Munich Startup: How did you prepare for the Surfinlock campaign and where did you find good support?
Florian Lohmann, Surfinlock: About the Crowdfunding page of the City of Munich I came across the crowdfunding breakfast. It was very helpful for networking and sharing experiences. I was also able to draw on the advice of friends who had already run a successful crowdfunding campaign.
Munich Startup: What was the most helpful tip you received while preparing the campaign?
Florian Lohmann: Plan well in advance, allow more time than you think and be aware that a CrowdfundingCampaign is a full-time job. If you're not ready by your planned launch date, postpone the campaign. No one will remember that later, but they'll remember the campaign.
Munich Startup: What was the biggest challenge in the campaign?
Florian Lohmann: My surfboard lock is a niche product, and no one is searching for it directly on Kickstarter. So, the biggest challenge was how to make surfers aware of my Surfinlock campaign and guide them to the crowdfunding platform.
Surfinlock: A successful niche product
Munich Startup: How did you benefit from the crowdfunding support from the City of Munich?
Florian Lohmann: With a Kickstarter campaign, the demands on video, design, and content are now very high. Especially as a lone campaigner, you can't produce everything yourself. Thanks to the city's funding, I was able to secure important support for the production of images and video material.
Munich Startup: What are you most proud of about the campaign?
Florian Lohmann: The campaign was funded with more than 250 percent of the original goal, making it a successful market test for my surfboard anti-theft device. I'm proud of that, especially because I was aware from the beginning that a crowdfunding campaign is a huge challenge, and statistically, only one in five campaigns reaches its goal.
Munich Startup: What lasting effects did the campaign have? And what's next for you?
Florian Lohmann: I was able to bring the surfboard lock to market, have my own online shop, and am also in contact with several surf shops, some of which are already represented. I just sent a large package to my first shop in Portugal. Furthermore, I was able to expand my product range and now even offer anti-theft devices for SUPs, foilboards, and windsurf boards. So, feel free to check out my new Surfinlock page over.
