In this episode of Gaule’s Question Time, Andrew sits down with Harry Kimberly-Bowen ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrykimberley-bowen/ ) and Ronan Finnegan (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronanfinnegan/ ) , co-founders of Spacebands https://www.spacebands.com —a health and safety wearable technology startup born during the COVID-19 pandemic. What began as a simple proximity alert device has since evolved into a cutting-edge, multi-sensor wearable designed for industries like construction, manufacturing, and logistics. Harry and Ronan share their candid journey from university side-hustles and tech startups to scaling a hardware business during one of the most disruptive periods in recent history.
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Bootstrapped from a kitchen table and grown through customer insight and grit, Spacebands’ founders talk openly about the challenges of hardware development, the transition from UK to Asian manufacturing, and the rollercoaster of raising capital—from angel investors to institutional seed rounds. Their story reflects resilience, creativity, and a relentless pursuit to solve real-world problems in the workplace. If you're a founder, investor, or simply curious about what it takes to build a tech startup from scratch—this is a must-listen.
Q&A Summaries
What is Spacebands and how did it start?
A proximity alert wearable developed during the pandemic to prevent COVID transmission, later evolved into a comprehensive health & safety device through customer feedback.
How did you pivot post-COVID?
They consulted existing users—primarily heads of health & safety—to identify new industry needs, such as forklift proximity alerts, hand-arm vibration, and noise monitoring.
What were the challenges in developing new hardware?
The second-gen product was far more complex with 10+ sensors, requiring multi-year development, multiple prototypes, and a complete shift from UK to Asian manufacturing.
What lessons were learned in working with development agencies?
They initially struggled with an under-resourced UK agency and later succeeded by finding a trusted Asian manufacturer through network referrals.
What was their fundraising journey like?
Started with angels using LinkedIn automation, raised a £750k pre-seed, and are now closing a seed round. They've learned how to improve their pitch and attract higher conversion.
Why do early-stage startups need traction, not just ideas?
Investors need to see real-world validation, not just pitch decks. Their ability to show working products and early sales was key to gaining investment and credibility.
To book a meeting to discuss entrepreneurship, AI and other business change with Andrew - https://calendly.com/andrew-gaule/30min?