Hardware Podcasts

033: Top Crowdfunding Mistakes with Khierstyn Ross of Crowdfunding Uncut

Product Startup · 27 Dec 2016 · 38m

What this episode covers

Khierstyn Ross of Crowdfunding Uncut explains that successful crowdfunding requires building an audience and validating positioning before launch, citing her early failure with Thin Ice where she raised only a third of her goal due to poor customer connection. She contrasts this with her $600,000 success with TapLock, a fingerprint padlock, which succeeded by targeting gym users and using real-world surveys to refine its message. Ross advises founders to treat crowdfunding as a sales channel for an existing audience rather than a way to find one, warning that platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo bury campaigns that lack early momentum. She emphasizes the importance of transparency, detailed budget breakdowns, and addressing FAQs to reduce perceived risk for backers.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Mako Design + Invent
Products
Crowdfunding Uncut, TapLock, Thin Ice
Also
Indiegogo, Kickstarter, Shopify, Facebook, Reddit, Amazon

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