Reinvented Light Bulb Project Raises Over $1M on Kickstarter

Inventor Phil Bosua launched his reinvented light bulb LIFX project on crowd-funding Web site Kickstarter.com Sept. 15th and already has more than 9,000 investors who have contributed $1,315,000—far exceeding the project’s initial goal of $100,000 by Nov. 14. LIFX is an energy-efficient—it uses about one-tenth the power of regular incandescent bulbs—WIFI-enabled, multi-colored LED light bulb that can be controlled with a smartphone. You might call it a smartbulb. Plus, one bulb can last as long as 25 years.

The LIFX fits into a light fixture just like any other light bulb. Just screw it into a light, lamp or even a flashlight. While your standard light switches will still work, you can easily adjust light settings—including brightness, color and power—with a click of the iPhone or Android. You can also schedule it to turn on at certain times, or slowly brighten or dim at certain times of the day. The light can be programmed to create different colors for mood lighting, or to pulse along with the beat of music. Social networkers can actually program the light bulb to flash as a notification alert.

Although not on the market yet, investors were offered an opportunity on Kickstarter to pledge $69 and receive one bulb when they become available, $99 for two bulbs and larger pledge amounts for four, six, eight or ten bulbs. All bulb offers sold out. The current estimated delivery date is set for March 2013.

Just as the LIFX is taking off, however, Philips may have beat Bosua to the punch. The electronics company just released its own Philips Hue in the Apple store. The Philips Hue app controls up to 50 bulbs. The starter pack is available for $199.95 and comes with three bulbs which, like LIFX, are energy saving LED lights. The lights also offer color adjustments via smartphone, times to adjust brightness based on daily routine, and hints of more apps to come that can offer more inventive ways to use the bulbs.