U of U LASSONDE: PEKE•BUO: THE SMART, LITTLE DIAPER BAG
If you have a baby on the way or already have one, two U students have a new product to keep on your radar.
Sariah Tate, a communication graduate, and Emrys Tate, Sariah’s brother-in-law and senior at the David Eccles School of Business, developed Peke•buo to make changing a baby simpler and more convenient for on-the-go parents.
Product designer, Sariah, had the idea that there needed to be a more compact, more efficient diaper bag. “What if moms could take their own personal handbag out and about, but they still had everything they needed for a baby?” she said. “That way, if the dad needs to change the baby, they don’t have to take your whole purse – they can just take the smart little diaper bag, and they’ll have access to wipes, diaper disposal bags and a changing pad!”
She started with a paper version of the prototype. She experimented with it until she found a unique design. The result? A reversible diaper bag that morphs into a changing pad. All the surfaces that touch the baby fold into themselves, and the surfaces that touch the ground never overlap with the surfaces that touch the baby. They now have a more-updated, almost-usable prototype
The student founders participated in the U’s 2016 Opportunity Quest and took third place, earning $2,000 to help pay their patent fees and to start progress on their upcoming Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. Their product is now patent pending, thanks to the funds received through Opportunity Quest.
