OnTracks, a French company that makes a connected device providing intuitive guidance for outdoor activities, without maps or audio assistance, has raised €1 million to pursue its development. Established in Marseille in 2016, OnTracks created a system working with two bracelets that vibrate and emit light signals to point the wearer in the right direction – meaning that hikers or trail runners don't have to pause in order to follow an itinerary set on a mobile app. The funds were raised from Paca Investissement as well as CAAP Creation, which is the investment fund of Crédit Agricole Alpes Provence, BPI France, Grand Delta Angels, P Factory and various business angels. The company is also preparing a crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter, allowing consumers to pre-order their bracelets ahead of a planned commercial launch around the end of this year. OnTracks said that this fundraising would support financing for production and exposure for the brand, such as a partnership with Julien Absalon, a mountain biking champion. Although the company wants to continue focusing on the outdoor market, it could also diversify into other forms of guidance, for industrial purposes, for people with visual impairments, or for last-mile deliveries, among others.

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