3 Years of Project Ratchet - And the Untold Stories That Got Us Here
From the Kickstarter launch 3 years ago to building an incredible community of enthusiasts from all over the world - today we reveal the stories we've never shared, and gear up with special offers ready to celebrate together on Saturday, October 18!
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Three years ago, on October 18th, I sat in a dark room in a suburb north of Stockholm, staring at my laptop, heart pounding harder than it ever had before.
Two years of late nights, failed prototypes, and stubborn obsession had all led to this. I was about to hit “Launch” on our very first Kickstarter campaign - and I had no idea if anyone would care.
I was clicking one of only five Ratchet Rings in existence, legs still shaking, when the screen refreshed.
17 minutes later, we hit our funding goal.
Four hours later, we doubled it.
I could barely breath, I was so excited. I could not believe my eyes. I called friends. Family. I shouted with joy, and it felt like the walls were smiling back at me.
I couldn’t believe this many people liked the Ratchet Ring as much as I did - so much that they were willing to take a bet and pledge their real, hard-earned money to get one.
That day changed everything. Because it wasn’t just the birth of a product that would go on to change lives. It was the birth of a community - one built on curiosity, focus, and the shared belief that a small object on your hand could have a big impact.
And many of you reading this today were there with us at the very start.
Built With You - For You
Since that day, Project Ratchet has grown far beyond anything I imagined:
- It’s helped thousands of people with ADHD and autism find calm and focus in chaotic moments.
- The rings have become go-to everyday carry items for collectors over the world.
- The clicky satisfaction has been integrated as a part of people’s anxiety-management routines, creative workflows, and daily rituals.
And we’ve done it all together - because every idea, every iteration, and every launch has been shaped by the feedback, stories, and support you’ve shared with us.
That’s why this weekend isn’t just about celebrating our 3-year anniversary. It’s about celebrating you.
The Highs, and the Hits
Building Project Ratchet hasn’t been a straight line. It’s been a rollercoaster. Here are just a few of the moments that defined our journey:
Top 3 Highlights:
- Holding the final V1 prototype in 2022 - a dream 18 months in the making.
- Launching Ratchet Ring V2 in 2023 and selling almost 500 rings in a single day.
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Releasing the Polar Ring and opening our U.S. warehouse in 2024 - a huge leap forward.
Top 3 Hard Lessons:
- Discovering titanium wouldn’t work and scrapping our first 250 rings.
- Spending tens of thousands fixing early Polar Ring issues - a mistake that nearly derailed our growth.
- Getting hit with tariffs and border complications that forced us to claw our way through U.S. expansion.
Every challenge made us stronger. Every setback taught us something. But none prepared us for the hardest lesson of all - the one I never could have expected.
The Day We Were Betrayed
Summer, 2024.
I’d just reconnected with an old friend over lunch in Stockholm. Afterward, he introduced me to some colleagues - smart, nice guys building cool tech projects. We talked shop. I shared stories about Project Ratchet. It was a great afternoon.
Six months later, I get an email from a longtime customer:
“There’s a new company selling a ring just like yours, and their website is eerily similar to yours.”
At first, I shrugged it off. Copycats happen. But then I checked the site - and the deeper I dug, the more disturbing it got.
The address listed in their Privacy Policy was in Sweden, just an hour away from mine. The CEO’s name looked familiar. And then it hit me: one of the guys I’d met that day was a little more interested in the Polar Ring than the others. And it turns out, it wasn’t just genuine curiosity.
In the six-ish months after that day, he had worked with a Chinese factory to reverse-engineer the Polar Ring, simplifying its design and tolerances to make it cheaper, copied parts of our website word-for-word, and launched a knock-off business.
I was furious. Confused. Honestly, heartbroken.
But here’s the beautiful thing: you found it before we did.
A member of our community - someone we've never met - cared enough to warn us. Because of that tip, we could get the stolen content and copied product removed. Within two weeks, the knock-off site was off the internet for good. And that was the last I ever heard from them.
That moment taught me more than any else in these three years:
We’re not just a brand. We’re a movement.
And movements can’t be stolen.
Why This Weekend Matters
Project Ratchet exists because of you - the people who believed in a crazy clicking ring three years ago, and the thousands who’ve joined since.
Whether you’ve left a comment, shared a post, sent feedback, bought a ring, or simply clicked onto our website, you are part of the heartbeat behind everything we do.
And now, we want to say thank you in the biggest way we know how.
🎉 The 3-Year Anniversary Sale
Starting Saturday at 12 pm ET, we’re celebrating three incredible years with our biggest offer ever:
- 26% Off all rings for 4 days.
- 31% Off when you grab a bundle of any two rings - plus a Free Desk Stand V1.
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150+ new rings drop and exclusive access to Polar Ring Renewed - expertly refurbished (including new magnets) and QC-tested Polar Rings, shipping from Sweden at 30% Off.
And if you’re already planning early holiday gifts, you can shop without stress knowing there’s a 90 Day Return window - and size exchanges are not time-limited.
And as always - the Lifetime Warranty applies to every ring that leaves the warehouse.
Three years ago, this was just a small idea in a dark room. Today, it’s a global community - one that has helped shape every product we make and every decision we take.
So from the bottom of our hearts: thank you.
Here’s to the next chapter - and here’s to celebrating it together.
P.S. Join our SMS VIP list here for 1 hour Early Access.
See you Saturday, 12 pm ET.
- August, Anders, Aira, warehouse staff & partners
Team Project Ratchet
