David Jamet: An Interview With The Founder Of SWIMBOT

Swimming World wanted to know more about the SWIMBOT and its team of developers. The following Q&A allows our readers to learn more about this new product and technology developed in France. SWIMBOT was created in 2013 by David Jamet, former competitor swimmer with a heavy tech background. He has a team composed of 8 passionate people. Two years and a half of research and development, patents, significant investment and hard work have allowed them to make digital swimming possible. The Following is an interview with David Jamet

SW: Tell us a little bit about you and your staff’s “Tech” background?
DJ: With my MD in Computer Science, I first worked in the US for six years, and then for Atos, worldwide IT partner of the Olympics since 2000. I founded SWIMBOT (BOT standing for “Better On Technique”) in 2013 because I knew that technologies like 3D graphics and IOT where mature enough to revolutionize the painful learning process of a new swimming technique. This applies to champions AND for beginners.

Our development team includes 2 engineers who graduated from a top engineering school in France and our Infographic Designer who is also 3D designer.

SW: Tell us about SWIMBOT and how it works?
DJ: SWIMBOT is improving the swimming technique of all swimmers, before, during and after their workout. SWIMBOT 3D tutorials are revolutionary in helping swimmers to discover and memorize the proper technique with the help of our corrective “sophisticated sounds”. The smart device – worn in the swimming cap while swimming- is correcting instantaneously all mistakes. After the workout, swimmers are discovering their swimming technique rating and their workout dashboard by synchronizing the SWIMBOT with their Smartphone.

With its powerful real time open source software and hardware technology (coming from USA, UK, China, and France) and with its advanced hardware industrialization process (sourced in Shenzhen/China), SWIMBOT has global ambition in the US, Chinese, UK and French markets.

SW: What makes SWIMBOT so unique?
DJ: SWIMBOT is unique for several reasons.
• SWIMBOT is the one and only wearable tech device that improves the technique of all swimmers.
• All other sports wearable are trivial activity trackers, unable to correct your mistakes in real time. SWIMBOT has no competitor in the LEARNING space. Our moto is “Better On Technique”
• SWIMBOT is backed by 3 Olympic Champions – Rowdy Gaines, Jim Montgomery and Alain Bernard. After testing SWIMBOT, they are impressed by our 3D breathing tutorials. All 3 have testified that instant feedback with our sophisticated sounds is a revolution in swimming.
• Instant feedbacks to swimmers is also a big plus for the coaches. They can correct their swimmers only at the end of the lane and it is often too late to memorize the proper technique.
• Bone conduction is the safest and most efficient audio solution for swimmers. It transmits our sophisticated sounds through vibrations of the bones just aside from your ears. In the water, the sound is great and this allows you to listen to your coach instructions.
• We are delivering and open and ever improving product: we will deliver monthly updates both for the 3D tutorials and for the device embedded software. We will keep on improving them.

SW: What inspired you to produce SWIMBOT?
DJ: I was a competitive swimmer when I was young. I swam 18:53 on 1500 m free at 12 years old. My computer technology and IOT- wearable device background at Atos, together with my passion for swimming made me realize that swimming is the only “speed sport” where swimmers do not know their speed! They know their time, but have no clue of their speed variation.

SW: How do you think SWIMBOT will change the sport of swimming?
DJ: SWIMBOT is a revolution for all swimmers. Firstly because no swimmer has ever seen 3D tutorials like ours. With 3D design, you get rid of the water and can show any view of the swimmer. Breathing is the ultimate example of the huge value we create for all swimmers: it is the most subtle and complex technique in freestyle, and 3D is allowing us to reveal all its secrets! Every triathlete or swimmer understands that breathing is essential for them. What is less known is that ALL champions can also progress with their breathing technique. Our SWIMBOT is bringing scientific evidence of this assertion on Olympic champions!

SW: Do you see other uses for SWIMBOT outside of competitive swimming?
DJ: SWIMBOT is not only designed for champions but also for beginners and intermediary. It is dedicated to those who want to get better on technique! My goal is to propose a set of original exercises or “real time drills” within the SWIMBOT, and then let the coaches discover how to best use them. Swimming coaches will work as early adopters of our drill set and propose progressively training programs adapted to all level of swimmers. With our data scientist and artificial intelligence technology, we will continuously improve our drills and customize them to all types of swimmers.

We have engaged in a SWIMBOT research program for children safety called “I Can Swim”. Children drowning in private pools is the number 1 cause of accidental death for young kids. We know our SWIMBOT technology can be a breakthrough for children safety. Imagination Tech and Ingenic – our UK and China technology partners, will join this our R&D program.

SW: Do you have a patent on the technology used in SWIMBOT?
DJ: Yes we do, it covers both our tutorials and device.

SW: Why did you choose crowdfunding as one of your financial models?
DJ: We have fundraised 800 k€ in May 2015 to develop our SWIMBOT and we decided to launch a crowdfunding campaign in February-March 2016 to finance the mass production of SWIMBOTs. SWIMBOT is a complex electronic product with a waterproof casing. Cash flows are difficult for a hardware startup like SWIMBOT. Waterproof mechanics and electronics is a cash intensive process and crowdfunding is a way to collect cash before producing the device.

SW: What are your distribution plans, warranties and customer service plans for the product?
DJ: Our strategy is direct distribution through social networks with our rich swimming contents (3D swimming tutorials and videos) and with our SWIMBOT ambassadors organizing test sessions in selected pools in the USA, UK, China, and France. We then develop a direct relationship with our prospects/clients, up to our web store or the one of selected partners. No large retail physical stores in our first 2 years of operation. Our warranty will depend on the country regulations, we will comply with the law. Our customer service plan is a direct one through our web site and FB fan page.

SW: When do you plan to deliver the first shipment of products?
DJ: Our 3D tutorials will be available to our customers from the 22nd of March 2016 and we will ship the first SWIMBOT to our customers in July 2016.

SW: When do you plan to be fully up and running as startup company?
DJ: 2017 will be our first full retail year, it will be our break even.

SW: Do you have any plans for spin off products?
DJ: Yes, we have developed a sport innovation platform and intend to develop breakthrough products for other sports in due time.

CLICK HERE to pre order SWIMBOT today!

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