MyElixa Smart Band
4 months from research to a CES-ready MVP
MVP for a Swiss smart hydration device built in 4 months, presented at CES, followed by US and Japan distribution deals.
- 4
- months from research to functional MVP
- MVP presented at CES
- Distribution agreements secured in the United States and Japan
- iOS and Android apps around connected hardware
The challenge
MyElixa's Water Band turns any bottle, glass, or cup into a smart hydration device, but the mobile experience had to control and configure every aspect of the band and its base for older adults with varying levels of digital literacy. Multiple Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection scenarios had to be made legible to that audience, not just functional. All of it had to ship in four months, ready to present at CES, with product, design, software, hardware, and IoT teams spread across different companies and countries.
How we delivered
One ecosystem: app, API, and connected hardware in parallel.
Research before flows
we interviewed potential users to understand their routines, expectations, and relationship with technology before committing to an interaction model.
Prototypes under test
user flows and interactive prototypes covered device setup, Bluetooth pairing, Wi-Fi connection, connection states and errors, hydration tracking, reminders, and goals.
Architecture in parallel
while design validated interactions, engineering translated the experience into a business services map and designed the API architecture behind every flow.
Cross-company coordination
we ran an interdisciplinary team alongside MyElixa and an IoT team based in Amsterdam, treating app and device as one product rather than two.
Onboarding that explains itself
step-by-step setup with clear feedback during Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection, after which the interface stays intentionally minimal.
The outcome
In four months the team went from user research to a functional MVP on iOS and Android, presented at CES to an international audience. Following the launch, MyElixa secured distribution agreements in the United States and Japan. Hardware, IoT infrastructure, connectivity, and mobile software ended up behind a single interaction: drink water, get a gentle reminder when you don't.
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