OREANDA-NEWS. May 29, 2013. The start-up company Shaka, assisted by Prototron, has developed a wind measurement device for connection to a smartphone via the audio jack. You can now pre-order the product, with the first devices set to be delivered to customers in June.

The wind measurement device is connected to a smartphone via the audio jack and allows anyone, especially professional and amateur athletes engaged in sports where wind is important, to obtain precise measurements. The first version of the device enables wind speed and temperature to be gauged. The next version, which will soon be available, will also be capable of gauging atmospheric pressure and humidity.

“The device is an excellent solution for individual users, but also offers real-time updates for other users,” said Raigo Raamat, Shaka’s co-founder and executive manager. “For instance, if you’re windsurfing on Pirita Beach in Tallinn and use the Shaka device to measure the weather conditions, your friends in Nova can immediately access the results on their smartphones. So you’ll have real-time weather information about several locations, making it easier for you to choose your most suitable destination.”

Robert Kitt, Head of Corporate Banking at Swedbank, is very pleased to see a smart concept evolving into a real-life product. “Shaka attracted our attention in Prototron’s first round because the idea was practical, the product had international demand and the solution was perfectly implementable,” he said.

Tea Varrak, the director of the Innovation and Enterprise Centre at Tallinn University of Technology, said: “The business acumen involved in rapidly developing excellent concepts by gathering talented people around you who share your vision is more important than ever before. Raigo, who is a graduate of Tallinn University of Technology, has managed to do just that, and his efforts and those of his colleagues have been successful.”

Shaka submitted its smart concept in Prototron’s first round of applications last autumn. The team received EUR 11,640 to build a prototype. Just eight months later the product is ready to be marketed.

Also soon to be marketed is the Flydog maritime monitoring system with Prototron’s financial backing. This system automatically collects data from the sea environment.

Prototron has received more than 200 ideas in three rounds of applications, seven of which have received financing in order to make their ideas come to life. One week ago Tallinn University of Technology announced an additional sum of EUR 180,000 to finance the university’s industrial property prototyping via Prototron.

The Prototron Fund aims to give real form to innovative ideas. It was established by Swedbank, Tallinn Tehnopol Science Park and Tallinn University of Technology. Over the next three years new smart concepts will be financed to a total value of EUR 120,000, plus EUR 180,000 from the Tallinn University of Technology.

For further information and the application procedure see www.prototron.ee.