Vara Safety

Vara Safety, incorporated in April 2016, operates within the security products sector, focusing on firearm safety technology. The company was founded by Timmy Oh, who serves as CEO, and Christine Tate, the company's COO. Oh's inspiration for the company began at age 17 after reading about a child's accidental shooting, which drove him to develop a smart childproof gun lock. His early passion for engineering was fostered by his uncle, an LAPD firearms instructor. The concept gained traction after winning an idea competition at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), where Oh was a mechanical engineering student. Despite initial negative feedback from online firearm forums, Oh persisted, conducting research at the LAPD's Firearm and Tactics Division. A significant milestone was winning a $100,000 New York State Business Plan Competition in 2016, which enabled the formation of a team. Christine Tate, an angel investor and former global business executive at Cargill, joined after judging a competition where Oh pitched his idea.

Vara Safety's business centers on designing, manufacturing, and selling biometric gun safes directly to consumers through its website and other online retailers like Optics Planet. The company targets responsible gun owners who seek a balance between securing their firearms from unauthorized access, particularly by children, and maintaining quick access for home defense. The market is comprised of individuals who prioritize safety but find traditional safes to be too slow in an emergency. Revenue is generated through the sale of its physical products. Since launching in late 2019, the company has sold over 3,000 units, generating $1.3 million in revenue to date. The firm has also secured funding through various grants and investment rounds, including support from the Smart Tech Challenges Foundation, FuzeHub, and New York State.

The company's primary products are the 'Reach' series for handguns and the 'RACT' system for long guns (rifles and shotguns). The Reach safe is a holster-safe hybrid made of a high-strength metal alloy that uses a capacitive fingerprint sensor for access, unlocking in as little as 0.2-0.3 seconds. This technology is considered more secure than common optical sensors as it requires the body's natural electrical current to read a print. The system features an algorithm that continuously updates the registered fingerprint with each use, adapting to changes like cuts. It can store up to 10 fingerprints. The safe is designed to be mounted by a bedside, in a vehicle, or under a desk and includes interchangeable holster inserts to accommodate over 250 different handgun models. It operates on primary electrical power with a battery backup lasting several months and has a mechanical key override. The RACT system is a locking rail mount for rifles and shotguns, also utilizing the company's biometric technology. The company is also developing a mobile app with features aimed at suicide prevention, allowing users to remotely grant access to a support member during a crisis.

Keywords: biometric gun safe, firearm safety, smart gun lock, quick access safe, handgun holster safe, rifle security, shotgun storage, fingerprint gun access, childproof gun storage, home defense security, vehicle gun safe, Timmy Oh, Christine Tate, Reach safe, RACT system, biometric security, personal security device, firearm access control, gun violence prevention, responsible gun ownership