Daiko Reinvents Dog Leashes, with a Crypto Twist (Yes, Really)
Daiko, a plucky pet-tech startup based in Ireland, is giving the humble dog leash a serious glow-up with a little help from the blockchain. At first glance, it might sound like a tech startup trying to wedge cryptocurrency into places it doesn't belong (looking at you, crypto fridges), but Daiko has its sights set on a surprisingly practical goal: solving everyday dog-owner dilemmas. We're talking poop bags, motivation for daily walks, and now, earning tokens for just doing your duty, literally.
"I never set out to be in the dog leash industry, or in crypto for that matter," admits David Byrne, CEO and Founder of Daiko, "but I am hooked on solving real problems." Spoiler: he might have cracked it.
At the center of Daiko's mission is its sleek patent-pending smart leash, which includes an integrated electronic transponder that connects to the Daiko mobile app. As you stroll through the park with your four-legged buddy, the app quietly logs stats like distance, duration, and frequency. Walk your dog, earn crypto. It's like Fitbit for Fido except with tokens instead of guilt.
Of course, this isn't just about high-tech walk tracking. Let's talk poop. (Yes, we must.) Dog poop bags, while helpful, are environmental offenders in disguise. Most are made of non-biodegradable plastic and can stick around in landfills longer than most of us will. Even the ones labeled "biodegradable" often need fancy composting conditions that just don't happen in your local dog park.
Enter the DooPod: a stylish, detachable container designed to carry your poop bags with class. "I didn't invent the leash or the poop pod," says David, "but I made them better. That's always been the key." It's basically the Swiss Army knife of dog walking accessories, minus the corkscrew.
Attached to a next-generation retractable leash, the DooPod is more than just a fashionable poop pouch. It's part of an ecosystem. Using the mobile app, each walk is logged and rewarded. Pet parents earn points that can be converted into DAIKO tokens, a cryptocurrency created for the Daiko ecosystem. These tokens can then be redeemed for exclusive pet products, digital upgrades, and real-world rewards. It's a closed-loop system, kind of like your dog chasing its tail, but more productive.
"Our smart leash connects to the Daiko app via RFID," David explains. "The more you walk, the more tokens you earn, and the more features you unlock." It's a win-win: dogs get their daily walkies, and owners get a little extra motivation and earn discounts on some stylish Daiko-branded accessories.
While many hardware startups go through traditional retail, and wait years to scale, Daiko took a different path. "In crypto," says David, "the audience is instant and global. You can go from zero to community in a matter of weeks." And for a company looking to disrupt the very concept of the dog leash, that kind of agility is key.
As for the DAIKO token itself, this isn't some pump-and-dump meme coin. Longevity is built in, as 20% of all Daiko net profits are earmarked to repurchase DAIKO Tokens, which are then redistributed into the user rewards pool. The result? A self-sustaining mini economy that actually gives back to the most active users, your dog would definitely approve.
With the smart leash, DooPod, bag roll holder, anti-runaway innovation (yes, really), and a mobile app that rewards you for walking your dog, Daiko is set to launch by the end of the year.
Crypto might not walk your dog for you, but Daiko will soon reward you for doing so.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Straits Times
Singapore-listed Acrophyte Hospitality Trust jumps as it ‘evaluates strategic options'
Seven more hotels in Acrophyte's portfolio are slated for asset enhancement initiatives in 2025, after six hotels completed theirs in 2024. PHOTO: ACROPHYTE HOSPITALITY TRUST SINGAPORE - A strategic review is underway for Acrophyte Hospitality Trust, formerly known as ARA US Hospitality Trust, as a potential transaction involving its stapled securities is on the table but not guaranteed. The renaming of the Singapore-listed hotel trust was done in 2024 after the family of billionaire couple Gordon Tang and wife Celine completed their takeover of ARA US Hospitality Trust's managers. Their vehicle for this was Acrophyte, which was known as Chip Eng Seng until the Tangs privatised the company in 2023. The Tang family also upped their stake to become the trust's largest unit-holder and sponsor. On May 30, the managers of Acrophyte Hospitality Trust said that they are currently evaluating a 'range of strategic options' in light of the potential capital expenditure needed to enhance its portfolio of hospitality assets in the United States. 'In connection with their evaluation, the managers are also in discussions with the sponsor in respect of a potential transaction involving the stapled securities,' they said. Despite being in the process of reviewing options, the managers emphasised that 'there is no certainty that any transaction will materialise' from the ongoing review or discussions. Acrophyte's stapled securities jumped 11.3 per cent, or three cents, to 29.5 cents as at 11.24am on May 30. This after a gain of 7.5 per cent on May 29, before the announcement. Seven more hotels in Acrophyte's portfolio are slated for asset enhancement initiatives in 2025, after six hotels completed such initiatives in 2024. Work on two Marriott-branded hotels will commence in June as that on five Hyatt-branded ones will start in November. The hospitality stapled group comprises Acrophyte Hospitality Property Trust and Acrophyte Hospitality Management Trust. For the fiscal first quarter of 2025, its revenue declined 7.7 per cent to US$33.5 million from US$36.2 million in the year-ago period amid an 8.3 per cent year-on-year downsizing of its portfolio. Its Q1 operating profit was 12.8 per cent lower at US$9.3 million, from US$10.7 million in the previous corresponding period. THE BUSINESS TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Business Times
2 days ago
- Business Times
Acrophyte Hospitality Trust undergoes strategic review, in talks for potential transaction involving stapled securities
[SINGAPORE] A strategic review is underway for Acrophyte Hospitality Trust , as a potential transaction involving its stapled securities is on the table but not guaranteed. On Friday (May 30), the managers said that they are currently evaluating a 'range of strategic options' for the hospitality stapled group. This is in light of its potential capital expenditure needs in relation to the ongoing asset enhancement requirements of its existing portfolio. 'In connection with their evaluation, the managers are also in discussions with the sponsor in respect of a potential transaction involving the stapled securities,' they said. Despite being in the process of reviewing options, the managers emphasised that 'there is no certainty that any transaction will materialise' from the ongoing review or discussions. Seven more hotels in Acrophyte's portfolio are slated for asset enhancement initiatives in 2025, after six hotels completed such initiatives in 2024. Work on two Marriott-branded hotels will commence in June as that on five Hyatt-branded ones will start in November. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The hospitality stapled group comprises Acrophyte Hospitality Property Trust and Acrophyte Hospitality Management Trust. It was formerly known as ARA US Hospitality Trust. In its Q1 2025 business update, its revenue declined 7.7 per cent to US$33.5 million from US$36.2 million in the year-ago period amid an 8.3 per cent year-on-year downsizing of its portfolio. Its Q1 operating profit was 12.8 per cent lower at US$9.3 million, from US$10.7 million in the previous corresponding period. Stapled securities of Acrophyte ended pn Thursday 9.4 per cent or US$0.025 higher at US$0.29, before the announcement.
International Business Times
4 days ago
- International Business Times
Daiko Reinvents Dog Leashes, with a Crypto Twist (Yes, Really)
Daiko, a plucky pet-tech startup based in Ireland, is giving the humble dog leash a serious glow-up with a little help from the blockchain. At first glance, it might sound like a tech startup trying to wedge cryptocurrency into places it doesn't belong (looking at you, crypto fridges), but Daiko has its sights set on a surprisingly practical goal: solving everyday dog-owner dilemmas. We're talking poop bags, motivation for daily walks, and now, earning tokens for just doing your duty, literally. "I never set out to be in the dog leash industry, or in crypto for that matter," admits David Byrne, CEO and Founder of Daiko, "but I am hooked on solving real problems." Spoiler: he might have cracked it. At the center of Daiko's mission is its sleek patent-pending smart leash, which includes an integrated electronic transponder that connects to the Daiko mobile app. As you stroll through the park with your four-legged buddy, the app quietly logs stats like distance, duration, and frequency. Walk your dog, earn crypto. It's like Fitbit for Fido except with tokens instead of guilt. Of course, this isn't just about high-tech walk tracking. Let's talk poop. (Yes, we must.) Dog poop bags, while helpful, are environmental offenders in disguise. Most are made of non-biodegradable plastic and can stick around in landfills longer than most of us will. Even the ones labeled "biodegradable" often need fancy composting conditions that just don't happen in your local dog park. Enter the DooPod: a stylish, detachable container designed to carry your poop bags with class. "I didn't invent the leash or the poop pod," says David, "but I made them better. That's always been the key." It's basically the Swiss Army knife of dog walking accessories, minus the corkscrew. Attached to a next-generation retractable leash, the DooPod is more than just a fashionable poop pouch. It's part of an ecosystem. Using the mobile app, each walk is logged and rewarded. Pet parents earn points that can be converted into DAIKO tokens, a cryptocurrency created for the Daiko ecosystem. These tokens can then be redeemed for exclusive pet products, digital upgrades, and real-world rewards. It's a closed-loop system, kind of like your dog chasing its tail, but more productive. "Our smart leash connects to the Daiko app via RFID," David explains. "The more you walk, the more tokens you earn, and the more features you unlock." It's a win-win: dogs get their daily walkies, and owners get a little extra motivation and earn discounts on some stylish Daiko-branded accessories. While many hardware startups go through traditional retail, and wait years to scale, Daiko took a different path. "In crypto," says David, "the audience is instant and global. You can go from zero to community in a matter of weeks." And for a company looking to disrupt the very concept of the dog leash, that kind of agility is key. As for the DAIKO token itself, this isn't some pump-and-dump meme coin. Longevity is built in, as 20% of all Daiko net profits are earmarked to repurchase DAIKO Tokens, which are then redistributed into the user rewards pool. The result? A self-sustaining mini economy that actually gives back to the most active users, your dog would definitely approve. With the smart leash, DooPod, bag roll holder, anti-runaway innovation (yes, really), and a mobile app that rewards you for walking your dog, Daiko is set to launch by the end of the year. Crypto might not walk your dog for you, but Daiko will soon reward you for doing so.
