Imagine this: You're out for the afternoon, shopping and enjoying Harvard Square before a dinner date, when a glance at your phone betrays an all-too-common reality: Your battery juice isn't going to get you through the night ahead.
We've all been there. And the solution typically involves pulling out a charging cable (or Apple's new Smart Battery Case?) and going in search of a an outlet somewhere (often behind a bar or crammed in among dozens of others at Starbucks) or throwing your hands in the air before calling your date-to-be and saying it's not him, it's you.
A Cambridge startup called Oomf thinks it's got a better way: a network of portable smart chargers rentable at local businesses.
Let's take the scenario above. Instead of canceling your plans and heading home to Netflix, you could instead fire up the following protocol:
- First, download the Oomf app.
- Once open, it will show you all the businesses in your area equipped with Oomf chargers.
- In this case, Alden and Harlow has you covered, right down the street.
- Head in, ask for an Oomf charger and open the app.
- Enter the code you're given.
- Now, you can either authorize the $1 charge or agree to a brief advertisement, which will then allow you to charge for free.
- Finally, order a Secret Burger and enjoy.
"Come January, Bostonians will have access a new, innovative and untethered charging experience in over 100 locations already signed up such as bars, restaurants, cafes, night clubs, salons, gyms and even on campus at Northeastern University," Oomf Founder James Riel told me. "Simply engaging with a brand message will earn you a free charge, it's quite a magical experience!"
The advertising component is critical. Users are so accustomed to watching a brief ad in exchange for content that doing so in exchange for a free phone charge, said Riel, shouldn't be much of a leap.
"Our mobile app acts as a powerful and engaging advertising platform which we're using to on-board brand advertisers who will 'gift' users a free charge in exchange for a brand experience," he said, providing the example of launching the Oomf app and engaging with a Heineken ad, drafting a digital on-screen beer before the power will activate.
Oomf has already signed on a host of local bars and restaurants, including Howl at the Moon, The Harp, Naco Taco, Atlantic Beer Garden, Sissy K's, Anthem Kitchen + bar, Tavern Road, Boston Beer Garden, L Street Tavern, Tavern in the Square and Alden & Harlow, to name a few.
Oomf conducted a six-month test-run in 25 Boston bars and restaurants last year, streamlining the experience and the tech to provide a product that performs. Unlike competitors with a similar aesthetic – like ChefCharger, the beer coaster charger from MIT – Oomf doesn't requite offering an ID as collateral, rather placing the responsibility and liability on the user via the app – leave with an Ooomf and you could be charged for the replacement. (Also, added Riel, "If someone does take a charger with them it simply becomes a paperweight once it runs out juice.")
Oomf is currently on Indiegogo, seeking an additional $150,000 to fund production. But thanks to a number of private investments in the company, any money raised there will simply help them charge toward their immediate goal faster: Serving up to 300 more locations around the Boston area as soon as possible.
Images provided.
