5 Kickstarter-Funded Projects That Became Household Names

Kickstarter is home to a thriving community of creators, entrepreneurs, and brands who have made a significant impact on the lives of many across the globe, with some even becoming household names.

In this blog article, we'll share how Brooklinen, Peloton, Allbirds, Oura Ring, and Ooni Pizza Oven found gaps in the market, solved real problems, executed successful Kickstarter campaigns that won the hearts of backers, and propelled their businesses to the next level, right into our homes.

From Sheets to Riches: How Brooklinen Revolutionized Bedding

Founded in 2014, the company dared to challenge the status quo by introducing a game-changing concept; high-quality, luxurious sheets at an affordable price point. This bold move disrupted the traditional bedding landscape, where exorbitant prices often accompanied premium quality.

Before Brooklinen could be found in department stores and bedrooms across the nation, they raised $236,888 from 1,733 backers who pledged to help bring this incredible vision to life here on Kickstarter.

Brooklinen is one of many brands that come to Kickstarter to aid their direct-to-consumer business model. By cutting out the middleman, the company eliminated unnecessary markups and passed on significant savings to its customers. This strategic approach democratized luxury bedding, making it accessible to a broader audience who yearned for comfort without breaking the bank.

Brooklinen was started by Rich and Dave, two regular guys who thought that people shouldn't have to spend a month's rent to be able to sleep on 5-star hotel quality bed sheets. When Rich and Dave started Brooklinen, they didn't have a background in textiles, but they spent a full year visiting factories and becoming experts and brought backers along for the journey.

The Rise of Peloton

Peloton is a fitness company that revolutionized the industry with its at-home bike and interactive classes. Founded in 2012, Peloton quickly gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts and consumers who sought a convenient and engaging workout experience from the comfort of their own homes.

Initially, the Peloton team thought of solely developing the software platform. However, they later realized that creating both the hardware and software, similar to Apple's approach, would lead to a much better experience for their customers. This is why they decided to become "vertically integrated" embarking on the challenging yet exciting journey of creating The Peloton Bike.

Peloton launched its Kickstarter campaign, "The Peloton Bike: Bring Home the Studio Cycling Experience" in June 2012. Their goal was to raise $250,000, but they ended up receiving $307,332 from 297 backers. With its sleek design, immersive technology, and motivating instructors, Peloton's bike became a status symbol and a must-have item for many fitness enthusiasts. The company's subscription-based model allowed users to access a wide variety of live and on-demand classes, creating a sense of community and motivation among its users.

Allbirds and the Future of Sustainable Footwear

Allbirds, at the time named "Three Over Seven", is a footwear company that gained widespread attention when it launched on Kickstarter in 2014. The company's primary goal was to create a more environmentally sustainable shoe. To achieve this, Allbirds uses natural materials such as merino wool and eucalyptus tree fiber in its manufacturing process, which also minimizes waste.

Allbirds' dedication to sustainability has resonated with consumers, leading to the company's rapid success. In 2021, Allbirds was valued at over $1 billion when it went public. The company's success highlights a growing demand for eco-conscious products, and Allbirds was well-positioned to take advantage of this movement.

When the team at Allbirds launched their Kickstarter campaign, they received an overwhelming response of love from the backer community on the platform. In just 5 days, they hit their maximum pledge target, and while there were still 24 days left to run, they decided to stop the campaign at 1064 pairs to focus on delivering the very best possible product to their backers at a scale they were comfortable with. Their goal was to raise $30,000, but they sold out in 5 days and raised $119,196 from 970 backers.

The Oura Ring: Unlocking the Secrets of Health and Wellness

The Oura Ring, a pioneering health and wellness tracker, emerged on Kickstarter in 2015. This revolutionary device, designed to slip onto your finger effortlessly, offers an unprecedented window into your body's rhythms and health status. Through advanced technology, the Oura Ring accurately monitors your sleep patterns, heart rate, and activity levels, empowering you with personalized insights into your overall well-being.

The Oura Ring's holistic approach to health and wellness has garnered widespread acclaim from users worldwide. Its ability to provide actionable insights has led to improved sleep quality, enhanced fitness performance, and increased overall well-being for countless individuals. The device's non-invasive nature has made it a favorite among athletes, health enthusiasts, and anyone seeking to optimize their physical and mental health.

When The Oura ring team launched in 2015, they had a goal of raising $100,000. At the campaign's end date, they raised a whopping $651,803 from 2,383 backers worldwide and beautifully kept them up to date on the product's development at every stage of the journey.

Pizza Perfection at home: Ooni Pizza Oven

In the realm of culinary delights, few dishes can rival the allure of a perfectly crafted pizza. However, achieving pizzeria-quality pizza at home has often been a challenge for aspiring home cooks. Enter the Ooni Pizza Oven, the revolutionary product that has transformed the way people make pizza at home.

Launched in August of 2019, The Ooni Pizza Oven crowdfunding campaign,
"Ooni Karu - A Powerful Portable Wood-Fired Pizza Oven" was the brainchild of Kristian Tapaninaho, a pizza enthusiast from Scotland. Frustrated by the inability of conventional ovens to replicate the high temperatures required for authentic Neapolitan pizza, Tapaninaho set out to create an oven that could deliver pizzeria-quality results in the comfort of one's own backyard. The result was the Ooni Pizza Oven, a compact and portable wood-fired oven that can reach temperatures of up to 932 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Ooni Pizza Oven ended its campaign 30 days later with a total of $695,662 raised from 2,160 backers. It quickly gained a loyal following among pizza enthusiasts and home cooks alike. Its success is a testament to the growing demand for convenient and high-quality culinary experiences at home.