A Smarter Way to Pay
Our Solution
How we helped an Indian startup launch a fintech wearable into the US market
The Result
A careful blend of design and engineered enabled credit card holders derive the most out of their loyalty plans
The Story
Radiius was a fintech startup founded by alumni of India’s leading IIMs and Big 4 consulting firms. They spotted a simple but costly consumer problem in the United States. Most credit card holders owned multiple cards, signed up for perks, loyalty points, and discounts. Yet when shopping at malls, many missed out.
Shoppers often did not know which store offered schemes linked to their cards. Some carried the wrong card, others forgot the one with the best deal, and many simply tapped the first card that came to hand at the checkout. The result was lost savings and wasted loyalty opportunities.
At the same time, NFC payments were becoming mainstream. Apple and Samsung had launched wearable-based tap-to-pay systems, and consumers were warming up to the idea of leaving their wallets behind. Radiius saw this as the right moment to introduce a smarter, card-agnostic wearable.
THE SOLUTION
One Wearable, Many Cards
Radiius envisioned a wearable device that could store multiple cards and allow users to select the right one before making a purchase. Once set, the user could simply tap to pay, eliminating the hassle of shuffling through a wallet.
Bang Design was brought on board to design and engineer this product. Our brief was clear: make it minimal, make it reliable, and make it desirable to wear.
OUR ROLE
Designing Simplicity and Trust
We designed the wearable with a strong focus on simplicity. To secure transactions, we integrated a fingerprint sensor directly into the device. This served a dual purpose: it authenticated the purchase and acted as the wake-up switch. The clever integration meant that the product only drew power when needed, stretching battery life to weeks between charges.
ENGINEERING CHALLENGES
Security, Comfort, and Reliability
Skin Safety and Durability
The device had to be skin safe and resistant to sweat and showers. To achieve this, we engineered the housing for double-shot moulding. The electronics sat in a hard plastic core that was fully encased in a skin-safe TPU outer layer. This layer not only formed the strap but also provided the flexibility and comfort users expect from a wearable.
Premium Finish and Reliable Recognition
We framed the fingerprint sensor with a circular brushed metal bezel. The bezel elevated the look of the device, giving it a premium finish, while also serving a functional role. By conducting a small electric current through the skin, it improved the reliability of the fingerprint recognition system.
Stable Charging Dock
We also designed a charging dock to complement the Bee. Because the wearable’s form factor was extremely compact, the dock had to be engineered with a low center of gravity and a stable base so it would not topple while charging. This ensured that recharging was simple, reliable, and consistent with the premium experience the product aimed to deliver.
Beyond Design
Our involvement extended to identifying and evaluating prototyping and manufacturing partners in China. We guided the sourcing of parts to ensure cosmetic quality, affordability, and reliability, critical for a consumer-facing fintech device.
Impact
For Radiius
The Bee gave Radiius a distinctive position in the crowded fintech space. Instead of competing as another app, they entered the market with a hardware-led solution that solved a clear pain point in card management and loyalty redemption. By unifying multiple cards into one wearable, Radiius created tangible value for users and positioned themselves as bold innovators.
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For Bang Design
The project highlighted our ability to translate a complex idea into a refined consumer product. From ergonomic design and skin-safe engineering to premium finishing and the charging dock, every touchpoint was built to deliver quality. Weeks of battery life, daily comfort, and a premium look proved essential to adoption. The project demonstrated how we could help a startup go toe to toe with global giants when backed by rigorous design and engineering execution.