Author: Garrett Dvorkin,Baltimore Business Journal
Former Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton has raised over $1 million to develop a new version of his LIVV Audio over-ear headphones, designed to stay secure during intense workouts. The company aims to release the updated headphones on December 1st, with a goal of selling 6,000 pairs in the first year, backed by investors like tennis legend Mark Knowles. This launch follows over a decade of work, stemming from an idea Clayton had during his NFL career and overcoming setbacks with an initial version released in 2016. The new headphones will retail for $349.99 and are intended to be a more commercially appealing and "sexy" version of his original design. Clayton, who ranks fifth all-time in catches and receiving yards for the Ravens (2005-2009), conceived the idea after his headphones kept falling off during rehab for a patella tendon rupture he sustained while playing for the St. Louis Rams. His initial Kickstarter campaign in 2016 raised $100,000, but the first batch of headphones from a Chinese manufacturer faced significant issues, including delays and a virus infection affecting a third of the 1,000 units, leading to a recall and a temporary halt to the project. After a break and inspiration from new connections, including Mark Knowles, Clayton partnered with JLab Audio to incubate the redesigned headphones, focusing on a more premium look with sufficient security for a wider audience, learning from the over-engineered stability of his first model. Clayton joins other former Ravens in the entrepreneurial space, such as Dennis Pitta and Todd Heap, and current player Lamar Jackson.
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