In 2015, a team of young engineers launched what seemed to be the next big thing in consumer 3D printing: the Tiko 3D Printer. Marketed as a sleek, unibody delta printer with a budget-friendly price tag of just $179, the campaign exploded on Kickstarter raising nearly $3 million from more than 16,500 backers.
But within two years, the company folded without delivering most of the promised units, leaving thousands disappointed and questioning what really went wrong.
The Rise of a Kickstarter Legend
Tiko’s success story began like many viral Kickstarter campaigns. The product’s promise was irresistible: an affordable, Wi-Fi enabled 3D printer that was compact, quiet, and stylish. Most importantly, it was supposed to be easy to use perfect for beginners and makers alike.
The campaign hit its modest $100,000 goal within hours and continued to snowball. By the end of the campaign, it had raised $2,950,874, becoming one of the top-funded 3D printing projects on Kickstarter.
What captured attention was not only the price but also the innovation. Tiko used a unibody design, which meant fewer moving parts and reduced alignment issues common in 3D printers. The team’s vision was compelling and well-pitched: make 3D printing accessible for everyone.
The Founders Behind the Vision
Tiko was founded by three Canadian engineering graduates: Matt Gajkowski, Sharon Charitar, and Michael Zhang. Young and ambitious, they combined their skills in engineering and design to bring Tiko to life.
Matt Gajkowski, the CEO, became the public face of the campaign. In interviews and updates, he passionately described the team’s mission to disrupt the consumer 3D printing market.
However, despite their technical knowledge, the team lacked prior experience in manufacturing and logistics gaps that would prove costly down the road.
Delays and Early Warning Signs
After the campaign ended, the Tiko team relocated to Taiwan to begin manufacturing. That’s where the problems began. The unibody design, while elegant, turned out to be difficult to mass-produce reliably. Even minor misalignments caused major printing issues.
Backers who received early units reported a host of problems:
- Inconsistent print quality
- Wi-Fi connectivity bugs
- Software instability
- Failed calibration and bed leveling
While these issues aren’t uncommon in early-stage hardware, the team struggled to resolve them fast enough. Updates from the company began to slow down, and timelines continued to shift.
Excuses and Communication Breakdown
Tiko’s updates on Kickstarter turned from enthusiastic to apologetic. The team acknowledged technical and financial problems but failed to provide clear solutions. Instead of regular updates, backers received vague promises and extended silence.
As dissatisfaction grew, forums like Reddit and Kickstarter’s own comment section became hubs for angry backers demanding answers or refunds. The goodwill that the team had built up during their launch began to erode.
No Amazon Controversy, But Market Pressures Loomed
Unlike other failed Kickstarter projects that were overshadowed by larger competitors or IP issues, Tiko didn’t face any specific legal controversy, such as with Amazon.
However, they did face growing competition in the 3D printing market. By 2016, companies like Monoprice and Creality were offering affordable and reliable alternatives often with better support and infrastructure.
This added external pressure, but Tiko’s downfall was primarily due to internal mismanagement and product issues, not external interference.
Public Backlash and Financial Collapse
In February 2017, Tiko finally admitted defeat. In an update titled “The End of the Road,” the team announced that they had run out of funds and could no longer manufacture or ship remaining units. They also confirmed they would not be able to issue refunds.
“We tried to fix the issues… we really did. But we were bleeding money, and we had to make the hard decision to stop.”
— Tiko Kickstarter Update #25
This message devastated backers. Many had waited over a year for a product that would never come. With no legal obligation to refund and no financial capacity to continue, Tiko shut down operations completely.
A Silent Exit
After their last update, the founders went dark. The website was taken offline. No further communication came from the team. Attempts to reach them via email, social media, or interviews were unsuccessful.
None of the founders have returned to the 3D printing industry in a public capacity. As of 2025, the Tiko project remains closed, with no revival or follow-up product.
A Legacy of Warnings
The story of Tiko is more than just a failed product, it’s a cautionary tale for creators and backers alike. Crowdfunding makes it easy to share a vision, but delivering on that vision is a far more difficult challenge, especially in hardware.
Tiko’s legacy teaches us:
- Success in funding doesn’t guarantee success in fulfillment.
- Manufacturing complexity should never be underestimated.
- Transparency with supporters is essential.
It joins a list of high-profile Kickstarter failures, like the Zano Drone and the Coolest Cooler, where great ideas were crushed by poor execution.
FAQ
Q: What was the Tiko 3D Printer?
A: A budget-friendly unibody 3D printer that raised nearly $3 million on Kickstarter in 2015.
Q: Who founded Tiko?
A: Matt Gajkowski, Sharon Charitar, and Michael Zhang—three Canadian engineering graduates.
Q: Why did the Tiko project fail?
A: Due to technical challenges, manufacturing issues, financial mismanagement, and lack of communication.
Q: Did backers get their printers?
A: Some early backers received units, but most did not. The majority of shipped units were non-functional or problematic.
Q: Were refunds ever issued?
A: No. The team announced in 2017 that they were unable to issue any refunds due to lack of funds.
Q: What’s the current status of Tiko?
A: The company shut down in 2017. No operations or products remain active as of 2025.
TL;DR
Tiko raised nearly $3 million to build a revolutionary 3D printer. But technical flaws, poor execution, and silence doomed it.
