# Raspberry Pi’s launch-day rush

> A low-cost computer launch turned a maker audience into a global order backlog.

- Owner: Raspberry Pi Foundation
- Kind: Product
- Sector: Education
- Seed date: 2012-02-29
- Milestone date: 2012-02-29
- Date basis: Documented milestone; not a measured attention peak.
- Spread Score: 45 (Notable, provisional), v1.2
- Mechanics: Press loop, Fandom mobilisation, Sell-out loop

## Summary

A BBC prototype demo and maker community preceded Raspberry Pi’s February 2012 launch. Retailer sites struggled under demand. The Foundation later reported over 100,000 launch-day orders; a first element14 shipment reached 31 countries and territories.

## Timeline

- May 2011 — BBC / Raspberry Pi (Press) — A BBC prototype demonstration brought attention to the planned low-cost computer.
- 2012-02-29 — Raspberry Pi (Open web) — Raspberry Pi opened orders through Farnell and RS Components.
- 2012-02-29 — r/raspberry_pi (Reddit) — The Raspberry Pi subreddit relayed the launch and manufacturing-partner announcement.

The full timeline, metrics and sources are on the case page, or via the Pro API (https://howitspread.com/developers).

Canonical URL: https://howitspread.com/cases/raspberry-pi-launch

Cite as: How It Spread (2026). “Raspberry Pi’s launch-day rush.” Case HIS-01103. Spread Score v1.2: 45/100. Updated 2026-10-17. https://howitspread.com/id/HIS-01103