The Pebble founder, Eric Migicovsky, is back in the game with his rebooted smartwatch and AI ring, and this time he’s doing things his way. Migicovsky’s approach is refreshingly different from the traditional startup model – Core Devices, his new company, is structured to be sustainable, valuable, and long-running, rather than focusing on rapid growth and external funding.
In an interview with TechCrunch at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Migicovsky emphasized that he’s learned a thing or two from his previous experience founding Pebble, which was acquired by Fitbit in 2016. Specifically, he’s learned the importance of predicting demand and avoiding overstocking, which nearly sank the company before its exit.
The Pebble Time 2 and Pebble Sphere 2 smartwatches, along with the Index 01 AI ring, are designed for a niche audience – folks who enjoy tinkering, building, and creating, rather than looking for a high-tech gadget to replace their smartphone. Migicovsky himself is part of this crowd, and he wants his companions to be more like a fun, casual accessory than a serious tool.
One of the most interesting developments is the release of PebbleOS, the smartwatch’s operating system, which was previously owned by Google. Migicovsky is grateful to Google for opening sourcing the OS, which is a rare move in the tech world.
The rebooted Pebble smartwatches are already a hit, with 25,000 preorders and a waiting list of around 5,000 for the AI ring. Migicovsky promises to tighten down delivery times to just three weeks, up from six months.
As for what’s next, Migicovsky is keeping mum, but hints that the team is working on some exciting new projects. With a comfortable financial situation and no pressure to rush to market, it’s anyone’s guess what wonders Core Devices will bring to the table. One thing is certain, though – Migicovsky is back, and this time he’s doing things his own way.
