How the World’s Smallest E-Bike Converter Pedaled Its Way to Million-Dollar Success

In crowdfunding, you don’t have the luxury of time. Trust and credibility need to happen now to win backers’ hearts. And PR is one of the fastest ways to build it.

Most people see PR as an awareness tool. In crowdfunding, it’s more than that: it’s your shortcut to credibility, authority, and, in some cases, direct conversions. That’s what made PR so powerful for Kamingo.

At TCF, we don’t treat PR as a separate service. It’s fully integrated into the campaigns we run.
When we secure media coverage, it doesn’t just sit on the internet. Instead, it fuels social ads, boosts email marketing, and strengthens community updates. Every part of the campaign feeds the other.

Kamingo’s success story is a vivid example of what happens when PR is connected to the entire launch system.

The Challenge: Break Through a Crowded Micromobility Market

Kamingo is an ultra-compact e-bike conversion kit that turns any regular bike into a powerful 750W e-bike in seconds. No tools. No stress.

But Kamingo wasn’t launching into an empty space.
The micromobility market is packed with new options competing for the same attention. Standing out required more than a good product.

Kamingo needed:

• Authority from trusted, third-party sources
• Visibility that reached actual buyers, not just general readers
• Stories that backers could quickly believe and share

In crowdfunding, timing is everything. We had to build that credibility before the launch and before backer excitement cooled.

The Game Plan: A Multi-Phase PR Strategy That Sold

Step 1: Build the Right Story

We developed a detailed press kit that went beyond product specs.
We shaped a story that resonated with both tech and lifestyle media:

• Why now? Micromobility is growing, but affordable, fast e-bike conversion kits are rare.
• What’s unique? Kamingo’s modular, compact design makes it incredibly easy to use.
• Why care? It solves real commuting problems at a price people can afford.

Step 2: Target the Right Journalists

We activated TCF’s existing network of trusted journalist contacts from previous campaigns.
At the same time, we built a new, hyper-focused media list:

• Reporters covering e-bikes, urban commuting, and smart city solutions
• Journalists writing for audiences who would actually buy Kamingo

Every pitch was tailored to each journalist’s beat and past coverage.
This personal approach significantly increased our chances of landing placements.

Step 3: Embargo Outreach and Early Feedback

Before the campaign went live, we rolled out embargoed outreach:

• Secured early commitments for coverage
• Collected feedback to sharpen the story and improve messaging
• Gained valuable visibility into how the media would receive the product

This early groundwork helped us launch with momentum.

Step 4: Post-Launch Momentum That Kept Building

When Kamingo made a strong debut hitting its first $1M in the first week, we leveraged that traction to re-engage journalists who were still on the fence.

We showcased real-time market validation:

• “People aren’t just reading about it, they’re backing it now.”
• “This product isn’t just innovative. It’s in demand!”

This social proof turned undecided journalists into enthusiastic supporters.

The Results: PR That Delivered Measurable Conversions

Kamingo’s media coverage not only build buzz around this tiny yet powerful bikebot (how our partners call it), but it drove real sales.
Here’s what we achieved:

• Yahoo Finance (219M monthly readers) provided broad, high-trust visibility.
• Bikerumor (871K monthly readers) reached a niche cycling and e-bike audience.
• Autoevolution (9.6M monthly readers) tapped into a tech-savvy mobility community.
• Netzwelt (9.6M monthly readers) delivered strong regional exposure in the European market.
• NewAtlas (global reach) amplified Kamingo’s story to early adopters and product enthusiasts.
• Additional coverage from outlets like Gizmodo Japan, Wired Italy, NotebookCheck, and others supported consistent visibility and market credibility throughout the campaign.

👉 Total PR-driven conversions tracked: more than $60K (and likely higher when considering indirect influence)

PR doesn’t typically deliver direct sales, but in crowdfunding, it can.
For Kamingo, it did.

Why It Worked: PR Was Part of a Fully Connected Campaign

We didn’t stop at landing articles.
We:

• Repurposed PR wins across social media, ads, email marketing, and campaign updates
• Retargeted warm audiences with trusted media snippets
• Used each piece of coverage to strengthen the sales cycle

Every part of the campaign worked together.
That’s why PR became a real conversion driver and not just a nice-to-have.

Want PR That Builds Trust and Drives Backers?

We don’t just get you headlines.
We get you headlines that matter to backers and we know how to turn that trust into pledges.

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