For this episode of Art of the Kickstart, we spoke with brothers Pete and Mark Ackerman, creators of the Chameleon pack, a backpack that transforms into an ultra-light chair. Tune in to learn more about how the Ackermans were inspired by nature, what challenges they’ve encountered and what advice they have to offer to others crowdfunding a product for the outdoors.
The Chameleon Pack: The Most Versatile Backpack in the World
Key Crowdfunding Takeaways
* What design challenges to expect when you are creating a new product
* Why Kickstarter is a great place to launch a new product
* Why you need an audience before launching a Kickstarter campaign
* What kind of feedback you can expect to get from backers
* Why having a campaign plan and timeline before you launch is important
Links
* The Chameleon Pack on Kickstarter
* The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey
* Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike by Phil Knight
Connect with Trailform
* Trailform on Facebook
* @trailform on Twitter
Sponsors
Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by The Gadget Flow, a product discovery platform that helps you discover, save, and buy awesome products. The Gadget Flow is the ultimate buyer's guide for cool luxury gadgets and creative gifts. Click here to learn more and list your product - use coupon code ATOKK16 for 25% off!
Art of the Kickstart is honored to be sponsored by BackerKit. BackerKit makes software that crowdfunding project creators use to survey backers, organize data, raise additional funds with add-ons and manage orders for fulfillment, saving creators hundreds of hours. To learn more and get started, click here.
Transcript
View this episode's transcript
Roy Morejon:
Welcome to another edition of Art of the Kickstart. Today I’m joined by brothers Pete and Mark Ackerman. Gentleman, thank you so much for joining me on Art of the Kickstart this morning.
Pete Ackerman:
Happy to be here Roy, thank you.
Mark Ackerman:
It’s our pleasure, man.
Roy Morejon:
All right, so let’s get started. You guys have an active Kickstarter campaign right now, the Chameleon Pack. This is a genius backpack that turns into a chair. You guys are not only forging new trails out in the industry and out in the wilderness, but also in terms of product design and development. Let’s tell our audience all about the backstory here. Where does this all begin?
Pete Ackerman:
I’ll take that Roy. I guess the short version of it really is, I’ve got an interesting career that allows me basically a three hour lunch break every day. As you probably know, here in Utah, the mountains are just in our backyard, and so it becomes pretty normal to take advantage of that long break and get back up in the mountains and the canyons. Do a lot of hiking, do a lot of hammocking. My brother and I, we work together, Chris, who’s not with us right now. We just love to be able to get up out in the wilderness. It’s funny, as most people know, when you’re on the trail, especially with hammocks and stuff, you’re kind of limited to …
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