Mo Money: Jay-Z Is Announced As A New Investor And Spokesman For The Duracell Powermat

Duracell Powermat is a joint venture between Procter & Gamble’s Duracell brand and Powermat Technologies. Powermat is the outfit behind wireless mats that let consumers charge smartphones and other devices just by laying them on the mats.

Powermat’s ultimate vision is to make wireless charging ubiquitous, an ecosystem similar to the placement of Wi-Fi hotspots. “You will be able to enjoy wireless power wherever you go, at a coffee shop, restaurant, or airport,” says Ron Rabinowitz, CEO of the joint venture. Adds Powermat Technologies CEO Ron Poliakine,”Our mission is to populate the universe with access points in any surface surrounding us in a way that you, as a user, will forget that you even have a battery in your devices.”

Last year, for example, Powermat struck a deal with General Motors to bring wireless charging to the Chevy Volt.

At the Consumer Electronics Show here, the company announced a partnership with New York’s Madison Square Garden. Fans attending a concert this summer or watching a Knicks basketball game or Rangers hockey match next season will be able to plunk their phones down on wireless mats at various locations in the arena.

“As someone who spends almost 200 nights a year in venues, I’m thrilled,” says Scott O’Neil, president of Madison Square Garden Sports. “So many of our fans are downloading photos (during games) and engaging in social platforms. (That’s) a suck on the battery.”

This is definitely a comeup for Hov and Duracell in their attempt to get a younger demographic looking at their product.

Other companies compete with Powermat in the wireless power space, but getting Jay-Z on board would appear to be a major marketing boost for Duracell Powermat.

“I believe in the future of wireless energy,” Jay-Z says.

This isn’t the typical product that we would look for Mr. Carter to endorse, but then again Jigga doesn’t do “typical”. Only time will tell if Hov can do for Duracell what he did with throwback jerseys, Range Rovers, button-up shirts, Maybachs, Cristal, Yankee Hats, and the list goes on. But one thing is for sure, he’s not in the habit of losing