Business Idea that Made Its Inventors Millions of Dollars

At the beginning of 2015, a video appeared online showcasing an unusual business idea – the production of beehives from which honey flows on its own. Within just two days, the video skyrocketed in popularity, garnering millions of views. Following the video's release, a company was launched on the crowdfunding platform Indiegogo, which proved to be even more remarkably successful than the promotional video itself.

The project attracted so many people eager to fund it and receive the miraculous beehive that the company quickly amassed over two million dollars in investments. Currently, this stands as the absolute record on the website for attracting multi-million dollar investments. Despite some beekeepers' skepticism towards the innovation, defending traditional honey harvesting methods in debates, the project flourished.

The reason behind the success is clear. Harvesting honey from beehives traditionally involves a labor-intensive, time-consuming process. The conventional extraction method entails multiple steps: opening the hive, removing the bees, uncapping the cells, and spinning them in a centrifuge. However, thanks to the Flow project, all these processes are now a thing of the past – no need to disturb the bees by entering the hive. Simply turn a lever and place a container to collect the honey.

Genesis of the Idea

The concept originated with two beekeepers from New South Wales who grew tired of evading bees in protective gear, enduring stings, and lamenting the squashed bees. Father and son set out to revolutionize beekeeping by inventing a fundamentally new type of hive. It took them about ten years of work to develop the Flow plastic frame, comprised of partially formed cells. When the lever is activated, the cells transform into tubes, allowing honey to flow.

The bees fill the cells with wax, honey, and seal them. The frame opens at the bottom with a simple lever press, causing the honey to flow through tubes into a collecting jar. The frame can then be closed to allow bees to resume honey collection. This process maintains the integrity of the wax, easing the bees' labor and increasing honey productivity. Additionally, there is a plexiglass viewing window on the frame to monitor honey-filled cells.

According to the creators, this is the most significant beekeeping innovation since the introduction of the Langstroth hive in 1852. The new frame saves time and makes honey collection painless for bees. It eliminates the need to purchase costly equipment, enabling even amateurs to engage in beekeeping. Furthermore, it resolves the issue of bee aggressiveness when disturbed by beekeepers, which can lead to significant discomfort. Owning a Flow hive will spare your family and neighbors from bee stings.

The Andersons claim that the frames have been tested over several seasons, and it has been observed that bees fill Flow frames with as much enthusiasm as traditional cells. Each frame can hold up to 3 kg of honey. The filling time depends on the number of bees and ranges from a week to a month. It is essential to leave some honey for winter and despite the gentle honey collection process, protective gear should not be overlooked.

Indiegogo Company Details

Investors have several options: they can purchase a ready beehive or multiple ready frames for self-installation on their apiary. Prices start at $230, and for $600, a kit for assembling a complete hive, where bees need to be introduced, is available.

Initially, the company sought only $70,000 to start production, but they have already raised over $10 million. Delivery of hives and frames is available worldwide. So, if you're intrigued by the project, you can order a Flow hive for yourself. It's advisable to act quickly to secure one before the funding campaign ends. Otherwise, you may have to wait a while for your hive, plus prices may increase.

What can we learn from this project:

• This serves as a superb example of how an innovative invention can form the basis of a successful business. Thanks to the new frame, the two beekeepers transitioned into millionaires. Although judging from the initial project sum, they clearly did not expect such success.
• Business ventures should focus on products and services that enhance people's lives or make earning money easier. With Flow, one doesn't need to be a qualified beekeeper to start harvesting their own honey.
• The larger the audience you reach, the more money you can make. The entire world learned about the new hive, and investments flowed in abundantly.
• Offering worldwide delivery was a key factor in the high level of pre-orders for the innovative Flow frames. Additionally, the Australian website presents shipping costs upfront, allowing users to quickly estimate the total cost of their new hive.

The phenomenal success of this business idea should serve as a clear lesson for all inventors nurturing original concepts capable of improving people's lives. One doesn't need a massive starting capital or influential connections to build a multimillion-dollar business based on their ideas. Thoroughly developing one's invention and effectively presenting it to society can lead to replicating the Andersons' success if the idea is truly worthwhile.