It seems like a story heard a thousand times: young and talented founders, an idea to promote, the process, the disappointment, the abandonment. But it doesn't always go like this. The case of Out Of, an Italian startup founded by two university students without capital, is different.
Today it is the best-selling ski goggle: sold out in many ski and snowboard shops. Even when she was a Cinderella, however, she had strong shoulders. Out Of, an Italian startup, has developed a technology that will make a difference even in different disciplines. It's called “Electra”, and for now it is the core of a new generation electronic ski goggle.
To be precise, the Out Of mask is the centerpiece of a lens which can react to changes in ambient light practically instantly. And it does it without a battery, with energy from the sun.
How does the Electra lens work?
At the base of the entire Out Of system there is a small photovoltaic cell: it obtains energy from the sun to power a proprietary chip and an LCD film. The chip constantly changes the light conditions of the lens, adjusting its opacity and reactions to the surrounding environment. The use of the chip makes the reaction almost instantaneous (just 9 hundredths of a second) and eliminates any problems with visual comfort.
Not just skiing and snowboarding
Out Of's patent pending technology completely eliminates birefringence and makes the tone uniform: Electra's potential applications are numerous. They will be able to equip cycling glasses (I guess: also for swimming and rowing?), motorcycle helmets, safety suits, military equipment and even the next generation of smart glasses.
The plus of Electra? The speed of adaptation.
Among the situations that can occur during a ski descent (and countless other scenarios in other contexts, especially on construction sites or on the street), one sometimes finds oneself suddenly switching from even strong light to shadow, or vice versa. In these moments the unprotected eye may struggle to adapt, with the risk of accidents due to the temporary visual limitation. If you are skiing with a ski goggle without Electra technology this can mean skiing up to 200 meters without seeing the shape of the terrain. A leap into the dark that the new lens and the new Out Of masks could prevent.
The sold out and the triumphal stages of this are not surprising startup: among the finalists of BHeroes, innovation and promotion program for new Italian businesses, in overfunding 4 times on Mamacrowd.
