By 
A Kickstarter campaign that launched over the weekend has generated over $1 Million dollars only weeks after facing ridicule on the hit TV show Shark Tank. Mark Cuban labeled it “a dime a dozen gadget gimmick”, Kevin O’Leary (aka Mr. Wonderful) claimed it was so annoying he wanted to “squash [it] like a cockroach”, and company founder Jonas Hanway left the show with no funding and a bruised ego.
The product in question? The Thumbrella, literally an umbrella for your thumb designed to improve use of your smartphone in the rain.
If you think the idea is stupid you’re not alone, but you might be outnumbered: the Thumbrella has sold hundreds of thousands of units at $4 a pop in a matter of days, perhaps to compulsively early holiday shoppers looking for stocking stuffers.
Hanway admitted his overnight success includes luck, but refuses to concede it’s the only reason:
It goes to show that any press truly is good press, that’s for sure, but it’s also validation that the Thumbrella does fill a need, people do want it, and people are willing to pay for it.
Next time you’re using your phone in the rain I guarantee you’ll smile and think about Thumbrella.
Like most successful inventors and entrepreneurs, Hanway has a feverish passion for his product, whose business plan borders on crazy. He might be an overnight success, but he’s still broke: Hanway priced his Thumbrella at cost, meaning he’s profiting approximately $0 on his million dollar Kickstarter campaign.
Instead, he intends to leverage the success of Thumbrella towards new products and opportunities, including a social networking app that explores how weather, moods, and personalities are interconnceted. Let me know how that works out, Jonas!
The Thumbrella will be a limited run product available for the next 4 days through Kickstarter.
[Via Kickstarter]
I love when people failed to get backed by a shark and end up finding a backing somewhere else, then actually continue to make head way. Especially when the sharks are asses to them.
Um, this is an April Fools’ joke. Notice how the “via link” isn’t actually a link, because I’m sure no such page exists on Kickstarter’s site. The mock-up page they have in the screenshot says Project by Neverstill Media, which I believe is the parent company of Phandroid.
I watch Shark Tank and didn’t remember seeing a product like this on the show, which made me doubt the story.
I didn’t think this was real, it’s April’s Fools as you said; but that aside I love the show and I love it more when ideas the sharks don’t find ideal for their support become fruitful from someone else’s in the future.
I really dislike the heartless arrogance of the hosts of Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den. I know they’re rich and better than me (don’t agree on the second part) but they still act like petty, merciless dic(k)tators.
Doesn’t the Galaxy S5 and Sony Xperia series make this completely pointless?
Not everyone owns those phones though. Many phones are still not water resistant. The Thumbrella will ultimately save lives.
True. Dreamt I dropped my S3 in a bathtub that was halfway full of water. No joke. Was a bit unnerving.
Dat thumb cramp though….
The rain can also accidentally press buttons and just be a visual disturbance so the Thumbrella keeps the phone completely clear of obstructions and distractions. It’s more valuable if your phone isn’t waterproof but probably worth the $5 regardless.
I think the fact that it is a joke makes it far more pointless.
Joke? I backed it. Can’t wait to test with my Nexus 5. My only concern is the fit on my thumb.
Care to share a link to kickstarter then?
Troll level – excessive
April Fools !!!!
DANG IT!! It could be one. And I was just thinking of actually getting one, because why not? It’s just $4? Dugh!!
So this looks like an April Fool’s. I am like the most gullible person on the planet. =.[
And here I was posting across Facebook saying I’m not going to believe anything I read today. =.=
Hahaha! Lovely, thanks for this Mr. Jackson!
Well if your using a regular umbrella in the rain for your body, it will ultimately keep the phone dry as well… Unless people just have their arm fully extended so it gets wet…. IDK. This just sounds like something that is not needed cause it should not be a problem…. Unless the person doesn’t want to use an umbrella for themselves and don’t care that they get wet, then I could probably see why…. NVM, I still can’t see why.
I’m in no way saying this a good idea, but it could work for someone sitting by a pool and have kids splashing around them. Wont offer much protection, but still.
Blocking sun while sitting by the pool too…
Lol, perfect
cool ! http://www.nexus6price.com/latest-nexus-6-concept-a-curved-phone-in-the-making