New smart Wi-Fi kettle unveiled by Edinburgh start-up

Kettle brings the ‘internet of things’ into the kitchen

Smart Wi-Fi Kettle is first product brought to market by smart appliances company WeeKett.

Edinburgh-based smart appliances start-up WeeKett has launched its new product – a Smart Wi-Fi Kettle.

With inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity, the smart kettle brings the “internet of things” (IoT) into the kitchen, allowing users to boil the kettle and control its temperature remotely via a mobile app or ‘smart speakers’.

With smartphone connectivity, users can schedule the kettle to boil in advance or set it to the exact water temperature of choice. The kettle also includes an inbuilt ‘baby-bottle’ mode that sets the kettle to boil, before resting to a temperature of 70° – ideal for busy new parents needing to top up infant milk formula.

The WeeKett Smart Wi-Fi Kettle is the first product brought to market by Edinburgh University graduate Chunli Zhang, who began developing the smart kettle in 2018 as the first in a planned line of internet-connected home appliances. Seeing an opportunity to use new IoT technologies to make modern family life easier, Zhang envisions the WeeKett kettle bringing added convenience to the lives of a range of users, especially people with small children or mobility issues.

Chunli said: “I’m excited to launch this game-changing smart kettle – the kettle that’s ready whenever you are. Whether you’re busy with work, caring for your family, or looking to set it to boil first thing in the morning, your smartphone or smart speaker lets you control the kettle whenever you need it.

“We’ve had such brilliant feedback from people already using the sample WeeKett smart kettle in their homes. For new parents, there is the convenience of the baby-bottle mode, and we have had great feedback from people with mobility issues who love being able to switch on the kettle from another room. It’s fun and easy to use the kettle remotely, especially just by talking to Alexa or Google Home.

“IoT technology is such an incredibly exciting development, with the potential to not only save time with simple tasks, but to make our lives easier too. I’m so happy to finally be bringing the first WeeKett product to consumers.”

Al Bryce, Business Growth Advisor at Business Gateway Edinburgh, who provided support to WeeKett through the company’s early stages of development, said: “It was great to work alongside Chunli as she looked to turn her innovative business idea and passion for technological solutions into an exciting new product for the UK market.

“With ever-growing interest in smart household technology, I am thrilled Business Gateway has been able to support this exciting Edinburgh-based company’s development. We look forward to seeing what future products WeeKett has in the pipeline.”

Scottish Enterprise Innovation Specialist, Thea Ni Lionnain, who worked closely with Chunli, said: “It’s an absolute pleasure to see the finished product now launched.”