EP #521 This Creator Cracked The Code For Hitting The $450K Kickstarter Milestone

Key Concepts:

1. Introduction to Crowdfunding Demystified Podcast

Salvador Brinen introduces the podcast, focusing on successful Indiegogo and Kickstarter campaigns.
The podcast aims to educate entrepreneurs and inventors on how to achieve wildly funded campaigns.
Since 2015, the podcast has featured over 500 episodes with interviews of entrepreneurs and inventors.
The importance of mentorship and learning from successful individuals is emphasized.

2. Guest Introduction: An, Multi-Successful Kickstarter Campaigner

An, a creator with multiple successful Kickstarter campaigns, is introduced.
He raised over $91,000 for the modern Turkish coffee pot and has experience with five Kickstarter campaigns.
His first successful campaign was in 2013, raising over $450,000 for the Goat Mug.
An owns two brands: Goat Story (coffee-related products) and Equa (water bottles and hydration products).

3. An's Background and Brands

Goat Story focuses on innovative coffee products, aiming to differentiate from existing market offerings.
Equa focuses on health and lifestyle with smart hydration solutions and supplements.
An describes himself as someone who enjoys crafting new products, sometimes getting too detailed.
The company is based in Slovenia, Europe, with a team of 30 people.
Their primary market is Europe, with some presence in Asia, the Middle East, and the US.

4. Why Return to Kickstarter?

An explains that he doesn't always choose Kickstarter for product launches, but selects it when the story fits the platform's community.
He recalls being rejected by Kickstarter early on (around 2012-2013) due to strict criteria.
The rejections motivated him to create products and campaigns that would meet Kickstarter's standards.

5. What Makes a Product a Good Fit for Kickstarter?

An argues that the story is more important than the product itself.
A compelling story can capture attention and engage backers, even for simple or prototype products.
He emphasizes the importance of telling the story well, connecting the dots, and explaining the "why" behind the product.
Founders should be the face of the campaign, personally telling the story.
Even existing products can succeed with a better story that resonates with a niche audience.

6. The Role of Design and Aesthetics

An acknowledges that European companies often have a strong aesthetic sense but may lack in language and storytelling skills, especially for the US market.
He notes the importance of intentionality and minimalism in design, reflecting a conscious approach to purchasing decisions.

7. Changes in Kickstarter Over Time

An observes that while basic principles remain the same (a great story wins), Kickstarter has evolved.
He believes Kickstarter's peak popularity was around 2017-2018.
His first campaign in 2014 achieved viral success without paid advertising, unlike today.
Today, paid advertising is essential to gain attention, but a good story still drives conversion.
The viral effect of Kickstarter is not as strong as it once was.

8. Advice for Beginners on Kickstarter

An advises beginners to experiment and build in public before launching a campaign.
Share ideas on platforms like TikTok to gather feedback and build a following.
Involve people in the development process from the beginning to gain support and test the product and story.
He encourages sharing ideas with friends on social media to get opinions and support.

9. Addressing the Fear of Idea Theft

An argues that everyone copies from each other to some extent.
He suggests that even copying an idea is acceptable if the story is better and more authentic.
He emphasizes the importance of connecting with the audience and building trust.
There are numerous opportunities available today, so focus on building an audience and telling a compelling story.

10. Deciding Which Ideas to Pursue

An admits that he used to rely on gut feeling, which led to costly mistakes.
He now advocates for testing ideas early and cheaply to validate product-market fit.
Even if shy, test ideas in markets where you are unknown to gather unbiased data.

11. Evolving Beyond Kickstarter

An states there is no single right answer for business model evolution.
Focus on the areas where the most money is coming in.
He recommends diversifying beyond online sales by establishing offline distribution channels.
For his business, 60-70% of income comes from classic retail design shops, providing a stable recurring revenue stream.
Maintaining a strong online presence with performance marketing and viral potential is also crucial.

12. Recommended Tools and Resources

An recommends using tools to follow trends, analyze competitors' advertising, and estimate website traffic.
He suggests using ad managers and spy tools to see how much others are spending and assess product potential.

13. Book Recommendation and Final Thoughts

An recommends "Storyworthy" and "How to Sell Your Story" by Matthew Dicks for learning about storytelling.
He emphasizes that while some things change rapidly, the basics of storytelling remain the same.
Salvador Brinen encourages listeners to take action, move towards their goals, and absorb crowdfunding knowledge.

14. Closing Remarks

Salvador offers one-on-one coaching calls for listeners seeking personalized guidance.
He provides the link crowdcrux.com/coaching for booking coaching sessions.
He thanks listeners and encourages them to move towards their goals with confidence.

EP #521 This Creator Cracked The Code For Hitting The $450K Kickstarter Milestone | Goat Story