A Remarkable Return to Form

This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Eric Migicovsky, the mastermind behind the iconic Pebble smartwatch, who recently unveiled his ambitious plans to relaunch Pebble in 2025, nearly a decade after its shutdown in 2016. Once sold to Fitbit, which subsequently became part of Google, Pebble is set to re-emerge through a new venture called Core Devices.

Reinventing Pebble with a Twist

Interestingly, the new smartwatches won't bear the Pebble name, but they'll run on the newly open-sourced PebbleOS— a nostalgic nod to the original technology. Migicovsky will incorporate unused components from the initial Pebble devices, ensuring a blend of legacy and innovation.

A Journey Fueled by Passion

Migicovsky's journey began with a simple desire: "At the end of the day, I really wanted a Pebble. It didn’t exist. No one was building anything remotely like it." Driven by this passion, he embarked on a mission that saw him establish a hardware company right from the Velocity garage at the University of Waterloo.

From Garage to Glory—And Back Again

Few Canadians can boast such a remarkable trajectory, especially one who has created three of the top 15 most-funded Kickstarters ever, selling over 2 million smartwatches before closing shop. Adding to the accolades, Migicovsky persuaded Google to open-source the intellectual property of his dream device a full decade after its sale, following a successful stint at a top tech accelerator and the sale of his messaging app Beeper to the creators of WordPress.

Behind the Scenes: The Journey to RePebble

On the podcast, Migicovsky dives deep into the origins of Pebble, touching on the impact of competitors like Apple, the reasons behind Pebble's initial demise, and the valuable lessons he's learned throughout his incredible adventure. For anyone intrigued by the founder's journey or the challenges faced by hardware startups, this episode promises to be both enlightening and inspiring.

The Comeback of a Legend

The once and future king of wearables is getting back in the game, crafting the smartwatch he envisioned for himself. How did this extraordinary comeback unfold? Buckle up and join us as we explore the ins and outs of this phenomenal story.

Tune In!

For a compelling listen that blends nostalgia with innovation, check out the latest episode of the BetaKit Podcast, presented by Float—Canada’s all-in-one business finance platform that’s here to revolutionize how companies manage their expenditures.