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MagicBit: Sri Lanka’s 1st Successfully Crowdfunded Kickstarter Project

By Arteculate Aug 20, 2021 #Kickstarter #MagicBit

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a new technology that is taking the world of robotics and automation by storm. Simply put, it uses the internet to provide connectivity between objects, sensors, and everyday appliances to a central computer. Through IoT technology, devices can generate and exchange data with minimum human interaction to digitally transform factories, offices, and even households.

In 2019, A trio of electronic engineers – Migara Amithodana, Anuruddha Tennakoon, and Akalanka De Silva-initiated a platform that would bring an advanced concept such as IoT to students amateur developers. Their innovative product, Magicbit, results from 2 years of continuous prototyping to create a robust product that can be used to build an IoT system in no more than 10 minutes. 

MagicBit is now the first successful Sri Lankan Kickstarter project. In just four short hours, it exceeded its funding goals. But their success didn’t stop there. As excited backers continued to fund the project, MagicBit has now raised over $27,000. 

What makes Magicbit special?

MagicBit is a miniature computer that anyone can program to accomplish a variety of tasks. In the words of its cofounders, “Magicbit is designed in such a way that it is a STEM tool, a DIY builder, and platform for creative thinkers all in one”. It features an ESP32 module built with plug-and-play sensors and actuators. This eliminates the need for messy wires, breadboards, and soldering irons for young inventors to easily experiment with their ideas. 

In addition to this, Magicbit has removed the need for complex programming. Instead, all necessary instructions are translated to the integrated circuit through a visual code builder. This block programming feature makes the system even easier for anyone starting with automation to familiarise themselves. For the more advanced users, Magicbit is cross-compatible and allows new features to be added using programs like Arduino and MicroPython.  Furthermore, Magicbit can be easily linked to mobile devices to use its inbuilt sensors as input devices and provide an output in the form of push notifications. 

Magicbit also uses its own cloud-based IoT platform – Magicblocks.io, which removes the needto understand the underlying hardware and firmware and encourages focus on logic and creativity. In addition, the developers have gone the extra mile by enabling compatibility with similar cloud platforms such as thinger.io, ESP Rainmaker, Microsoft Azure, and many more to remove such restrictions.

Magicbit’s Exceptional Performance on the Global Kickstarter Program

Kickstarter is a US-based crowdfunding program that funds creative projects with capital gathered from the public. The program began in 2012 with 469,286 projects registered on the site to date. Selected projects are backed by donors worldwide – mainly from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. 

Magicbit was listed on the crowdfunding platform in June 2021 with a minimum funding requirement of $5000. The IoT platform stood out from the rest of the projects and exceeded its initial funding goal by a mere 4 hours of its appearance on the platform. As of now, Project Magicbit has raised over $27,000. 

The team plans to use the collected funds to start mass-scale manufacture of the platform for worldwide shipping by October 2021. But MagicBit isn’t stopping here. The team has announced a stretch goal target of raising $40,000, after which they’ll be looking at introducing a robotics course and an enclosure for the unit.

MagicBit | Kickstarter

Magicbit is also the proud recipient of numerous awards in recognition of its contribution to education and community development. It has support from multiple private and government entities in Sri Lanka, including the Spiralation programme by the ICTA. the platform has been endorsed by some of the leading experts in the field of automation and robotics as “a must-have for the passionate modern-day innovator”. You can follow their progress on Kickstarter by clicking here.

By Arteculate

Arteculate is your guide to the Asian tech industry. We give you unparalleled insights, accurate, local tech news, thoughtful features and sometimes scathing opinions on where things are headed. Stay tuned for the best of Asia!

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