A new Chicago startup wants to clean your room by harnessing the power of light.
Launching as a new direct-to-consumer product this spring, Beacon, a patent-pending, hand-sized, internet-connected, wall-mounted device, is designed to rid an average-sized room of bacteria, viruses, germs and pathogens in six to eight minutes utilizing far-UVC light.
Estimated to ship out by early Q2 2023, Beacon devices start at $499 and are available for preorder at beaconlight.co.
While UV light can be used for phone cleaning and tanning beds, it can also be harmful to people with prolonged exposure. Beacon, on the other hand, says it uses a wavelength of light that's built to be around people and in public spaces and is scientifically proven to be safer for human exposure.
Co-founder Brian Clark said Beacon is the first intelligent far-UVC product on the market. With the app, users can schedule when they would like to run it in their home or office. The product also senses and detects presence and will adjust accordingly based on where the user sets the thresholds.
Clark added that for every 20 units Beacon sells, the Chicago startup will donate a device to an underserved community or nonprofit.
"Pathogens, pandemics ... are a collective action problem," he said. "You can't just have 90% of the population be safe and put others at risk."
Clark said that Beacon has a wide application across public spaces for a variety of different types of businesses.
He also knows that growing smartly will be just as important as growing quickly.
"We will keep our sales focused for the first six months. We're only going to do a limited quantity," he said. "We want to make sure we're thoughtful about how we grow, especially in this high-interest-rate environment. It's important to make sure we manage the business and are intentional about growth."
