heat it
Karlsruhe, DE · 1 known investors
Find your way into heat it
Kamedi GmbH makes heat it®, a smartphone-connected medical device (Class IIa) that treats itching and pain from insect bites by applying concentrated heat (about 51 °C) to the skin, controlled via a free companion app. The chemistry-free device plugs into a phone's charging port and is aimed at consumers and families for use on mosquito, horsefly, bee, and wasp stings.
Also known as heat it® · heat it™ · heatit · Kamedi GmbH
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026heat it is a smartphone-connected insect bite healer developed and manufactured by Kamedi GmbH in Karlsruhe, Germany. The device plugs into a phone's charging port (USB-C for Android and iPhone 15/16/17, Lightning for iPhone 6s to 14) and briefly heats the affected skin area to roughly 51 °C (about 124 °F), applying local hyperthermia to relieve itching and pain from bites and stings by mosquitoes, horseflies, bees and wasps. Treatment is controlled through a free companion app offering 12 treatment options combining temperatures of 47–52 °C with durations of 4, 7 or 9 seconds, including a child mode with reduced temperature and a sensitive-skin setting. The classic model weighs 4 grams and measures 37 x 17 x 8 mm, draws roughly 0.1% of a smartphone battery per treatment, and is classified as a Class IIa medical device suitable for use from age 3 (self-application from age 12).
The product line comprises heat it classic, heat it pro (adding a BiteLight, metal frame and carabiner) and heat it unplug, a battery-powered version that works without a smartphone, alongside accessories such as a metal cap, carabiner, a cleaning set and a Micro-USB adapter. Retail prices range from €29.95 for the classic to €49.95 for the pro, with discounted seasonal pricing shown in the shop. The company states TÜV Süd certified quality management, Apple MFi certification for its connectors, a 100-day return period and a two-year guarantee in addition to statutory warranty.
Kamedi GmbH describes itself as a medtech startup with more than 25 employees, based in the Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe with in-house development and production. It has been a certified medical device manufacturer since 2019 and works with Prof. Maurer of Charité Berlin on the clinical evaluation; the company published a study on the efficacy of thermal insect bite healers in June 2023.
Founding story
The concept originated in 2017 in a student competition at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, where the founders tested treatment of mosquito bites with concentrated heat and found the existing products bulky, inconvenient and non-adjustable. Four founders, then still studying engineering, began developing their own smartphone-controlled medical device, producing early prototypes, entering further competitions and filing first patent applications. The company was founded in 2018 and joined the Cyberlab Karlsruhe startup accelerator to finalise the product and the business.
Business model
Kamedi GmbH develops, manufactures and sells a hardware medical device with an accompanying free app. Revenue comes from one-off sales of the heat it devices and accessories; the app itself is free and the device requires no batteries or consumables, so there are no follow-up costs for customers.
One-time product sales of the heat it classic (€29.95 list, €22.45 discounted), heat it pro (€49.95 list, €34.95 discounted) and heat it unplug (€39.95 list, €29.95 discounted), plus accessories priced between €1.00 and €4.95. The companion app is free of charge.
Traction
More than 1,500,000 customers worldwide in over 15 countries and over 75 million treatments performed since the 2020 market launch. The Android app has over 1 million downloads and a 4.8/5 rating from about 9,740 reviews; the company cites a 4.8/5 rating across Google Play and the Apple App Store and 25,000+ reviews worldwide. The heat it classic product page shows 501 reviews at 4.93 stars, the pro 108 reviews and the unplug 11 reviews at 4.73 stars.
Latest developments
The heat it unplug, a battery-powered variant that works without a smartphone and offers 5 treatment options with BiteLight, is marketed as new. Product compatibility has been extended to iPhone 15, 16 and 17 via USB-C. The US site reports inclusion in TIME's Best Inventions of 2025, and the Android app was last updated on 21 July 2025 with added Romanian and Russian language support.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Positioned as a smart, app-controlled alternative to conventional thermal insect bite healers. The company cites test wins and coverage from CHIP, Stiftung Warentest, BILD and heise, an ISPO Gold Award in 2021, a Founder Award in 2020, and inclusion in TIME's Best Inventions of 2025, with more than 1.5 million customers in over 15 countries.
Unlike stand-alone thermal bite healers, heat it draws power from the smartphone, requiring no separate batteries or replacement costs, and is small enough (4 g) to stay on a keychain. App control enables 12 individualised treatment modes including a lower-temperature child mode and sensitive-skin setting. The company emphasises Class IIa medical device certification, a clinical evaluation conducted with Prof. Maurer of Charité Berlin and a June 2023 efficacy study on thermal insect bite healers, plus in-house development and production in Germany.
Technology
The device converts a smartphone's charging port power into concentrated localised heat, warming the skin to about 47–52 °C for 4, 7 or 9 seconds (local hyperthermia). It contains no battery of its own and enables up to 1,000 treatments on a full smartphone charge, using roughly 0.1% of battery per treatment. A safety concept protects the phone and its battery, and connectors are Apple MFi certified. The app provides 12 treatment modes with adjustable duration, child mode and a sensitive-skin option; the pro and unplug models add a BiteLight, and the unplug variant runs on its own rechargeable battery without a smartphone. Quality management is TÜV Süd certified and the product is classified as a Class IIa medical device.
Go-to-market
Direct-to-consumer sales through the company's German/European online shop (heatit.de) and a dedicated US shop (heat-it.com) with free US shipping, complemented by sales through selected pharmacies and specialty stores since 2020. Marketing relies on a 100-day risk-free trial, a two-year guarantee, app store presence with over 1 million Android downloads, press and TV coverage, product test wins, and awards.
Consumers and families affected by itching and pain from insect bites, including children from age 3 (self-application from age 12), and users in outdoor, travel and sports settings. Distribution has also targeted pharmacies and specialty retailers.
Geography
Headquartered and manufacturing in Karlsruhe, Germany (Haid-und-Neu-Str. 7, 76131 Karlsruhe), in the Technologiefabrik Karlsruhe, with direct shipping from Karlsruhe. Products are sold in more than 15 countries across Europe, North America and Asia, with a separate US-facing storefront offering free US shipping.
History
After incorporation in 2018 and a period at the Cyberlab Karlsruhe accelerator, the company ran a crowdfunding campaign on Startnext in the summer of 2019 with almost 2,000 supporters and completed German certification as a medical device manufacturer the same year. heat it went on sale in 2020 through the online shop, selected pharmacies and specialty retailers, and the company received a Founder Award in 2020. A new product generation launched in 2021 was recognised with the ISPO Gold Award and TV coverage. In 2022 the company reported 250,000 customers and 3 million treatments and released a major app update. By 2023 the product was sold in more than 15 countries in Europe, North America and Asia, and the company published its efficacy study in June 2023. Milestones cited for 2024 and 2025 report more than 1,000,000 users and over 50 million treatments, and current site figures state over 1,500,000 users and more than 75 million treatments.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 13
launches, deals, and filingsA battery-powered insect bite healer that works without a smartphone, with a protective case and 5 treatment options including BiteLight, marketed as brand new.
The company published a study on the efficacy of thermal insect bite healers; clinical evaluation for medical device certification was carried out in cooperation with Prof. Maurer of Charité Berlin.
heat it became available in over 15 countries across Europe, North America and Asia.
The heat it app was completely revamped with a major update in the year the company reported 250,000 customers and 3 million treatments.
A new generation of the insect bite healer was released, accompanied by an ISPO Gold Award and TV appearances.
heat it became available in the company's online shop as well as in selected pharmacies and specialty stores.
In summer 2019 nearly 2,000 supporters backed the company in a crowdfunding campaign on the Startnext platform.
The company completed German certification as a medical device manufacturer, operating with in-house development and production.
After incorporation, the team joined the Cyberlab Karlsruhe startup accelerator to finalise the product and company setup.
The concept for a smart thermal insect bite healer emerged during a student competition at KIT, followed by first prototypes, further competitions and initial patent applications.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- heat itheatit.de · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does heat it do?
- Karlsruhe medtech startup Kamedi GmbH makes heat it, a smartphone-plugged Class IIa device treating insect bites with heat.
- Who are heat it's investors?
- heat it's investors include BLN Capital.
- Where is heat it headquartered?
- heat it is headquartered in Karlsruhe, DE.