Hardware Podcasts

057: From Invention Idea to $100,000 on Dragon's Den

Product Startup · 18 Nov 2020 · 39m

What this episode covers

Jonathan Schloo, founder of Car Generator, explains how he transformed a camping necessity into a home backup power solution, leveraging an MVP strategy and small-batch sales to validate demand before scaling. He details his journey from a $10,000 Indiegogo campaign to securing a $100,000 investment on Dragon's Den, emphasizing the importance of real-world sales data in attracting big-box retailers. Schloo highlights the value of using early customer feedback and negative press to refine his pitch and product, ultimately achieving distribution on Amazon and in specialty stores while maintaining a focus on grit and persistence.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
MAKO Design + Invent, CTV, Bell Media
Products
Car Generator, Toyota Highlander, Subaru Outback, Airstream
Also
Dragon's Den, Indiegogo, Amazon, Guy Kawasaki, The Art of the Start, Vincenzo Guzzo, Jim Treliving, Arlene

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