Upzeez

Our cot presents three key innovations being the automated lifting mechanism, fabric mesh and in-built control panel. We have invested heavily in market research over the past 4 years. The design process took 6-8 months and involved a number of iterations. The final design was approved by our advisory board that consisted of engineering professionals, paediatrician, chiropractor, product safety consultant and patent attorney. Once our design was finalised, the development and testing phase took another 14 months. This includes rigorous testing by Australian University. We also currently undergoing final stages of product testing in Europe and expect an outcome by August.

The cot was designed by a boutique furniture maker in Melbourne. Our lifting mechanism, that is the foundation of our innovative cot, is German designed and meets the Australian safety standards - AS/NZS 2172-2003. The fabric mesh and design were selected in consultation with a professional fabric specialist. Being able to bring all these elements together was a big design challenge but we happy with the end outcome. Our design process was iterative and we exceeded our own expectations given it is the first of its kind. The initial feedback from the market has also been very promising and we hope to be able to create a new league of our own by creating a whole new category within the baby nursery furniture industry.

We have met and exceeded our design brief, as what we have built something totally new and created a whole new category within the baby nursery furniture industry. We are all about raising the standard for parents especially mums across the globe.

There are currently no cots in the market that have an automated height adjustment functionality. An average Australian cot is a wooden cot with slats, an adjustable side barrier that usually come in 2 heights and has to be manually manoeuvred. Our smart 3-in-1 cot is fully automated and can be moved up or down to a height that meets the user’s needs. Our cot design was inspired by the height adjustable workstations and went through multiple iterations to ensure safety. Furthermore, we have replaced wooden slats with air-permeable fabric mesh, again to minimise the risk of injury to young babies. Our third function is the in-built control panel. The intention here was to reduce the need for foreign items in or around the cot that could pose a risk of tangling.

The final product has been designed by a furniture designer in consultation with local engineers, paediatrician, product safety expert and uses European lifting engineering technology. Our prototype was tested by Australian University for safety, functionality and structural integrity. The products have also been showcased within our target market and the preliminary feedback has been tremendous both from a product design and functionality perspective. Recently, USA also banned the production of adjustable side barriers on standard cots because of the reported incidents involving babies. As a result, we had to change our product design to easily accessible side panels. Although this prolonged our design approvals, it was crucial for product safety. The easily accessible side was factored to our design as we wanted to enable and empower people with disability.

The product is manufactured in Australia using quality raw materials from Europe and Asia. Our product is the first of its kind in the world and promises to disrupt the current baby nursery furniture industry.

Being a parent myself, I understand the issues created by traditional baby furniture. This is why we have we have built a product that is innovative and modern yet safe for carers and babies alike. Our intuitive product makes caring for your baby easier and pain-free. Having studied the market, we understand that one of the biggest complaints with conventional cots is the height, which often results in long-term back conditions for many parents. Often women who have had a traumatic birth find it hard to move their child in and out of the cot without assistance. Our ergonomically designed cot was developed with these pain points in mind. Our cot is height adjustable so that new mums and people with disabilities can easily care for their baby. Our fabric mesh allows an easy flow of air without the risk of injury and the in-built control panel is able to monitor baby sleeping environment.

Every year around 300,000 babies are born in Australia and 60,000 in NZ. Approximately 36% of these births are C-Sections, making it a target pool of 122,400 prospects. A recent study conducted by the NRIC found that disabled mothers are desperately seeking modified baby care equipment that allows them to care for their newborn babies more easily and safely. Our cot services this need with upmost quality and diligence.

We also understand that WorkSafe are about to pass a law whereby it will be forbidden for hospital staff to place babies to change tables and beds higher than 300mm to reduce the risk of injury to baby and staff. This will cause most cot manufacturers to rethink their design. Our innovative cot is already ahead of the game with the lifting and lowering mechanism giving us a head start with the new changes.

Our product has tremendous commercial potential. It is the first in the world and based on target market feedback, it is highly practical. It is made using ethically sourced wood that meets the FSC/PEFC standard. Our quality raw materials also promise longevity of the product. Our fabric mesh is built with sustainability in mind. The fabric can be removed for washing so that the cot is free of germs and other irritants that may cause infection.

Our product is designed to grow with your child from ages 0 to 6. The baby cot mattress extends to toddler bed, eliminating the need to reinvest in a toddler bed. The cot also comes with a change table which, again reduces need for a separate dresser or change table station.

We are focussed on social impact and understand the requirements of our target market, which is why we have created a product that has a positive impact on mums, parents and people with disability. We know that there are 570 million people (globally) with disabilities due to back issues and 21% of all babies are born by caesarean each year. Our products aim to enhance the quality of life and wellbeing for all carers regardless of physical ability. Our approach is prevention is better than cure when looking after your family.

Victoria is at the forefront of creative innovation and we are very proud to have built a brand that contributes to our economy in such a tremendous way. We know that we have created a revolutionary product that is going to truly disrupt the way cots are made worldwide and will take Melbourne on a global stage.