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Hovering Above
Kickstarter is modern venture capitalism in a nutshell.
“In a nutshell” could very easily be a company name on Kickstarter, which only underscores the imaginative space this website gives its aspiring businessmen and businesswomen to pursue. After searching through its digital catalog of ideas that need a preset minimum investment to formally charge its voluntary investors and proceed with producing a particular product(s), it’s evident that people have passions and consumer goods that are both logical and illogical.
And that’s fantastic.
Why?
Because only the marketplace validates or denies value. It’s up to consumers and this is where the excitement lies. People no longer have to be employed on Wall Street or understand the complexities of the stock exchange to fund start-ups. All you need is a laptop, a tablet or a smartphone and a little money. And depending on the monetary donation, there’s a corresponding reward. A person’s support could be as minimal as $5 or as large as thousands of dollars.
Fortunately, the pop culture geniuses at Hendo Hoverboards created a Kickstarter campaign last year that centered on the world’s first hoverboard in the year 2015. Movie buffs will remember that this is the year Marty McFly rode that famous hoverboard in Back to the Future Part II, which was the nostalgic effect they hoped to have on visitors to their fundraising page. It worked with viral-like popularity.
They were funded.
Stories were written about the Hendo Hoverboard in major publications, like Fortune, Smithsonian, Business Insider, the Today Show and more. The mission was to give investors of varying ages and backgrounds the thrill of a lifetime and to introduce people to its multipurpose hovering technologies being developed by Arx Pax, the company behind Hendo Hoverboards. While their primary focuses beyond the hoverboard are not yet ready for the public, their ambitions are certainly within the realm of a future reality.
Luckily, I found this Kickstarter campaign and made a modest investment that included a ride on the aforementioned hoverboard. The entire experience (from researching the company’s mission to its supremely clever marketing to the crazy awesome ride) was first-class. Beginning the morning in their office with a handshake from its co-founder Greg Henderson and discussions with their enthusiastic (and thankful) employees, my time spent in the unassuming Los Gatos, California business park last Friday was eye-opening into the exciting dynamics of a genuine tech start-up.
The marketing strategies are changing in exciting ways, the storytelling aspect of a company is becoming more prevalent and the value of viral content through social media is extending the reach of before unknown firms to individuals who may not have joined together on a business venture otherwise.
Here is the Hendo Hoverboard Kickstarter video.
Welcome to the future.
Betting Big on a Message
“I want you to want me”
Late last night, the quintessential ’90s romantic comedy (with raw emotional depth, edge and incredible deftness at the angst and hilarious realities of living within the relentless tornado of high school cliques) 10 Things I Hate About You played on HBO and it was a wonderful escape. This movie, with a pitch perfect cast, shows what can happen when creative storytellers (actors and actresses) are given a creative story (the script) to interpret intersections of romantic quests, heartbreak with seemingly immovable barriers and the continuous dancing on the edge between funny and crude.
For those who have seen 10 Things, the latter always fell on funny.
And that’s the point. The 100-minute movie still sparks repeat views and flashbacks of happy, nostalgic memories because it told a fantastic story that connects with people in a positive light. This despite its all-to-familiar gut-wrenching moments of trying to find and understand love. The journey was tough (with subtle nods to a tame Shakespeare play), but genuinely worthwhile and enjoyable. While I could write a glowing analysis of more than 10 things I love about this movie (c’mon, I had to), the purpose of this blog post is to highlight the investment people will make for a story that takes the time and effort to be worthy of being paid attention to.
There are lots of substantial topics one could write about from this 1999 classic, but the issue today is highlighting its storytelling prowess. If you think about your favorite television commercials or advertisements, falling somewhere within the digital and print universe, odds are high they are clever and likely don’t appear like a linear plug of a product or company. They’re different in some way. These companies made the choice to be distinguishable, while maintaining high standards. And it’s the firms that choose to mix some traditional themes with a little bit of unorthodox communication and engaging characters that establish themselves as more than a product or company.
They become a story worth investing time and money in. These firms elevate their message and image above the competition with the rare quality of continuously maintaining people’s attention, like a movie that’s still as popular, unique and relevant today as it was 16 years ago.
And isn’t the quotation at the top of the page (the name of a song covered in 10 Things I Hate About You, as well as a major plot point) the primary message of any business?
The Necessary Patience For Any Good Story
What kind of introduction will get your attention? Isn’t that a good question…
The essences of storytelling are connectivity, curiosity and wondering how things will end for a certain character or collection of characters. What’s beautiful about this aspect in life is that it can encompass the real world, as well as a fantasy universe. And as books, movies, television shows and music continue to prove, there is always room for a slightly new interpretation. A creative vision, especially when it’s coupled with relevant current events or trends, can produce a powerful reaction and following. Whether in the business world or in our personal lives, we should all strive to create the best stories for ourselves. We walk passed and interact with countless individuals on a daily basis, but we tend to be drawn to those who have the most fascinating experiences. All of us live each coming moment without always knowing exactly what will happen next, which is part of what makes life so exciting (yet stressful).
Will the greatest instance of serendipity cross my path today?
One of my favorite parts of any story is the twist. We don’t see it coming, but it’s such a thrill to read, see and/or experience. There are some stories with an exciting opening or extensive back story (ie-part of a popular series) with a laundry list of familiar accolades. Then, there are stories that are a little more unknown that require a slightly longer introduction. The flash isn’t as apparent as the bestseller, but you find yourself more intrigued and invested in the latter. It keeps your attention and you cannot help but wonder how you had never heard of this story before today.
It seems to have everything you want in a story, but it’s just packaged a little differently. In so many cases, these are the stories we remember and return to in a time of need. Although, what’s often so tragic about these stories is that they are not always given the opportunity to shine for people. A little bit of patience is required for the story to fully develop into something amazing.
On a completely unrelated note, I’m going to a social networking event tonight for aspiring PR professionals. My background is not specifically in public relations (but it’s brother investor relations), but my work experience and skills translate over very well and my background is perfectly suited for a career in communications and business (ie- public relations).
Here’s to hoping I can get someone to read past chapter 1…
Jimmy's Daily Planet 