An MIT tech startup called ChefCharger thinks it has the answer to all those unsightly charging cords cluttering up your counter space at home.
The company, founded by MITs Lana Ibragimova and Alex Smetannikov, makes household objects like salt and pepper shakers, drink coasters and candle holders that double as high-powered phone chargers. Their technology is employed in restaurants, offering a stylish and discrete charging option for patrons.
"We need charging to be more convenient and less obvious."
After numerous requests, they're expanding the offering outside of restaurants to your home. The company launched Circle today on Kickstarter, which is its answer to the hassle of being tethered to a wall socket when your phone is in need of a charge.
"Outlets require wires, with that they decrease our freedom to move around home," Ibragimova told me. "With Circle, we get this small piece of our personal freedom back, no compromising the style and look of our cozy personal space."
The chargers come in sets of three, made from a sleek bamboo that's light and waterproof. Each is compatible with iPhone, Samsung, HTC, Windows and more. Reward tiers vary, but a set of three emblazoned with the Circle logo and "an elegant charging base" will run you $80 if you catch the early bird special, or $100 if not.
For a bit more, you can also opt for personalized coasters – send in three black and white pictures, and they'll laser-etch each into a coaster: your wedding date, dog photos, favorite sports team's logo, the options seem pretty limitless.
For this campaign, ChefCharger also collaborated with celebrity NY artist Jon Burgerman, who employed his "doodle" style art to create three digitally themed coasters (pictured below) depicting the duo's roots at MIT, as well as several other sets.
The coasters house a built-in charging cord that unwinds and plugs in to your phone, charging one to two times with each fully charged coaster. The charging speed, Ibragimova told me, is as fast as most conventional wall charges.
Aside from the promise of a cleaner, more cord-free aesthetic, I had to ask: If I already have a phone charger and a set of nice coasters, why do I need another product that combines the two?
"If you are at home, you do not want to be stuck due to an outlet," she said. "You can use your coaster while you work, read, have meals or chill out with your family or friends. They blend in perfectly with your home and can be placed where you need them the most."
The campaign has set a goal of $45,000 across 35 days. Down the road, ChefCharger plans to offer new designs and shapes, additional collaborations with other artists and greater technical capabilities, including even faster charging.
Always though, said Ibragimova, the goal will be the same: "Before you part with your phone for the nigh,t we need charging to be more convenient and less obvious."
Images via ChefCharger.
