Neptune (company)

Neptune Computer Inc., commonly known as Neptune, is a Canadian privately held consumer electronics and wearable technology company, founded in 2013 by Simon Tian in Montreal, Quebec, and currently based in Toronto.[1] The company has raised around $7 million from private investors, and over $2 million from crowdfunding sources like Kickstarter and Indiegogo.[1][2][3]

Neptune
TypePrivate
IndustryConsumer electronics
FoundedJanuary 23, 2013 (2013-01-23)
FounderSimon Tian
FateAcquired in 2017 (undisclosed amount)
Headquarters
Toronto, Ontario
,
Canada
Key people
Simon Tian (CEO)
ProductsNeptune Pine

Neptune Suite (unreleased) Neptune Hub (unreleased)

Neptune Duo (unreleased)

Neptune's first product, the Neptune Pine, was first announced in 2013 through a Kickstarter campaign, raising more than $800,000 in 30 days, before releasing in 2014.[4] The company later announced three additional devices, the Suite, Duo, and Hub.[5][6] None of these later products were released, despite the Suite raising over $10 million in funding alone.[2] In late 2017, Neptune was acquired for an undisclosed amount.

History

Neptune was started by Simon Tian in January 2013. Before even building a prototype or incorporating a company, Tian posted some conceptual drawings of a smartwatch, the Neptune Pine, on a website he built using Weebly, issued a press release announcing the product, and proceeded to receive more than 20,000 orders for the device in a few weeks. Tian then dropped out of school, and traveled to China to meet with contract manufacturers to have the device developed.

Neptune Pine

In November 2013, he launched a crowdfunding campaign for the Pine on Kickstarter. Within 27 hours, the campaign reached its funding goal of $100,000, and ultimately went on to raise more than $800,000 in 30 days.

The device started shipping to backers in August 2014, and eventually became widely available through Best Buy and Amazon.[7][8] The Pine was featured in The Fate of the Furious, the CBS TV series Extant, and the music video for the Trey Songz song "Smartphones".

The Pine has gotten mixed reviews from the press, generally praising its extensive set of features, while criticizing its large size.

Neptune Suite

In March 2015, Neptune announced the Neptune Suite through an Indiegogo campaign, raising $1.2 million in a month. Christopher Mims of the Wall Street Journal described the Suite as "a literal interpretation of the fact that a smartwatch, smartphone and tablet are all just different size windows on the same set of apps and services." Cliff Kuang of Wired called the Suite "a taste of what computing should be in 2025".

As of 2017, the Suite never shipped to the company's backers,[9] with Tian claiming the funds raised were not sufficient to complete development and production of the product.[10]

In late 2017, Neptune was acquired for an undisclosed amount.

References
  1. Dingman, Shane (17 February 2015). "How a Canadian whiz kid plans to upend the smartphone market". The Globe and Mail.
  2. "Neptune". angel.co.
  3. "Neptune Suite - One Hub, Infinite Possibilities". Indiegogo.
  4. "Neptune Pine: Smartwatch. Reinvented". Kickstarter.
  5. Hardy, Ian (2016-08-25). "Montreal-based Neptune reveals new design of its Hub wearable". MobileSyrup. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  6. Ghoshal, Abhimanyu (2015-02-18). "Neptune Duo: a Phone on Your Wrist, a Screen in Your Pocket". TNW | Mobile. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  7. Best Buy Canada. "Neptune Pine 16GB Smartwatch with GPS - Large - Black". Archived from the original on 2016-04-19.
  8. "NEPTUNE Pine 16GB Smartwatch - Retail Packaging - Black: Amazon.ca: Cell Phones & Accessories". www.amazon.ca.
  9. Rubin, Ross (7 Feb 2019). "Crowdfunding projects that left backers jilted at the altar". ZDNet. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
  10. Francisco, Patrik Züst, San. "Crowdfunding - Eine Million US$ kam für diesen Computer der Zukunft zusammen – weshalb es ihn trotzdem nie geben wird". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2022-10-19.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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