From Idea to Innovation: The Story Behind PopSmoke

It started with a simple thought:
“Why do I need a ladder just to test my smoke alarm?”

That question popped into my head one day while staring up at the ceiling in a rental property—and it stuck with me. Smoke alarms are one of the most important safety devices in any home, yet using them properly often requires tools, ladders, or calling someone else to help.

For older adults, people with mobility limitations, and time-poor tenants, this creates a frustrating reality: they either don’t test their alarms, or can’t. And that’s a massive gap in safety and independence.

🧠 The Problem Was Clear—So I Started Building

I’m a psychology student, a former Army officer, and someone who’s always been wired to spot system gaps. So I sketched out a simple solution: a mechanism that would lower a smoke alarm to a reachable height—on command.

That early idea became PopSmoke.

Since then, I’ve:

• Filed a provisional patent

• Built the first working prototype

• Spoken with installers, property managers, and industry leaders

• Joined the UQ Ventures Empower cohort to refine and validate the concept

What I’ve learned is that I’m not alone. People want a safer, easier way to interact with their alarms—and service providers are hungry for innovation that improves compliance without adding complexity.

💡 Where We're Headed

PopSmoke is still in its early stages, but the vision is clear:

To make fire safety more accessible, more dignified, and more user-friendly—for everyone.

We’re building something that could help millions of Australians stay safer in their homes. And I’d love for you to be part of that journey.

Want to test it? Support it? Shape it?

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