You don’t need to be Marty McFly in Back to the Future II to experience the thrill of using hover shoes, thanks to Chico Guerra and Mason Buechler, founders of ZUUM Technologies.
After earning a Bachelors in Accounting and Finance from Corban University in May of 2017, Chico realized that while he enjoyed working in these fields, his “passion is for people” and creating a business. He and Mason created ZUUM Technologies in 2018 with the goal of reinventing the way people think about traveling and to offer a product that will help decrease the carbon footprint caused by use of fossil fuels in transportation.
Hover shoes and hoverboards are not just a passing fad. Since hoverboards were introduced in 2015, according to an article on RedBull in February of 2019, the hover market has risen steadily and is currently estimated to be worth somewhere around $3 billion!
ZUUM Hover Shoes are made with a high-end aluminum alloy and are powered by a 25.9 volt battery, have a V-0 flame retardant status, are self-balancing with solid rubber wheels, and can reach a speed of 8 mph. The battery lasts for about 1-1/2 hours and will recharge in two hours. The development of the shoes went through four prototypes to ensure they are completely fire, water and dirt-proof. They were also tested against high-impact collisions with concrete, contain anti-skid technology, and can be controlled against a 10° incline.
The shoes can be easily carried by hand or in a backpack. Although they are grouped in the same category as hoverboards, ZUUM Hover Shoes are actually more similar to roller skates, as they allow for greater mobility than a one-piece hoverboard.
Mason and Chico initially sought funding through a Kickstarter Campaign in early 2019 with a $5,000 goal, which was surpassed and ultimately reached over $24,000. ZUUM Hover Shoes were named one of “12 Most Innovative Products” by Brittany Chang of Business Insider on July 24, 2019.
Having filled their Kickstarter orders and with their product now selling on Amazon, Chico and Mason are ready to hover over the Shark Tank to find an investor who will help take their company into the future.
