Wadiz Funding: Is it really open to everyone?
Don't forget to check this out!
- Anyone can launch a funding campaign as long as they have a product, service, or content to offer as a reward.
- There are many success stories on wadiz—even from teenagers and little-known local brands during funding campaigns.
- “Should I really take on wadiz? Can I succeed?” Don’t hesitate—just give it a try.
1. wadiz—even teens are using it.
Hong Yeon-woo, the CEO of Hong Gun-ah Tteokbokki, was just 19 years old when she raised a whopping 18 million won in funding from 652 supporters through two projects on wadiz. After choosing to become a garetteok (Korean rice cake) expert instead of going to high school, she successfully developed “Aegi-tteok”—Hongguna Tteokbokki’s signature rice cake—following hundreds of experiments over several years. Then, in 2017, she launched two wadiz projects featuring tteokbokki made with Aegi-tteok, which were met with great enthusiasm. These were the moments when a 19-year-old garetteok expert became a wadiz maker.
After the projects concluded, the Story of Hong Gun-ah Tteokbokki spread widely and was featured in various media outlets, helping to further raise its profile. This was thanks to the wadiz Story (detail page), which detailed everything—from the inspiration behind starting Hong Gun-ah Tteokbokki to the process of developing the rice cakes—in a diary-like format. After the first project, she officially established a company and moved out of the small workshop she had set up next to her parents’ chicken restaurant to open a full-scale production facility. All of this was achieved by a 19-year-old girl through wadiz funding.
Before launching my project, I was able to gain not only wadiz staff members—who read my Story, offered their support, and even shed tears—but also truly wonderful supporters.
For me, who used to run my business in a world of my own, wadiz is a friend that connected me with many people and opened my eyes to the world.
Hong Yeon-woo, CEO of Hongguna Tteokbokki
2. wadiz: It Works Even If You’re Not Famous.
I still vividly remember when wadiz hosted the first-ever laptop funding project in its history. Back then—just as it is now—the market was dominated by G products, renowned for their lightness, and M products, known for their sleek design. Moreover, since laptops are products you use for two to three years once purchased, it was nearly impossible for a new brand to survive without a proven track record. Despite this, there was a project by Ignikthat boldly unveiled a new model on wadiz. Contrary to everyone’s concerns, it was a resounding success.
Some of you might be thinking, “Oh, they must have known it would do well because the price was low.” Well, these days, if you search for “budget laptops,” you’ll find countless models that have been thoroughly vetted by scathing reviews and feedback. If Ignik’s project had simply emphasized its low price alone, it wouldn’t have been as successful as it is today. They succeeded because they spoke more honestly than any other brand about why they started making laptops, why they’re a brand you can trust even if they aren’t well-known, and the laptop market they hope to shape in the future. Their candid confessions convinced over 500 supporters, and they raised more than 200 million in funding.
And what aboutPinzle? Pinzle first knocked on wadiz’s door in 2017 with a service that was unfamiliar even by its name: an art subscription service. For us, for whom not only receiving art regularly but even the very act of “buying art” was completely foreign, Pinzle’s service was truly groundbreaking. What were the results? They successfully raised 46 million won in their first project and 54 million won in a project launched one year later. Since then, they’ve run a total of five projects, raising over 200 million won in cumulative funding. They’ve grown from a service no one knew about into a brand supported by hundreds and thousands of supporters.
After its successful funding campaign on wadiz, Pinzel expanded into online channels such as 29cm and was selected as the first Korean winner in the Print Media category at the Red Dot AWARDS. Pinzel didn’t rush things to achieve all these results. Nor did it feel intimidated by the fact that its service was unfamiliar. Instead, within its wadiz funding story, it methodically introduced what the Pinzle service was all about and indirectly showed how supporters’ lives would change through it. Starting out is scary for everyone. However, makers who have experienced success on wadiz—including Ignik and Pinzle—overcame that fear with their authenticity. If you speak from the heart, wadiz supporters will listen attentively, no matter what you have to say.
3. wadiz: You Can Do It Even If This Is Your First Time Online.
“Our product will probably only sell at our store, right?” If you’ve been thinking this way, please pay close attention. This is the story of Realist Bacon, which gained a reputation as a must-visit spot in Itaewon. They launched a funding campaign to share the healthy image and rich flavor of bacon—a food that had long been perceived as unhealthy—with a wider audience. They meticulously shared their Story, including the reason behind creating Realist Bacon, the production process, and even the recipe. As a result, they raised over 60 million won from more than 1,000 supporters for funding.
They, too, had worried, “How many people are actually looking for really good bacon?” Even right up until the project launched, they wondered if there would be anyone—beyond the customers who visited their store—who would listen to their story. However, they started with the belief that Korea needed this kind of bacon, and through the project, they gained the conviction that “people just didn’t know about it yet; once they discover our bacon, more people will seek it out.”
This isn’t just the story of Realist Bacon. The brand Heavitz, which started as a leather workshop, also began its project with the question, “Will we be able to gain recognition on a new online platform?” Heavitz is a beloved brand—one that anyone who loves leather is already familiar with. Despite its high repurchase rate, it faced the limitations of being a small-scale local brand. To overcome these limitations, they launched their first funding campaign on wadiz, and since then, they’ve been unveiling new products on the platform with each release. As aresult, they’ve successfully completed all 30 projects to date, amassing over 5,000 supporters and raising more than 600 million won in cumulative funding. Buoyed by this popularity, they’ve also opened a store on wadiz. I’d like to conclude this article with a message Heavyts shared with aspiring makers during an interview with wadiz.
Every maker probably struggles with similar doubts.
Is the answer I’ve found the right one? Will the product I’ve created be loved by people?
When you’re feeling these worries, wadiz funding will be a huge help.
Lee Jae-ho, CEO of Heavyts
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