At times like these, when the British weather cannot be relied upon with rain likely even in the hottest season, kids need something to cheer them up.

Enter Holly and Beau’s range of waterproof clothing, such as raincoats and umbrellas that change colour when it rains.

The attire is pretty drab when there’s no water to activate the colours, but when the items come into contact with aqua, the cute patterns transform into flashes of colour.

The founders, brother and sister Jack and Fleur Pessant used the principle of babies’ nappies changing colour when they were wet and after two years of research and development, the range was launched.

They explained: “Having had the wettest summer in decades we noticed that children’s waterproofs can be so dull. We wanted to put fun and excitement into welly wearing weather, and our magical colour changing collection does just that.

“We first noticed the concept used on baby’s nappies and thought it would be great to apply this to children’s clothing. After two years of research and development we have taken the concept and applied it to a selection of what we believe a comparatively high quality fabrics and materials.”

Holly and Beau’s designs are already stocked in a number of stores including Harvey Nichols and Bentalls and are available in 21 countries, but now the couple wants to expand distribution, marketing and production to meet customer demand.

75 per cent of the £50,000 sought will be spent on marketing and advertising the products, hopefully culminating in a US launch. The remaining 25 per cent will be spent on product development, including filing patents to protect the designs and sourcing materials to upscale.

Holly and Beau’s CrowdCube campaign ends in September. The company is offering 15 per cent equity to those who support the campaign.

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Hornby and Airfix have announced they are developing a new crowdfunding platform to bring some of the nation’s favourite toys back to shop shelves.

Like standard rewards-based crowdfunding on Indiegogo and Kickstarter, toy fanatics are invited to vote for their most wanted toy by pre-ordering it on the Airfix Kitstarter website. When a model gains enough supporters (and presumably, funds to make it worth Airfix’s while), it wil go into production and will be shipped when ready.

Fans are only charged if a toy meets its target and payment is only taken when it’s ready to be dispatched.

Airfix chief executive Richard Ames said: “This is a really exciting initiative for Airfix. We have a very large back-catalogue of model kits, many that are still remembered fondly by our consumers. We get lots of feedback about which models people would like us to re-introduce.

“Our KitStarter crowdfunding platform will enable Hornby to interact much more closely with our consumers. This will help us gauge demand accurately and respond quickly to their requests. Then we can prioritise which models we re-introduce. We are also confident that KitStarter will help us to reach a new generation of model enthusiasts that we can attract into the hobby.”

Products on offer at the moment include the 1977 Bluetits that is available to back for £20 and the Bullfinches also from 1977 for the same price. More projects will be added in future, including historical figure such as Henry VIII and Oliver Cromwell, the 1949 Ferguson tractor and the World War 11 Spitfire plane which Airfix thinks will be the most popular model available on the crowdfunsing platform.

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UK tech startup Combicloud is appealing for £75,000 funding to make its unified cloud solution a reality.

The solution allows you to connect cloud storage, portable devices, hard drives, home internet, IoT devices and wearables for interchangeable file management.

Combicloud says: “Our goal is to combine users’ wifi devices and cloud storage into a single operating system, giving the user a “personal cloud” of their own data and devices.

“By accessing several systems together Combicloud aims to improve workflow, portability and ease of access to online services, particularly for small-to-medium enterprise (SME) users, and consumers who create content for blogs or social networks.”

The company believes this is the future of cloud computing, as services in both business and home environments consume our lives and become more confusing for consumers and workers alike.

The company has developed prototype software and is testing the idea of using a smartphone as a server, giving users the opportunity to upload large files on the move and transfer them between different accounts.

“We feel that this personal cloud approach is particularly useful to businesses in the creative industries, social network users who create their own content and consumers with several devices such as wearables and “Internet-of-Things” devices at home,” Combicloud continues.

“By combining technology in this way workflow could be improved – the user could transfer larger files over a mobile data connection, make better use of online cloud storage, automate tasks and access devices at home or office remotely.”

The solution will be available for free, but organisations have the opportunity to upgrade the service to include extra enterprise features for an additional fee.

Combicloud is funding on Seedrs, with two weeks left to run on its campaign and is appealing for funding in exchange for 10 per cent equity.

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The UK Crowdfunding Association will offer an evening symposium exploring the pitfalls of crowdfunding.

 “Back in October 2014, we held the first sell-out event of ‘How NOT to do crowdfunding!’, and we’re delighted to announce that we’re bringing it back in February by popular demand!

“Hear direct from the experts, who have been there and done it, share their lessons learnt in an energetic, quick-fire style – What would they do differently next time? What top tips do they wish someone had told them before? And how should you NOT do crowdfunding?”

The event takes place in London on March 10, from 6pm. Admission costs £22.97 though current UK Crowdfunding Association Members and Supporters are entitled to 2 x free tickets each.

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Immersis has less than 24 hours left to run on Kickstarter, but that doesn’t mean you miss out on being one of the first people to get your hands on the group virtual reality experience.

Although the company has already surpassed its $100,000 (£65,000) goal on the crowdfunding platform thanks to 209 backers wanting to get their hands on the system, the campaign is still going and the company is inviting its supporters to help develop the content and platform even further.

The company says: “For the last century, we’ve been looking at the world through the tiny window of our TV screens, computers and tablets. Our brains have been conditioned to be satisfied by their two-dimensional experience.”

Now, it wants to break the boundaries and allow everyone in your space to get involved with its plug and play screen. It can connect to your computer and play any content at 180 degrees, whether that’s video, games or just photos. If the content is 2D, it’s displayed as flat. If it’s a panorama, a video game or 3D content, it will be displayed in the full 180 degrees.

Immersis transforms your entire living room into an immersive support for your video games and panoramic videos and the best bit about it is that it won’t make your brain or eyes become too tired, as is often the case with a VR headset.

Both Unity 3D and Unreal Engine-developed games are supported, although the latter plugin is currently in beta. Other content that can already play on the system includes 360-degree video and all panoramic photo formats, including Google Photosphere pictures.

“The technology is based on a real-time adaptation of the image to the shape and size of the room that you are in as well as its advanced optical system,” Immersis says on its Kickstarter page.

“Immersis will revolutionize immersive virtual reality and video. We need your help to make this revolution a reality and to discover together how you can best put Immersis to work for you.”

You can be one of the first to get your hands on Immersis by paying $1,150 ($1350 off the retail price) and get it in October. You can also just get the software to use with your existing projector for $750 (£480) with shipping in June.

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The Kraftwerk iPhone 6 charger is approaching the $1m funding mark on Kickstarter with 28 days stil to go on its campaign.

Unlike other mobile chargers, Kraftwerk puts you in the driving seat for generating power to keep your iPhone, iPad or other gadget topped up with energy. It claims the device can keep your iDevice going for weeks thanks to its fuel cell tech.

The charger runs off standard gas – so you can fill it with the same stuff you keep your campfire going, or even lighter gas you can buy from most off licences.

One top-up will keep the charger going for 11 charges – so for most people, that means you can keep your iPhone going for a week without refilling.

Kraftwerk measures 10 x 7.5 x 3cm, making it easy to carry around in any bag. The charger connects to your device via USB cable, so you can use it to power up and device you have a USB cable for.

One of our major qualms about portable chargers is that you need to use mains power to top them up, so Kraftwerk’s fuel cell technology makes it very attractive indeed.

The company was appealing for $500,000 via rewards-based funding, but it’s already up to $991,000 at the time of writing. As such, it has released a number of stretch goals. When the cmpaign hits £1m, it will release a Pioneer edition of the charger, while $2.5m will see a limited edition Kickstarter green edition becoming available.

To get your hands on a Kraftwerk charger and ensure they go into full-scale production, you can pay $99 in February 2016, or for $139, you can get the charer and 12 cartridges to keep it topped up. Unfortunately, all the early bird offers have sold out and those lucky backers will be getting their chargers in December this year.

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A 19-year-old has launched a GoFundMe campaign to raise $10,000 (£6,600) towards developing prosthetic limbs that can be controlled by the brain.

Easton LaChappelle was inspired by a 7-year-old whose prosthetic arm cost $80,000  (£52,900) with a limited lifespan (it had to be replaced as her body grew) and decided to make something much more intelligent and lower-cost. He presented her with an alternative prosthetic arm that cost him just $400 (£260) to create, making it a much more viable option for a child who is still growing at a fast rate.

Just a year ago, LaChappelle founded Unlimited Tomorrow, a company that specialises in developing exoskeletons for paraplegics (now going through the patent and US FDA approval processes) and other body parts that could significantly improve quality of life for those with disabilities.

Unlimited Tomorrow is also developing a open-source robotic arms that can be used with prosthetics, linking them to a STEM learning platform. Using 3D printing to produce the parts makes it a much cheaper alternative than other solutions and available to a wider number of people.

The arm can be controlled by an EEG-capable headset, sensing 10 different channels of brainwaves that communicate to the moving parts to carry out basic functions. It’s also stronger than a human arm, with the hand so strong, “it’s dangerous,” LaChapelle explains.

He wrote on the crowdfunding page: “I am raising money to expand our resources which includes more 3d printers, material development, manpower, and testing equipment. This will all help contribute to getting this technology to the people who really need it. We will be keep this process personal and highlight individuals along the way.”

Unlimited Tomorrow is looking to raise $10,000 (£6,600), although 26 people have already donated $2191 (£1,400) in the first four days of the campaign.

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NEEO, a smart controller that allows you to control all of your gadgets from one place, has surpassed its Kickstarter target by almost $200,000 (£130,000), with 28 days still to go.

The NEEO system comprises the ‘brain’ and the ‘remote’, which allows the system to communicate with all your connected devices and your commands.

The brain can also be controlled by your smartphone, so you don’t even need to be in arm’s reach of the remote to control more than 3,000 devices catalogued in the system.

The remote is a snazzy looking piece of kit, with a 291 ppi display (the company boasts this is more than the iPad Retina’s resolution) and hand recognition that will load all your favourites when it reads your palm.

If you lose the remote, you can set up alerts on your smartphone to help you find it and the device’s rechargeable battery and low-power design means you won’t have to charge it more often than once a month.

Devices supported by the NEEO system include a range of smart TVs, Sonos, Apple TV, Roku, and Philips Hue, with many more being developed as we speak.

The NEEO team says: “We have been working hard to create the best product possible and we are determined to make NEEO a reality. We have finalised the prototype, and now we need your help to get NEEO into production.

“We want all of you on Kickstarter to be the first to use NEEO and having you on-board would just give us that last push to have NEEO out to you that much quicker. We can’t wait for you to see and try NEEO. We’re ready for production, we’re just waiting for you.”

The Kickstarter campaign has so far reached $240,000 (£160,000), with its original target set at $50,000 (£32,000) and offers investors the opportunity to get their hands on an early version of the brain device and smartphone app for $148 (£97), while the full package including the remote can be snapped up for $219 (£144) now the early bird packages priced at $199 (£130) have all sold out.

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The Embrace wearable isn’t just another wrist-mounted device to look good and improve life for technophiles – it’s a genius piece of kit that will vastly improve the lives of those with epilepsy.

Although it looks pretty similar to many of the smart watches landing on the market, it’s designed to track activity, stress and overall balance, then will send out an alert to a carer or family member if it detects you’re about to have – or are having – an epileptic fit. The alerts can either be sent via a phonecall to caregivers or they can wear a companion Embrace that will also vibrate if something changes.

There’s no worry that the watch won’t fit – it features a unique magnet design that snaps to your wrist as soon as you put it on, so it’s secure, even if you’re partaking in an activity.

The companion app allows both you and family members to track a number of different parameters, including sleep patterns, physiological stress, arousal and physical activity. If you push yourself too much, you’ll be alerted with a subtle vibration, but this can be adjusted to fit in with your particular triggers.

When you buy an Embrace band for $189, you’ll get a smart watch too. And not only that, Embrace will donate one of its wearables to a child living with epilepsy that can’t afford one.

After reaching its funding target, Embrace has now added a number of stretch goals, including adding new colours, refunds if the company reaches $500,000 and you refer three people and if it meets $1m, the company will use the resources to develop a family wellness app, autism companion app and an additional colour.

So far, Embrace has raised $378,279 (£250,000) on Indiegogo – more than three times its $100,000 (£66,000) goal. You can pledge $189 (£125) to get an Embrace or more for multiples.

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Not content with testing the water with an e-ink watch, Sony has launched a crowdfunding campaign in collaboration with another Japanese company to make the Qrio Smart Lock a reality.

The smart lock can be fitted to any door and allows the lock to be opened using a smartphone app. An encryption feature allows you to share your lock opening code with friends via a secure messaging platform. So, for example, if you’re having a party or a friend is house sitting, you can just send them the code to open your front door rather than giving them a bunch of keys.

The Qrio Smart Lock is expected to retail for around ¥15,000 (£80) and although Sony says the campaign for its e-ink watches was merely testing customer appetite for the product, it looks as though this campaign may be more about developing the ideas further rather than seeing how many people would buy a universal smart lock.

The crowdfunding page describes the lock as having a neutral, minimalist design made from aluminium to match any lifestyle and door style.

The company, in collaboration with Qrio, wanted to create the world’s smallest, unique lock with a design that can respond to the overwhelming selection of door types.

Sony and Qrio wanted the design to be as easy as possible to install, so they say anyone can install easily without any tool, such as a screwdriver. It uses an adhesive sheet to be fixed in place, but is strong enough to withstand everyday use.

The fact it can be stuck on rather than screwed means it doesn’t damage the door, making it ideal for rental properties.

The Qrio Smart Lock is powered by a high-capacity lithium battery (CR123A) that can provide up to 500 days of use. There’s also two backup batteries, meaning it’ll last for a total of 1000 days or more of continuous operation.

Sony has raised ¥4.5m (£24,000) to develop the product, despite its goal only being ¥1.5m (£8000).

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