That's why Viktor Sommer founded the Munich-based e-mobility startup Black Tea. While studying at the Technical University of Munich, he built the prototype in the makerspace. With a peak power of 5 kW, a top speed of 80 km/h, and a range of 70 km, the Black Tea e-moped is ideal for commuting and outdoor excursions. The removable battery can be charged at home.
Black Tea: 200,000 euros on the first day of the campaign
To finance production, the founder launched a crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo. On the first day, the €100,000 hurdle was doubled. In the end, Black Tea Motorbikes raised almost 640,000 euros from 260 supporters – an impressive result.
Munich Startup: For many Crowdfunding campaigns In addition to financing, market testing and marketing are the main focus. How was that for you??
Viktor Sommer: Of course, financing was the main focus. Nevertheless, I also wanted to find out whether customers would pay over €2,000 for an e-moped that isn't yet road-legal and is being built by a very young startup. It's a huge risk for them, because in the worst case scenario, the money is simply gone. We are extremely grateful for our customers' trust and now want to deliver a convincing product.
Book tip for successful campaign planning
Munich Startup: What was the most helpful tip you received while preparing the campaign?
Viktor Sommer: The best thing you can do is do your research and learn from people who have already run successful campaigns. I highly recommend the book 'Crowdfunded: The Proven Crowdfunding System For Launching Products'. It's a one-day read and shows you how to launch a successful crowdfunding campaign step by step.
Munich Startup: What advice would you give to other founders who are considering launching a crowdfunding campaign?
Viktor Sommer: What I didn't expect was the immense responsibility that suddenly falls on your shoulders once your product is funded. Every founder should be aware of this. Hundreds of people will put their trust in you and your product! You have to be able to withstand this pressure and keep a cool head, because anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
Munich Startup: What was the biggest challenge in the campaign?
Viktor Sommer: I worked on Black Tea Motorbikes almost entirely alone from the very beginning. This meant I also prepared the campaign on my own. Things got tricky when I had to take photos and videos. I needed a photographer, a videographer, a moped driver, and someone else who could drive a car. It often proved difficult to find the right people who were available on the same day.
Honest feedback from the community
Munich Startup: How did you benefit from the crowdfunding support from the City of Munich?
Viktor Sommer: The funding helped me tremendously, as it allowed me to quickly find a photographer to take photos of my product. This enabled me to build a compelling website and campaign page. Compelling, high-quality photos are essential for a hardware product.
Munich Startup: What are you most proud of about the campaign?
Viktor Sommer: I find it incredible that so many people have put their trust in Black Tea Motorbikes. Only thanks to this is it possible to finalize the product and begin road approval. Our community always gives me honest feedback and helpful tips for finalizing the product.
Munich Startup: We wish you much success in your next steps!
