With a last 3.000-euro investment, Austrian startup Wohnwagon closed their crowdinvesting campaign on CONDA.at this Monday, surpassing their goal of 70.000 euros by reaching a total of 75.600 euros. Through the crowdinvesting platform, anyone was given the opportunity to become part of Wonhwagon’s concept by investing a minimum of 100 euros.
The Austrian startup designs and produces self-sufficient living spaces on wheels, making mobile homes equipped with a photovoltaic system, bio-toilet and a water treatment plant.
CEO Theresa Steininger, who runs Wohnwagon together with designer and artist Christian Frantal, told inventures.eu about their experience of running a crowdinvesting campaign. “It was a little like a rollercoaster ride: On the one hand, there was so much support in so many ways that we didn’t even think this would be possible. We were told over and over: ‘Go on! Great idea! Do it!’ And then on the other hand, there were endless days and weeks where nothing happened on the platform,” said Steininger. Originally, the campaign was scheduled to run until mid-June, but the deadline was extended by about a month. “At the end it really paid off!”
Earlier this month, CONDA organised an informational event to spotlight the Austrian startup community and in part, to draw attention to the potential of crowdinvesting. (Read about the event here.)
“There are actually two groups of investors on CONDA.at,” said Paul Pöltner of the crowdinvesting platform. “The first one invests to support the project as well as the team behind – they identify themselves with the product/service or idea, and invest more due to emotional reasons. The second group are people familiar with investing. They use crowdinvesting as an investment alternative.”
Reaching Wohnwagon’s target investment of 70.000 euros required the dedication of both sides. “There were a couple of steps Wohnwagon as well as CONDA.at took to meet the target – from online ads in a major Austrian online newspaper to public relations, an extensive use of social media and the organisation of investor-related events,” said Pöltner. “The personal relationship to investors was for sure one of the most important acts through the entire period of the campaign.”
In the next few weeks, the funds received through the crowdinvesting campaign will be processed and transferred to Wohnwagon, so that they can start building their first prototype. “With this money we can make it happen and prove that thought creates matter. We will use the money for the first wagon and for the first step to build our workshop in Sachsendorf, Lower Austria. Once we have a prototype, we can start selling, find new partners, and go to trade fairs,” said Steininger.
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