Gold medal and Canadian Special Award of Excellence at iCAN 2026
Smart cover integrates environmental monitoring and infant safety management
Company eyes expansion into digital safety technology
Kwon Dae-han, CEO of Wow Baby, a stroller cover manufacturer, took home a gold medal and a special award at the 2026 Canadian International Invention Innovation Competition (iCAN 2026).
Kwon won the Gold Medal and the Canadian Special Award of Excellence at the 11th iCAN, held in Toronto, Canada, on Aug. 29, for his "AI-based smart stroller cover with environmental monitoring and infant safety management system."
The award-winning smart stroller cover goes beyond the rain and wind protection of conventional products, featuring sensors that detect environmental conditions inside the stroller and support caregivers in monitoring infant safety.
Wow Baby plans to incorporate functions including temperature and humidity monitoring, hazard alerts and AI-based analysis into the product.
Founded in 2010, Wow Baby has manufactured stroller covers and related infant products, building experience in custom cover development and OEM production for various brands. The company is exploring a project expansion that would combine its existing manufacturing capabilities with digital safety technology, building on the recognition from the award.
The company will also pursue follow-up steps toward commercialization in stages — refining the smart stroller cover prototype, securing intellectual property rights, and conducting environmental sensing and safety alert function verification, as well as reviewing relevant certifications.
Wow Baby is also seeking OEM and ODM partnerships with domestic and international stroller brands. The product's performance and safety will be confirmed through future testing, verification and certification processes. The company plans to continue advancing the technology and validating the product in stages, using the award as a springboard.
"I hope stroller covers can evolve beyond simple rain and wind protection into a lifestyle technology that helps keep children safe," Kwon said. "Building on this recognition, we will work to combine our manufacturing experience with new technology to develop infant products that give parents greater peace of mind."
7toy7@heraldcorp.com
