On Thursday, November 14, the smart handbag IRMA was officially unveiled at the Ones Concept Design Store in Prague. This innovative project, developed within the PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator, is now making its way to customers. After completing the accelerator program, impressing at Demo Day, and fine-tuning the production process, IRMA secured a multi-million-crown investment from Josef Průša, a leading figure in the world of 3D printing.

The IRMA smart handbag project, which captured the attention of both media representatives and the audience during Demo Day at PrusaLab, has reached another major milestone. This product, which blends fashion design with safety features, was officially launched on November 14.

IRMA is the result of a collaboration between designer Klára Šmakalová (Akari) and Jakub Stedina (Stedina Design), a two-time Red Dot Award winner. With the support of the PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator, they transformed their concept from an early prototype into a market-ready product.

The IRMA handbag offers its owner reliable and discreet support for everyday life. It’s equipped with smart features like a powerful alarm and bright LED light to enhance safety and comfort – especially when moving through the city at night. The wireless charging function ensures your phone is always ready to go.

What’s more, IRMA comes with a removable shell, allowing the bag’s appearance to be fully customized to match the owner’s personal style.

About the IRMA Handbag

IRMA is a smart handbag that blends elegant, customizable design with advanced technology:

• Safety features: A powerful alarm and bright LED light provide extra comfort and a sense of security when moving through the city after dark.
• Wireless charging: The built-in charger ensures your phone is always powered up and ready to use.
• Customizable design: Interchangeable shells let the owner adapt the handbag’s look to match her personal style.
• User-friendly functionality and refined design:
• IRMA was designed with a strong focus on comfort, detail, and everyday usability. Its smooth finish, intuitive control of charging modes (including power-saving features), and interactive elements – like tactile feedback when opening the bag – make IRMA not just a smart product, but a truly pleasant everyday companion. This strong emphasis on user experience (UX) is one of IRMA’s key competitive advantages, placing it among premium high-tech products with standout design.

Support from PrusaLab and a Multi-Million-Crown Investment from Josef Průša

IRMA was developed with the full support of the PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator, which provided the design team with access to advanced prototyping facilities and expert guidance throughout the entire development process.

Several key factors led to IRMA’s selection for the program. Klára Šmakalová and Jakub Stedina impressed us with their strong commitment and determination to see the project through—a crucial quality for success in the accelerator. Their team also brought together the perfect blend of expertise: Klára contributes her background in the fashion industry and her own fashion label, while Jakub, a technically-minded industrial designer, brings deep knowledge of design and production.

Another reason for accepting IRMA into the PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator was the opportunity to extensively prototype and iterate the handbag using FDM 3D printing before final components were selected for other manufacturing methods – saving both time and cost. Last but not least, the technical challenges of the IRMA project provided valuable learning opportunities that enriched our internal development team.

IRMA’s success at Demo Day, where it was praised for its focus on both safety and aesthetics, led to a major milestone: Josef Průša, founder of Prusa Research and a pioneer in 3D printing, decided to invest several million crowns into the project. His support will help IRMA grow and successfully enter the market.

With that, a new chapter begins – IRMA is heading to market and getting ready to meet its customers.

About the PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator

The PrusaLab Hardware Accelerator is a program designed for startups and innovative projects with a strong focus on prototyping, technological development, and access to professional manufacturing facilities.

Run under the guidance of Josef Průša, the accelerator provides aspiring entrepreneurs and creators with everything they need to take their products from prototype to production – while also preparing them for a successful market launch.

The investment in IRMA is proof that PrusaLab continues to support promising, high-potential projects even after they complete the accelerator program.

Stay tuned as IRMA makes waves in the world of fashion and tech.