Dear Shrooly Backers,
We know it’s been a long two months since our last update, and we apologize for the delay.
During the past weeks, we’ve been focused on many new developments, and we’re now excited to provide a thorough update on our recent activities. We sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding as we keep you informed about our project’s progress.
We are excited to share with you the latest developments in production and what we have been working on over the past month. Most significantly, we have been focusing on overseeing the final step: the Production Validation Test, which marks the last milestone before starting mass production. We are pleased to report that we encountered no new mechanical issues during this phase so we could proceed with mass production.
By the time you read this update, the first container of units should already be produced. This is an important milestone for us, and we are thrilled to reach this stage of the project.
Production Validation Tests
Four members of our team were present at our production partner’s facility to oversee the crucial final milestone required before commencing mass production: validating the production and assembly steps. After over a year of intensive product development and meticulous planning, coupled with the expertise of our partners, we are delighted to report that everything proceeded smoothly. As a result, we are now poised to transition into mass production—a monumental moment that both you and we have eagerly awaited for a very long time.
As part of this validation test, we have successfully produced 200 units. These units are identical to those we will produce on a larger scale, featuring the same components, assembly steps, and accessories.
This first batch of PVT production units has recently arrived at our office. Seeing them in person was heartwarming, and the sheer size of this shipment made us truly appreciate the volume of orders and the incredible support we have received from you.
Want to know how we’ll use these 200 units? Keep reading to find out.
Early Access Program
About a month ago, we selected around 60 customers to participate in our Early Access Program. These participants received their units and growing Pods in the following weeks. Their active feedback helped us fine-tune the product before the official launch. While we didn’t expect significant issues with the devices, this “field testing” phase with actual customers was crucial for identifying any learning opportunities. Fortunately, no major issues arose that would affect our fulfillment timeline.
Mass Production
As mentioned, we have successfully completed all the necessary steps to confidently launch mass production. We proceeded as planned, and the first container of devices are already manufactured. Shipping takes an additional 3-4 weeks, and as soon as the units arrive at our warehouse in the middle of July, we will start preparing the first orders.
To meet continuous demand, we have already made the next purchase order for the machines and the Pods. Our partner is now sourcing components for the subsequent batch, which will be produced a month later.
We’ve also reached another milestone by successfully passing all necessary measurements, which ensured that we obtained all applicable certifications on time. This achievement resolved any potential impact on our Europe and UK delivery schedule and underscored the expertise of our teams and partners, built over more than a year of meticulous development.
Test Farm
In addition to mass production, we integrated 102 of the newly produced units into our internal testing facility, where they are running nonstop under heavy use. The primary purpose of this test farm is to conduct mushroom cultivation tests. We anticipate being able to test over 300 growing experiments each month with this new setup. This will allow us to fine-tune all aspects of the growing process, ensuring optimal conditions and performance for every Shrooly unit before they reach your home.
Sam, one of the co-founders of Shrooly, holding the very first concept drawing of a Shrooly next to the production line. Your support has been instrumental in bringing this product to life, and we’re grateful for every step of the journey together.
Growing Pod Updates
We’ve recently received 360 growing Pods in our office, including those for our selected species and some additional ones we’re experimenting with. Similarly to our devices, these Pods are also undergoing the Production Validation Test (PVT). Over the next few weeks, we’ll be validating their capabilities to ensure they’re ready for large-scale distribution. Early Access Program participants are already receiving Pods from this selection.
Meanwhile, we’ve placed the purchase order for the fulfillment of the Pods. This means our production partners have begun sourcing the substrates needed to create the Pods. They’ll soon begin inoculating them, so they’re ready to grow when we launch. This proactive step ensures we’ll have enough Pods of each species available for launch. Selecting the precise ratios of different strains based on demand posed a challenge, but we’ve taken steps to address this. By sending out demand surveys, we’ve gathered valuable insights to plan the ratios effectively. However, we anticipate learning more during the launch, which may necessitate optimization in the future.
We’ve reached the ‘design freeze’ stage for the growing Pod packaging, which essentially means that all aspects have been finalized, and we’re poised to place orders for production.
Mobile App and Firmware
App
Developing the mobile app posed significant challenges, particularly when it came to ensuring efficient and secure Bluetooth communication between the device and smartphones.
The app now includes core features and additional ones like recipe suggestions. It has successfully met Apple’s security standards and is officially available on the App Store for iOS users. Since May 21, the app has also been available on the Google Play Store.
Feedback from our Early Access Program users will guide further enhancements for the best user experience.
Firmware
The firmware is integral to the device’s functionality, controlling growing conditions and communication with the app. For continuous reliability and security enhancements, we’ve engineered it to receive updates through the mobile app, ensuring ongoing optimization.
Shipping timeline adjustments
While our initial plan was to launch internationally right away, we’ve chosen to take a more gradual approach after careful consideration of logistics and support requirements. This decision ensures that we can uphold the quality and level of service you deserve.
Instead of fulfilling orders strictly in chronological order, we’ve focused on establishing robust systems to support a large volume of orders at the highest quality standards. We’re confident in the capabilities of our device, but as a rapidly growing team, we need to ensure that we can meet the incredible demand responsibly and effectively.
One of the major logistical challenges lies in the production of our growing Pods, which we’ve decided to approach with a local focus for environmental and quality control reasons. While we’ve secured excellent partners in Europe, expanding this capacity to serve the much larger USA market requires additional time and effort.
To guarantee the best possible experience for each customer, we’ve strategically adjusted our fulfillment schedule. We will begin by launching in Europe and the UK, aiming to fulfill all open orders by the end of July as originally planned. Insights gained from this initial phase will inform our expansion to additional regions including the USA and Canada, where we plan on starting to fulfill orders in the first week of December.
We understand that the delay in shipments to the USA, Canada and the other countries may be disappointing, and for that, we sincerely apologize. Please know that this shift in our timeline is essential to ensure that we can deliver a product and experience that you’ll appreciate for years to come. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we believe that the adjustments we’ve made to our shipping timeline will ultimately provide you with an experience that surpasses your expectations
We are incredibly eager to deliver your Shrooly devices and are fully committed to providing an experience that makes the wait worthwhile. The first devices will be shipping soon, and we can’t wait to share the exciting milestones ahead with you.
Logistics
In our last update, we promised to share more details on our logistics. We are pleased to announce that after months of evaluating candidates, we have found our EU fulfillment partner. With two decades of experience and managing over 1.5 million packages annually, they are well-equipped to provide the high level of service we expect. For our UK customers, we have secured a reliable last-mile delivery service partner to ensure smooth delivery and to mitigate the hassles of customs clearance.
When selecting the best partners, we needed those capable of managing growing Pods, which require cooled storage. Our chosen partners have demonstrated great support in finding solutions to our specific needs.
Customer Support Team Updates
As we get closer to shipping out the devices, we need to prepare each department, including expanding the Customer Support Team’s capacity and refining our processes. We anticipate many questions about using the device, the current state of mushroom growth, and other related topics. To address this, we are implementing a new technical support strategy, which involves expanding our team and introducing new processes.
We are also enhancing our internal knowledge base and designing a customer-facing Help Center where you can quickly find answers to your questions.
Additionally, we have created frameworks to collaborate effectively with the product team, ensuring that any feedback is channeled to them to further improve our products and overall user experience.
What’s next for Shrooly?
We have already started the mass-production process this month. Although this does not require our active involvement, as it is being carried out by our production partner, we have many tasks to complete to ensure all our processes are ready to provide the best experience for thousands of customers.
Additionally, we are preparing for the USA and international launches, refining our processes.
The Early Access program has concluded, and we are now in the process of integrating your insights and feedback to optimize our approach.
As we conclude our June update, we want to once again extend our heartfelt thanks for your continued support and patience. Our team is thrilled to be entering the mass-production phase and preparing for the upcoming launches. We are excited to soon deliver your Shrooly and Pods, and we can’t wait till you can all start growing your own mushrooms!
Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being an integral part of the Shrooly community.
Mush love,
The Shrooly Team
Questions?
Send a message to our support team here.
