Crowdfunding a bike sharing platform
Client
ListNRide is Europe’s leading online booking platform for bike enthousiasts, allowing riders to safely rent and rent out any type of specialty bike on any location, while also offering rental options and test rides from commercial suppliers. Visit site: listnride.com
Challenge
ListNRide’s founders Johannes Stuhler and Gert-Jan van Wijk, bike enthousiasts with a background in technology, noticed that finding a good roadbike while traveling abroad was cumbersome, as it had not yet been touched by the online platform sharing economy. By lack of an ‘Airbnb for bikes’ they decided to create their own. As the idea proved fruitful in its first season of testing, ListNRide wanted to ramp up their visibility, while expanding their platform functionalities and team. Extra challenge: there were no funds yet. As such, they asked Elwin to assist in attracting both publicity and funding.
Work
After reviewing different routes together, Elwin advised to go with a crowdfunding campaign that could deliver publicity and funding in the same effort. Consecutively Elwin advised on the strategy for the crowd-funding campaign and streamlining ListNRide’s existing brand- and communication strategy, channels and messaging to create the best possible impression with potential new users and investors.
Impact
The crowdfunding campaign successfully landed over €335k of seed investment, more than 200% of the funding goal, thanks to 183 investors from within the bike enthusiast community. The campaign sparked lots of free PR on platforms related to biking sports, innovation and beyond. Also, the 183 bike community members who invested in the succes of ListNRide, automatically became active brand advocates. The campaign kickstarted ListNRide from a great idea into the category leading company it is today.
Testimonials
“Elwin has been of great help in a crucial stage of our company. After a positive proof-of-concept, we asked Elwin to advise us on growing a user-base on our platform as well as attracting funding for our marketing and operations. He advised us to take the crowdfunding route and supported us building the campaign and prepare our brand and touchpoints for it.
The crowdfunding succes exceeded our expectations. We grew a passionate bike sharing community, secured plenty of seed-funding and attracted attention from all relevant press. Bonus; as our funding largely came from bike enthousiasts who would use the platform themselves, we have the best brand ambassadors we could ever wish for!
We would advise working with Elwin to anyone if you have the chance. He is no-nonsense, smart, driven and above all; a lot of fun to work with!”
- Gert-Jan van Wijk, ListNRide Founder & CEO
Strategy & Project Lead: Elwin Stevelink