From the Chemometrics, Qualimetry and Nanosensors Research Group of the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry of the Universitat Rovira i Virgili (URV), Jordi Ferré was investigating how to apply biosensors to monitor the well-being and health of people. In view of the potential of the group's work, especially among athletes, Kamleon was born, a company that emerged from the URV.
“In the field of sports, it is very common to measure parameters such as heart rate, but not chemical information, such as urine analysis, because it is more complex,” explains Ferré, who co-founded the company with Gonzalo Roca. This is where Kamleon comes in, enabling “the camouflage of technology for real-time chemical analysis in everyday products,” in the entrepreneur's words.
The first product of this Barcelona-based startup is a urinal capable of measuring people's hydration level in real time and displaying the results instantly on a screen installed in the bathroom itself, as well as in an app. This smart urinal has been tested at the Alpine Skiing World Cup finals in Andorra, at the Sant Cugat High Performance Center (CAR) and at the French Olympic Training Center in Font Romeu, France. In the health field, it has been tested in the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona and, in the public bathroom sector, in the One Hundred Restrooms establishments in Barcelona Sants station and in the Maremagnum Shopping Center.
The development of the urinal has involved an investment of two million euros, between public funds, private financing and contributions from partners. Among the investors, ex-footballers and businessmen stand out such as Iker Casillas, through his accelerator SportBoost, or Gerard Piqué, as well as the investment vehicle SpoDeal Capital, made up of senior executives from the sports industry.
Kamleon estimates to begin marketing the S-Urinal in mid-2024.
