Startups show pandemic-related tech at IFA

Many companies showed products that are specifically designed for use at home, making life easier during a lockdown or quarantine at IFA.

Berlin, Germany: 2020 IFA trade fair event is now open, but it is happening in unique circumstances due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The trade fair has been running since 1924, and it regularly draws over 200,000 people to the large Messe exhibition grounds in the German capital Berlin.

But this year, only a few thousand journalists and trade visitors will be allowed into the Berlin exhibition grounds, and of course, all wearing masks and keeping socially distanced.

Strict rules apply. For example, a maximum of 750 people are allowed in one of the halls at each time.

It is a difficult climate for a new technology company to become established on the market.

But the smaller companies and startups showed their products at the IFA Next hall is hoping that their pandemic-related technology can find a market.

• The Berlin-based startup Heatle is showing a rod that heats any liquid through induction technology.
• You simply put a glass of water or milk on the induction top, and then put the rod in the glass – and within a few seconds, the liquid starts boiling.
• There are several settings, like 80 degrees for tea, lukewarm for milk for babies, or power mode which makes the liquid boil rapidly.

"So, when people are home a lot these days, and especially alone, maybe you just want to have one cup of tea. That's the perfect solution because you just fill your cup, you put in the rod and you just say ok 80 degrees. And that's it. So you don't waste water, you don't waste energy. And it is very fast," says Lana Lutz, Heatle's head of communications.

The Heatle rod is not yet available on the market but the company is hoping to be able to make it available this year. They have not set a price for it yet.

• Another company that is trying to make your home life more comfortable is the Berlin-based GreenBox.
• The indoor gardens are Bluetooth connected so that you can care for your plants from your smartphone.
• You can set the light to suit your plants, you can get advice on what the plants need, and you can make sure you give them exactly the right amount of water.

"Sometimes your apartment is just not bright enough to grow plants. And, it is a perfect solution for someone who has a small home and often dark apartment," says Olga Blaszak, Greenbox founder.

The Greenbox indoor garden is available worldwide via the Greenbox website for 149 euro (approx. $176).

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people have found themselves working from home, and therefore missing out on the social contact and informal chats with colleagues away from the official meetings.

• Danish robotics company GoBe thinks that their Wifi controlled robots, with a screen showing the person controlling the robot, can help.
• Simply log in to one of the robots in the office and drive around for an hour a day to catch up on the gossip.

"They can roam around the office, go to the coffee machine and have these informal talks that you normally can't have over Skype and planned meetings," says Laust Thomsen, GoBe Robots marketing manager.

The new version of the GoBe robot was announced at IFA today and is available worldwide for a monthly service fee of 499 euro (approx $590).

• South Korean company 'The Little Cat' is in Berlin to show its fitness wheel for cats.
• The wheel can be controlled by an app.
• The idea is simple, the cats spot an LED light at the front of the wheel. When they start chasing it, the wheel starts spinning and they get their daily exercise.

"The corona time made our business a bit hard, as every business experienced. But this is good for pet owners who still have huge love for their pets and they are so sorry that they can't bring their pets outside," says Sooahn Kim, marketing manager for The Little Cat."So, you have that at home then you can stay inside but you can be safe with having this machine for your pets."

But the love does indeed have to be quite huge for the price tag. The top range of the wheels will set the pet owner back 1,200 euros (approx. $1,420).

The IFA home appliances show in Berlin is the first major technology show since the CES show at the start of January 2020.