SpitStrips: Social Product Innovation

There is no greater cause than to save lives. MAKO believes that through product development we can bring innovations that will make our community safer and more responsible. Last October 2015 we organized the MAKO-SAGE Innovation Hack in partnership with SAGE Canada. The competition gathered over 50 students representing high schools across the Greater Toronto Area. At this occasion the participants showcased their product pitches to our judges. The winning team created SpitStrips, a smart system that analyses your Blood Alcohol Concentration. We’ve ever since had the pleasure to mentor them and follow the evolution of their social  product innovation.

We are proud to see them launch their first Indiegogo campaign for SpitStrips. We are strongly inspired and motivated by the adventure of these young innovators. We’ve watched them develop their product from idea to prototype.

A Product Innovation Designed to Be Portable and Practical

The young entrepreneurs behind SpitStrips created it to “promote responsible behavior and reduce alcohol abuse’s societal impact”. The device is a plastic strip that estimates within 2 minutes the blood alcohol content levels in the saliva of the user. It is effective for concentrations greater than 0.02%.

To use the product effectively all it takes is a lick or a spit on the strip. The following step consists of placing the strip in the companion plastic bag, then after 2 minutes the tip part of the band will change color in accordance with the level of alcohol in your saliva. The percentage of blood alcohol concentration can be measured through a color chart provided with the SpitStrips. This product is a great alternative to bulky breathalyzers and great for on-the-go users. The smart strip was designed to fit in the pocket and to be easily used by anyone. Whether it is on your way out to the bar or in a parking lot, this device will tell you if you’re safe to drive. Spitstrips is a social product innovation also designed for mothers who breastfeed and want to make sure their milk is free of any alcohol substances.

We love seeing social product innovations emerge that will have a significant impact on our society. Easy-to-use product designs like SpitStrips will give users the opportunity to change their habits for the better and make them take back control over their alcohol consumption. We are looking forward to seeing their product introduced to the market!

About: MAKO Design + Invent is the original firm providing world-class consumer product development services tailored to startups, small manufacturers, and inventors. Simply put, we are the leading one-stop-shop for developing your physical product from idea to store shelves, all in a high-quality, cost-effective, and timely manner. We operate as one powerhouse 30-person product design team spread across 4 offices to serve you (Austin, Miami, San Francisco, & Toronto). We have full-stack in-house industrial design, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, patent referral, prototyping, and manufacturing services. To assist our startup and inventor clients, in addition to above, we help with business strategy, product strategy, marketing, and sales/distribution for all consumer product categories. Also, our founder Kevin Mako hosts The Product Startup Podcast, the industry's leading hardware podcast. Check it out for tips, interviews, and best practices for hardware startups, inventors, and product developers. Click HERE to learn more about MAKO Design + Invent!