DAVY MAT is a clever product that functions as an ordinary doormat most of the time, but transforms into a secure delivery box in just five seconds whenever a parcel arrives. The idea was born out of personal frustration: the development team themselves had experienced theft of packages left at their door, a common problem in Japan's "okihai" (contactless doorstep delivery) culture.
Rather than settling for a conventional delivery box—which the team felt was bulky and disrupted the look of a home's entrance—they set out to design something that could protect packages without sacrificing the entryway's appearance. After more than a year of prototyping and testing, including feedback from actual delivery drivers, they arrived at the current design.
The product is being sold in Japan through Makuake, a Japanese crowdfunding platform often used for early product launches and pre-orders, with Nyasu Shoten serving as the exclusive authorized distributor. The campaign is essentially using purchase-based crowdfunding to test the market for a value proposition that no existing delivery box offers: staying unobtrusive until it's actually needed.
Highlights
- The team's own experience as theft victims became the motivation behind the product
- Clearly articulates frustrations with existing delivery boxes (bulky, visually disruptive)
- Presents over a year of real-world testing as evidence of reliability
Why this campaign attracts support
Editorial analysis based on publicly available information. It is not a confirmed account of why backers chose to give.
This project's appeal lies in how clearly it frames the problem. It taps into the widespread anxiety around doorstep package theft, while also pointing out that existing delivery boxes create a separate annoyance—being large and unsightly. By proposing a single design that solves both issues, the product avoids being just another convenience gadget.
The founders' own experience as theft victims adds authenticity and urgency to the pitch, making the product feel like a necessary solution rather than a novelty. Specific details about the development process—over a year of testing, collaboration with delivery drivers—help ease the common skepticism around purchase-based crowdfunding campaigns for unreleased products: will it actually work as promised?
The positioning as an exclusive Japan distributor also aligns well with how Makuake is typically used—as a venue for launching new imported products and running pre-sales—making this campaign feel more like a market test than a pure fundraising effort.
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A note from the editors
This is a useful example for anyone thinking about how everyday frustrations can be turned into compelling crowdfunding pitches. The article doesn't specify funding goals or current support levels, so readers interested in those details should check the original campaign page. The way the team shares its origin story and backs up reliability claims with real-world testing offers a helpful blueprint for anyone considering a product-based crowdfunding campaign.