Munich Startup: In many crowdfunding campaigns, market testing or marketing is a priority alongside financing. How was that for you?
Maximilian Pütz: It was certainly a mix of both. With the successful financing, we were able to manage the production of our first two varieties of delicious stimulants, but we also did a lot to build the brand and, at the same time, learn a great deal about our own product and our target audience. This may sound a little strange, but so many people were interested in Uptea, which I wouldn't have considered part of the primary target audience before launching the campaign. However, as a market test, it was also extremely helpful to see that our product was indeed well-received. We significantly exceeded our funding goal and were thrilled by the overwhelmingly positive feedback we received on the idea and its implementation.
Thank you packages are anything but trivial
Munich Startup: How did you prepare for the campaign and where did you find good support?
Maximilian Pütz: The most important lesson for me was to look at other successful campaigns and use them as a guide. Putting together thank-you packages may sound trivial at first, but it's probably just as complex as pricing a product—they're very similar, after all. I also received support from a friend who had already successfully run a campaign himself. And at the crowdfunding meetup in Munich, I also received a few useful tips.
Munich Startup: What advice would you give to other founders who are considering launching a crowdfunding campaign?
Maximilian PützBe sure to look at other campaigns. What do you like about them, and what don't you like about them? Keep your video short and sweet, get straight to the point with your USP, and don't try to cram all the information into one incredibly long video; no one will watch that. Another important point is the pricing of the packages. Logically, the cheapest packages are the ones booked most often. Make sure the package isn't too cheap, because that's ultimately your biggest leverage. And prepare sufficient advertising in advance, such as flyers or short summaries of your campaign, which you can then send to blogs, newspapers, and magazines.
Important: To reach not only family, but also outside supporters
Munich Startup: What was the biggest challenge in the campaign?
Maximilian Pütz: Promoting your own campaign has become quite difficult. It's easy to get friends and family to support you, but funding only becomes successful when you can also inspire outside supporters for your mission. However, you rarely reach them through a very small Instagram or Facebook account; it's better to reach them through newspapers or the radio. If you prepare well, a single newspaper article can have a huge impact on the course of the campaign.
Munich Startup: How did you benefit from the crowdfunding support from the City of Munich?
Maximilian Pütz: The financial support from the City of Munich was fantastic for us. Even as a newly founded startup without huge capital reserves, we were able to create a cool video and great images with freelancers. First impressions often count in a campaign, and many people might say that self-made is also very appealing, but I think a bit of professionalism is also important to build trust that the campaign will actually succeed.
More varieties in the works
Munich Startup: What lasting effects did the campaign have? And what's next for you?
Maximilian Pütz: The campaign was the starting point for our production and brand development. With a lot of positive feedback as a tailwind and some learnings, we continued to work on Uptea Our shop recently went online, and many supporters have already ordered more. As announced in the campaign, additional varieties are now in the works. If you're curious about how Uptea works and tastes, and what's next, be sure to check out our Social media channels or in Shop stop by.
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