About

HHS is planning to capture a share of this large market by directly selling to the end user via the internet. A popular form of product introduction, as well as existing product sales, has the advantage of very low overhead and distribution expenses. Once the market has been tested and proved viable, HHS will look for strategic partners or a major retail chain to further develop its sales channels.

Hydroback Hydration Systems' product solves these problems by providing a solution that enables the use of the original drinking fluid container while maintaining the versatility of a back pack hydration system.

Even when used only with water, current personal hydration systems are likely to promote the growth of algae and various forms of mold when stored for long periods of time without having been completely dried. Accordingly, the bladder needs to be cleaned after every use. Often the user wishes to carry liquids other than water, such as sports drinks, vitamin water, or electrolyte replenishing drinks. This is strictly prohibited by the manufactures because once a bladder has carried one of these other liquids, it is difficult, if not impossible, to completely clean the bladder and to remove all residual taste.

Canteens have long been used by outdoor enthusiasts and by professional search and rescue teams. They function as a portable supply of water and other liquids. In recent years, personal hydration systems have been introduced by several large companies. These popular systems, which include a collapsible bladder (pouch), are held in a backpack carried by a hiker, biker or a soldier and coupled to a mouthpiece through a flexible drinking tube. Such bladder-based systems, however, have several disadvantages.

Risks and challenges

There are three types of risk associated with a ‘for profit’ venture project. Usually two out of the three are well researched, developed, prepared and are considered low risk. The third item could represent a relative high risk. Understanding and discounting for the high risk is what ‘venture’ funding is all about. No different is the story of this project.

The three risks are:

The size of the market: The estimated worldwide market size of the personal hydration systems is $250M - $500M annually. It includes all aspects of outdoor activities, military, and search and rescue teams.

Adequate technology development: Personal hydration system including an adapter to which may be attached through threaded receivers and one or more bottles having matched threaded top. The adapter includes a fluid channel above the threaded sections into which a straw is inserted. The fluid channel is connected to a coupling for attaching a drinking tube, which is used by the user’s mouth for sucking fluid from the one or more attached bottles. The coupling to the drinking tube may be detachable from the rest of the adapter. A vent valve placed axially above the threaded section is selectively opened to vent the space in the bottle above the fluid level to allow easy sucking of the fluid out of the bottle. A selector valve closes off the fluid channel or used to select one of multiple bottles.

We have a working prototype, see video.

The ability to secure financing: This is the ‘high risk’ item in our mind. We believe that the amount that we are trying to raise through KICKSTARTER will enable us to bring the product to the market for initial market acceptance. The risk here is that we will not be able to raise the target amount, or that the target amount is not enough to get us through the next steps. We have ran the numbers several times and thus believe that the risk here (at the 'high risk item') is relativity low.