2: Launching
Dan Provost and Tom Gerhardt of Studio Neat document the launch of their Obi smart laser toy for pets on Kickstarter, hosted by Myke Hurley. The founders describe the high-stakes pressure of relying on the campaign to sustain their business, noting that previous successes with products like the Neat Ice Kit had created a false sense of security about their ability to pivot to new markets. As the campaign failed to meet its $100,000 goal, they faced the difficult decision of whether to cancel the project, ultimately choosing to let it run its course to respect their backers while learning from the marketing failure.