Art Of The Kickstart

In the episode of Art of the Kickstart we hear from Petr Prochazka, founder and CEO of Skinners. Tune in to learn more about the inspiration behind Skinners, what the prototyping process looked like leading up to his campaign and what question he’d love to ask Forrest Gump. SKINNERS: Revolutionary Ultraportable Footwear with Silver Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Where some of the best project ideas originate How long prototyping takes for a new product Why you should pay attention to other crowdfunding campaigns before launching your own The importance of building a community around your product How to make fulfilling rewards a priority Links Skinners on Kickstarter http://www.skinners.cc/ The Entrepreneurial Mindset: Strategies for Continuously Creating Opportunity in an Age of Uncertainty by Rita Gunther McGrath and Ian MacMillan Connect with Skinners Skinners on Facebook @skinners_int on Twitter Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a product d

For this episode of Art of the Kickstart we spoke with Ray Wu of Wynd, a portable smart air purifier designed to clean the air around you. Tune in to learn more about building a team for a crowdfunding project, what to do during the pre-launch phase of your project and how to use Facebook ads to your advantage. Wynd - The Smartest Air Purifier for Your Personal Space Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to build the perfect team for a crowdfunding campaign How to connect with people who can help you launch a new product on Kickstarter or Indiegogo Where to find early adopters to back your project as soon as it launches How to use early bird rewards to fund quickly on Kickstarter How to use Facebook ads to gather leads before launching When to choose crowdfunding to launch your product Links Wynd on Kickstarter hellowynd.com Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance Connect with Wynd Wynd on Facebook @TeamWynd on Twitter Sponsors Art of the Kickstart

We spoke with Kathy Roma of Nimb to learn about how Nimb came to be, how this ring can keep you safe and what surprises her crowdfunding team has encountered thus far. Tune in to this episode to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on the smart ring that keeps you safe. Nimb: A Smart Ring that Keeps You Safe and Sound Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to build a crowdfunding team What to expect during the product development phase of a crowdfunding project How to test a concept before launching it on Kickstarter Why crowdfunding is so exciting How to continue improving your Kickstarter campaign Links Nimb on Kickstarter http://nimb.com/ The Major Film Theories by J. Dudley Andrew Connect with Nimb Nimb on Facebook @Nimb_ring on Twitter @nimbring on Instagram Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a product discovery platform that helps you discover, save, and buy awesome products. The Gadget Flow is the ultimate buyer's guide for cool luxury gadgets

In this episode of the Art of the Kickstart podcast, we talked to Sam Hickmann. With the team at Joy, he has created the perfect icon-based watch that teaches kids the concept of time and helps them develop good daily habits. Listen below to learn more about their work with the HAX Accelerator, how they leveraged their community to make their Kickstarter campaign a success and other crowdfunding tips and tricks. Octopus by Joy, the training wheels for good habits Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How incubators like HAX can help startups create and develop products The benefits of being in China while building a hardware product Why you need a community behind your product How to build a strong community before launching on Kickstarter How to get valuable feedback as you’re creating a product Links Octopus by Joy on Kickstarter heyjoy.io Value Proposition Design by Alexander Osterwalder, Yves Pigneur, Gregory Bernarda and Alan Smith The Success Principles by John Canfield The Hardware Startu

The team at LifeBEAM went from working on aerospace technologies to fitness wearables. In this episode you’ll hear about how they created Vi, the wearable that acts as a personal trainer, how they began preparing for a Kickstarter project and what they’ve learned along the way. Vi. The First True Artificial Intelligence Personal Trainer Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Where crowdfunding projects typically start How to build a great product for crowdfunding How far out to start prepping for a crowdfunding campaign What surprises you may encounter during a Kickstarter project How to balance promoting the campaign with preparing for manufacturing Links Vi on Kickstarter http://life-beam.com/ The Last Lion - Winston Spencer Churchill: Defender of the Realm, 1940-1965 by William Manchester and Paul Reid Connect with LifeBEAM Lifebeam on Facebook LifeBEAM on LinkedIn @LifeBEAM on Twitter LifeBEAM on YouTube Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a pro

In this episode of Art of the Kickstart, we shifted the focus from creating and managing a successful Kickstarter or Indiegogo product to designing and manufacturing your product once the crowdfunding campaign ends. Join us to learn more about how to go about sourcing in China, how to build relationships with manufacturers and what to do about production delays. Hey Joe Coffee Mug - Brew Joe on the Go Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to begin sourcing in China How to begin building relationships with manufacturers in China Why you should visit several manufacturers before choosing one to work with How crowdfunding can help you determine demand in the market How product design is an iterative process How to communicate product delays to crowdfunding backers Why constant communication with crowdfunding backers is important Links Hey Joe Coffee Mug on Kickstarter heyjoecoffee.com Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future by Ashlee Vance Connect with Hey Joe Coffee

For this exciting episode of Art of the Kickstart, we interviewed Guy Sprukt of Miggo to find out more about the Pictar iPhone camera grip. Listen to learn why crowdfunding a product can be beneficial, how long to expect to spend preparing for your project, how to get great press coverage and much more. PICTAR. Probably the best iPhone camera-grip ever built. Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How knowledge of the production process can make launching a Kickstarter project easier How crowdfunding a product can help you finetune it before producing it What other benefits companies get from crowdfunding a new product How meeting with journalists before you launch can help you get press coverage How to decide if your product is a good fit for crowdfunding How long it takes to prepare for and run a crowdfunding campaign Links Pictar on Kickstarter Pictar on Indiegogo https://mymiggo.com/ Connect with Miggo Miggo on Facebook @mymiggo on Twitter Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be s

In this episode of Art of the Kickstart, we speak with Elena Favilli of Timbuktu Labs about her new children’s book that reinvents fairy tales by telling the stories of 100 great women throughout history. Join us as we learn what inspired the book, how the team prepared for the project and how they were able to raise more than half a million dollars on Kickstarter. Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls - 100 tales to dream BIG Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How long it takes to prepare for a Kickstarter project How to build the initial momentum and traction you need when launching a Kickstarter campaign How to find journalists who would be interested in covering your crowdfunding project What tools can help you run a successful Kickstarter campaign What prep work to do before launching on Kickstarter Links Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls on Kickstarter http://www.timbuktu.me/ Everything You Ever Wanted by Jillian Lauren Connect with Timbuktu Labs Timbuktu Labs on Facebook @TimbuktuMag o

For this episode of Art of the Kickstart we spoke with Justin Bain of Noria. Join us as we learn more about what sets this air conditioner apart, what the team did to prepare for a Kickstarter project and how you can make your project as successful as this one. Noria: Cool, Redefined Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Just how long it can take to bring an idea to Kickstarter How to build a great crowdfunding team How to choose your Kickstarter funding goal What product development looks like before launching on Kickstarter Why timing is everything when you launch a crowdfunding campaign What leads to a strong first day on Kickstarter How to use social media to promote your crowdfunding project Links http://www.noriahome.com/ Noria on Kickstarter Against All Odds: An Autobiography by James Dyson Connect with Noria Noria on Facebook @noriacool on Instagram @noriacool on Twitter Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a product discovery platform tha

We talked to Carlos Ruiz and Jonas Mueller of flatev to get the behind-the-scenes scoop on their artisan tortilla maker. Learn more about the inspiration behind the “Keurig of tortillas,” what they did leading up to their Kickstarter campaign and much more. flatev - The Artisan Tortilla Maker Key Crowdfunding Takeaways What types of delays to expect during prototyping What kinds of feedback to expect from your backers Benefits of working with a marketing agency on your crowdfunding campaign How to test different audiences prior to launching Why it’s important to have good partnerships How to find partnerships and manufacturers Links flatev on Kickstarter http://flatev.com/ The Lean Startup by Eric Ries Business Model Generation by Alexander Osterwalder Connect with flatev flatev on Facebook @flatevofficial on Twitter @flatev on Instagram Sponsors Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a product discovery platform that helps you discover, save, and

In March we published a case study we had written on the Nebia shower. This week, we had a chance to catch up with the team and hear their story behind the project! Philip Winter of Nebia spoke with us this week to give us insight into building a prototype, working with Y Combinator and raising more than $3 million on Kickstarter. Tune in for his top tips for building a great product and managing a successful Kickstarter campaign. Nebia Shower - Better experience, 70% less water Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Why you need feedback from others as you’re building a product How to get the best feedback about your prototype What it is like to work with Y Combinator How press hits make a difference How to prepare for overfunding on a Kickstarter campaign Why you should be prepared to learn as you go Links https://nebia.com/ Nebia on Kickstarter Let My People Go Surfing by Yvon Chouinard Creativity Inc by Ed Catmull and Amy Wallace Connect with Nebia Nebia on Facebook @nebia on Twitter Transcript

Inspired by the archetypal super-spy, Maison Impeccable set out to create the perfect sock to get you through the day, from the office to the gym and everywhere in between. Learn more about how to test the waters with crowdfunding in this week’s episode of Art of the Kickstart. Stealth Socks - Covertly Fresh, Impeccably Styled Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to get started with prototypes What needs to happen before you launch in order to make the first few days a success Why Facebook ads are a necessary part of every crowdfunding campaign Why you need good press outreach Why launching on Kickstarter works well for product-based companies How launching on Kickstarter can help minimize the risk that can come with minimum order quantities What it looks like to test the waters with crowdfunding How to take feedback from your backers and respond to it with new products Links Stealth Socks on Kickstarter http://www.impeccable.maison/ The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss Connect with Ma

For this episode of Art of the Kickstart, we spoke with Caleb Light of Power Practical about running six Kickstarter campaigns. Tune in to learn more about how to build a team for your startup and how to use crowdsourcing to create new products. Luminoodle COLOR & BASECAMP: Versatile & Portable Lighting Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Why it’s beneficial to get your company started through crowdfunding Why every startup needs a diversified team How to use your backers to develop new products and grow your company How to turn your backers into brand ambassadors How Kickstarter can lead to a Shark Tank appearance How pitching on Shark Tank differs from the traditional investment pitch Why it’s important to respond to your backers quickly Why you need relationships with key media targets Links Luminoodle Color and Basecamp on Kickstarter https://powerpractical.com/ Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World Connect with Power Practical Power Practical on Facebook @PowerPractical on Twitter @

This week we spoke with David Rabie of Tovala, the smart oven that makes it easy to create delicious meals at home. Learn more about how his team developed their product, how they prepared for the Kickstarter project and how they quickly hit their $100,000 goal. Tovala: The Smart Oven That Makes Home Cooking Easy Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to include a subscription model for products that backers will buy later in your rewards How to utilize the crowd after your crowdfunding campaign ends How accelerator programs can help with crowdfunding and product development How to build up a community before launching a crowdfunding campaign How to ramp up press coverage before your campaign begins Why it’s important to test your messaging before your crowdfunding campaign Links Tovala on Kickstarter Good to Great by Jim Collins https://tovala.com/ Connect with Tovala Tovala on Facebook @TovalaFood on Twitter @TovalaFood on Instagram Transcript

In October 2014, Gareth Everard raised almost $150,000 on Kickstarter with a razor. Within a few months, he’d shipped a bad product to 2,500 people who backed his campaign. In this week’s podcast we learn how he overcame manufacturing problems to make his backers happy again, how he’s crowdfunding an even better razor now, and what lessons he’s learned in the process. Rockwell Model T Razor and Razor Blades - Shaving, Perfected Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How crowdfunding can launch you into a full-time business overnight Effectively using Reddit to market your campaign Getting a following and growing your email list Determining how much time to dedicate to the pre-launch portion of your campaign Getting your project ready for manufacturing and production How to deal with issues in production, manufacturing and logistics Making a product even better after a successful crowdfunding campaign Links The Obstacle is the Way The Rockwell Model T on Kickstarter The Rockwell 6S on Kickstarter https://r

On this week’s episode of Art of the Kickstart we interview Anthony Pu of Mighty, the device that makes it easy to stream music on-the-go without using a smartphone. Join us as we learn what inspired him, how his team prepared for the campaign, how they decided on a funding goal and what he’s learned from his first Kickstarter campaign. Mighty - Streaming Music Without Your Phone Key Crowdfunding Takeaways What the process of prepping for a crowdfunding campaign looks like How to make a splash on day one of your campaign The importance of relying on friends, family and your personal network How to do a soft launch for your personal network How to land press coverage What it looks like to work with social media influencers Why it’s important to reach out to media outlets and influential bloggers in your niche or industry Why you need to expect backer cancellations How setting a high funding goal, especially for hardware, can help ensure that you meet your delivery date Links Mighty on Kickstarte

Casper Chien and the dokiWatch team created a smartwatch that’s designed for kids too young for a cell phone, then they brought it to life on Kickstarter. In this episode we learn the story behind the product and how the team encountered phenomenal success through crowdfunding. dokiWatch: The World’s Most Advanced Smartwatch for Kids Success Quote “Work hard, play hard” Key Crowdfunding Takeaways Challenges when creating a technology product When to choose Kickstarter What marketing and prep work is necessary leading up to a crowdfunding campaign How to line up press coverage before you launch How to assure potential backers that your product will ship The future of equity crowdfunding Links http://www.doki.com/ dokiWatch on Kickstarter dokiWatch on Indiegogo Connect with dokiWatch Doki Technologies on Facebook @dokitec on Twitter @dokitec on Instagram Transcript

Note: The audio quality of this episode was compromised by a poor recording device. We were working with translators and recording over the phone, which affected the quality. Just like many other crowdfunding projects, this one starts with a problem. When faced with a need to lose weight, Mark Wood found that there just wasn’t a weight system that suited his needs. Enter the Gripbell. In this episode you’ll get valuable tips on creating a product, prototyping and taking your project to Kickstarter! GRIPBELL | Versatile Grip, Workout Differently Success Quote “Never, never, never give up.” - Winston Churchill Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How to get started once you have an idea for a new product How the prototyping process works How to prepare your marketing before the campaign launches What marketing initiatives bring the highest return What conversions rates to expect on ads How to set up rewards and pricing Links http://gripbell.com/ Gripbell on Indiegogo Gripbell on Kickstarter Connect with

Keep Pursuing set out to create the ultimate duffle bag, finding inspiration in sports cars. They ended up with a product that would bring in more than half a million dollars on Kickstarter. In this episode of the Art of the Kickstart podcast, learn more about the secrets behind their success. KP Duffle - The Ultimate Travel Bag Key Crowdfunding Takeaways How one successful crowdfunding campaign can lead to another’s success What pre-campaign efforts look like The importance of video for a successful campaign How to get press coverage ready to go when you launch Why press samples are important Why it’s important to have press contacts before you start your campaign How to come up with add-ons to go along with your product How to come up with stretch goals for your crowdfunding campaign How backers from a previous campaign can help you reach your goal on day one What needs to happen before you launch your crowdfunding campaign Why crowdfunding is a great way to launch a new product Links The K

In this exciting episode of Art of the Kickstart we talk to Oscar Pedroso of Thimble, the monthly subscription box that teaches you how to build electronic devices. Learn about the value of launch parties, how to build up a community before you launch, how to plan for production and fulfillment and much, much more! Thimble: Learn & Build Electronics w/ Monthly Delivered Kits Success Quote “Never give up.” Key Crowdfunding Takeaways The value of launch parties How to get people engaged with your campaign before you launch How to find mentors and build your team How to decide between crowdfunding or a private online beta launch How much time to spend preparing to launch your campaign How to build up an email list through a grassroots approach How to begin coordinating production and fulfillment How to scale up when you exceed your goal by such a large amount How to move forward with creating your business after a Kickstarter campaign How to figure out pricing when you’re delivering a product monthl