This man proved that even the most
bizarre ideas can be a business. And can bring plenty of money. That is what
Ben Kaufman, young entrepreneur who can never stop innovating and throws a brilliant idea.
Kaufman's entrepreneur spirit has shown
when he was 18. When he was tired of studying mathematics in high school in
Huntingan, LI, an idea suddenly came to his mind. About the iPod shuffle which
packaging can be placed along the neck and sort of headphone. He called it
"Song Sling".
Kaufman also persuaded his parents to
provide capital. His mother is the owner of the company his father's shop and
the lawyer agreed to mortgage the house for U.S. $ 185,000. Kaufman then
decided to create a company called Mophie and engaged in iPhone accessories.
Mophie's name is taken from the names of his dogs, Molly and Sophie. In
May of 2005, two weeks before graduating in Portledge School, Kaufman went to
China to look for plants that can realize his idea.
Kaufman idea finally realized. Gadget
made hard sell. Kaufman who had tasted the college bench for six weeks has
finally decided to quit college and pursue Mophie, which continues to evolve to
generate profits in excess of U.S. $ 1.5 million.
There is a story about his decision to
drop out. Kaufman was in grade for the course. Kaufman was in grade for the
course International Business when he received a call from China in connection
with the latest Mophie product. Kaufman's Lecturer , a professor who saw Kaufman
received a call in the middle of fun activities to stop lecturing the young man
asked for her phone or leave the classroom.
"I then asked the Lecturer , whether
he wanted me to hear the theory of nonsense from him when I had a real chance
to trade? When the professor was saying yes, I immediately say 'peace', left
the lecture room and never come back, "said Kaufman.
Within a year, Mophie won the
prestigious' Best in Show "at MacWorld 2007. At the MacWorld Expo held in
San Francisco in January 2007 that Kaufman spent a quarter of a million dollars
to get 125 ideas to be developed further as the Mophie product. To the 30,000
voters are asked to determine which product is best of the idea was finally
selected 125 wrapping iPods can also serve as a bottle opener and key ring.
Kaufman and his team realize the idea that within 72 hours and managed to sell
over 10,000 products called Bevy it to 28 countries.
Establish Quirky
Quirky is an industrial
design company, located in New
York City, that uses crowdsourcing to
determine which products to design and manufacture. The company solicits ideas
for new products via its website; ideas are voted on by readers of the website,
as well as by employees of the company. Products that are chosen get designed,
manufactured and marketed by Quirky. The inventor and any other contributors
then get up to 30% of any resulting revenue.
Experience at MacWorld Expo brought out a
new idea in the mind of Kaufman. Namely, what if a product is generated from
the input of many people. A group consisting of a group of people would be a
promising new business methods. Kaufman then sell Mophie in August 2007 and set
up a cluster, a website that holds ideas related to technology. These clusters
which became the forerunner Quirky.
"We developed an amazing
platform," said Kaufman. Now I am ready to take it to the world. "
In 2009, Kaufman launched Quirky.com, on
June 2.
Launch Quirky site
At Quirky, users can get the money
through a number of products still in development. Visitors who have ideas can
also be sent to the Quirky to be developed together. Also available are ready
to sell the finished product.
With Quirky, Kaufman develop and design
products to various parts of the world. The idea that emerged from the crowd
brought to life.
Someone who feels able to give any ideas
and proposals 'registration fee' of U.S. $ 99. Other members will review
whether the proposal was feasible to be realized or not. Every week more than
25,000 members will select one idea to translate into reality. Kaufman and his
team will make in the form of a model three-dimensional images, consult the
price. The other members will determine things like the color of the product
and how the packaging before the sale officially.
If a product is not selected for the
manifested, the owners of ideas will not get a refund of U.S. $ 99 dollars is
given. But the owner of the idea will get all the related data products are
formulated by members of the community.
As achievement for parties to provide
input, the members got the so-called "influence rating" for each
project where they got involved. Those who have a good rating will be paid.
If a product being sold, Kaufman and his
team get U.S. $ 0.70 cents of every dollar. While U.S. $ 0.30 cents is given to
the community that helped bring about the idea. Party who first gave the idea
and paid U.S. $ 99 will get 40% of U.S. $ 0.30 cents, or about U.S. $ 0.12. The
rest will be given to the most influential users to enter. Licensing of
products made entirely belong to Quirky.
Become Famous Entrepreneur
Its action is unique to profile discussed
everywhere. A number of influential newspapers like the New York Times, USA
Today and the New York Observer review profile. Kaufman has also appeared in
numerous magazines such as Business Week, Entrepreneur and WIRED as well as
television shows on CNBC, FOX Business News and The Today Show. In 2007, when
he was aged 20 years, Kaufman has been named as one of the leading employers
who are under 30 years by Inc. Megazine.
"Quirky is established because they
look at me like I created a product that people use. I want to be a lot of
people can feel the joy that I feel, "said Kaufman, who said he was
surprised when I saw the many ideas that emerged in Quirky revealed by the
visitors of his website" From my experience, the flavor-it's everybody's
got an interesting idea. "
For example, before the iPad was launched
in January 2010, has been peddling Quirky iPad wrapping of rubber, the
innovation of a 29-year-old boy, Michael McCoy of Hampton.
When the book was made, one of which is
sold in Quirky Trek Support, backpacks for costing U.S. $130. Support Trek
backpack that is equipped for USB-powered battery, can also be used as a
container for a laptop that is practical and easy to fold when going through
the examination at the airport.
Capital injections
In order to develop the business, Kaufman
received a capital injection of U.S. $ 6 million from an investor group that
spearheaded RRE Ventures. Kaufman who previously earned $ 1.6 million is now
managing Quirky had 15 workers.
A number of the product was only sold in
Quirky.com also began peddled on a number of large stores in the United States.
Kaufman himself had a dream for the establishment of its own factory in 2001.
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