Delhi-Based Start-up Aims to Safeguard Children's Well-Being Around the Clock

A few years ago, Smridhi Goyal, a mother of two, went to a carnival in Delhi with her daughter. After losing sight of her daughter for just a couple of minutes, Smridhi realized the pressing need for a solution that could help parents ensure the safety of their children.

Recognizing this need, Smridhi began her journey to create a product that would empower parents to keep track of their children's whereabouts at all times. According to data from the National Crime Bureau of India, a child goes missing in India every eight minutes, highlighting the urgency of addressing child safety concerns.

In 2019, Smridhi and her husband Amit Goyal co-founded Sekyo, a startup dedicated to providing a range of smartwatches equipped with GPS and location-based tracking. Through Sekyo, the Goyals aimed to offer parents a reliable means of tracking their children's real-time location and maintaining a strong connection with them.

Sekyo's Smartwatches offer an array of tracking solutions and parental controls, providing parents with peace of mind. These watches are SIM-enabled and can function independently as complete phones. The basic watch includes essential features such as location tracking, two-way voice calling between parents and children, parental monitoring, school mode, and an SOS button. The advanced versions offer additional features like geofencing, video calling, text messaging, remote monitoring, remote health tracking, watch removal alerts, live battery status, and various other parental control options. Parents can also manage call restrictions to enhance their child's security.

Sekyo places a strong emphasis on data security, ensuring that historical data is not stored in the cloud. The startup offers seven different SKUs across three variants, with prices ranging from Rs 2,500 to Rs 8,000, depending on the features. All watches come with a one-year warranty and are designed to be water-resistant and durable for children's use.

One satisfied customer, Neha Oberoi, a single parent working full time, shared how Sekyo's watch has been instrumental in keeping track of her child's whereabouts during school pickups and drop-offs. The watch's remote sound and tracking features provide her with a sense of security even when she cannot be physically present.

Sekyo's feature set is impressive, including a geofence with a minimum radius of 200 meters that generates alerts when children enter or exit the defined area. The remote monitoring feature sends real-time images of a child's surroundings to parents, while the remote sound feature allows parents to listen to ambient sounds via the watch. The SOS function permits the addition of three emergency contact numbers, ensuring swift assistance when needed. The school mode restricts watch functions during school hours, allowing parents to monitor their child's location. Additionally, the health monitoring feature allows parents to check their child's temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, and step count.

Sekyo's products are available both online and offline through platforms such as Tata Croma, Reliance Digital, FirstCry, Amazon, Flipkart, Hamleys, and Little Tags, as well as on the company's website. Approximately 90% of sales are generated online, with the remaining 10% coming from offline channels and exhibitions. In the past year, Sekyo achieved a revenue of Rs 12 crore and sold around 35,000 watches, with a consistent monthly growth rate of 20% in its user base.

While Sekyo currently assembles its products in India using parts sourced from Hong Kong, China, and Canada, the company is actively seeking resources to contribute to the "Make in India" initiative. The Sekyo app is available on both iOS and Google Play and has received over 50,000 downloads.

The global children's smartwatch market, as per Proficient Market Insight, was valued at $957 million in 2020 and is projected to reach $2,643.1 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 15.5%. Sekyo faces competition from international brands like One4Tech and Wearfit Champ, as well as Indian brands such as WatchOut Wearables and Turett.

Sekyo's commitment to innovation and user satisfaction sets it apart from the competition. The startup aims to acquire over 50,000 customers by the next month and reach one lakh customers by the end of the year, with a revenue target of Rs 20 crore for this year. Additionally, Sekyo plans to expand its product range and is currently in the research and development phase for the creation of pet trackers and elderly care watches tailored for Alzheimer's patients.