Gululu, the Interactive Water Bottle for Kids, Launches 3D Version, Expanded Gululu Universe and Charitable Tie-In
New features include a social board for interaction with other Gululu users; Strategic partnership announced with Generosity.org
BOULDER, Colorado, Aug. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Gululu, the world's first interactive water bottle that keeps kids hydrated, invented by Bowhead Technology, today announces a major upgrade featuring the launch of a 3D version. The new design also includes an extended social-interaction feature, expanded and enriched game play and an enhanced automatic update system that strengthens Gululu's impact as a healthy-habit training kit for children.
According to a recent study by the Harvard School of Public Health, over half of all children are under hydrated, which may contribute to poor health, cognitive problems and poor emotional development.
Gululu helps children stay hydrated by caring for a virtual pet and keeps parents informed of their children's progress through a connected app. As kids drink more water from Gululu, their chosen virtual pets grow and make friends. The new 3D version gives vivid life to the virtual pets and more engaging drinking and interaction experiences to the kids. Kids embark on new journeys in the Gululu universe, where they win more collectables and rewards, and explore more stories.
The social interaction component is one of the most popular features among the kids. They can add each other as friends by shaking two bottles side by side. The social interaction feature extends to the bottle's game play in the form of Social Board, where the kids can see and compare the "Treasure Chest" rewards they collect as they progress along their Gululu journey. On the connected app, parents can compare the "habit scores" of their kids and friends.
A pilot test proved Gululu's new upgrade with 3D animation and new social interaction features to be at least twice as effective in user retention as the previous 2D version.
"In the pilot test of our recent product upgrade, we were pleased to see that kids are drinking more water with Gululu and appearing more eager to share their experiences with friends," said Chief Gululu and Founder, Alvin Chiang.
With the new upgrade, the Gululu Universe also starts to unfold. "Ocean Brim" and "Wonder Woods" stories and settings are now available, and "Floating Desert" and more chapters are in the making, supported by a Hollywood-pedigree animation studio. The game upgrade also introduces "Nims," the virtual pets' own little sidekicks, such as the "Peek-a-boo" Crocodile, the "Cheese-Bees" and "Rolling Cactuses" in the Wonder Woods chapter, and this new layer provides a whole different experience.
Gululu's learning-through-play proposition is solidified by its automatic software update system that constantly offers new features, with the goal of developing a healthy water-drinking routine.
Increasing consumer demand also drives the company to develop more accessories and peripheral content around the Gululu Universe, even including music. The first theme song soon to be released is a collaboration project with five-time Emmy Award-winning music producer Eddie Wohl.
"We gradually realized the importance of staying hydrated is much bigger than we thought, after being approached by more children's hospitals, health insurance companies and medical foundations that address kids with special needs," noted Chiang. "As a diabetic, I know the importance of maintaining healthy routines. Helping kids form a healthy habit that lasts a lifetime is a gift we can give to the kids around the world."
To advance its mission to hydrate the kids of the world, Gululu formed a strategic partnership with Generosity.org. For every Gululu interactive bottle purchased, a child in a developing country will be provided with clean drinking water for life. The first Gululu project is underway now in Peru. Generosity.org is a humanitarian non-profit organization that is helping to end the clean water crisis in developing countries, one community at a time, with 778 projects funded, Generosity.org has served more than 450,000 people in 20 countries. Gululu together with Generosity.org was invited to participate at UN's Ocean Conference in New York City in June 2017.
Gululu is now available on Amazon exclusively and b8ta stores in the U.S.
About Gululu
Gululu is an interactive water bottle and app that helps children and parents keep up with hydration by caring for a virtual pet. Designed for ages 3+, the bottle is shockproof, health-focused, and kid approved. Since its debut in summer 2016, news of Gululu has traveled to over 20 countries, and has been featured in TechCrunch, USA Today, Vogue, and Buzzfeed, among others. Forbes magazine named it 1 of the 5 coolest water bottles worldwide. Gululu was one of the featured Innovation Lions startups in 2017 Cannes Lions Int'l Festival of Creativity. Gululu is officially available in the US, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. Over 20K units have been shipped worldwide as of end of June 2017. Gululu has branches in California, Tel Aviv, Shanghai, and Taipei, with co-founders hailing from Alibaba, HP, Intel, EA Popcap and Warner Music. The company recently closed its series Pre-A investment round, led by a new fund established by Jonathan Lu, the former Alibaba Group CEO. For more information visit: www.mygululu.com
Contact:
Selena Rodriguez
Child's Play Communications
[email protected]
SOURCE Gululu
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