Wearable Tech
Wearable Tech
Hardware Meetup’s 2nd ‘Wearable Tech’ Event
A Night Bringing Together Passionate Minds & Brilliant Ideas in NZ’s Tech & Wearables Space
Hardware Meetup NZ is an event organisation dedicated to uniting the brightest companies and founders across New Zealand's hardware sector. Known for its vibrant atmosphere, these meetups are a hub for passionate discussions and attract prominent professionals from NZ’s tech industry, including engineers, lawyers, investors, and industry enthusiasts. Throughout modern history, New Zealand has been the birthplace or home of notable tech innovators who have joined leading global companies or established successful ventures. Many past speakers at Hardware Meetup events, such as Edwin Hayes from ROCOS (NZ-based robotics automation software company that has worked with Boston Robotics among its global partnerships), and Emeline Paat-Dahlstrom (co-founder of silicon-valley based International Space Consultants, focused on commercial development of NewSpace opportunities) exemplify this legacy.
The most recent Hardware Meetup, focused on 'Wearable Tech,' was the second installment in the wearables series. Organised by the dynamic father-daughter duo David and Mikayla Stokes, the event was held at Outset Ventures' headquarters in Parnell, Auckland. Based on-site at Outset, David (a hardware product development and business improvement consultant with over 20 years of experience in scaling small and medium-sized companies, now focused on supporting deep tech startups) and Mikayla (a Mechatronics Engineer at Crown Equipment) foster a connection between the community and the wider tech ecosystem. Outset Ventures, which currently invests in 28 deep-tech companies across NZ, supports further startups through on-site incubation, providing resources, services, and mentorship. The collaboration is a symbiotic match for fostering professional growth and social networking among brilliant minds.
On the evening of June 27th 2024, the event space was filled with energy and conversation as guests awaited a distinguished panel of speakers. Among them was Nikki Reynolds, former Senior Lead Scientist at Nike and CEO of Dynamic Body Research and Development, a product research and development company focused on the intersection between sports science and wearable technology, Steve Leftly, co-founder of Myovolt, a wearable-tech company known for engineering gold-standard sports rehabilitation medical devices, and James Bell-Booth, founder and CEO of Earshots, recognised for his award-winning wireless headphone products using patented ‘MagFit’ technology.
The evening featured insightful discussions on startups, entrepreneurship, and the future of wearable technology, solidifying Hardware Meetup NZ's reputation as a pivotal platform for innovation and inspiration in New Zealand's tech landscape. Below is a summary of the background and highlights of each speaker’s presentation on their companies and ideas.
Speaker 1: Nikki Reynolds from Dynamic Body Research & Development
Nikki Reynolds is a luminary in the field of sports science and wearable technology. With over two decades of groundbreaking work under her belt, Nikki's expertise and innovative spirit have left an indelible mark on the industry. As the former Senior Lead Scientist at Nike, she was instrumental in prioritising and managing a diverse portfolio of research projects, as well as working with elite athletes to develop performance-enhancing footwear and apparel products. Assisted by advanced resources at Nike such as high-tech motion capture systems, full body scanners and fully instrumented indoor sport courts, her efforts led to the development of cutting-edge performance apparel, footwear, sport bras, accessible apparel, and femtech solutions, all grounded in vigorous biomechanical and user experience research.
Nikki's journey didn't stop at Nike. She is now the CEO and founder of Dynamic Body Research and Development, a company dedicated to “pushing the boundaries of performance solutions through scientific exploration and real-world user experiences”. Her vision for Dynamic Body Research and Development is to create breakthrough product technologies that elevate athletic performance while maintaining a commitment to sustainability and innovation. Recently, Nikki has collaborated with Dennisson Technologies to develop a high-tech sports bra featuring embedded smart sensor straps that dynamically adjusts its fit in response to the user's comfort levels, body metrics, and environmental conditions.
Nikki provided insights at the nexus of sports science and wearable technology, showcasing her ongoing commitment to pioneering solutions for athletes as well as broader consumer markets. She stressed the critical role of rigorous research and biomechanical understanding in product development, advocating for collaborative ideation across diverse teams. Nikki underscored the necessity of navigating a rigorous pathway from concept to market, distinguishing between innovative projects and category-specific developments. Essential to this process is meticulous testing and refinement, harmonising biomechanical advancements with aesthetic appeal to resonate with consumer preferences. Early and continuous user engagement remains a priority, pivotal for honing and validating products effectively.
Speaker 2: Steve Leftly from Myovolt
Steve Leftly embarked on his entrepreneurial journey following his experience working as an analytical chemist at a textile research firm. In prior companies (SOFTswitch, Fibretronic, Sentrix Technology) Steve co-developed various wearable electronic textile applications for global brands, including software interface controls, and smart textiles with embedded sensors, as well as textile interfaces capable of generating heat, achieving notable successes through licensing pioneering technologies to renowned brands such as Apple, Levi’s, BMW. SOFTswitch’s breakthroughs were highlighted at prestigious events including Steve Jobs' keynote in 2003, and Steve Leftly continued to develop solutions like embedded controls for NASA spacesuits. This exposure catalysed further partnerships, including projects with Adidas, exploring advanced applications such as far-infrared heated garments for Olympic athletes. These rich experiences ultimately culminated in Steve co-founding Myovolt.
Myovolt, founded by Steve and Dr. Dianne Joines, has engineered the world’s most advanced Focal Vibration device—their devices use advanced neuromuscular vibration technology to treat musculoskeletal injuries. The innovation was based on a clinical vibration device, traditionally a handheld tool used for wound healing. By miniaturising motors, enhancing it with software for optimised control, and embedding them into EVA material, Steve and his team created a portable, wearable rehabilitation device, customised to support a range of body parts. These devices empower users to undergo rehabilitation independently, without the need for constant clinical supervision, addressing the high costs and inaccessibility of traditional methods. Myovolt's technology has attracted global researchers for its efficacy in treating musculoskeletal injury, potential in neurological conditions like stroke and peripheral neuropathy, with validation from leading clinical research institutions including Oklahoma University, University of Hertfordshire, Massey University, and Auckland University of Technology.
Steve's entrepreneurial journey underscores the importance of leveraging academic research into viable business opportunities, securing strategic funding to scale operations efficiently, gaining access to competitive consumer channels through strategic partnerships, navigating complex regulatory landscapes with rigour, and maintaining agility to pivot towards high-value sectors—all critical strategies for sustainable growth in technology ventures.
Speaker 3: James Bell-Booth from earSHOTS
James Bell-Booth, CEO and founder of Earshots, presented his story of a transformative journey in the realm of hearable technology, driven by a passion for enhancing the intersection of music and sports. Founded on the frustration of headphones falling out during intense activities like mountain biking and trail running, Earshots developed its patented MagFit technology. This innovation harnesses the natural polarisation of gel-coated magnets to ensure a secure, movement-proof fit that is sweatproof and waterproof, addressing a critical need for athletes and active individuals alike.
The development of MagFit spanned a decade of rigorous research and development, overcoming numerous technical challenges. James and his team navigated complexities in magnet material selection, magnet shape optimisation, and the delicate balance of ensuring the magnets did not interfere with audio performance. Their commitment to innovation led to multiple patents and global recognition, including prestigious design and innovation awards such as Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2022, and Australia’s Good Design Awards 2022. Despite facing the typical hurdles of a crowded market and technological risks, Earshots differentiated itself by focusing on user-centric design and superior audio quality, leveraging a robust IP strategy with patents and trademarks globally.
James's journey underscores the importance of persistence and resilience in entrepreneurship. He emphasised on the emotional grit required to sustain a vision over years of iterative development, and the value of differentiation in competitive markets and the strategic protection of intellectual property. By staying true to the mission of enhancing the athlete's experience through technology, Earshots continues to push boundaries, poised to launch their latest Gen 3 product in late 2024 - early 2025, promising to redefine sport headphones with unmatched audio performance and beautiful ergonomic design. James concluded his presentation with a powerful message: "If you know what is unique about what you do and why you've done it, you'll find that you can get a first meeting with anyone”.
Article Credit: Daryssia Yu (Business Journalist - Fashion & Technology).
Passionate business journalist and consultant offering essential insights for professionals and creatives aiming to start or grow their businesses in the innovative worlds of consumer fashion or functional, wearable tech. With a focus on connecting talented creatives across the fashion and tech industries, I help efficiently launch and scale projects, balancing aesthetics and functionality to drive success.
Event Sponsors
Lune Digital
Lune Digital is an embedded systems expert specialising in high-tech, IoT and wearable solutions. For the past 10 years, Lune Digital has been assisting visionary companies with hardware design, electronics engineering, embedded software development, and technical advice. They excel in optimizing battery life, boosting power efficiency, enhancing wireless connectivity, and creating scalable, future-proof systems.
Outset Ventures
Outset Ventures are committed to empowering overlooked science and engineering innovators to transform their ideas into groundbreaking ventures, helping them succeed at the critical early stages. As New Zealand's center of gravity for science and engineering startups and scaleups, Outset is home to a community of 40+ founder-led companies, 5000 square meters of laboratory and workshop spaces, and the country's most active deep technology investment fund.
Blender
Blender is a product design and development consultancy. Their collaborative approach, strategic design process and technical know-how deliver engineered, purpose-made products. Since 2006 Blender partnered with many incredible companies, helping them to realise their vision and shape the future, by supporting them with exceptional product design, prototyping, engineering, and manufacturing services.
Hudson Gavin Martin
Hudson Gavin Martin is a leading boutique commercial and corporate law firm specialising in technology, media and intellectual property. Hudson Gavin Martin advises on commercial and consumer law, corporate law, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution. They represent clients of all sizes and maturity, from start-ups and SMEs, right through to well-established NZ and global / multinational businesses (both from a supplier and customer perspective). They also offer Hardware Meetup members a free initial consultation, so talk to Anchali if you need any legal support!