Pebble watch maker is not sure what Kickstarter will use for future projects
Pebble smart watches became the champion in Kickstarter fundraising: their creators managed to attract more than 10 million dollars. The device is synchronized with smartphones, allowing you to use their functionality on the watch itself. In fact, this is a wrist computer, where you can read SMS, manage playlists in iTunes, receive notifications from social networks and count the number of kilometers traveled during a run.
However, this project was not only the most successful in the history of Kickstarter, but also created a precedent, because of which the manifesto “Kickstarter is not a store” appeared on the site. In it, the founders of the crowdfunding platform ask users not to treat projects as products in a store. The fact is that Pebble did not have time to fulfill its obligations to the backers in the agreed time, which provoked a storm of indignation and caused a wave of distrust towards the crowd projects in general.
Planeta.ru contacted the creator of Pebble watches Eric Migikovsky (Eric Migicovsky) and asked him a few questions. Eric answered succinctly and to the point.
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- Eric, why did you decide to use crowdfunding instead of looking for an investor?
- In February 2012, there were no investors willing to invest in our project, so we decided to place it on Kickstarter.
- How much time has passed since the decision to use kickstarter to launch a campaign?
Maybe one or two months.
- What difficulties did you encounter during the campaign?
The most difficult step was the work on the Pebble prototype, as well as on the video and content for the project page.
- How much time did you spend on project management?
During the first two weeks of the campaign, we worked 12 hours a day only for a project on Kickstarter. After that, I hired people and worked exclusively on design.
- Did you expect such success? And with what you associate it?
- To be honest, we did not expect this: we originally planned to raise $ 100,000. Probably we were lucky, and the combination of foresight, strategy and luck worked!
- How do you evaluate your campaign now? What mistakes did you make that you would like to correct?
“I can’t say that we would like to change something drastically, but I’m sure I can say more when we start sending watches to our backers.”
- What should I first of all pay attention to during the crowdfunding campaign?
- On the product. It is very important that what you offer is amazing. The next step to success is to describe your idea as effectively as possible.
- What tips on conducting a crowdfunding campaign can you give?
- Paul Graham's quote will answer this question best: “Do what people want.”
- Is crowdfunding a financial model of the future or a temporary phenomenon?
- I don't know yet :)
- Is crowdfunding as an investment system relevant for all projects?
- Yes. It creates a very strong social and viral effect.
- Do you plan to use crowd services for future projects?
- Not sure.
- You have collected a lot more money than you needed. How do you spend it or have you spent it?
“We have to produce 85,000 Pebble watches, and we spend all the money we collected on it.”
- How has your business changed after success at kickstarter?
- We have expanded. Previously, we had three employees, and now - 11!
However, this project was not only the most successful in the history of Kickstarter, but also created a precedent, because of which the manifesto “Kickstarter is not a store” appeared on the site. In it, the founders of the crowdfunding platform ask users not to treat projects as products in a store. The fact is that Pebble did not have time to fulfill its obligations to the backers in the agreed time, which provoked a storm of indignation and caused a wave of distrust towards the crowd projects in general.
Planeta.ru contacted the creator of Pebble watches Eric Migikovsky (Eric Migicovsky) and asked him a few questions. Eric answered succinctly and to the point.
')
- Eric, why did you decide to use crowdfunding instead of looking for an investor?
- In February 2012, there were no investors willing to invest in our project, so we decided to place it on Kickstarter.
- How much time has passed since the decision to use kickstarter to launch a campaign?
Maybe one or two months.
- What difficulties did you encounter during the campaign?
The most difficult step was the work on the Pebble prototype, as well as on the video and content for the project page.
- How much time did you spend on project management?
During the first two weeks of the campaign, we worked 12 hours a day only for a project on Kickstarter. After that, I hired people and worked exclusively on design.
- Did you expect such success? And with what you associate it?
- To be honest, we did not expect this: we originally planned to raise $ 100,000. Probably we were lucky, and the combination of foresight, strategy and luck worked!
- How do you evaluate your campaign now? What mistakes did you make that you would like to correct?
“I can’t say that we would like to change something drastically, but I’m sure I can say more when we start sending watches to our backers.”
- What should I first of all pay attention to during the crowdfunding campaign?
- On the product. It is very important that what you offer is amazing. The next step to success is to describe your idea as effectively as possible.
- What tips on conducting a crowdfunding campaign can you give?
- Paul Graham's quote will answer this question best: “Do what people want.”
- Is crowdfunding a financial model of the future or a temporary phenomenon?
- I don't know yet :)
- Is crowdfunding as an investment system relevant for all projects?
- Yes. It creates a very strong social and viral effect.
- Do you plan to use crowd services for future projects?
- Not sure.
- You have collected a lot more money than you needed. How do you spend it or have you spent it?
“We have to produce 85,000 Pebble watches, and we spend all the money we collected on it.”
- How has your business changed after success at kickstarter?
- We have expanded. Previously, we had three employees, and now - 11!
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/159295/
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