Hello, my dear friends!

My name is Marilyn-Diana Davis, and I’m a Grandma Inventor of the Bow2Tie personal alarm device.

For my entire life, I worked as a special education teacher in a public school teaching various subjects to students with the wide range of learning abilities. I also have 10 grandchildren, whom I love very much and spend time with them whenever I have a chance.

Also, every day I’m off work I take care of my older sister driving her around to various doctor appointments. It is not a burden for me at all; I enjoy helping children and elders.

For the past 20+ years, my now deceased husband and I would do weekend arts and crafts show selling handmade hair bows for girls. People would always ask us “What do we have for boys?”. We would smile and say” Nothing for now, but maybe in the future…” Those questions got me thinking about creating a unisex fashion accessory. But I wanted to create not only a fashionable accessory but an accessory that would bring value to both elderly citizens and children. After a little bit of brainstorming, I came up with an idea of a bow-shaped personal alarm that could be worn as a hair bow clip and bow tie clip as demonstrated in the pictures below.

Bow2Tie worn as a hair accessory (left) and as bow tie (right)

Immediately after this concept formed as an idea in my mind I did an extensive market research and found out that the majority of personal alarms manufacturers do not produce items remotely similar to what I had in mind. Moreover, a lot of personal alarms on the market are so loud that the noise could hurt children's ears. Statistics on bullying in school, sexual assault, and child abuse didn't leave any doubt that I need to go ahead and pursue this idea.

Stats are horrifying

Sexual assault: Nearly 700,000 children are abused in the U.S annually. Of the children who experienced maltreatment or abuse, three-quarters suffered neglect; 17.2% suffered physical abuse, and 8.4% suffered sexual abuse.

According to the Department of Justice:

Bullying in school: High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey out of 15,440 high school students in all grades participating in the survey 20.2% reported to be bullied on the school property

What Bow2Tie is made of

Bow2Tie has a plastic casing shaped like a bow that encloses electronic components. The front side of the device has a smooth surface as demonstrated in the figure below. The opposite side of the casing has a clip (see image to the right) attached that could rotate 360°. The rotating clip allows a user to attach the device to the variety of places such as shirt lapel, button down shirts, purses, book bags, lunch bags, and backpacks. Electronic components of the device include a coin battery, a speaker (as shown in the figure below), a microcontroller, and a LED light. Both the speaker and the light are activated with the press of a button that is hidden behind the front surface of the device.

Front (left) and back (right) views of Bow2Tie

Bow2Tie could be customized and personalized

The smooth front surface of the device allows a user to personalize the alarm by a favorite saying or a motto. See several examples in the pictures below.

Help your child to express his/her personality with FANCY safety bow tie clip. You don’t have to fear for your child’s safety anymore. With a press of a button, this fancy clip – disguised as a bowtie - alerts those in immediate surroundings of an attack by sounding a screaming alarm and blinking LED light. You can rest assured your child will be safe.

Fancy Bow2Tie

The Bow2tie is the perfect stylish safety accessory for both boys and girls. Imagine this: your daughter is at school, and two young girls decide she looks like a good victim. They approach her and try to forcefully "borrow" her tablet. Little do they know, your daughter has a Bow2Tie disguised as a stylish accessory. She sounds the alarm, and a teacher rushes over to her protection.

Bow2Tie for girls disguised as a stylish accessory

But the Bow2Tie isn’t just for children. Your mother, for example. Maybe she’s ill or of old age. You can’t be with her at all times, but something happens when you’re away. Now imagine she has a Bow2Tie. She can sound the alarm, signaling that something is wrong, Remind you parents, grandparents and other senior citizens in your life that you care about them by giving them #1 grandma (or #1 grandpa) Bow2Tie:

#1 Grandma Bow2Tie

Don't want to see flashy mottos on your personal safety alarm? Add some lace and flowers resulting in a stylish and elegant accessory that you can be worn my girls of all ages.

Bow2Tie customized with lace and handmade flower (Be aware that this image represents only an example of customization. Lace and the flower are not included in the kit)

The device will come preassembled with a set of batteries and several pre-cut customization options (“fancy,” “#1 grandma” etc.)

Benefits of Bow2Tie

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) noise levels at 85 dB or above can be harmful to children's hearing and require protection. Bow2Tie is absolutely safe for your kid's hearing!

Benefits of Bow2Tie

Our Timeline

We want you to have your Bow2Tie as soon as possible.

So, here is our plan:

In July 2017 , we run a Kickstarter campaign and connect with our backers.

, we run a Kickstarter campaign and connect with our backers. By September 2017 we’ll purchase all parts including electronic components, clips, stews, and the most expensive item on the list is a mold to produce a casing.

we’ll purchase all parts including electronic components, clips, stews, and the most expensive item on the list is a mold to produce a casing. In January 2018 we start manufacturing the Bow2Tie.

we start manufacturing the Bow2Tie. In March 2018 , we’ll start shipping Bow2Tie to our early adopters.

, we’ll start shipping Bow2Tie to our early adopters. By July 2018 we expect to finish concept design and a working prototype of the Bow2Tie 2.0 with the GPS (If we hit the $30,000 mark).

How much money we are raising and for what

We're running a Kickstarter campaign specifically to raise capital for manufacturing of Bow2Tie. We requested several quotes from manufacturers in the U.S. and China, after comparing the prices we decided to go with trusted manufacturers in China. The chart below outlines the prices for tooling (mold) and materials needed to produce 5,000 units of the Bow2Tie. The indicated prices are taken from our first choice manufacturers of plastic parts and the electronic components. We also went ahead and negotiated an assembly and packaging prices that are included in the materials cost. Shipping cost indicated includes the price for delivering Bow2Tie from the manufacturer to us. Fees cover the estimated amount of money Kickstarter will withdaw if we raise $ 20,000. In the end, you will receive your Bow2Tie pre-assembled and packed to be given to your loved ones.

Stretch Goals

Stretch Goal #1 ($30,000): If total funding reaches $30,000 we will add a GPS locator to the Bow2Tie so you would always know where your kid is.

Stretch Goal #2 ($50,000): If total funding reaches $50,000 we will design and develop a new and improved model of the Bow2Tie 2.0 that will look exactly like a bow tie made of fabric, but all electronic component will be compressed into the center button.

Thank you for your support!