Phase II: Business Development
Click here to learn about Phase I: Product Development.
One of the most incredible, high-strung, steepest learning curve experiences of my life.
My senior product design capstone class asked us to develop a concept from deep ethnographic research to manufacturable prototype, and to mass-produce it. I collaborated with Brandon Skerda to form Revolve Bike Discs over the course of January to June 2013. During the development of the product, we realized we would need significant funding to mass product Revolve Bike Discs, and focused on fundraising through crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Through the process of business development, we secured a provisional patent, established an LLC, and grew a large following on social media sites.
My senior product design capstone class asked us to develop a concept from deep ethnographic research to manufacturable prototype, and to mass-produce it. I collaborated with Brandon Skerda to form Revolve Bike Discs over the course of January to June 2013. During the development of the product, we realized we would need significant funding to mass product Revolve Bike Discs, and focused on fundraising through crowdfunding site Kickstarter. Through the process of business development, we secured a provisional patent, established an LLC, and grew a large following on social media sites.
Your first startup has the steepest learning curve. As soon as we launched our Facebook page and Twitter, our product was in the public domain. The highs and lows of product development no longer could be kept completely under wraps because friends, supporters, opponents, and competitors were watching.
We targeted Kickstarter to collect money from supporters – the crowdfunding model allowed us to directly supply to our testers, our friends, and to get the word out globally. In the marketing process, we participated in trade shows with designers and entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area, filmed and edited our advertising video, and distributed flyers.
We targeted Kickstarter to collect money from supporters – the crowdfunding model allowed us to directly supply to our testers, our friends, and to get the word out globally. In the marketing process, we participated in trade shows with designers and entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay Area, filmed and edited our advertising video, and distributed flyers.
Industrial Design Trade Show at Stanford University
Kickstarter Video: The Making Of
To protect Revolve Bike Discs, we submitted a provisional patent for the chain guard’s unique attachment system. Simultaneously, we worked with lawyers and business owners to learn how to establish a company. We developed an operating agreement and finally, established an LLC.
In the final days before launching on Kickstarter, we partnered with FaceAIDS to make a special Revolve Bike Disc for their cross-country bike ride to fundraise for fighting AIDS. We got press from bike blogs. At the end of our campaign, we raised over $8,000 – not enough to continue with the project, but enough support to tell us not to give up.
In the final days before launching on Kickstarter, we partnered with FaceAIDS to make a special Revolve Bike Disc for their cross-country bike ride to fundraise for fighting AIDS. We got press from bike blogs. At the end of our campaign, we raised over $8,000 – not enough to continue with the project, but enough support to tell us not to give up.
Key Revolve Bike Discs Supporters
Revolve Bike Disc's timeline, click to enlarge.