Origins
Freedrum started with a practical problem: traditional drum kits are big, loud, and difficult to fit into everyday life. When inventor August Bering tried to set up an old drum kit for his son, it quickly became clear that there had to be a better solution. That moment sparked an idea: what if drumming experience could be portable, pocket-sized and silent to people around? Together with August, we began turning that idea into something real.
What is Freedrum?
We crystalized the idea into a fully-fledged product — a portable virtual drum kit that let people play realistic drums anywhere using small motion-sensing units and a smartphone. The way it worked was simple: users attached the lightweight sensors to their drumsticks and, optionally, to their feet, and sensors tracked movements with a built-in gyroscope. Each motion was translated into a MIDI signal and sent via Bluetooth to a music app like GarageBand, which played the corresponding drum sounds through headphones or speakers.
Kickstarter Campaign Success
To make a dream of a virtual drum kit come true, we launched a Kickstarter campaign. We shaped the narrative, shot the video, built prototypes, and assembled a press kit that clearly explained what Freedrum was and why it mattered. The story centered around portability, creativity, and freedom — a drum kit you could carry in your pocket and play in moments when inspiration strikes.
The campaign quickly gained traction, validating the concept, building a community around the brand and providing the resources to move into full production.
The Kickstarter campaign generated over US$600,000 in orders — a clear sign that the idea resonated strongly with backers.
Turning a Funded Idea into a Shippable Product
After a successful Kickstarter campaign, we went into a full production and logistics mode. We refined the industrial design, managed manufacturing, optimized performance, and developed packaging. Along with that, we also built the business from scratch, establishing the legal and financial foundation needed for growth.
By the middle of 2017, when production complete, we coordinated global logistics and shipped Freedrum kits to backers.
Outcomes
Freedrum grew from an ambitious idea into a fully realized musical product and a functioning company. The Kickstarter campaign helped us launch the device and an entire brand built on creativity and movement. The project combined our skills in design, research, storytelling, manufacturing, and business development, and ultimately proved that a small team can bring a hardware product to life from scratch.
