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A YouTube video dared its viewers to build a marshmallow-shooting crossbow. Jeff Davidson took it personally.
"You've got to be crazy if you didn't make one," the creator joked near the end of the video. Jeff pointed at the screen. "I'm not crazy." Then he spent nearly two years proving it — designing, refining, and obsessing over a crossbow built entirely from scratch.
MMXVANCOUVER is the result. A handcrafted marshmallow-shooting crossbow built for families, hobbyists, makers, and anyone who wants a reason to put the screens down. We sat down with Jeff to talk about walking into a Gastown menswear store with a prototype, fulfilling a 1,000-unit order by hand, and why he refuses to touch AI.
The Product and Audience: What is MMXVANCOUVER and who is it for?
MMXVANCOUVER creates handcrafted marshmallow-shooting crossbows designed for just about everyone: families, hobbyists, makers, LARP groups, outdoor enthusiasts, and kids alike. At its core, the brand is about one thing: encouraging people to put down the screens and play.
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The Spark: When did you launch, and what made you say "I need to build this"?
The idea started after watching a YouTube video from Woodworking for Mere Mortals featuring plans for a marshmallow-shooting crossbow. Near the end of the video, the creator joked, "You've got to be crazy if you didn't make one." I immediately pointed at the screen and responded, "I'm not crazy." The only problem? I wasn't interested in buying plans. Having designed and built things since I was seven years old, I decided to create my own version from scratch. For nearly two years, I obsessed over designs, refining ideas day and night before finally building my first working prototype.
The Launch: When did you launch and how did you create buzz?
The concept first appeared in my head in 2013, but progress stalled until I purchased a bandsaw in 2015. Within three months, I had a working prototype. The very next day, I walked into a high-end men's store in Vancouver's Gastown district and showed it off. The response was immediate. The owner told me he "needed them," and the business took off from there. It took off like a high-speed marshmallow poof.
The First 100: How did you find your first customers?
They found me. Instead of aggressively pitching retailers, I focused on building something unique enough that people would seek it out. Don't knock on doors. Buyers don't like that. They like to find you.
The Advice: What would you tell a first-time founder in their first 90 days?
Don't rush to bring in investors or partners just because you think you need money. Slow, steady growth creates better businesses. Keep ownership when possible. Focus on quality over shortcuts. Continue improving the product. Stay patient. If you have something good, don't cheap out. Keep it premium and keep making it better.
The Reality Check: What is the hardest part of this journey that people don't see on social media?
For me, the hardest part wasn't selling. It was manufacturing. Building a handcrafted product meant years of refining processes, creating custom jigs and machines, purchasing better tools, and learning through countless mistakes. Many solutions that looked promising ended up failing. Hiring help wasn't always the answer either. Sometimes the work had to be redone from scratch. Building a physical product often means solving the same problem dozens of times before you finally solve it correctly.
The Milestone: What has been your biggest "we made it" moment so far?
One order stands above the rest. A single company purchased 1,000 units. For a product that is highly labor-intensive and handmade, it was both exciting and exhausting. I remember working so much that my hands hurt constantly. But seeing the order completed made every difficult day worthwhile. It was worth it.
The AI Trend: How have you used AI to help your business grow?
I'm not. While many founders are embracing AI tools, I'm taking the opposite approach. My perspective is simple: fake is fake.
The Horizon: What should we be excited to see from MMXVANCOUVER in the next six months?
Our mission remains focused on encouraging real-world play without screens, batteries, or endless notifications. Coming next is a premium beach paddle designed for both beach games and pickleball enthusiasts. Simple products. Real interaction. More reasons to get outside.
The Shop: Where can readers find MMXVANCOUVER?
Products are currently available directly through the online store at mmxvancouver.com, for customers in Canada.
The Connection: Where is the best place to follow along?
Jeff primarily shares updates through mmxvancouver.com and Facebook.
Available now at mmxvancouver.com for customers in Canada.
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