Pebble is a new "e-paper watch" which is a smart watch (in development) that will download data and apps wirelessly from an iPhone or Android device. The video on the www.getpebble.com website is pretty informative. Basically, the Pebble is a customizable watch that runs apps and connects wirelessly to an iPhone or Android device. In addition to being a customizable watch, the Pebble can do things like act as a running odometer, a gps-enabled bike computer, show text message alerts, caller ID and control smartphone music apps, all available when your phone is with you.
Pebble is a project of a small team of engineers led by Eric Migicovsky, and they previously developed a smart watch for Blackberry called inPulse.
Pebble has received pledges of nearly $5.5 million (at the time of this writing, and rising fast) from over 37,000 backers on Kickstarter, the funding platform for creative projects. This is not an equity fundraising - this is funding obtained from people who believe in the project and want to see it succeed. In general, they get nothing in return other than the satisfaction that they helped the company get off the ground.
Why did Erick Migicovsky go to Kickstarter to fund this project? Based on several reports, it was because he could not receive backing from venture capitalists, despite having gone through the respected Y-Combinator program and having received backing from some respected angel investors.
To me, what Pebble has done is very impressive, and portends favorably for the new crowdfunding form or equity fundraising that was recently passed into law by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. Soon sites like Kickstarter will be able to help companies raise equity financing directly from investors - small amounts - but it will enable people enthusiastic about a project to obtain a (very) small equity stake in the company in addition to helping it get off the ground. This could be big...
Links:
Pebble website: http://www.getpebble.com/
Kickstarter website: http://www.kickstarter.com/
Articles on Pebble and Kickstarter:
Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/04/19/who-needs-venture-capital-pebble-smart-watch-raises-over-5-million-on-kickstarter/
GigaOM:
http://gigaom.com/2012/04/18/forget-the-money-kickstarter-turns-pebble-into-a-platform/
Prior posts of crowdfunding:
Wall Street Examining JOBS Financing Act: NY Times DealBookhttp://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/04/wall-street-examining-jobs-financing-act-ny-times-dealbook.html
JOBS Act Jeopardizes Safety Net For Investors: Andrew Ross Sorkin
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/04/jobs-act-jeopardizes-safety-net-for-investors-andrew-ross-sorkin.html
JOBS Fundraising Act to be Signed into Law on Thursday
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/jobs-fundraising-act-to-be-signed-into-law-on-thursday-venturebeat.html
The JOBS Act is Good, But SarbOx Shouldn't Get All the Blame:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/the-jobs-act-is-good-but-sarbox-shouldnt-get-all-the-blame-greg-gretsch-post.html
Unintended Consequences of the JOBS Act:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/unintended-contradictions-of-the-jobs-act-dan-primack.html
Fundraising Bill Passes Senate:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/fundraising-bill-passes-senate-enables-crowdfunding-and-eases-ipo-regulations.html
Pebble is a project of a small team of engineers led by Eric Migicovsky, and they previously developed a smart watch for Blackberry called inPulse.
Pebble has received pledges of nearly $5.5 million (at the time of this writing, and rising fast) from over 37,000 backers on Kickstarter, the funding platform for creative projects. This is not an equity fundraising - this is funding obtained from people who believe in the project and want to see it succeed. In general, they get nothing in return other than the satisfaction that they helped the company get off the ground.
Why did Erick Migicovsky go to Kickstarter to fund this project? Based on several reports, it was because he could not receive backing from venture capitalists, despite having gone through the respected Y-Combinator program and having received backing from some respected angel investors.
To me, what Pebble has done is very impressive, and portends favorably for the new crowdfunding form or equity fundraising that was recently passed into law by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act. Soon sites like Kickstarter will be able to help companies raise equity financing directly from investors - small amounts - but it will enable people enthusiastic about a project to obtain a (very) small equity stake in the company in addition to helping it get off the ground. This could be big...
Links:
Pebble website: http://www.getpebble.com/
Kickstarter website: http://www.kickstarter.com/
Articles on Pebble and Kickstarter:
Forbes:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/anthonykosner/2012/04/19/who-needs-venture-capital-pebble-smart-watch-raises-over-5-million-on-kickstarter/
GigaOM:
http://gigaom.com/2012/04/18/forget-the-money-kickstarter-turns-pebble-into-a-platform/
Prior posts of crowdfunding:
Wall Street Examining JOBS Financing Act: NY Times DealBookhttp://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/04/wall-street-examining-jobs-financing-act-ny-times-dealbook.html
JOBS Act Jeopardizes Safety Net For Investors: Andrew Ross Sorkin
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/04/jobs-act-jeopardizes-safety-net-for-investors-andrew-ross-sorkin.html
JOBS Fundraising Act to be Signed into Law on Thursday
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/jobs-fundraising-act-to-be-signed-into-law-on-thursday-venturebeat.html
The JOBS Act is Good, But SarbOx Shouldn't Get All the Blame:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/the-jobs-act-is-good-but-sarbox-shouldnt-get-all-the-blame-greg-gretsch-post.html
Unintended Consequences of the JOBS Act:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/unintended-contradictions-of-the-jobs-act-dan-primack.html
Fundraising Bill Passes Senate:
http://www.allenlatta.com/1/post/2012/03/fundraising-bill-passes-senate-enables-crowdfunding-and-eases-ipo-regulations.html
