GEEKWIRE - Feb 4 - Under Armour says the purchases will supplement its existing MapMyFitness and UA Record applications, “establishing ownership of the world’s largest digital health and fitness community.” MyFitnesssPal has 80M registered users, and Endomondo has 20M. MapMyFitness, acquired in December 2013, has 31Mregistered users.
Intel Buys Lantiq
CNET NEWS - Feb 2 - The deal, announced Monday, is expected to close in the next three months, though terms weren't released. Lantiq was created in 2009 when German chipmaker Infineon agreed to sell its wireline communications business to San Francisco-based private-equity firm Golden Gate Capital for $280M.
‘Whistle Acquires Tagg Pet Tracker And Raises $15M
TECH CRUNCH - Jan 29 - Whistle is expanding its position with the acquisition of a competitor in the pet wearable space, Tagg, and adding another $15 million to its war chest via a Series B round led by Nokia Growth Partners and including Qualcomm, Carmelo Anthony’s Melo7 Tech Partners, Queensbridge Venture Partners and existing investors.
Fitbit Expected To IPO In 2015, Jawbone Experiments With Brands
MOBIHEALTH NEWS - Jan 22 - Jawbone has raised more than $400M since its founding and has a valuation of well over $3B. Execution misses and slow-footed strategic moves have left Jawbone vulnerable to disciplined competitors, including the surging Fitbit, which has only raised $66M to date and is widely expected to go public this year.
The Osterhout Wearable Imaging Device
TECH CRUNCH - Dec 25 - The Osterhout Design Group, which made headlines with the sale of roughly $200M worth of patents to Microsoft in September, is still targeting consumer markets. The tech will weigh 4.5oz, and display information at a frame rate of 60 frames per second. The Osterhout wearable will also be fully internet enabled with 4G, Glonav and GPS capabilities.
The Biggest Wearable Tech Deals Of 2014
WAREABLE - Dec 23 - CB Insights reported in July that the industry gathered 4x the investment in 2013 than it did in 2011, resulting in annual growth of between 82-124% over the past few years.
- The largest acquisition of the year by far in the wearables space was the $2B purchase of Oculus VR by Facebook.
- Intel picked up Basis Science, that makes wristwatch health trackers and has about 7% of the market.
- Google made its mark on the wearables market this year with the release of Android Wear, but it also shifted its focused to connected homes with the $3.2B purchase of Nest.
- Microsoft picked up a big chunk of Osterhout Design Group's intellectual property for between $100 and $150M.
- Covidien, which is owned by massive medical giant Medtronic, picked up a firm named Zephyr Technologies which makes health-sensing wearables.
Snapchat Picks Up Vergence Labs?
UBERGIZMO - Dec 17 - According to a recent report from Business Insider, Snapchat might have quietly picked up the smart glass company said to be worth $11 million in cash and $4 million in stock.
NXP Semiconductors Partners With Quintic
GLOBE NEWSWIRE - Nov 24 - NXP Semiconductors has announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Quintic to acquire assets and IP related to its Wearable and Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) IC business. This transaction contributes to NXP's drive to create security and connectivity solutions for fast-growing IoT applications in Health & Fitness Wearables, Mobile Transactions, Proximity Marketing, Smart Home and Automotive.
Motorola Now Owned By Lenovo
GEEKY GADGETS - Oct 30 - Lenovo purchased Motorola from Google in a deal which was worth $2.91B ($660M in cash and $750M in stock, $1.5B to be paid over the next 3 years).
MegaChips Buys SiTime
ELECTRONIC WEEKLY - Oct 29 - The $200M cash deal is an aggressive growth strategy with a vision to position MegaChips as one of the top 10 fabless semiconductor companies through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions. MegaChips has revenues of over $600M.
by David Manners
See full article at Electronic Weekly
Google Invests In Smart Spoons For Parkinson's Patients
MOTLEY FOOL - Sep 21 - Google recently acquired Lift Labs, a company that develops "smart utensils" for Parkinson's patients. The Liftware system cancels minor hand tremors to make it easier for patients to eat. The device cancels out an average of 70% of tremors while eating. A soup spoon, fork, and other attachments will be available in the future.
Intel's CEO Envisions Wearables That Don't Look Like Wearables
TECH CRUNCH - Aug 30 - Intel CEO Brian Krzanich foresees a day when a wearable is no longer seen a one-size-fits-all device that you put on your wrist. Intel acquired wearable maker Basis for~ $100M earlier this year, but the $150 Basis B1 had a couple of downsides; it was bulkier than most of the other fitness trackers out there and it wasn't exactly attractive to anyone who cared very much about fashion. Krzanich said to expect some things from Intel at New York Fashion Week, and teased that whatever products are put on display will look more like a fashion accessory than what most users have come to think of as wearables today.
Samsung Buys SmartThings For $200M
READ WRITE – Aug 14 – Samsung has acquired SmartThings for a reported $200M. This figure, if correct, is much less than the $3.2B Google paid for Nest. SmartThings is a developer-friendly platform that is mutli-brand compatible. The company will become part of the Samsung Open Innovation Center and continue to run independently.
Catapult Buys GPSports
STARTUP SMART – July 4 – Catapult Sports has purchased GPSports. Both companies manufacture tracking devices and analytics for elite athletes. Combined, Catapult and GPSports have 450 teams worldwide as customers, including every AFL, NRL and Australian Super Rugby club, nearly half of the NFL, AC Milan, Aston Villa, and the NY Nicks. Catapult has raised $3.5M in series A funding in Q4 2013, bringing total investment to $6M. The company has no plans for an IPO in the next 12 months.
Chumby Returns After Acquisition
SLASH GEAR – July 3 – Connected device maker Chumby has resurfaced after an acquisition that took place via Blue Octy. The company's devices feature a touchscreen display and connect to WiFi to run apps with different functions, such as an alarm clock or radio. Chumby now has hundreds of apps available for $3 per month.
by Brittany Hillen
See full article at Slash Gear
Spotsetter May Play Part In Apple's Wearables Strategy
THE MOTLEY FOOL – June 8 – Apple recently acquired the Spotsetter app, whose patent-pending algorithm pulls data from users' social networks and combines it with content from 30+ review sites to recommend places to go. The app had data on tens of millions of venues. This algorithm could potentially power new Kits, beyond HealthKit and HomeKit, to enhance a great number of services through a wearable. It was recently leaked that Apple has been secretly developing a new smart device which, according to ABI research, will sell 485M units per year.
Medtronic In Talks To Acquire Corventis For $150M+
Apple's Beats Acquisition Continues Trend Of Wearables Investment
TECH CRUNCH – May 12 – Apple's $3.2B acquisition of Beats, should the deal go through, continues the huge investment trend in wearables. Facebook recently acquired Oculus for $2B. VC's have invested over $1.1B in wearables, not including money spent by Carlyle or Rizvi Traverse, which recently invested in Jawbone.
by Jonathan Shieber
See full article at Tech Crinch
THE VERGE – May 12 – The true motive behind Apple's interest in Beats may turn out to be wearables. In a recent survey, 46% of teens would like to purchase Beats headphones, while only 17% were interested in a $350 Apple iWatch. The marketing and design experience Beats brings may help Apple develop fashionable luxury wearables that consumers will pay a premium to own.
Covidien Buys Wearables Maker Zephyr Technology
MED DEVICE ONLINE - May 7 - Convidien has acquired Zephyr Technology, which develops wearable patient monitoring devices, for an undisclosed amount. Zephyr’s line of patient monitoring devices include the FDA-approved BioPatch and BioHarness, that wirelessly monitor patient vital signs. Recent Covidien acquisitions include Given Imaging of Israel for $860M, New Wave Surgical for $100M, and three unnamed businesses totaling $128M. The wearables market is projected to increase from $14B in 2014 to $74B in 2024.
by J.G. Enriquez
See full article at Med Service Online
Apple's LuxVue Acquisition Could Be For iWatch
MASHABLE - May 5 - Apple has reportedly acquired LuxVue, a developer of micro-LED displays. Apple spokesperson said, "Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time, and we generally do not discuss our purpose or plans." It is difficult to determine whether this acquisition is for longterm experimentation or the iWatch. LuxVue displays have better brightness with lower battery requirements.
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