When his bike was stolen, Adrian Solgaard didn’t just replace it—he invented a new kind of lock. That early experiment launched a decade-long journey from DIY prototypes to a multimillion-dollar sustainable travel brand. Since then, Solgaard has raised nearly $5 million through crowdfunding, created eco-friendly luggage and backpacks, and kept more than three million pounds of plastic from reaching the ocean.
Adrian’s story reveals what it really takes to launch through crowdfunding, design products people genuinely need, partner effectively with factories, and build a sustainability model that lasts. For founders in any industry, his approach offers a blueprint for combining creativity, discipline, and purpose.
Rethinking crowdfunding as a modern community tool
When Solgaard’s solar-powered backpack hit Kickstarter, it met its funding goal within six hours and went on to raise $1.2 million. That early success wasn’t just about hype—it was about understanding community.
“Crowdfunding is another community tool—it’s not the right tool for everything,” Adrian says. For physical products, platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo work best when creators lead with storytelling and a clear point of difference.
He reminds founders that Kickstarter audiences are early adopters, drawn to future-focused ideas. Crowdfunding today, he says, is less about going viral and more about testing narratives—finding which features and headlines actually resonate before a full-scale launch.
For entrepreneurs, that shift reframes crowdfunding as more than fundraising—it’s a way to build awareness, test messaging, and connect with customers long before products hit shelves. Approaching it as an opportunity to test stories, understand audiences, and refine ideas can turn even small launches into lasting momentum.
Designing products around real human pain points
The idea for Solgaard’s Carry-On Closet suitcase began with a simple observation: most travelers unpack into chaos. Hearing a friend joke that every hotel room looked like a “tornado zone,” Adrian realized the problem was universal—and solvable.
Lacking 3D modeling skills, he began with what he had: cardboard, duct tape, and a sketch pad. These early prototypes helped him visualize a suitcase that could stay upright and transform into a collapsible shelving system. “First make it work, then make it good,” one of his designers liked to say—a principle that still guides Solgaard’s product development.
By releasing early versions through crowdfunding, Adrian collected real feedback before committing to large-scale production. It’s an approach that prioritizes learning over perfection—and turns small experiments into a foundation for big wins.
Building long-term trust with factory partners
Behind every Solgaard product are factory relationships that have lasted nearly a decade—something Adrian attributes to being hands-on from the start. He believes that for founders, spending time on the factory floor is irreplaceable. “Go visit your factory partners,” he says. “Walk the floors. See how people interact with you.”
Those visits, he explains, reveal more than paperwork ever could. Audits and certifications matter, but a founder’s own observations—the tone of the workspace, how employees engage, whether the environment feels collaborative—tell a fuller story. For Solgaard, these firsthand impressions have shaped which partners the company continues to work with as it scales.
Adrian stays in touch with manufacturing partners through regular WeChat massages, sharing updates and celebrating milestones like product launches or family events. Over the years, those small gestures have built relationships grounded in respect rather than transaction.
He encourages other founders to take the same approach: prioritize transparency, communicate often, and stay curious about how products are made. Being hands-on doesn’t just ensure better quality control—it creates partnerships strong enough to adapt as the business grows.
Making sustainability actionable—not aspirational
Solgaard’s commitment to sustainability started with a surf trip to Bali, where Adrian saw beaches overwhelmed by plastic waste. The experience inspired him to design a supply chain that could transform ocean-bound plastic into the company’s own Shore-Tex fabric.
“If we’re serious about cleaning up the planet, we have to go above and beyond,” he says. Today, every Solgaard product uses recycled materials and funds the removal of six pounds of plastic from beaches and waterways—an effort that’s diverted over three million pounds of waste so far.
For Adrian, sustainability isn’t a marketing angle. He describes his motivation simply: “My goal has always been to leave the world a better place than we found it.”
That philosophy turns sustainability into a design challenge rather than a campaign tagline. From materials to logistics to long-term partnerships, Solgaard treats environmental impact as part of its core business model—not an add on.
From Kickstarter campaigns to ocean cleanups, Adrian Solgaard’s story shows that building a meaningful brand requires persistence as much as inspiration. His approach suggests that great brands grow when creativity, discipline, and care for the planet move together, shaping not just what a company sells, but what it stands for.
For more on how Solgaard balances design, growth, and sustainability, check out the full interview on Shopify Masters.
