The Kamingo launch redefined what PR can achieve. With zero PR spend, TCF Team helped Kamingo raise $1,738,105 from 4,285 backers, turning media coverage into direct conversions and creating one of the most successful crowdfunding launches of 2025.
Objectives were ambitious but precise:
Secure 150+ earned media placements across top-tier and niche outlets.
Generate $80,000+ in tracked conversions from media referrals.
Build global awareness and credibility exclusively through PR, with no paid media.
Land tier 1 placements in WIRED, Gizmodo, Yahoo Finance, Uncrate and secure niche coverage in BikeRumor, Autoevolution, Netzwelt to reach real cyclists and micromobility enthusiasts.
Strategy revolved around positioning Kamingo as the world’s smallest, most powerful modular e-bike converter:
Segmented outreach by outlet type (tech, lifestyle, micromobility).
Tailored pitches by angle: performance for tech, design for lifestyle, sustainability for micromobility.
Embargoed outreach began two weeks pre-launch to ensure day-one buzz.
Eurobike 2025 was leveraged as a live demo stage where journalists tested Kamingo in person, creating authentic content and instant credibility.
Secured coverage was repurposed as social proof in email updates, press kits, and campaign comms.
Creative execution highlighted Kamingo’s unique modular three-part system (handlebar controller, bottle cage battery, rear motor), and its Pressure Adaptive Technology (PAT) – a differentiator from bulky conversion kits. Test ride visuals, Instagram Reels, and milestone updates (“$1M raised in the first week”) amplified coverage and fueled momentum.
Challenges and resilience:
Crowdfunding skepticism: Solved with technical proof points and live journalist demos.
Limited product samples: Prioritized tier 1 outlets, offered returnable units, and staged live experiences.
Tight pre-launch timeline: Assets and press kits prepared in advance; urgency framed as part of the story.
Different media preferences: Provided written reviews, video content, and hands-on tests to maximize uptake.
Maintaining momentum: Leveraged milestones like $1M in the first week to re-spark coverage and sustain social proof.
Results smashed every target:
127 confirmed global articles in tech, mobility, and lifestyle outlets.
Tier 1 coverage in WIRED, Gizmodo, Yahoo Finance, Uncrate, NewAtlas.
Niche coverage in cycling and micromobility press, driving targeted conversions.
$80,000+ in tracked conversions directly from media referrals.
Campaign raised $1.74M (17,000% above goal) from a global base of 4,285 backers.
Surpassed $1M in the first week, generating further press attention and viral credibility.
Outreach achieved a 43% open rate and 27% reply rate, reflecting strong media engagement.
Why it should win:
This campaign proved PR can be more than awareness. It became the growth engine of a record-breaking crowdfunding launch. With zero ad spend, storytelling strength, trusted journalist relationships, and milestone-driven narratives, TCF Team converted headlines into $1.7M in sales. Kamingo is now globally recognized as the benchmark in micromobility innovation.
