Originally posted by MET student Charmaine on 19/05/2019
I came across this Kickstarter campaign elevator pitch to make whiteboards just like Rocketbooks!
Rocketboard Beacons
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As an EVA I would (have) invested in this venture, because I think the pain-point, though somewhat of a “small” problem, is real, the solution is priced right, flexible, and simple, and the company has credibility with similar products PLUS the company/pitcher signal competence and integrity. I think the product has future enhancement potential too by pushing more to augmented reality using apps./stickers on classroom whiteboards/objects.
Pain Point:
This was presented clearly and in a way that resonated with my personal experiences:
• Ability to take clear pictures of collaborative whiteboards
• Ability to easily organize and share pictures from whiteboards (with others, across devices and cloud services)
Solution:
The solution is incredibly simple and elegant, especially when contrasted to SMART Kapp. I love that it is versatile in two major ways:
1. It can convert/upgrade ANY whiteboard you already own
2. The stickers can be peeled and moved/re-used on different boards
The pricing/backing is/was incredibly fair ($12.00/$15.00 respectively for one set of stickers) and the app. Itself is free.
Differentiation:
SMART Kapp 84 addressed the same pain point in a very different way. The product was a new (semi-smart?) whiteboard, that used Bluetooth to broadcast to mobile devices, and could take and store/send screenshots from the board itself using camera technology located around the frame of the board. Unfortunately, the wireless connections were a little glitchy but worst of all, the screenshots and wireless broadcasting send outrageously un-readable board captures.
Rocketboard Beacon does an excellent job solving the same problem and even address differentiation explicitly in the pitch with the line “digital whiteboards are over engineered and over prices” (So relatable and true). However, the technology itself appears simple and perhaps easily replicate-able. On the other hand, even if the basic concept were replicated, Rocketboard Beacon already has similar products which I think gives it an edge in consumer confidence/marketability.
Market:
The target market for the pitch seems more corporate, but I think this could have been pitched as EdTech for face-to-face classrooms. I’m skeptical about the broadcasting capability, but if that worked, it may even have a place in virtual classrooms. I think they did a fine job of addressing the ‘why now’ implicitly by describing how the pictures are blasted to the cloud services we already use.
Championship:
The pitch video itself is one of the best I’ve watched. It’s clever, succinct, nicely produced in every way, and really nails paint Point / solution highlights. I also checked out their Kickstarter page and I like the transparency and integrity of the “risks and challenges” note they include. They say ”
This is our fifth crowdfunding campaign, and experience is everything. We delivered on our very first campaign late, which was painful experience, but we learned a ton…” This is the attitude I would want to invest in.
SMART Kapp 84 Specification Page: https://support.smarttech.com/docs/hardware/kapp/kapp/en/about/specifications/kapp-84.cshtml
RocketBook Beacon Kickstarter page: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rocketbook/get-rocketboard?ref=3lla92