What does it take to launch a powerful, outdoor-ready battery and convince over 200 people to back it?
In this episode, we chat with Marco Vanella, co-founder and Chief Product Officer of MAAK Outdoor, the team behind the Scout Battery. Built for the backcountry, Scout is a modular, durable power system designed to serve off-grid professionals, adventurers, and everyday users alike.
Marco shares how his background in industrial design and experience across consumer electronics, law enforcement, and defense helped shape a product tailored for real-world needs.
You’ll hear the behind-the-scenes story of how they raised over $100,000 on Kickstarter, overcame the hurdles of hardware development, and delivered a compelling campaign for a first-time product.
In this episode of the Crowdfunding Demystified podcast, you’ll hear:
- The origin story of Scout and how it solves real-world energy problems
- Marco’s background in industrial design and product development
- How MAAK overcame the challenges of launching a hardware product
- What worked in their campaign strategy — and what they’d do differently
This episode is packed with insights for anyone launching a physical product, building for the outdoors, or considering crowdfunding for hardware.
Resources and Tools Mentioned:
- Book a coaching call
- Subscribe for Weekly Crowdfunding Tips
- Fulfillrite: Kickstarter and crowdfunding reward fulfillment services. They come highly recommended! Download their free shipping and fulfillment checklist
- FREE Kickstarter Course
- Kickstarter Launch Formula Audiobook
- Scout Battery: Smart, Rugged, and Modular Power on Kickstarter
- MAAK Outdoor Website
