EP #536 The Framework Behind a $484K Crowdfunding Success | Groove Thing
Don’t just hear your music.
Feel it.
In this episode of the Crowdfunding Demystified Podcast, Michael shares how his team’s Groove Thing Kickstarter campaign skyrocketed past $510,482 in funding, drawing over a thousand backers to a daring new vision for how we experience sound.
Michael describes Groove Thing as “the world’s first internal music player,” merging high-fidelity audio with internal tactile sensation. You don’t only listen. You experience.
Before Groove Thing, Michael was building products in tech at places like Google and Uber. But the seed of this idea? A lifelong music love, experiments with DIY sound beds, and a conviction that sound could become sensation.
He allowed himself to prototype messy, to fail fast, and to test early. That gave clarity on form, fit, and how real users respond. One prototype looked like a “science fair project,” but it proved the core idea.
He also leaned into early feedback. Over 180 testers tried it. He changed design shape, intensity curves, messaging. He learned which features resonated and which confused.
On marketing, Michael warns this: spend more than you expect. Getting in front of the right audience isn’t free. He used creative targeting (fans of magazines, music communities, festivals) because ad platforms don’t allow direct “sound device” interests.
In the first 12 hours, they hit $100K. They broke Kickstarter records for insertable audio. But they also hit a traffic plateau. Now, the real work began.
If you’re building something boundary-pushing, the lessons here are gold: prototype early, validate often, and prepare to invest in reaching your niche.
Resources and Tools Mentioned:- Book a coaching call
- Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips
- Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist
- FREE Kickstarter Course
- Kickstarter Launch Formula Audiobook
- FREE Crowdfunding PR Course
- Groove Thing Kickstarter Campaign
The post EP #536 The Framework Behind a $484K Crowdfunding Success | Groove Thing appeared first on CrowdCrux: Crowdfunding Demystified.