former agent for international surfing stars and still a keen surfer, thought of the contactless payment sunglasses after surfing with friends at Manly beach last year, near his home on Sydney’s northern beaches.
“It was my turn to pay for a round of coffees with friends and I realised I didn’t have any wallet or cash to pay,” Mr Colbert said. “I had a light bulb moment and thought ‘wouldn’t it be great if I could go surfing, even go for a run or bike ride and not have to carry my wallet or mobile phone’.”
“Given that Australia is world-renowned for its beaches and surfing culture, it only makes sense that we are the leaders when it comes to inventing wearable, waterproof technology that does away with cash, cards and wallets.”
Mr Colbert then developed the Inamo Curl, a waterproof payment wearable that can be attached to watch and fitness bands and is compatible with any Visa PayWave terminals. The chip used in the Inamo Curl is the same chip embedded in the arm of the WaveShades sunglasses unveiled at SXSW.
“I’m really proud as an Aussie startup that Visa chose our payment platform to promote their WaveShades sunglasses at such a prestigious event like SXSW,” Mr Colbert said.
“I wish I could have been there but we are collaborating with Visa to promote the WaveShades at the WSL Quiksilver Pro on the Gold Coast this weekend.
“Using Inamo’s technology in sunglasses is a logical extension of our mission to move people’s wallets to a variety of wearables that suit their lifestyle.”
FinTech Australia CEO Danielle Szetho welcomed Inamo being profiled on the global stage and said it reinforced Australia’s credentials as a world leader in contactless payments.
“Inamo’s rapid growth comes on the back of the fact that Australia has the strongest market penetration of contactless payments in the world,” she said.
“Australians are world-renowned early adopters of new technology and that helps make the Australian market such an exciting test and development location for new fintech products.”
Earlier this year, hundreds of people attending music festivals across five Australian cities trialled the WaveShades sunglasses, as part of another collaboration with Visa. Visa’s media statement on this is available here.
Inamo was a founding resident of the Stone & Chalk fintech startup incubator based in Sydney, Australia. Stone & Chalk is Australia’s only dedicated fintech incubator.
Watch a Stone & Chalk video about Peter Colbert talking about how he started Inamo here.
About FinTech Australia
FinTech Australia is a national association for the Australian FinTech Startup community. Our vision is to make Australia the leading market for FinTech Innovation and Investment by working with both sides of Government, Industry and the Australian FinTech community to create a supportive environment and partner ecosystem in Australia and abroad.
