Innovation Alley: Travel Tech and Fashion

Innovation comes in different shapes and sizes. We have seen how companies like Away is disrupting the luggage industry, Baubax is transforming the  travel gear space and how Kosher Innovations  is helping travelers with dynamic tech for shabbat.  An Israeli start up HotMat developed a unique portable warming tray for shabbat. The HotMat was  invented and designed by Jerusalem born and bred industrial designer Rafi Gabbay, graduate of the exclusive Bezalael Academy’s  Master in Design program.The idea was born when Rafi, still a student at Hadassah College Design School, sketched some ideas for his final project. The idea of a foldable warming tray emerged and with it the determination to transform the idea into a real product. Drawing on his rich experience in product development and design, Rafi then began the fascinating journey of turning his sketch into a product.

In 2009  Rafi founded Rolla RWT Ltd., a registered company, together with high-tech entrepreneur Yossi Tsuria and others. The name Rolla hints at the original concept of a rollable heating tray. In subsequent years, Rafi worked in conjunction with external advisors and engineers to develop a truly unique product. Initial engineering assistance came from Eng. Jerry Greenwald and initial support came from the PresentTense Organization. In later stages, Rafi collaborated with engineers worldwide in the fields of material engineering, heat dispersion, etc. to develop the HotMat – transforming vision into reality in terms of both design and performance.

As Bar Mitzvah season kicks off this summer many people travel far and wide to celebrate  with friends and family.This summer my family is participating  in a superhero theme Bar Mitzvah in Israel. Marvel has done an outstanding job in getting into the imagination of young adults and families around the globe . One of the challenges for parents is merging the practical with the imagination. As a father of a 5 year old,  I searched far and wide for something that could work for a simcha, shabbat and holidays. I came across Fun.com and their Fun Suits. From Spiderman  Secret Identity Suits for kids to adults Marvel Suits  it was a  perfect blend for the special occasion.  This type  fashion is  unique because  it empowers young adults by giving them confidence while tapping into their passion.  With a serious outside look and a fun ensemble children and adults can enhance any Bar Mitzvah or Shabbat experience.

Technology is transforming the way we tell stories. Now, you can capture a Bar Mitzvah experience through Virtual Reality (VR) and 360 degree camera’s. An Israeli company Vuze has become a leader in the VR field. Founded in 2000, HumanEyes is an expert in 3D, computer vision, and image processing with 70+ patents.  Creators of the Vuze VR camera, the first consumer virtual reality 360 3D camera and integrated studio with super-simple automatic VR movie production which was released in Q1 2017.  The Vuze camera has won several awards and has been used in the depths of the oceans and in space, on-board the International Space Station.Headquarters are in Neve Ilan Communication Center, Israel.  The management team is comprised of experienced business leaders from Cisco, Hewlett Packard, Ricoh, Clarion, Sony, and Nice.  The main shareholder is Landa Ventures, managed by Mr. Benny Landa an industry pioneer.