One of the best things about being part of the tech press and conducting these interviews is the friendships that we build along the way. Last January, at CES 2017, we came across Robbie Cabral in the startup section called Eureka Park with his new padlock, BenjiLock, that can be opened both by fingerprint and keys. We loved this idea and made sure to learn more about it.
Obviously we were not the only ones who thought this lock was a great idea with a lot of potential. Later in the year, BenjiLock was featured on the hit show, Shark Tank, and picked up by investor Kevin O’Leary. And it’s been a complete whirlwind since then. O’Leary, also known as Mr. Wonderful, has been doing what he does best: marketing royalty deals. Hampton Products International, a hardware and security company out of California, has since purchased the rights to the product in North America.
We were happy to run into Robbie at CES Unveiled this year as he was on his way to meet somebody. He said a quick hello and invited us to come by his booth, which has been upgraded from the startup section to the Smart Home section of the Sands Convention Center. When we visited the booth, we were lucky to get to spend some time with CEO of Hampton Products, Kim Kelley, not long after presenting Robbie with a check for $100,000 live on CNBC. Both gentlemen emphasized the importance of hard work and remaining humble as you pursue your dreams.
BenjiLock is currently working on production of the 1st generation lock, as well as announcing that BenjiLock Mini is also in the works. We will continue to keep an eye out for future innovations and rooting Robbie on as he follows his dreams. Check out their website and click on Preorder to sign up to be notified when BenjiLock becomes available.
Interview by Marissa Schiereck of The New Product Launchpad.
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