Title: From Kickstarter Concept to Real-Life Fitness Tracker: An Innovative Journey
In recent times, a brain fitness tracker called Melon, had an incredible ride on Kickstarter. Melon managed to raise over $100,000 in its inaugural three days and by the end of the 30-day fundraising period, it had amassed nearly $300,000. Now, this ambitious project is left in the capable hands of Arye Barnehama and his team of four to turn this excellent concept into a functional product that caters to 2,700 faithful backers.
With such an impressive sum of money and backing, keeping a level head becomes the primary focus. Barnehama pitches in with a solid background in consumer marketing and brain measurement technology to ensure they seize this opportunity. The team is faced with the task of finding a delicate balance between innovation and delivering on their promises.
The EEG Headband
Melon is, in essence, a headband and mobile app pairing that aims to measure and improve focus by analyzing the electrical activity emanating from the brain. By utilizing a multitude of sensors, Melon monitors the brain's electrical signals, commonly known as EEG (electroencephalography). These signals are transmitted to the app via Bluetooth, which translates the data into real-time charts, colorful graphs, and even interactive mini-games.
With backing and support in abundance, it can be tempting to go all-out. For Barnehama, the challenge lies in harnessing this energy and keeping the company locked on its primary objective.
Present Challenges
As of now, Melon goals are to deliver about 5,000 headbands to its Kickstarter benefactors by mid-November. Here are the challenges Melon currently faces:
1. Design Challenges
Translating a working prototype into a mass-market product is no easy feat. Designing a headband capable of fitting various heads and user needs is crucial. Melon aims to make adjustments like adding adjustable straps without compromising its core design.
2. Feature Challenges

The increased funding provides an opportunity to add stretch goals, giving the team more room to innovate. Most notably, they've opted to include an accelerometer for movement data for supplementing EEG data.
3. Distribution and Scaling Challenges
Scaling a small company into a powerful entity is one of the toughest obstacles for any tech startup. This involves making essential hires, building internal structures, and setting up systems for managing both the internal infrastructure and external customer base.
- Software Challenges
Melon has always aimed to be as openly sourced as possible, inviting amateur coders to manipulate the code and create their own applications. With so many possibilities, keeping an eye on the end user is crucial while ensuring the technology is user-friendly.
The Future for Melon
Navigating the journey from Kickstarter success to real-world success is an unpredictable path. While Kickstarter campaigns often have promising beginnings, many struggle to deliver on their promises or simply never see the light of day. Guided by careful planning and strategic foresight, Melon endeavors to avoid these pitfalls.
In the coming months, we shall monitor how the design process unfolds and whether Barnehama and his team have managed to maintain their sanity while aiming for success.
What are your thoughts on this fascinating project? What questions do you have for Barnehama, or what aspects of the design process interest you most? Let us know in the comments below, or join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #MelonQ!

All images courtesy of Melon.
[3] Enrichment Data
While the specific challenges Melon encounters in turning its successful Kickstarter campaign into a functional product are not detailed, we can draw upon common difficulties faced by new products aiming to compete with established players:
1. Technical Development
- Complexity: Developing a brain fitness tracker that accurately measures cognitive functions and mental well-being can be technically challenging, as ensuring the device is reliable and provides accurate data is crucial.
2. Market Competition
- Established Brands: Competing with well-known brands such as Nike+ Fuelband, Fitbit, and Jawbone UP requires significant marketing and branding efforts, as these companies have established customer bases and substantial market presence.
3. Regulatory Compliance
- Medical Devices: As a brain fitness tracker, Melon might need to comply with medical device regulations, which can be complex and time-consuming, demanding assurance for its safety and efficacy.

4. User Adoption
- Education and Awareness: Educating potential customers about the benefits of a brain fitness tracker and how it differs from traditional fitness trackers could be challenging. Users require understanding of the product's unique value proposition focused on cognitive health rather than physical activity.
5. Scalability
- Manufacturing and Supply Chain: Scaling production while maintaining quality and meeting demand can be a significant hurdle. Ensuring a reliable supply chain is critical to consistent product delivery.
6. Customer Support
- Post-Launch Support: Providing excellent customer support is vital for establishing trust and loyalty. Handling technical issues, user feedback, and customer inquiries effectively is vital for long-term success.
7. Data Security
- Privacy and Security: Guaranteeing the security and privacy of user data is essential, particularly for a product that collects sensitive health information. Implementing robust data protection measures is crucial to maintain user trust.
8. Marketing Strategy
- Differentiation: Developing a unique marketing strategy to differentiate Melon from established brands is vital, as highlighting the product's distinctive features and benefits can help it attract a specific niche market.
By confronting these challenges, Melon can better position itself to succeed in the competitive fitness tracker market.
To ensure they make the most of their success, Barnehama and the Melon team are looking into integrating fitness devices with their EEG headband. This could involve using accelerometers to track movement, providing a more comprehensive view of a user's overall fitness and cognitive health.
With the increased funding, the team is also exploring the possibility of adding stretch goals to their product, enhancing its features and offering users even more value. For instance, they're considering incorporating an accelerometer to supplement EEG data, providing a more holistic view of a user's fitness.