Willis Kwaneka's Bugstick: An Australian Innovation for Spider Removal

An Indonesian inventor, Willis Kwaneka, living in Australia, has developed a new device named Bugstick designed to remove spiders and insects from homes.

Crowdfunding Success

The Bugstick concept was launched on Kickstarter, an online fundraising platform, where it achieved its initial $5,000 target within two hours. The campaign ultimately secured pledges nearing $100,000.

Inspiration and Design

Kwaneka stated he personally experienced a fear of spiders after moving to Melbourne, Australia, noting they were larger than those he had encountered in Jakarta, Indonesia. He observed that friends' attempts to remove spiders were often uncoordinated. The idea for Bugstick emerged after seeing a friend attempting to remove a huntsman spider with a broom.

Users place its clear plastic end over a bug and then press a lever to secure it inside, allowing capture without harming the insect.

The device is designed to offer a method for removing insects and spiders from homes. Its long handle enables users to maintain distance and reach high areas.

Market Impact

Kwaneka credits the social media platform TikTok for helping the product gain popularity in November, leading to over 1,000 orders globally, with notable interest from the United States.

His team is currently in the process of producing manufacturing molds in Shenzhen, China. The Bugstick is priced at $67, with shipping expected to commence in March. Kwaneka's parents in Indonesia are not yet aware of his invention's success.