VELIA smart ring now targets a Q1 2025 debut
The VELIA smart ring has had its fair share of delays, leaving backers wondering if it would ever see the light of day. But there’s finally some good news—it’s being demoed at CES 2025, and seems to be heading for an April 2025 launch.
To remind, the company behind this innovative smart ring successfully raised nearly $2 million on Indiegogo for production purposes. An additional $700,000 was raised on another platform, making it one of the most funded crowdfunding smart rings to date. Over 11,000 individuals backed the product, generating a substantial social community following. But that was a few years ago!
The device actually began its odyssey under the name Iris Ring. It promised a slimmer profile than other available options. But it is its apparent capability to monitor blood pressure directly from the finger that generated most interest. This convenient functionality would offer an alternative to bulky blood pressure monitors, allowing users to track their health discreetly and on-the-go.
Essential reading: Top crowdfunded rings you should know about
It’s important to note, however, that the blood pressure tracking feature won’t be immediately available. But the company assures users it will be added via a future update. So post-launch.
In November 2023, it was announced the smart ring is being rebranded to VELIA. Something to do with another brand having rights to te Iris name. No big deal.
But things are about to get more interesting.
Velia smart ring: A shifting delivery timeline…
The original delivery date was set to December 2023. Following the November name change announcement, the company revised its shipping schedule. It said it is aiming to dispatch the sizing kits in Q1 2024 and the final rings from March 2024. Fine, three or four months late is not a big deal in the crowdfunding world.
But at the end of February the Swiss-based outfit posted another update. They explained that there have been delays attributing it to challenges in completing quality tests and securing funding for materials and manufacturing. The team apologized for the lack of communication, highlighting their recent success in mechanical tests, which VELIA “passed with flying colors, demonstrating exceptional durability and resilience”.
They outlined the next steps towards production, including electrical verification and compliance tests, with an aim to begin shipping by July 2024. Financial hurdles have affected the timeline, but the team says it remains committed to delivering the product and promises more frequent updates moving forward.
Then the shipping date was pushed back once again. This time to Q3 2024. The company said in a Youtube video that the money they raised was simply not enough to develop the product. But that they’ve found a solution in terms of raising investments.
Latest developments
The good news is – things seem to be back on track. We are now looking at an April 2025 launch – hopefully the last postponement. The company has a presence at CES 2025 should give some comfort to the 11,000 plus VELIA’s backers.
Delays are common in crowdfunding projects, which differ significantly from purchasing market-ready products due to the inherent lack of guarantees. It’s a reminder that backing a project is more about supporting an idea than expecting a finished product on a set timeline.
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