Coolest Cooler raised $13,285,226 from 62,642 backers in 2014, the most funded Kickstarter of that year. By December 2019 the company had shut down, and more than 20,000 backers never got a cooler. It’s the clearest warning in crowdfunding about pricing and fulfilment.
The numbers
| First attempt (Nov 2013) | Goal $125,000; not funded |
| Second campaign (Jul–Aug 2014) | $13,285,226 from 62,642 backers |
| Planned delivery | February 2015, then July 2015 |
| March 2016 | Production stopped; company said it needed another $15M with ~36,000 orders outstanding |
| May 2016 | 10,000+ backers paid $97 extra for expedited shipping |
| December 2019 | Company shut down; unfulfilled backers offered $20 |
What went right
The relaunch worked. After a failed first campaign, the product (a cooler with a blender, speaker and USB charger) and its video caught the public’s imagination, and the campaign became 2014’s biggest.
What went wrong
- The money raised didn’t cover making and shipping the rewards: in March 2016 the company said it needed another $15 million.
- Delivery dates slipped repeatedly, and asking backers for more money damaged trust.
- Regulators got involved: after 315 complaints, the Oregon Department of Justice investigated and in June 2017 agreed a fulfilment plan with the company.
Our take: how to avoid it
- Cost every reward with manufacturing, shipping, fees and a buffer before you set prices. Use our Kickstarter fees guide and campaign cost guide.
- Get manufacturing quotes in writing before launch.
- Be careful with add-ons and stretch goals that add cost without adding price.
- Communicate early when something slips.
Timeline
| November 2013 | First campaign misses its $125,000 goal |
| July–August 2014 | Second campaign raises $13,285,226 |
| 2015 | Delivery dates slip from February to July |
| March 2016 | Production stops; company says it needs $15M more |
| June 2017 | Fulfilment plan agreed with Oregon DOJ |
| December 2019 | Company shuts down |
Apply it to your launch
- Cost every reward: manufacturing, packaging, shipping, taxes, fees and a 15–20% buffer.
- Get manufacturing quotes in writing and plan for minimum order quantities.
- Model shipping costs by country before setting reward prices.
- Limit stretch goals and add-ons that add cost.
- Set a realistic delivery date, then add a margin.
- Post honest updates as soon as anything slips.
How it compares with other record campaigns
| Campaign | Platform | Year | Raised | Backers | Goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EufyMake E1 (Anker) | Kickstarter | 2025 | $46,762,258 | 17,822 | $500,000 |
| Brandon Sanderson | Kickstarter | 2022 | $41,754,153 | 185,341 | $1M |
| Pebble Time | Kickstarter | 2015 | $20,338,986 | 78,471 | $500,000 |
| Snapmaker U1 | Kickstarter | 2025 | $20,161,265 | 20,206 | n/a |
| Coolest Cooler | Kickstarter | 2014 | $13,285,226 | 62,642 | n/a |
| Flow Hive | Indiegogo | 2015 | $12M+ | ~25,000 orders | A$70,000 |
| Exploding Kittens | Kickstarter | 2015 | $8,782,571 | 219,382 | $10,000 |
Totals at campaign close. Some campaign pages now show more, from pledges taken after the campaign ended.
More breakdowns in our campaign teardowns.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Coolest Cooler raise?
$13,285,226 from 62,642 backers in 2014.
What happened to Coolest Cooler?
Production and shipping ran over cost and time; the company shut down in December 2019 and more than 20,000 backers never received a cooler.
Planning a launch like this? We have run Kickstarter and Indiegogo marketing since 2015 and helped creators raise $150M+. Book a free discovery call or see our Kickstarter agency service.
Sources
Free: Kickstarter launch checklist
Everything to do in the 12 weeks before launch, on launch day and after. Two pages, free.
Kickstarter marketing agency
Crowdfunding marketing since 2015, with $150M+ raised for Kickstarter and Indiegogo creators.
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