Two years ago we had the surftech startup Tripstix At the time, the young company was in the middle of its crowdfunding campaign. However, it was a long process from prototype to series production. The boards are now shipping. So it's high time to ask founder Stefan Klare how things are going!
River surfing capital meets tech startup meets high recreational value: How helpful was Munich as a location for Tripstix?
Munich is definitely a good place for this project. UnternehmerTUM, the start-up center in Garching with close ties to TUM, was very helpful, especially at the beginning of the project!
Without the surfing spirit of this city, my project probably wouldn't even exist. I was a surfer first and only became an entrepreneur through my own hardship—complicated board transport. I think the combination of my passion with my technical engineering background sparked this project and made its implementation possible. Without the knowledge I gained during my studies and doctorate, I wouldn't have known how to turn the idea into reality!
How did Tripstix finance the long development phase?
The idea for Tripstix was born in 2011. Part of your funding came from a startup grant, and another part from your crowdfunding campaign. How did you stay afloat for so long?
The development actually took a very long time. Product development for a technological product, especially in the hardware sector, is usually complex! I've been working on this project full-time for about five years now—and statistically, five years is the time from idea to series production. In that respect, we're right in the middle of the pack.
I financed these five years in a variety of ways. First, there were the aforementioned grants, which supported us for about two years. We were also able to license our technology to a US brand, which financed us for about another two years. Last year, I also helped out at UnternehmerTUM as a startup coach. I managed the entire time without an investor, which I'm very proud of.
The crowdfunding campaign raised over 100,000 euros and was a complete success. Often, the work really begins once the funding goal is reached. How was it for you?
You're absolutely right. Shortly after the campaign, we had serious problems because we discovered a weakness that made serial production a distant prospect. Development takes time, and that's how it was for us. We originally wanted to deliver to Kickstarter backers in October 2017—but that didn't happen until May or June 2019. That's annoying. But on the other hand, it's also kind of normal for crowdfunding projects.
Finally the reward comes
So you're currently delivering the boards to your backers. Where are you today with your startup?
Exactly, the Kickstarter backers are currently being served. They've waited long enough for their boards! Another shipment will arrive at our warehouse at the end of June. These boards can already be purchased through our online shop.
What was the biggest mistake you made?
I think we somewhat underestimated the time and development effort required to get to series production. Our professor—Prof. Veit Senner, Chair of Sports Equipment and Materials—told us in 2014: "Building a prototype is no art! The last 5%s before production are the hardest!". Today I know he was absolutely right!
“Building a prototype is not an art!„
And what’s next?
The next step is developing additional board types and further developing our technology. Currently, we have one board model – the Allround. While the Allround board allows us to appeal to a relatively large user group, there are also many people who prefer other board shapes!
Thank you, Stefan, for the exciting insights!
