Everyone talked about it.

We did it.

The Heatle story begins in 1997, when a southern German industrial group specializing in induction hobs published a patent that presented an inductive immersion heater for the first time.

The idea is grandiose: the efficiency of the immersion heater principle (heating element is directly in the liquid) is paired with the advantages of induction (cordless, convenient and safe). If there wasn't a problem...

The problem is the technical implementation. What in theory looks like an ordinary induction cooker with a washer in the pan becomes a real challenge.

Because everyone who dares to tackle the topic quickly has to realize:

A normal induction hob

doesn't work like that.

An induction hob, as we know it, heats up a relatively large area (pot, pan). Such a pot is flat, rests directly on the hob and does not move. Targeting a large body with induction is possible with simple and inexpensive circuitry, and the price of induction cooktops reflects this.

But an induction immersion heater is the complete opposite:

Tiny Target

The area of the Heatle's heating disc is a whopping 16 times smaller than a regular 16cm pot. No ordinary stove will turn on for a Heatle disc (or even several) - they are invisible to it.

Dynamic Target

When you lift the pot, the stove turns off. But unlike pots, cup bottoms vary in thickness, width and (un)evenness. Air bubbles or stirring by hand also causes the disc to move around.

High Power

Fast and efficient results require that the heating discs have maximum energy available. A heatle bundles up to 2,000 watts into the disc - and at a greater distance there is still enough left to be able to heat up.

Many try.

All fail.

Many years pass since 1997 before this idea is commercially exploited for the first time - and with great success. The Berlin startup Miito brings the now 18-year-old concept to life in 2015, with a beautiful design and ambitious delivery times.

Despite huge demand on Kickstarter, Miito goes bankrupt in 2017 - too many technical issues, it doesn't work as advertised.

In 2019, Group SEB (Tefal, WMF), a French company follows the trend, inspired by Miito. The "Just My Mug" campaign flops on Indiegogo, the project is scrapped. They believe the demand isn't there. However, it's rather the technology: a maximum of 300 watts are advertised. That's 8 minutes per cup. Not great.

Photo: Miito / kickstarter.com

Photo: SEB/groupeseb.com

Then there's finally

a breakthrough

David Riding, the founder and engineer of the Heatle, achieves a first technological breakthrough. When the two founders get to know each other, David is able to present the new functional principle and prove his solution - albeit with a very large and oddly looking prototype. The first patents are being filed.

The four year long

Marathon to market

Especially after the flop of the SEB project "Just My Mug" it becomes all the more exciting for the two founders that they seem to be the only ones in the world who have figured out how to bring an inductive immersion heater to life.

But the road to a real device, which should be three times smaller than the Frankenstein prototype, is still long and rocky. The two get advice and help from the best minds in the industry, are sitting down with the managements of industrial giants and secure support for the development from market leaders and investors.

With much support from investors and customers, Heatle survives the Covid-related chip crisis, in which production costs more than double and delivery times for components jump from 2 weeks to 24 months.

In 2022, the supply chains collapse due to the Russian war against Ukraine - further increases in costs and delivery times occur. In that year, however, progress is being made.

In late 2022, the last important and by far the most difficult step on the way to market maturity is completed - the CE certification of the unique technology that can quickly and efficiently heat small, dynamic objects with high power.

Regional production:

Made in Germany

After certification, nothing stands in the way of series production. Heatle opens a production hall in Berlin and begins manufacturing and delivering of the first devices.

The printed circuit boards are also manufactured in Berlin, then programmed, tested and installed at the Heatle factory. Heatle grows to over 15 employees and scales production to run through summer 2023.

Surprisingly, some critical components are delivered earlier than expected. Therefore, it is decided to add another batch to the already ongoing production and to pre-sell it in spring to cover the costs.

Meanwhile, we continue to produce, deliver and develop new accessories - such as the egg cooker, the hot-water bottle or the moka pot.

Come visit us and

Heatle up your life!