There is nothing so boring like having a dead battery on your mobile phone when you are away from your home, office or car; the fact is you will lose all those important calls and emails that require your immediate attention especially when you are a business person.
Alex Fourie and Janine Regtien founded a company that addresses the above scenario by launching a start-up called RiCharge – a tool that will help you to keep your smartphone and tablets charged whether you’re on the beach, in a restaurant or even at an event.
The start-up has employed a business entity out of developing solutions bent on helping keep their smartphone’s battery alive.
Founded in 2011, the company also has a solar-powered umbrella which enables people to recharge on the beach or at a music festival.
“There are international companies which offer such services, but the hardware is very expensive and not feasible for South African businesses,” said Regtien.
RiCharge used a secure locker system that is used to charge a cellphone as its first product; the locker had eight compartments which could be locked thereby keeping the user’s phone safe while it is charged.
The product was unveiled in 13 countries, namely the US, Australia, the UK and some African countries and has sold about 500 units.
Regtien and Fourie established the Super Station product, a 12 tray charging station which enables users to charge their devices at a table after discovering that people are reluctant to lock their products when they are charging them. The station supports all devices that were manufactured after 2007; each removal tray houses a battery and all the cables needed to charge any phone or tablet.